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Strategies

Flyagonal

This article describes two different versions of the Flyagonal options strategy. The first is the original version, designed to create as wide a probability range for profit as possible, and it follows the Theta Profits approach 1:1. The second section shows a simplified variant developed by Optionist.net, which also shows a high win rate. That can also be seen in the embedded Option Omega tests.

Comparison

Original Flyagonal Strategy

The original structure is a hybrid of a call broken wing butterfly and a put diagonal.

1. Original strategy from Theta Profits

The original Flyagonal is much closer to a combination of a call broken wing butterfly above the current price and a put diagonal below the current price.

That is exactly what creates the hybrid character. The call side tends to work in calmer or moderately rising conditions through theta and often lower implied volatility, while the put diagonal can help if the market weakens and volatility expands.

  • Building block 1 Call broken wing butterfly above the current price.
  • Building block 2 Put diagonal below the current price.
  • Short leg Often around 8 to 10 DTE.
  • Long leg Usually around double the duration, roughly 16 to 20 DTE.
  • Starting point Shorts placed roughly 3 percent away from the current price.
  • Profit target Roughly around 10 percent of maximum loss.
  • Hold time Typically about 3 to 5 days.
  • Character Defined risk, positive theta, and a different vega profile than a simple butterfly.
  • Management More active by design, not meant as a hold-to-expiration trade.
P/L Price Long Put ATM-120 (+10 DTE) Short Put ATM-100 Long Call ATM-20 2x Short Call ATM Long Call ATM+100 Schematic: original Flyagonal with concrete legs, long put carries +10 DTE versus the other legs

Put simply, the original Flyagonal is more of a hybrid income-and-volatility strategy with a broader, tent-like profitability zone.

Original source: Theta Profits, Flyagonal.

2. Optionist variant

The Optionist variant is much more directional and asymmetric. The core consists of 2 short calls around delta 50, plus a long call at ATM minus 6 points, a long call at ATM plus 5 points, and a short put at ATM minus 12 points.

That means the left side is no longer a clean bounded butterfly. Instead, it adds financing and directional exposure that benefits from SPY staying above the put strike. The collected credit therefore has to compensate for the open left tail, otherwise the structure is mostly naked downside risk.

The most suitable underlyings are SPY, SPX, and XSP, because they provide the liquidity needed for this kind of asymmetric build. The setup is mainly intended for a more volatile market, roughly with a VIX above 20, so there is enough premium to finance the wings.

SPY example structure

  • Long 1x call ATM minus 6 points
  • Short 2x calls delta 50 / roughly ATM
  • Long 1x call ATM plus 5 points
  • Short 1x put ATM minus 12 points
P/L SPY ATM-12 ATM-6 ATM ATM+5 Short Put 2x Short Calls Center right-side residual value Schematic only, excluding premium inputs and differing expiries

This profile shows the open downside from the short put, the highest-value zone around the two short calls, and a small positive residual shelf on the right because the upper call wing sits at ATM plus 5.

Backtest results of the Optionist variant

The current Option Omega evaluations of the flyagonal variant are embedded here. They show the overall equity curve, the year-by-year results, and the outcome distribution.

Option Omega backtest of the Flyagonal strategy with equity curve and metrics Year-by-year Flyagonal backtest results with returns per year Distribution of individual trade outcomes in the Flyagonal backtest

Summary

Most important differences

  • Original Call broken wing butterfly plus put diagonal.
  • Original character Hybrid of theta and volatility idea with a broader tent-like profile.
  • Optionist 2x short calls in the center plus asymmetric wings and an extra short put.
  • Optionist character Much more directional with a more open left tail.
  • Underlyings Especially suitable on SPY, SPX, and XSP.
  • Volatility regime Both ideas prefer elevated IV, but the Optionist version especially depends on rich premium.
  • Practical use The original is closer to a hybrid setup, while the Optionist variant is closer to a deliberately asymmetric custom build.

For later live scans, the Optionist variant can be systematized through the Optionist.net OWS Tools.