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BullishUnlimited riskAdvancedShort / Credit

Bull Call Ladder option strategy

Bull Call Ladder is neutral to Bullish Strategy that offers good return but with higher risk. Strategy entails buying 1 ATM and selling two higher strike OTM call at different strike.

Payoff at expiry

Nifty, lot size 65 · Nifty future 25,151 · 17 Nov 2026
−60k−40k−20k023,95024,55025,15025,75026,350Nifty
ProfitLossBreakeven

Legs

ActionOptionStrikeLotsQtyPremium
BUYITM Call25,100165₹140.03
SELLATM Call25,150165₹113.32
SELLOTM Call25,200165₹90.13
Strikes around the Nifty future; premiums modelled at the current at-the-money IV (live prices were unavailable).

How it works

  1. Buy 1 ITM call at the 25,100 strike for ₹140.03, paying the premium.
  2. Sell 1 ATM call at the 25,150 strike for ₹113.32, collecting the premium.
  3. Sell 1 OTM call at the 25,200 strike for ₹90.13, collecting the premium.
  4. You receive a net ₹4,122 upfront for the position. Your maximum profit is ₹7,372.
AT EXPIRY

Below 25,313 you profit, up to ₹7,372.

Above 25,313 you lose, and the loss keeps growing as Nifty rises.

Set-up: Buy 1 lot ITM Call, Sell 1 lot ATM and Sell 1 lot higher OTM.

What happens if Nifty moves

Profit or loss at expiry
Nifty at expiryMoveProfit / loss
23,650−6%+₹4,122
24,400−3%+₹4,122
24,900−1%+₹4,122
25,150Unchanged+₹7,372
25,400+1%−₹5,628
25,900+3%−₹38,128
26,650+6%−₹86,878

How the Greeks affect it

DeltaNegative
Gains when Nifty falls, loses when it rises.
GammaNegative
Delta moves against you as Nifty moves, so large moves hurt, especially near expiry.
ThetaPositive
Time decay works for you: the position gains value each day if Nifty holds still.
VegaNegative
A fall in implied volatility helps; a rise hurts.
Signs are for the position as a whole at entry and change as the market and time move. What each Greek means, with a calculator.

When to use

To execute a mildly bullish trade by buying 1 ATM call and selling two OTM Calls to reduce initial outflow.

  • Bull Call Ladder is best executed in shorter term period to reduce possibility of uncapped risk if the underlying asset rises too much.

Things to watch

  • Time decay is harmful to the position around the buy strike price and becomes advantageous around the highest strike price.

Bull Call Ladder: questions

What is a Bull Call Ladder strategy?

Bull Call Ladder is neutral to Bullish Strategy that offers good return but with higher risk. Strategy entails buying 1 ATM and selling two higher strike OTM call at different strike.

When should you use a Bull Call Ladder?

To execute a mildly bullish trade by buying 1 ATM call and selling two OTM Calls to reduce initial outflow.

How do you set up a Bull Call Ladder?

Buy 1 lot ITM Call, Sell 1 lot ATM and Sell 1 lot higher OTM.

What is the maximum profit of a Bull Call Ladder?

It is a Net debit strategy. Maximum Profit is difference between Middle strike and lower Strike Call less net initial outflow.

What is the maximum loss of a Bull Call Ladder?

Maximum Loss is unlimited if the stock moves above highest strike and second break even.

What is the breakeven of a Bull Call Ladder?

With Nifty at 25,151, the example on this page breaks even at 25,313 at expiry.

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