Options Trading Basics (The Ultimate Beginners Bundle) (Udemy.com)
Options Trading - 1)Intro to Call and Put Options 2) Time decay, Implied Volatility, Greeks 3) Call and Puts Live trades
Created by: Hari Swaminathan
Last updated May 2025
What you will learn
- Master the basic nuts and bolts of Options trading
- Understand the theory and mathematics behind Options
- What are the factors that affect Options pricing
- How are Options different than Stocks
- How you can use Options even if you invest in Stocks and create superior Combo strategies
- Anyone interested in learning about Options trading
- LIve trades using Thinkorswim platform
- Art of adjusting Single Options strategies
Course Description
OPTIONS TRADING THREE COURSE BUNDLE - 10+ HOURS
This Options Trading Bundle is the ultimate Beginner's course on Options Trading, Options fundamentals and Concepts as well as Live Options trading examples. The first 3 Options Trading Strategies courses are combined to create this bundle. To master the basics of Options, you really need all three courses.
A brief synopsis of the options trading strategies courses are provided below.
LEARN CALL OPTIONS AND PUT OPTIONS, OPTIONS FOUNDATION - TIME DECAY, IMPLIED VOLATILITY, OPTION GREEKS BUYING CALL OPTIONS AND PUT OPTIONS - LIVE TRADES
SECTION I - Call Options
Most people learning Options for the first time face too much jargon and complex language. This options trading strategies course use real-world examples (buying a house) to explain how a Call Option (Section 1) works in real life. This example should make it absolutely clear what a Call Option is in step-by-step details.
SECTION II - Put Options.
The Put Option is the ultimate "protector" of your portfolio, and in this course you can learn how Put Options work. It is the exact opposite of a Call Option. Put Options increase in value when the value of a stock or index drops in price. We define what a Put Option, and just like we did in the Call Option, we consider a real-world example of a Put Option.
SECTION III - Stock and Options combo strategies
In this section, three creative strategies are outlined for Stock investors to combine Options into their portfolio strategies.
· Use Options to buy Stock at prices that are far lower than what the stock is currently trading for
· Use Options to sell Stock at prices that are far higher than what it is currently trading for
· Use Options to hedge a Stock position that you already own
SECTION IV - TIME DECAY
Time decay is a pivotal component of Options strategies. In fact, time decay alone is responsible for the majority of advanced option strategies. In this part of the options trading strategies course, we are going to study the concept in detail. Options are "wasting" assets, and they lose value every day. The buyer gets hurt from time decay and the seller benefits from it. And time decay becomes more exponential as we approach expiry of an Option. It is also the great equalizer between the profiles of a buyer and seller of Options. Time decay is the great equalizer in the risk / reward profiles of buyers and sellers of Options. Several intermediate and advanced strategies are based on selling premium (option sellers) and these positions make a profit due to time decay in the value of these options over a period of time.
SECTION V - IMPLIED VOLATILITY
Implied Volatility is the "wildcard" in Option prices. Ignore it, and you will pay a price. In fact, it's so important we have at least four different varieties - Volatility, Implied Volatility, Historical Volatility, and Future or Expected Volatility. We use the real-world examples to explain the concept of Volatility in simple terms. Then we study how Volatility is quantified in Stocks and Options. And how Volatility finds a back-door to embed itself into Option prices. Implied Volatility considerations are critical when choosing between a buyer and seller profile. We break this complex topic down into simple terms and show you an example of NFLX and CAT options that should make it absolutely clear what this is all about.
SECTION VI - OPTION GREEKS, DELTA, GAMMA, VEGA, THETA
If you're the pilot of an aircraft, the Greeks are your instrument panel. If you don't manage your instrument panel properly, well...you get the picture. Understanding the Greeks are absolutely critical to every Option position. We break this course into easy to understand chapters for all the four Greeks - Delta, the king of all Greeks. Gamma - the silent operator. Theta - every Option seller's dream. And Vega - Watch out for this one.. Most beginners to Options tend to ignore the Greeks. Master the Greeks and you'll shave off months of learning curve. Not to mention, you can then fly your aircraft on "auto-pilot" (with help from the Greeks).
SECTION VII - OPTIONS MARKET STRUCTURE
The Options market has a number of terms that we need to be aware of. Starting with terminology differences like "Long" and "Short", we look at all the details that go into the Options market. We explain the important processes like Exercise and Assignment, as well as things like Expiry series, Bid-Ask spreads, Brokerage and transaction costs and various other details. What is Open Interest and why is it important, and what is the role of a Market Maker. We study the different Order types and which ones are important for the average investor, and which ones make sense in different situations. We also discuss Regulation T Margin as it applies to Options as well as Portfolio margin.
SECTION VIII - BUY A CALL OPTION (CHIPOTLE MEXICAN GRILL)
Buying a Call Option is the most basic of all the Option strategies and is the most efficient strategy to optimize a bullish outlook on a stock. In this options trading strategies course, we take the example of Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG) and show how the trade played out. We analyze the rationale behind entering the trade, the risk/reward profile, chart analysis and point of entry, choice of expiry and "moneyness" of the Option, time decay considerations, margin requirements, profit expectations, exit criteria, Greek analysis, its Profit and Loss profile and various other considerations. We provide a 360-degree analysis before trade entry. This is a real trade and over 15 days, and we navigate the trade to its exit point.
SECTION IX - BUYING A PUT OPTION (FXE EURO ETF)
Buying a Put Option serves two purposes - exploit a bearish move in the stock or be the ultimate protector of your stock. In this part of the course, we take the example of the Euro ETF (FXE) and show how the trade played out in about 25 days time. We analyze the rationale behind entering the trade, the risk/reward profile, chart analysis and point of entry, choice of expiry and "moneyness" of the Option, time decay considerations, margin requirements, profit expectations, exit criteria, Greek analysis, its Profit and Loss profile and various other considerations. We provide a 360-degree analysis before trade entry. We show you how to "let your winners run" in a controlled manner.
SECTION X - STRATEGY AND OPTIMIZATION
Instructor Details
- 4.5 Rating
9,970 Reviews
Hari Swaminathan
Knowledge. Strategy. Execution.
Hari Swaminathan is the founder of OptionTiger, a cutting-edge Options mentoring company, and a full-circle educator in all areas of Financial Markets, Hari has developed several proprietary Intellectual Property "methods and approaches" around enhancing base case Options strategies as well as Proprietary Indicators on TradingView and Thinkorswim platforms.
Hari has a Bachelors degree in Engineering from College of Engineering, Pune, India, and MBA's from Columbia University in NYC and London Business School in London UK.
Hari is self-taught in Options and actively trading these instruments for almost 15 years, mostly through trial and error. Trial and error in general, is an excellent method of learning, but applied in this context, trial and error CAN BE EXPENSIVE. My courseware focuses on this aspect mostly, so you can avoid losing money in the 1 to 2 years when you're learning.
THE OPTIONS GAME
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Reviews
By Hiran Klinbuakaew on 6/19/2026
Course Review: Options Trading Basics (The Ultimate Beginners Bundle) This course offers excellent content and is one of the best beginner-friendly options trading bundles available. The instructor explains complex options concepts in a detailed, clear, and easy-to-understand way. What I like most: Very structured and well-organized curriculum Clear explanations with plenty of practical examples Great balance between theory and real trading application Covers all essential basics thoroughly before moving to more advanced topics Helpful visuals and step-by-step demonstrations The course is ideal for complete beginners who want to build a strong foundation in options trading. It removes the confusion that many new traders face and provides a solid roadmap for further learning. Overall Rating: 4.5 / 5 Highly recommended for anyone starting their options trading journey.
By John Sylora on 5/15/2026
Excellent lectures showing different options strategies and the thinking and logic behind adjustments to the position as new price changes unfold.
By Kevin Stolarski on 2/24/2026
dated platforms and examples
By SUBBU IYER on 2/13/2026
I am an absolute beginner for options trading. This course has helped me clear my concepts on options trading. The explanations are very clear. A couple of things that could have made this course perfect. The trading videos are old as far as from 2011, although this should not make much of a difference. Also, the videos are not organized in a sequence. But, if you complete the entire course like I did you will be able to make sense of all of it.
By Thiyagarajan Ramasamy on 4/18/2022
Mr Hari Swaminathan's video lecture series are excellent and easy to follow I will strongly recommend this course to anyone interested in Trading options.
By Luis Nogueira on 9/7/2019
Amazing course! Very well explained and detailed for beginners like me. I can say I have the basic knowledge about options after complete this bundle course!
By Rajnish Gehlawat on 8/14/2019
Going through this basic option bundle course, I have understood the real dynamic of functioning of stock markets. For the first time I am able to understand the interplay of Volatility, Open Interest, Volume and Stock price movements. The option geeks module has really helped me understand how and why options behave in real market situations. The course modules on adjustment of open positions of options was also very enlightening. I now confidently look forward to taking up intermediate and advanced courses on Options by Hari Swaminathan.
By James Hervey on 3/26/2019
I took this course to boost my confidence in what I’d learned on my own. I had no idea there was more to options than simple Call options. I now understand what an options contract is and what influences pricing. I understand how risk and leverage change with the simple passing of time.
By Joe on 11/15/2018
Hari is very knowledgeable. And this is best designed course. I had to watch several times because it took me some time to registered this concept.
By Bryan D. Marsh on 2/2/2016
Everything I read said that if you want to be a good option trader you need to understand the greeks. Unfortunately, everything I read just gave you the definition. Hari's class was great as he gave the definition, but then explained how the greeks react in relation to the underlying and then how they react in relation to each other. Understanding the greeks has been extremely helpful when making adjustments. This is a class you need to add to your list - well worth the money.
Quality Score
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Overall Score : 90 / 100







