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BearishLimited riskAdvancedLong / Debit

Put Christmas Tree option strategy

Put Christmas Tree buys one ATM Put, skips a strike, sells three OTM Puts and buys two further OTM Puts. It is a cheap, butterfly-like bet that the underlying falls to the sold strike.

Payoff at expiry

Nifty, lot size 65 · Nifty future 22,650 · 6 Oct 2026
02k4k6k21,55022,10022,65023,20023,750Nifty
ProfitLossBreakeven

Legs

ActionOptionStrikeLotsQtyPremium
BUYATM Put22,650165₹135.67
SELLOTM Put22,5503195₹91.19
BUYOTM Put22,5002130₹73.23
Strikes around the Nifty future; premiums modelled at the current at-the-money IV (live prices were unavailable).

How it works

  1. Buy 1 ATM put at the 22,650 strike for ₹135.67, paying the premium.
  2. Sell 3 OTM puts at the 22,550 strike for ₹91.19 each, collecting the premium.
  3. Buy 2 OTM puts at the 22,500 strike for ₹73.23 each, paying the premium.
  4. You pay a net ₹556 upfront for the position. This is the most you can lose.
AT EXPIRY

Below 22,498 you lose, up to ₹556.

Between 22,498 and 22,641 you profit, up to ₹5,346.

Above 22,641 you lose, up to ₹556.

Set-up: Buy 1 lot ATM Put, Sell 3 lots OTM Puts two strikes lower and Buy 2 lots OTM Puts one strike below those.

What happens if Nifty moves

Profit or loss at expiry
Nifty at expiryMoveProfit / loss
21,300−6%−₹556
21,950−3%−₹556
22,400−1%−₹556
22,650Unchanged−₹556
22,900+1%−₹556
23,350+3%−₹556
24,000+6%−₹556

How the Greeks affect it

DeltaNear zero
Little direction exposure at entry. The position cares more about how far Nifty moves than which way.
GammaNear zero
Delta changes little as Nifty moves.
ThetaNear zero
Time decay has little net effect.
VegaNear zero
Changes in implied volatility have little net effect.
Signs are for the position as a whole at entry and change as the market and time move.

When to use

When you are moderately bearish with a specific target and want a lower cost than a regular butterfly.

  • Lower cost than a butterfly for a similar target.
  • Risk is defined upfront.
  • Skipped strike gives room for the move to develop.

Things to watch

  • Profit zone is narrow.
  • Six contracts across three strikes.
  • Needs the underlying to reach the target by expiry.

Put Christmas Tree: questions

What is a Put Christmas Tree strategy?

Put Christmas Tree buys one ATM Put, skips a strike, sells three OTM Puts and buys two further OTM Puts. It is a cheap, butterfly-like bet that the underlying falls to the sold strike.

When should you use a Put Christmas Tree?

When you are moderately bearish with a specific target and want a lower cost than a regular butterfly.

How do you set up a Put Christmas Tree?

Buy 1 lot ATM Put, Sell 3 lots OTM Puts two strikes lower and Buy 2 lots OTM Puts one strike below those.

What is the maximum profit of a Put Christmas Tree?

Limited, earned if the underlying closes at the sold strike at expiry.

What is the maximum loss of a Put Christmas Tree?

Limited to the net debit paid, if the underlying stays above the highest strike or falls well below the lowest strike.

What is the breakeven of a Put Christmas Tree?

With Nifty at 22,650, the example on this page breaks even at 22,498 and 22,641 at expiry.

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