Covering The Spread Example
Action: Having a wager on a game.
Spreads can be narrower or wider, depending on the currency involved. The 50 pip spread between the bid and ask price for EUR/USD (in our example) is fairly wide and atypical. The spread might.
ATS ('against the [point] spread'): If a team is 5-2 ATS, it means it has a 5-2 record against the point spread, or more commonly referred to simply as the 'spread.'
- Feb 01, 2007 It means a team wins or losses against the spread (or ATS). For example, in the Super Bowl the line is Indianapolis -7 (or Chicago +7, the same thing). If Indy wins by 8 or more, they cover the.
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- Dec 26, 2018 Sports betting would be easy — or maybe just easier — if all that was required was to correctly pick the winning team. Gambling institutions, sportsbooks and bookies fall back on point spreads to make the process a little more difficult and to create the ultimate wagering challenge.
Backdoor cover: When a team scores points at the end of a game to cover the spread unexpectedly.
Bad beat: Losing a bet you should have won. It's especially used when the betting result is decided late in the game to change the side that covers the spread. Also used in poker, such as when a player way ahead in the expected win percentage loses on the river (last card).
Beard: Someone who places a wager for another person (aka 'runner').
Book: Short for sportsbook or bookmaker; person or establishment that takes bets from customers.
Bookie: A person who accepts bets illegally and charges vig.
Buying points: Some bookies or sportsbooks will allow customers to alter the set line and then adjust odds. For example, a bettor might decide he wants to have his team as a 3-point underdog instead of the set line of 2.5. He has then 'bought' half a point, and the odds of his bet will be changed.
Chalk: The favorite in the game. People said to be 'chalk' bettors typically bet the favorite.
Circle game: A game for which the betting limits are lowered, usually because of injuries and/or weather.
Closing line: The final line before the game or event begins.
Consensus pick: Derived from data accumulated from a variety of sportsbooks in PickCenter. The pick, and its percentage, provides insight as to what side the public is taking in a game.
Cover: The betting result on a point-spread wager. For a favorite to cover, it has to win by more than the spread; an underdog covers by winning outright or losing by less than the spread.
Dime: Jargon for a $1,000 bet. If you bet 'three dimes,' that means a $3,000 wager.
'Dog: Short for underdog.
Dollar: Jargon for a $100 bet. Usually used with bookies; if you bet 'five dollars,' that means a $500 wager.
Edge: An advantage. Sports bettors might feel they have an edge on a book if they think its lines aren't accurate.
Even money: Odds that are considered 50-50. You put up $1 to win $1.
Exotic: Any wager other than a straight bet or parlay; can also be called a 'prop' or 'proposition wager.'
Favorite: The expected straight-up winner in a game or event. Depending on the sport, the favorite will lay either odds or points. For example, in a football game, if a team is a 2.5-point favorite, it will have to win by three points or more to be an ATS winner.
Fixed: A participant in a particular game who alters the result of that game or match to a completely or partially predetermined result. The participant did not play honestly or fairly because of an undue outside influence.
Futures bet: A long-term wager that typically relates to a team's season-long success. Common futures bets include betting a team to win a championship at the outset of a season, or betting whether the team will win or lose more games than a set line at the start of the season.
Halftime bet: A bet made after the first half ended and before the second half begins (football and basketball primarily). The oddsmaker generally starts with half of the game side/total and adjusts based on what happened in the first half.
Handicapper: A person trying to predict the winners of an event.
Handle: The amount of money taken by a book on an event or the total amount of money wagered.
Hedging: Betting the opposing side of your original bet, to either ensure some profit or minimize potential loss. This is typically done with futures bets, but can also be done on individual games with halftime bets or in-game wagering.
High roller: A high-stakes gambler.
Hook: A half-point. If a team is a 7.5-point favorite, it is said to be 'laying seven and a hook.'
In-game wagering: A service offered by books in which bettors can place multiple bets in real time, as the game is occurring.
Juice: The commission the bookie or bookmaker takes. Standard is 10 percent. Also called the 'vig/vigorish.'
Layoff: Money bet by a sportsbook with another sportsbook or bookmaker to reduce that book's liability.
Limit: The maximum bet taken by a book. If a book has a $10,000 limit, it'll take that bet but the book will then decide whether it's going to adjust the line before the bettor can bet again.
Lock: A guaranteed win in the eyes of the person who made the wager.
Middle: When a line moves, a bettor can try to 'middle' a wager and win both sides with minimal risk. Suppose a bettor bets one team as a 2.5-point favorite, then the line moves to 3.5 points. She can then bet the opposite team at 3.5 and hope the favorite wins by three points. She would then win both sides of the bet.
Money line (noun), money-line (modifier): A bet in which your team only needs to win. The point spread is replaced by odds.
Mush: A bettor or gambler who is considered to be bad luck.
Nickel: Jargon for a $500 bet. Usually used with bookies; if you bet 'a nickel,' that means a $500 wager.
Oddsmaker (also linemaker): The person who sets the odds. Some people use it synonymous with 'bookmaker' and often the same person will perform the role at a given book, but it can be separate if the oddsmaker is just setting the lines for the people who will eventually book the bets.
Off the board: When a book or bookie has taken a bet down and is no longer accepting action or wagers on the game. This can happen if there is a late injury or some uncertainty regarding who will be participating.
Over/under: A term that can be used to describe the total combined points in a game (the Ravens-Steelers over/under is 40 points) or the number of games a team will win in a season (the Broncos' over/under win total is 11.5). Also used in prop bets.
Parlay: A wager in which multiple teams are bet, either against the spread or on the money line. For the wager to win (or pay out), all of them must cover/win. The more teams you bet, the greater the odds.
Pick 'em: A game with no favorite or underdog. The point spread is zero, and the winner of the game is also the spread winner.
Point spread (or just 'spread'): The number of points by which the supposed better team is favored over the underdog.
Proposition (or prop) bet: A special or exotic wager that's not normally on the betting board, such as which team will score first or how many yards a player will gain. Sometimes called a 'game within a game.' These are especially popular on major events, with the Super Bowl being the ultimate prop betting event.
Push: When a result lands on the betting number and all wagers are refunded. For example, a 3-point favorite wins by exactly three points. Return on investment (ROI): In PickCenter, ROI is the amount (according to numberFire) that a bettor should expect to get back on a spread pick.
Runner: Someone who makes bets for another person (aka 'beard').
Sharp: A professional, sophisticated sports bettor.
Spread: Short for point spread.
Square: A casual gambler. Someone who typically isn't using sophisticated reasoning to make a wager.
Steam: When a line is moving unusually fast. It can be a result of a group or syndicate of bettors all getting their bets in at the same time. It can also occur when a respected handicapper gives a bet his followers all jump on, or based on people reacting to news such as an injury or weather conditions.
Straight up: The expected outright winner of the money line in an event or game, not contingent on the point spread.
Teaser: Betting multiple teams and adjusting the point spread in all the games in the bettor's favor. All games have to be picked correctly to win the wager.
Total: The perceived expected point, run or goal total in a game. For example, in a football game, if the total is 41 points, bettors can bet 'over' or 'under' on that perceived total.
Tout (service): a person (or group of people) who either sells or gives away picks on games or events.
Underdog: The team that is expected to lose straight up. You can either bet that the team will lose by less than the predicted amount (ATS), or get better than even-money odds that it will win the game outright. For example, if a team is a 2-1 underdog, you can bet $100 that the team will win. If it wins, you win $200 plus receive your original $100 wager back.
Vig/vigorish: The commission the bookie or bookmaker takes; also called the 'juice.' Standard is 10 percent.
Wager: A bet.
Welch: To not pay off a losing bet.
Wiseguy: A professional bettor. Another term for a 'sharp.'
Options traders looking to take advantage of a rising stock price while managing risk may want to consider a spread strategy: the bull call spread. This strategy involves buying one call option while simultaneously selling another. Let's take a closer look.
Understanding the bull call spread
Although more complex than simply buying a call, the bull call spread can help minimize risk while setting specific price targets to meet your forecast.
Here's how it works. First, you need a forecast. Say XYZ is trading at $60 per share. You are moderately bullish and believe the stock will rise to $65 over the next 30 days. A bull call spread involves buying a lower strike call and selling a higher strike call:
Buy a lower $60 strike call. This gives you the right to buy stock at the strike price.
Sell a higher $65 strike call. This obligates you to sell the stock at the strike price.
Because you are buying one call option and selling another, you are 'hedging' your position. You have the potential to make a profit as the share price rises, but you are giving up some profit potential—but also reducing your risk—by selling a call. Selling a call reduces the initial capital involved. The trade-off is you have to give up some upside potential. One advantage of the bull call spread is that you know your maximum profit and loss in advance.
How this strategy works
Before you construct a bull call spread, it's essential to understand how it works. Normally, you will use the bull call spread if you are moderately bullish on a stock or index. Your hope is that the underlying stock rises higher than your breakeven cost. Ideally, it would rise high enough so that both options in the spread are in the money at expiration; that is, the stock is above the strike price of both calls. When the stock is above both strike prices at expiration, you realize the maximum profit potential of the spread.
As with any trading strategy it is extremely important to have a forecast. In reality, it is unlikely you will always achieve the maximum reward. Like any options strategy, it’s important to be flexible when things don’t always go as planned.
Before you initiate the trade: what to look for
Before you initiate a bull call spread, it's important to have an idea of your expectation.
- Underlying stock: First, you want to choose an underlying stock you believe will go up.
- Expiration date: Choose an options expiration date that matches your expectation for the stock price.
- Strike price: Choose offsetting strike prices that match your forecast. For example, the stock is at $40. You believe it will rise to $45.
- Volatility: Many traders will initiate the bull call spread when volatility is relatively high, which may reduce the cost of the spread.
What Does Covering The Spread Mean
Note: These are general guidelines and not absolute rules. You can create your own approach.
Your first bull call trade
Bull call trading
Before placing a spread, you must fill out an options agreement and be approved for spreads trading. Contact your Fidelity representative if you have questions.
Now that you have a basic idea of how this strategy works, let's look at more specific examples.
In June, you believe that XYZ, which is currently at $34 per share, will rise over the next three to four months to $40 per share or higher. You decide to initiate a bull call spread.
Options contracts: You buy 1 XYZ October 35 call (long call) at $3.40, paying $340 ($3.40 x 100 shares). At the same time, sell 1 XYZ October 40 call (short call) at $1.40, receiving $140 ($1.40 x 100 shares). Note: In this example, the strike prices of both the short call and long call are out of the money.
Cost: Your total cost, or debit, for this trade is $200 ($340 – $140) plus commissions.
Maximum gain: The maximum you can gain on this trade is $300. To determine your maximum reward, subtract the net debit ($3.40 – $1.40=$2 x 100 shares) from the difference in strike prices ($40 – $35=$5 x 100 shares). In this example, the maximum possible gain is $300 ($500 – $200).
Maximum risk: The most you can lose on this trade is the initial debt paid, or $200.
Note: A bull call spread can be executed as a single trade. This is known as a multi-leg order. For more information, contact your Fidelity representative.
Let's take a look at what could go right, or wrong, with this strategy:
Example 1: The underlying stock, XYZ, rises above the $35 strike price before the expiration date.
Covering The Spread In Football
All other things being equal, if the underlying stock rises above $35 before expiration, both legs of the spread (each side of the spread, the buy side and sell side, is called a leg) will rise in value, which is what you want. For example, the long call may rise from $3.40 to $5.10, while the short call may rise from $1.40 to $1.90. Note: Near expiration, as the long call option goes further in the money, the spread between the two call options widens, but it will not surpass the $5 maximum value.
How to close a winning trade
Before expiration, you close both legs of trade. In the above example, if you enter a limit order, you will buy back (buy to close) the short call for $190, and sell (sell to close) the long call for $510. That gives you a net sale of $320. You originally paid $200, leaving you with a net profit of $120. Important: remember that you can close both legs of the strategies as a multi-leg order.
Although some traders try to achieve maximum profit through assignment and exercise, if your profit target has been reached it may be best to close the bull call spread prior to expiration.
Example 2: The underlying stock, XYZ, drops below the $35 strike price before or near the expiration date.
If the underlying stock remains below $35 before expiration, both legs of the spread will drop in value due to time decay, which is not what you'd hoped to see. For example, the long call may fall from $3.40 to $1.55, while the short call may drop from $1.40 to $1.05.
To avoid complications, close both legs of a losing spread before expiration, especially when you no longer believe the stock will perform as anticipated. If you wait until expiration, you could lose the entire $200 investment.
How to close a losing trade
Before expiration, close both legs of the trade. Then you will buy back (buy to close) the short call for $105, and sell (sell to close) the long call for $155. In this example, your loss is $150: ($155 – $105) – $200 (your initial payment).
Nfl Teams Covering The Spread
Early assignment
Although it's unlikely, there's always a chance you'll be assigned early (before expiration) on the short call. If this occurs, you may want to exercise the long call. Call a Fidelity representative for assistance.
Other factors to consider
Trading spreads involves a number of unforeseen events that can dramatically influence your options trades. Make an effort to learn about time decay and implied volatility, and other factors that affect an options price. This will help you understand how they can affect your trade decisions. You should also understand how commissions affect your trade decisions.
Next steps to consider
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