FORTRESS FIGHT: QCOM @ $162.10

BE SS: $224.00  |  CC-SS: $228.74  |  5 contracts (500 sh) |  ⌂ PORTFOLIO

GENERATED2026-07-29 21:41

QCOM @ $162.10   UNDERWATER $61.90 (27.6% below BE SS)

⚠ EARNINGS · DO NOT SELL INCOME INTO IT
QCOM reports 2026-07-30 (Thu), TOMORROW. The recommended CC (2d) expires on/after it, so selling now holds a short call through the earnings gap, a report can blow past your strike overnight and cap you at a loss. No priced expiry closes before the print, so waiting for it is the only clean option.

5 contracts (500 sh)  |  BE SS: $224.00  |  CC-SS: $228.74 (banked floor $227.51)  |  IV: HIGH  |  Accounts: RetireInc:7291

LC: $190 exp 2028-01-21 (entry $88.967/sh)
SP: $210 exp 2028-01-21 (entry $55.902/sh)
HP: $90 exp 2026-09-18 (entry $0.897/sh)

Economics

Max Loss$77,000(ND $34.00 + SW $120) x 500
Normal income ref$9,094/mo95% ann ROI on ML
Hedge rolling cost$221/mo
Unrealized P&L$-34,763fortress legs from IBKR
INCOME GOALPOSTS & VELOCITY
50% INCOME FLOOR
$4,547/mo
HEDGE COVER
$221/mo
NORMAL INCOME
$9,094/mo (ATM CC, chain)
IC VELOCITY
1.9 mo to earn back $17,000
ML VELOCITY
8.5 mo to earn back $77,000
Deep drawdown confirmed: a CC at CC-SS $228.74 (probe: $220C 16d) brings only $328/mo (<20% of normal), so FIGHT below it is warranted.
🏦 CAMPAIGN LEDGER , realized CC income since 2026-07-02; banked cash shrinks the hole (shown as an info-only banked floor, the recommended CC-SS stays the pure recovery strike; seeded from open positions, reconciled from IBKR executions nightly)
Banked since 2026-07-02
$644
Hole (after banked)
$34,118
was $34,763 · 2% earned back
Cycles closed
9
Credit in flight
$1,535
CC-SS · banked floor (info)
$228.74 → $227.51
? 1 leg(s) closed as UNKNOWN (vanished with no fill in window): banked $0, conservative. Fix campaign.json by hand if wrong.
Open legAcctCredit/shIn flightOpened
5x $207.5C 7 Aug 2026U18827291$3.07$1,5352026-07-22
TECHNICALS (cc_timing weekly gate + daily trigger)
WEEKLYNEUTRAL · %B 39 (live) · RSI 45 · MACD bearish, hist falling
DAILYFALLING (provisional) · RSI 33 · %B 12 · hist falling (nightly)
LEVELSUpper BB (CC ceiling) $255.81 (+58%) · daily UBB $193.07 · 1-wk expected move ±$19 (chain IV)
SETUPNo tilt: engine default. (advisory; floors and picks are chain-only)
⚠ Next earnings 2026-07-30: candidates whose expiry crosses it are flagged in the spectrum; EV is unreliable across earnings.
INTERPRETATION
Primary: 5 contracts at $187.50 / 2d. This is the safest strike (survival 93%, breach 7%) that still earns 50% of normal income ($4,547/mo); it brings $5,625/mo. The engine maximizes the odds the pullback never reaches your strike, rather than chasing the fattest near-ATM premium.
More income, less safety: the ladder tops out at 5 × $182.50/2d for $9,600/mo, but breach risk rises to 11% (+4pp vs the primary). The lower strike is hit by a smaller bounce.
More safety, less income: for just the hedge you can sit at 5 × $215/2d (99+% survival, $225/mo).
Downside anchor: the primary mortgages $20,247 (119% of IC) ONLY on a full V-bounce all the way to SS $224, recoverable in 2.2 months of normal income. That is the rare tail; the frequent case is the strike holding. Surgical close on the 5 contracts realizes $-34,800 and cuts bleed by $221/mo.

📅 Two weekly tracks, this Friday & next Friday

Each Friday gets its own recommended pick and full income ladder (safest strike per income rung, sized across your 5 contracts). The master ranks the two by E[net]/mo to pick one grand pick; both are shown here so you can choose the tenor that fits your roll cadence.

🏆 Grand pick: THIS FRIDAY · 31 Jul 2026 (2d) · sell 5 × $187.50, 93% survival, $5,625/mo (E[net] $2,927/mo).
The two weekly tracks below are ranked by E[net]/mo = income kept when unchallenged − the net cash cost and forgone cycle when it is. Each has its own full ladder.
TrackExpirySellSurvivalIncome/moE[net]/mo
THIS FRIDAY 🏆31 Jul 2026 · 2d5 × $187.5093%$5,625$2,927
NEXT FRIDAY7 Aug 2026 · 9d5 × $18080%$4,717$9
E[net] arithmetic on the grand pick: keep $375 with probability 92%; on the 8% touch you roll, paying $3,116 to close and taking $1,103 back from the best priced door (net cash $2,012) and parking about one cycle of income. Charging the FULL buyback with no door credit (the pre-2026-07-25 model) contradicted the campaign simulation, which prices the same event as a cash-neutral even roll.

📅 THIS FRIDAY · 31 Jul 2026 · 2d · E[net] $2,927/mo 🏆 GRAND PICK

🎯 Engine pick: sell 5 × $187.50 (50% normal), 93% survival, breach 7%, $5,625/mo.
The pick is already past the ~80% (≈1σ) comfort line, so take the income. Stepping out to the $192.50 rung (33% normal) lifts survival to 99+% (breach 7% → 0%) for $2,550/mo less (45% income) buys safety you do not really need here.
QCOM  spot $162.10 · click a rung to expand its decision panel
RungSellExpiryDTEOTMSurvivalTouch oddsFIGHT edgePer cycleIncome/moΔ vs pickCap give-up
cover hedge5 × $21531 Jul2d32.6%99+%hist 100%0%hist 1%-1pp$15$225-$5,400$6,857
Sell 5 × $215 32.6% OTM over spot $162.10 31 Jul 2026 (2d, $0.04 mid)
= $15 credit for the 2d cycle → $225/mo projected
Survival (stays ≤ $215)
99+%
Breach risk
0%
POP (stays ≤ $215.04)
99+%
EV / mo
+$225
📈 CAMPAIGN OUTLOOK (400 simulated futures, this rung on repeat for 9 months, no directional opinion)
FIGHT'S EDGE
-1pp
48% whole by 9mo vs 49% doing nothing
FIRE DRILLS
~0.0/quarter
challenges to roll; realized tends lower (calibration)
BANKED RATE WHILE FIGHTING
$-219/mo
median; plan ~$-149/mo after 68% keep · $-1,970 banked by campaign end (selling stops once whole)
green: with FIGHT · grey: without
if it recovers, the typical trip is ~1.9 mo [1.0-3.7], measured ONLY among the 48% of futures that got whole
🛡 IF CHALLENGED (spot reaches the strike) · challenge = the strike is touched at any point, so it runs ~2x the breach risk (finishing through it)
Challenge odds (touch by expiry)
0%
Flat exit net (mid-life)
-$3,558
Free roll-up
+$3/wk
Safest escape (by 21 Aug 2026)
$225 @ 74% POP
66% survival
Roll menuyour doors if the call gets challenged; each row = buy back the 5 calls + sell the new ones, one order. Prices assume the central case (day 1 of 2); earlier = worse credits, later = better, through the strike = add intrinsic
Buyback gross: $10.10/sh now → $7.15 mid-life → ≈ $0 at expiry  |  you banked $0.03/sh, so a flat mid-life exit nets -$7.12/sh  |  roll rows are incremental, the banked premium stays yours
MoveNew strike ≈New expiryTenorEst netTotal (5 ct)POP / surv
of new CC
If rolled & exited
total P&L · cap gain @ new strike
Roll out (same strike, buy time)~$2157 Aug 20268d left+$1.70/sh+$850
cycle +$865
67%
surv 52%
-$5,887 NOT
cap gain +$28,876
Up-and-out for even (raise the cap, free)~$2187 Aug 20268d left+$0.43/sh+$214
cycle +$229
69%
surv 57%
-$4,987 NOT
cap gain +$29,775
Max even-money escape in the band~$22521 Aug 202622d left+$0.46/sh+$231
cycle +$246
74%
surv 66%
-$999 NOT
cap gain +$33,763
reaches SS ✓
If rolled & exited = your total from-entry P&L if you roll to that strike and then close the whole fortress with the stock pinned there (all legs repriced; SAFE = P&L ≥ 0). Cap gain is what that roll earns THIS cycle (premium + appreciation from today to the new strike); the total adds your existing MTM on top. Same from-entry basis as this tool's @cap / total-exit numbers, at the rolled strike.
POP = P(stays ≤ strike + premium collected, the call is profitable); surv = P(stays ≤ strike, the call expires fully worthless). Survival is the stricter bar (no premium cushion), so it sits below POP.
Method: each leg = its live quote (buyback off the ask, sells off the bid) × a Black-Scholes ratio to the challenge, using the leg's own IV shifted -0.4 vol pt per +1% move (equity skew: vol eases as spot rises; buyback shift floored at 0). Estimates, not quotes; the live roll table owns the real decision when a CC is actually threatened.
More detail, income coverage, downside budget, tripwires, held-to-expiry ladder, V-bounce stress
Income coverage
Gross FIGHT income$225/mo
vs 50% target ($4,547/mo)-95%
vs normal income ($9,094/mo)2% covered
Net income (after hedge)$4/mo
Downside budget
⚠ $215 is $14 below CC-SS $228.74: assignment on a recovery to whole locks the cap give-up below.
Cap give-up @ CC-SS (V-bounce)-$6,857
… as % of IC ($17,000)40.3%
… as % of ML ($77,000)8.9%
Recovery months (at normal income)0.8 mo
Surgical close (5 ct)$-34,768
Tripwiresprice and time left decide together; the matrix is the playbook
The one rule: roll when the short call's remaining TIME VALUE < $0.01/sh (~25% of the $0.03 collected) or spot ≥ $215.04 (breakeven), whichever comes first. Time value = call mark price minus intrinsic (max(0, spot − $215)); NOT the premium you collected. Momentum override: two daily closes above $193.07 (daily upper band) or daily RSI > 70 → treat "pressing" as "through".
Spot \ Time≥ 4d left3d left≤ 2d (expiry)
Below $212.85Do nothing. Theta wins.Do nothing.Penny buyback at the close; re-sell next cycle.
Pressing the strike
$213-215.04
Hold, alert at breakeven. Rolling into a spike pays top dollar; let theta bleed the buyback first.★ Roll on strength NOW: cheap buyback, fat credits.Close or roll same day; pin risk at the strike.
Through breakeven
≥ $215.04
Act now: intrinsic compounds daily. Up-and-out or safety roll.Roll or close immediately; time value is gone.Close today, or be assigned.
If held to expiryexact, settlement = intrinsic  ·  fortress delta 1.06 (IBKR)
ScenarioSpotCC leg netPosition totalvs todayvs do-nothing
at strike$215.00 (5.2σ)$15$-6,737+$28,026-$160
+2.5%$220.37 (5.7σ)$-2,672$-6,578+$28,184-$2,660
+5%$225.75 (6.2σ)$-5,360$-6,420+$28,343-$2,660
V-BOUNCE STRESS (stock → CC-SS $228.74, where you are whole again, by expiry)
Starting unrealized P&L: $-34,763
+ Fortress recovery (un-capped): +$35,288
− CC assignment net of premium (5 × $215): -$6,857
Total Position P&L @ SS: $-6,331 (+$28,431 vs today)
Do-nothing baseline at SS: $-3,671 (this trade vs do-nothing: $-2,660, the opportunity cost of earning $225/mo FIGHT income now)
33% normal5 × $192.5031 Jul2d18.8%99+%hist 100%1%hist 1%-0pp$205$3,075-$2,550$17,917
Sell 5 × $192.50 18.8% OTM over spot $162.10 31 Jul 2026 (2d, $0.48 mid)
= $205 credit for the 2d cycle → $3,075/mo projected
Survival (stays ≤ $192.50)
99+%
Breach risk
0%
POP (stays ≤ $192.98)
99+%
EV / mo
+$3,062
📈 CAMPAIGN OUTLOOK (400 simulated futures, this rung on repeat for 9 months, no directional opinion)
FIGHT'S EDGE
-0pp
52% whole by 9mo vs 53% doing nothing
FIRE DRILLS
~0.1/quarter
challenges to roll; realized tends lower (calibration)
BANKED RATE WHILE FIGHTING
$-41/mo
median; plan ~$-28/mo after 68% keep · $-314 banked by campaign end (selling stops once whole)
green: with FIGHT · grey: without
if it recovers, the typical trip is ~2.0 mo [1.1-3.5], measured ONLY among the 52% of futures that got whole
🛡 IF CHALLENGED (spot reaches the strike) · challenge = the strike is touched at any point, so it runs ~2x the breach risk (finishing through it)
Challenge odds (touch by expiry)
5%
Flat exit net (mid-life)
-$2,994
Free roll-up
+$5/wk
Safest escape (by 21 Aug 2026)
$208 @ 78% POP
72% survival
Roll menuyour doors if the call gets challenged; each row = buy back the 5 calls + sell the new ones, one order. Prices assume the central case (day 1 of 2); earlier = worse credits, later = better, through the strike = add intrinsic
Buyback gross: $9.05/sh now → $6.40 mid-life (likely $6.54–$11.58)≈ $0 at expiry  |  you banked $0.41/sh, so a flat mid-life exit nets -$5.99/sh  |  roll rows are incremental, the banked premium stays yours
📊 Across 140 simulated challenges: the $192 strike is typically first touched on day 2 of 2, at $199 (overshoots $6.58). The [P25–P75] under each Total is that door's credit across those paths; % credit is the share of those challenges where the roll is a net credit.
MoveNew strike ≈New expiryTenorEst netTotal (5 ct)POP / surv
of new CC
If rolled & exited
total P&L · cap gain @ new strike
Roll out (same strike, buy time)~$1927 Aug 20268d left+$2.13/sh+$1,065
cycle +$1,270
[+$664…+$1,493] · 89% credit
67%
surv 52%
-$17,395 NOT
cap gain +$17,367
Reliable up-and-out (highest cap still free ≥60%)~$20321 Aug 202622d left+$1.05/sh+$523
cycle +$728
[-$384…+$868] · 67% credit
74%
surv 66%
-$12,431 NOT
cap gain +$22,332
Max even-money escape in the band~$20521 Aug 202622d left+$0.33/sh+$165
cycle +$370
[-$865…+$470] · 46% credit
76%
surv 69%
-$11,465 NOT
cap gain +$23,297
SS $224 not reachable for even money within 45d; this is the ceiling of the free ladder
Up-and-out for even (raise the cap, free)~$1987 Aug 20268d left+$0.06/sh+$29
cycle +$234
[-$677…+$318] · 41% credit
72%
surv 62%
-$15,572 NOT
cap gain +$19,190
Safety roll (pay small debit, max POP)~$20821 Aug 202622d left-$0.39/sh-$195
cycle +$10
[-$1,360…+$69] · 29% credit
78%
surv 72%
-$10,501 NOT
cap gain +$24,261
budget: banked $205 debit $195 (95% used ≈ 0.3 wk of income) → whole cycle still +$10 cash · rolled 5 ct earn ≈ $4,096/mo while parked; 0 ct free to re-sell
If rolled & exited = your total from-entry P&L if you roll to that strike and then close the whole fortress with the stock pinned there (all legs repriced; SAFE = P&L ≥ 0). Cap gain is what that roll earns THIS cycle (premium + appreciation from today to the new strike); the total adds your existing MTM on top. Same from-entry basis as this tool's @cap / total-exit numbers, at the rolled strike.
POP = P(stays ≤ strike + premium collected, the call is profitable); surv = P(stays ≤ strike, the call expires fully worthless). Survival is the stricter bar (no premium cushion), so it sits below POP.
Method: each leg = its live quote (buyback off the ask, sells off the bid) × a Black-Scholes ratio to the challenge, using the leg's own IV shifted -0.4 vol pt per +1% move (equity skew: vol eases as spot rises; buyback shift floored at 0). Estimates, not quotes; the live roll table owns the real decision when a CC is actually threatened.
More detail, income coverage, downside budget, tripwires, held-to-expiry ladder, V-bounce stress
Income coverage
Gross FIGHT income$3,075/mo
vs 50% target ($4,547/mo)-32%
vs normal income ($9,094/mo)34% covered
Net income (after hedge)$2,854/mo
Downside budget
⚠ $192.50 is $36 below CC-SS $228.74: assignment on a recovery to whole locks the cap give-up below.
Cap give-up @ CC-SS (V-bounce)-$17,917
… as % of IC ($17,000)105.4%
… as % of ML ($77,000)23.3%
Recovery months (at normal income)2.0 mo
Surgical close (5 ct)$-34,798
Tripwiresprice and time left decide together; the matrix is the playbook
The one rule: roll when the short call's remaining TIME VALUE < $0.10/sh (~25% of the $0.41 collected) or spot ≥ $192.98 (breakeven), whichever comes first. Time value = call mark price minus intrinsic (max(0, spot − $192)); NOT the premium you collected. Momentum override: two daily closes above $193.07 (daily upper band) or daily RSI > 70 → treat "pressing" as "through".
Spot \ Time≥ 4d left3d left≤ 2d (expiry)
Below $190.57Do nothing. Theta wins.Do nothing.Penny buyback at the close; re-sell next cycle.
Pressing the strike
$191-192.98
Hold, alert at breakeven. Rolling into a spike pays top dollar; let theta bleed the buyback first.★ Roll on strength NOW: cheap buyback, fat credits.Close or roll same day; pin risk at the strike.
Through breakeven
≥ $192.98
Act now: intrinsic compounds daily. Up-and-out or safety roll.Roll or close immediately; time value is gone.Close today, or be assigned.
If held to expiryexact, settlement = intrinsic  ·  fortress delta 1.06 (IBKR)
ScenarioSpotCC leg netPosition totalvs todayvs do-nothing
at strike$192.50 (3.0σ)$205$-18,461+$16,302+$30
+2.5%$197.31 (3.4σ)$-2,201$-18,319+$16,444-$2,376
+5%$202.12 (3.9σ)$-4,608$-18,177+$16,586-$4,782
SS (= V-bounce)$224.00 (6.1σ)$-15,545$-17,531+$17,231-$13,720
V-BOUNCE STRESS (stock → CC-SS $228.74, where you are whole again, by expiry)
Starting unrealized P&L: $-34,763
+ Fortress recovery (un-capped): +$35,288
− CC assignment net of premium (5 × $192.50): -$17,917
Total Position P&L @ SS: $-17,391 (+$17,371 vs today)
Do-nothing baseline at SS: $-3,671 (this trade vs do-nothing: $-13,720, the opportunity cost of earning $3,075/mo FIGHT income now)
🎯 50% normal5 × $187.5031 Jul2d15.7%93%hist 100%14%hist 5%+5pp$375$5,625$20,247
Sell 5 × $187.50 15.7% OTM over spot $162.10 31 Jul 2026 (2d, $0.82 mid)
= $375 credit for the 2d cycle → $5,625/mo projected
Survival (stays ≤ $187.50)
93%
Breach risk
7%
POP (stays ≤ $188.32)
94%
EV / mo
+$3,527
📈 CAMPAIGN OUTLOOK (400 simulated futures, this rung on repeat for 9 months, no directional opinion)
FIGHT'S EDGE
+5pp
65% whole by 9mo vs 60% doing nothing
FIRE DRILLS
~1.7/quarter
challenges to roll; realized tends lower (calibration)
BANKED RATE WHILE FIGHTING
$3,433/mo
median; plan ~$2,335/mo after 68% keep · $9,684 banked by campaign end (selling stops once whole)
green: with FIGHT · grey: without
if it recovers, the typical trip is ~1.0 mo [0.5-2.5], measured ONLY among the 65% of futures that got whole
🛡 IF CHALLENGED (spot reaches the strike) · challenge = the strike is touched at any point, so it runs ~2x the breach risk (finishing through it)
Challenge odds (touch by expiry)
8%
Flat exit net (mid-life)
-$2,741
Free roll-up
+$5/wk
Safest escape (by 21 Aug 2026)
$203 @ 78% POP
72% survival
Roll menuyour doors if the call gets challenged; each row = buy back the 5 calls + sell the new ones, one order. Prices assume the central case (day 1 of 2); earlier = worse credits, later = better, through the strike = add intrinsic
Buyback gross: $8.81/sh now → $6.23 mid-life (likely $6.43–$11.99)≈ $0 at expiry  |  you banked $0.75/sh, so a flat mid-life exit nets -$5.48/sh  |  roll rows are incremental, the banked premium stays yours
📊 Across 226 simulated challenges: the $188 strike is typically first touched on day 2 of 2, at $194 (overshoots $6.72). The [P25–P75] under each Total is that door's credit across those paths; % credit is the share of those challenges where the roll is a net credit.
MoveNew strike ≈New expiryTenorEst netTotal (5 ct)POP / surv
of new CC
If rolled & exited
total P&L · cap gain @ new strike
Roll out (same strike, buy time)~$1887 Aug 20268d left+$2.21/sh+$1,103
cycle +$1,478
[+$516…+$1,495] · 85% credit
67%
surv 52%
-$19,835 NOT
cap gain +$14,928
Reliable up-and-out (highest cap still free ≥60%)~$19821 Aug 202622d left+$1.14/sh+$572
cycle +$947
[-$607…+$868] · 63% credit
75%
surv 66%
-$14,859 NOT
cap gain +$19,904
Max even-money escape in the band~$20021 Aug 202622d left+$0.43/sh+$216
cycle +$591
[-$1,091…+$469] · 45% credit
76%
surv 69%
-$13,892 NOT
cap gain +$20,871
SS $224 not reachable for even money within 45d; this is the ceiling of the free ladder
Up-and-out for even (raise the cap, free)~$1937 Aug 20268d left+$0.14/sh+$68
cycle +$443
[-$852…+$313] · 39% credit
72%
surv 62%
-$18,011 NOT
cap gain +$16,752
Safety roll (pay small debit, max POP)~$20321 Aug 202622d left-$0.29/sh-$143
cycle +$232
[-$1,599…+$66] · 27% credit
78%
surv 72%
-$12,926 NOT
cap gain +$21,836
budget: banked $375 debit $143 (38% used ≈ 0.1 wk of income) → whole cycle still +$232 cash · rolled 5 ct earn ≈ $4,054/mo while parked; 0 ct free to re-sell
If rolled & exited = your total from-entry P&L if you roll to that strike and then close the whole fortress with the stock pinned there (all legs repriced; SAFE = P&L ≥ 0). Cap gain is what that roll earns THIS cycle (premium + appreciation from today to the new strike); the total adds your existing MTM on top. Same from-entry basis as this tool's @cap / total-exit numbers, at the rolled strike.
POP = P(stays ≤ strike + premium collected, the call is profitable); surv = P(stays ≤ strike, the call expires fully worthless). Survival is the stricter bar (no premium cushion), so it sits below POP.
Method: each leg = its live quote (buyback off the ask, sells off the bid) × a Black-Scholes ratio to the challenge, using the leg's own IV shifted -0.4 vol pt per +1% move (equity skew: vol eases as spot rises; buyback shift floored at 0). Estimates, not quotes; the live roll table owns the real decision when a CC is actually threatened.
More detail, income coverage, downside budget, tripwires, held-to-expiry ladder, V-bounce stress
Income coverage
Gross FIGHT income$5,625/mo
vs 50% target ($4,547/mo)+24%
vs normal income ($9,094/mo)62% covered
Net income (after hedge)$5,404/mo
Downside budget
⚠ $187.50 is $41 below CC-SS $228.74: assignment on a recovery to whole locks the cap give-up below.
Cap give-up @ CC-SS (V-bounce)-$20,247
… as % of IC ($17,000)119.1%
… as % of ML ($77,000)26.3%
Recovery months (at normal income)2.2 mo
Surgical close (5 ct)$-34,800
Tripwiresprice and time left decide together; the matrix is the playbook
The one rule: roll when the short call's remaining TIME VALUE < $0.19/sh (~25% of the $0.75 collected) or spot ≥ $188.32 (breakeven), whichever comes first. Time value = call mark price minus intrinsic (max(0, spot − $188)); NOT the premium you collected. Momentum override: two daily closes above $193.07 (daily upper band) or daily RSI > 70 → treat "pressing" as "through".
Spot \ Time≥ 4d left3d left≤ 2d (expiry)
Below $185.62Do nothing. Theta wins.Do nothing.Penny buyback at the close; re-sell next cycle.
Pressing the strike
$186-188.32
Hold, alert at breakeven. Rolling into a spike pays top dollar; let theta bleed the buyback first.★ Roll on strength NOW: cheap buyback, fat credits.Close or roll same day; pin risk at the strike.
Through breakeven
≥ $188.32
Act now: intrinsic compounds daily. Up-and-out or safety roll.Roll or close immediately; time value is gone.Close today, or be assigned.
If held to expiryexact, settlement = intrinsic  ·  fortress delta 1.06 (IBKR)
ScenarioSpotCC leg netPosition totalvs todayvs do-nothing
at strike$187.50 (2.5σ)$375$-20,938+$13,824+$200
+2.5%$192.19 (2.9σ)$-1,969$-20,800+$13,963-$2,144
+5%$196.88 (3.4σ)$-4,312$-20,662+$14,101-$4,488
SS (= V-bounce)$224.00 (6.1σ)$-17,875$-19,861+$14,901-$16,050
V-BOUNCE STRESS (stock → CC-SS $228.74, where you are whole again, by expiry)
Starting unrealized P&L: $-34,763
+ Fortress recovery (un-capped): +$35,288
− CC assignment net of premium (5 × $187.50): -$20,247
Total Position P&L @ SS: $-19,721 (+$15,041 vs today)
Do-nothing baseline at SS: $-3,671 (this trade vs do-nothing: $-16,050, the opportunity cost of earning $5,625/mo FIGHT income now)
🛡 safe yield5 × $18531 Jul2d14.1%91%hist 100%18%hist 5%+6pp$500$7,500+$1,875$21,372
Sell 5 × $185 14.1% OTM over spot $162.10 31 Jul 2026 (2d, $1.06 mid)
= $500 credit for the 2d cycle → $7,500/mo projected
Survival (stays ≤ $185)
91%
Breach risk
9%
POP (stays ≤ $186.06)
92%
EV / mo
+$4,456
📈 CAMPAIGN OUTLOOK (400 simulated futures, this rung on repeat for 9 months, no directional opinion)
FIGHT'S EDGE
+6pp
66% whole by 9mo vs 60% doing nothing
FIRE DRILLS
~2.3/quarter
challenges to roll; realized tends lower (calibration)
BANKED RATE WHILE FIGHTING
$4,256/mo
median; plan ~$2,894/mo after 68% keep · $12,453 banked by campaign end (selling stops once whole)
green: with FIGHT · grey: without
if it recovers, the typical trip is ~0.9 mo [0.5-2.7], measured ONLY among the 66% of futures that got whole
🛡 IF CHALLENGED (spot reaches the strike) · challenge = the strike is touched at any point, so it runs ~2x the breach risk (finishing through it)
Challenge odds (touch by expiry)
10%
Flat exit net (mid-life)
-$2,574
Free roll-up
+$5/wk
Safest escape (by 21 Aug 2026)
$203 @ 80% POP
75% survival
Roll menuyour doors if the call gets challenged; each row = buy back the 5 calls + sell the new ones, one order. Prices assume the central case (day 1 of 2); earlier = worse credits, later = better, through the strike = add intrinsic
Buyback gross: $8.69/sh now → $6.15 mid-life (likely $6.46–$12.77)≈ $0 at expiry  |  you banked $1.00/sh, so a flat mid-life exit nets -$5.15/sh  |  roll rows are incremental, the banked premium stays yours
📊 Across 308 simulated challenges: the $185 strike is typically first touched on day 2 of 2, at $192 (overshoots $7.01). The [P25–P75] under each Total is that door's credit across those paths; % credit is the share of those challenges where the roll is a net credit.
MoveNew strike ≈New expiryTenorEst netTotal (5 ct)POP / surv
of new CC
If rolled & exited
total P&L · cap gain @ new strike
Roll out (same strike, buy time)~$1857 Aug 20268d left+$2.24/sh+$1,121
cycle +$1,621
[+$505…+$1,469] · 84% credit
67%
surv 52%
-$21,016 NOT
cap gain +$13,747
Reliable up-and-out (highest cap still free ≥60%)~$19321 Aug 202622d left+$2.26/sh+$1,132
cycle +$1,632
[-$480…+$1,284] · 67% credit
70%
surv 62%
-$16,822 NOT
cap gain +$17,941
Max even-money escape in the band~$19821 Aug 202622d left+$0.48/sh+$239
cycle +$739
[-$1,216…+$417] · 44% credit
76%
surv 69%
-$15,067 NOT
cap gain +$19,695
SS $224 not reachable for even money within 45d; this is the ceiling of the free ladder
Up-and-out for even (raise the cap, free)~$1907 Aug 20268d left+$0.17/sh+$87
cycle +$587
[-$948…+$273] · 37% credit
72%
surv 62%
-$19,191 NOT
cap gain +$15,572
Safety roll (pay small debit, max POP)~$20321 Aug 202622d left-$0.85/sh-$425
cycle +$75
[-$2,178…-$339] · 16% credit
80%
surv 75%
-$13,084 NOT
cap gain +$21,679
budget: banked $500 debit $425 (85% used ≈ 0.2 wk of income) → whole cycle still +$75 cash · rolled 5 ct earn ≈ $3,613/mo while parked; 0 ct free to re-sell
If rolled & exited = your total from-entry P&L if you roll to that strike and then close the whole fortress with the stock pinned there (all legs repriced; SAFE = P&L ≥ 0). Cap gain is what that roll earns THIS cycle (premium + appreciation from today to the new strike); the total adds your existing MTM on top. Same from-entry basis as this tool's @cap / total-exit numbers, at the rolled strike.
POP = P(stays ≤ strike + premium collected, the call is profitable); surv = P(stays ≤ strike, the call expires fully worthless). Survival is the stricter bar (no premium cushion), so it sits below POP.
Method: each leg = its live quote (buyback off the ask, sells off the bid) × a Black-Scholes ratio to the challenge, using the leg's own IV shifted -0.4 vol pt per +1% move (equity skew: vol eases as spot rises; buyback shift floored at 0). Estimates, not quotes; the live roll table owns the real decision when a CC is actually threatened.
More detail, income coverage, downside budget, tripwires, held-to-expiry ladder, V-bounce stress
Income coverage
Gross FIGHT income$7,500/mo
vs 50% target ($4,547/mo)+65%
vs normal income ($9,094/mo)82% covered
Net income (after hedge)$7,279/mo
Downside budget
⚠ $185 is $44 below CC-SS $228.74: assignment on a recovery to whole locks the cap give-up below.
Cap give-up @ CC-SS (V-bounce)-$21,372
… as % of IC ($17,000)125.7%
… as % of ML ($77,000)27.8%
Recovery months (at normal income)2.4 mo
Surgical close (5 ct)$-34,795
Tripwiresprice and time left decide together; the matrix is the playbook
The one rule: roll when the short call's remaining TIME VALUE < $0.25/sh (~25% of the $1.00 collected) or spot ≥ $186.06 (breakeven), whichever comes first. Time value = call mark price minus intrinsic (max(0, spot − $185)); NOT the premium you collected. Momentum override: two daily closes above $193.07 (daily upper band) or daily RSI > 70 → treat "pressing" as "through".
Spot \ Time≥ 4d left3d left≤ 2d (expiry)
Below $183.15Do nothing. Theta wins.Do nothing.Penny buyback at the close; re-sell next cycle.
Pressing the strike
$183-186.06
Hold, alert at breakeven. Rolling into a spike pays top dollar; let theta bleed the buyback first.★ Roll on strength NOW: cheap buyback, fat credits.Close or roll same day; pin risk at the strike.
Through breakeven
≥ $186.06
Act now: intrinsic compounds daily. Up-and-out or safety roll.Roll or close immediately; time value is gone.Close today, or be assigned.
If held to expiryexact, settlement = intrinsic  ·  fortress delta 1.06 (IBKR)
ScenarioSpotCC leg netPosition totalvs todayvs do-nothing
at strike$185.00 (2.2σ)$500$-22,137+$12,626+$325
+2.5%$189.62 (2.7σ)$-1,812$-22,001+$12,762-$1,987
+5%$194.25 (3.1σ)$-4,125$-21,864+$12,898-$4,300
SS (= V-bounce)$224.00 (6.1σ)$-19,000$-20,986+$13,776-$17,175
V-BOUNCE STRESS (stock → CC-SS $228.74, where you are whole again, by expiry)
Starting unrealized P&L: $-34,763
+ Fortress recovery (un-capped): +$35,288
− CC assignment net of premium (5 × $185): -$21,372
Total Position P&L @ SS: $-20,846 (+$13,916 vs today)
Do-nothing baseline at SS: $-3,671 (this trade vs do-nothing: $-17,175, the opportunity cost of earning $7,500/mo FIGHT income now)
100% normal5 × $182.5031 Jul2d12.6%89%hist 99%23%hist 13%+10pp$640$9,600+$3,975$22,482
Sell 5 × $182.50 12.6% OTM over spot $162.10 31 Jul 2026 (2d, $1.34 mid)
= $640 credit for the 2d cycle → $9,600/mo projected
Survival (stays ≤ $182.50)
89%
Breach risk
11%
POP (stays ≤ $183.84)
90%
EV / mo
+$5,252
📈 CAMPAIGN OUTLOOK (400 simulated futures, this rung on repeat for 9 months, no directional opinion)
FIGHT'S EDGE
+10pp
68% whole by 9mo vs 57% doing nothing
FIRE DRILLS
~2.7/quarter
challenges to roll; realized tends lower (calibration)
BANKED RATE WHILE FIGHTING
$5,313/mo
median; plan ~$3,613/mo after 68% keep · $14,169 banked by campaign end (selling stops once whole)
green: with FIGHT · grey: without
if it recovers, the typical trip is ~1.1 mo [0.5-2.5], measured ONLY among the 68% of futures that got whole
🛡 IF CHALLENGED (spot reaches the strike) · challenge = the strike is touched at any point, so it runs ~2x the breach risk (finishing through it)
Challenge odds (touch by expiry)
13%
Flat exit net (mid-life)
-$2,393
Free roll-up
+$5/wk
Safest escape (by 21 Aug 2026)
$200 @ 80% POP
75% survival
Roll menuyour doors if the call gets challenged; each row = buy back the 5 calls + sell the new ones, one order. Prices assume the central case (day 1 of 2); earlier = worse credits, later = better, through the strike = add intrinsic
Buyback gross: $8.58/sh now → $6.07 mid-life (likely $6.90–$13.75)≈ $0 at expiry  |  you banked $1.28/sh, so a flat mid-life exit nets -$4.79/sh  |  roll rows are incremental, the banked premium stays yours
📊 Across 404 simulated challenges: the $182 strike is typically first touched on day 2 of 2, at $190 (overshoots $7.70). The [P25–P75] under each Total is that door's credit across those paths; % credit is the share of those challenges where the roll is a net credit.
MoveNew strike ≈New expiryTenorEst netTotal (5 ct)POP / surv
of new CC
If rolled & exited
total P&L · cap gain @ new strike
Roll out (same strike, buy time)~$1827 Aug 20268d left+$2.28/sh+$1,138
cycle +$1,778
[+$262…+$1,312] · 81% credit
67%
surv 52%
-$22,183 NOT
cap gain +$12,580
Reliable up-and-out (highest cap still free ≥60%)~$19021 Aug 202622d left+$2.29/sh+$1,143
cycle +$1,783
[-$814…+$1,098] · 61% credit
70%
surv 62%
-$17,994 NOT
cap gain +$16,768
Max even-money escape in the band~$19521 Aug 202622d left+$0.52/sh+$261
cycle +$901
[-$1,547…+$246] · 34% credit
76%
surv 69%
-$16,229 NOT
cap gain +$18,533
SS $224 not reachable for even money within 45d; this is the ceiling of the free ladder
Up-and-out for even (raise the cap, free)~$1887 Aug 20268d left+$0.21/sh+$104
cycle +$744
[-$1,187…+$101] · 29% credit
72%
surv 62%
-$20,357 NOT
cap gain +$14,405
Safety roll (pay small debit, max POP)~$20021 Aug 202622d left-$0.80/sh-$401
cycle +$239
[-$2,491…-$493] · 13% credit
80%
surv 75%
-$14,244 NOT
cap gain +$20,519
budget: banked $640 debit $401 (63% used ≈ 0.2 wk of income) → whole cycle still +$239 cash · rolled 5 ct earn ≈ $3,588/mo while parked; 0 ct free to re-sell
If rolled & exited = your total from-entry P&L if you roll to that strike and then close the whole fortress with the stock pinned there (all legs repriced; SAFE = P&L ≥ 0). Cap gain is what that roll earns THIS cycle (premium + appreciation from today to the new strike); the total adds your existing MTM on top. Same from-entry basis as this tool's @cap / total-exit numbers, at the rolled strike.
POP = P(stays ≤ strike + premium collected, the call is profitable); surv = P(stays ≤ strike, the call expires fully worthless). Survival is the stricter bar (no premium cushion), so it sits below POP.
Method: each leg = its live quote (buyback off the ask, sells off the bid) × a Black-Scholes ratio to the challenge, using the leg's own IV shifted -0.4 vol pt per +1% move (equity skew: vol eases as spot rises; buyback shift floored at 0). Estimates, not quotes; the live roll table owns the real decision when a CC is actually threatened.
More detail, income coverage, downside budget, tripwires, held-to-expiry ladder, V-bounce stress
Income coverage
Gross FIGHT income$9,600/mo
vs 50% target ($4,547/mo)+111%
vs normal income ($9,094/mo)106% covered
Net income (after hedge)$9,379/mo
Downside budget
⚠ $182.50 is $46 below CC-SS $228.74: assignment on a recovery to whole locks the cap give-up below.
Cap give-up @ CC-SS (V-bounce)-$22,482
… as % of IC ($17,000)132.2%
… as % of ML ($77,000)29.2%
Recovery months (at normal income)2.5 mo
Surgical close (5 ct)$-34,795
Tripwiresprice and time left decide together; the matrix is the playbook
The one rule: roll when the short call's remaining TIME VALUE < $0.32/sh (~25% of the $1.28 collected) or spot ≥ $183.84 (breakeven), whichever comes first. Time value = call mark price minus intrinsic (max(0, spot − $182)); NOT the premium you collected. Momentum override: two daily closes above $193.07 (daily upper band) or daily RSI > 70 → treat "pressing" as "through".
Spot \ Time≥ 4d left3d left≤ 2d (expiry)
Below $180.68Do nothing. Theta wins.Do nothing.Penny buyback at the close; re-sell next cycle.
Pressing the strike
$181-183.84
Hold, alert at breakeven. Rolling into a spike pays top dollar; let theta bleed the buyback first.★ Roll on strength NOW: cheap buyback, fat credits.Close or roll same day; pin risk at the strike.
Through breakeven
≥ $183.84
Act now: intrinsic compounds daily. Up-and-out or safety roll.Roll or close immediately; time value is gone.Close today, or be assigned.
If held to expiryexact, settlement = intrinsic  ·  fortress delta 1.06 (IBKR)
ScenarioSpotCC leg netPosition totalvs todayvs do-nothing
at strike$182.50 (2.0σ)$640$-23,321+$11,442+$465
+2.5%$187.06 (2.4σ)$-1,641$-23,186+$11,576-$1,816
+5%$191.62 (2.9σ)$-3,922$-23,052+$11,711-$4,098
SS (= V-bounce)$224.00 (6.1σ)$-20,110$-22,096+$12,666-$18,285
V-BOUNCE STRESS (stock → CC-SS $228.74, where you are whole again, by expiry)
Starting unrealized P&L: $-34,763
+ Fortress recovery (un-capped): +$35,288
− CC assignment net of premium (5 × $182.50): -$22,482
Total Position P&L @ SS: $-21,956 (+$12,806 vs today)
Do-nothing baseline at SS: $-3,671 (this trade vs do-nothing: $-18,285, the opportunity cost of earning $9,600/mo FIGHT income now)
A nudge, not a rule: the engine maximizes income at acceptable safety; this weighs the income you would give up against the breach risk you would shed. Your hedge bleed and your read on QCOM are the tiebreakers.

📅 NEXT FRIDAY · 7 Aug 2026 · 9d · E[net] $9/mo

🎯 Engine pick: sell 5 × $180 (50% normal), 80% survival, breach 20%, $4,717/mo.
The pick is already past the ~80% (≈1σ) comfort line, so take the income. Stepping out to the $185 rung (33% normal) lifts survival to 85% (breach 20% → 15%) for $1,350/mo less (29% income) buys safety you do not really need here.
QCOM  spot $162.10 · click a rung to expand its decision panel
RungSellExpiryDTEOTMSurvivalTouch oddsFIGHT edgePer cycleIncome/moΔ vs pickCap give-up
cover hedge2 × $2057 Aug9d26.5%96%hist 100%7%hist 1%+0pp$78$260-$4,457$4,671
Sell 2 × $205 26.5% OTM over spot $162.10 7 Aug 2026 (9d, $0.49 mid)
= $78 credit for the 9d cycle → $260/mo projected
Survival (stays ≤ $205)
96%
Breach risk
4%
POP (stays ≤ $205.50)
97%
EV / mo
+$151
📈 CAMPAIGN OUTLOOK (400 simulated futures, this rung on repeat for 9 months, no directional opinion)
FIGHT'S EDGE
+0pp
50% whole by 9mo vs 50% doing nothing
FIRE DRILLS
~0.3/quarter
challenges to roll; realized tends lower (calibration)
BANKED RATE WHILE FIGHTING
$168/mo
median; plan ~$115/mo after 68% keep · $998 banked by campaign end (selling stops once whole)
green: with FIGHT · grey: without
if it recovers, the typical trip is ~2.1 mo [1.2-4.2], measured ONLY among the 50% of futures that got whole
🛡 IF CHALLENGED (spot reaches the strike) · challenge = the strike is touched at any point, so it runs ~2x the breach risk (finishing through it)
Challenge odds (touch by expiry)
5%
Flat exit net (mid-life)
-$1,641
Free roll-up
+$0/wk
Safest escape (by 21 Aug 2026)
$210 @ 69% POP
59% survival
Roll menuyour doors if the call gets challenged; each row = buy back the 2 calls + sell the new ones, one order. Prices assume the central case (day 4 of 9); earlier = worse credits, later = better, through the strike = add intrinsic
Buyback gross: $12.15/sh now → $8.60 mid-life (likely $6.29–$10.81)≈ $0 at expiry  |  you banked $0.39/sh, so a flat mid-life exit nets -$8.21/sh  |  roll rows are incremental, the banked premium stays yours
📊 Across 146 simulated challenges: the $205 strike is typically first touched on day 7 of 9, at $210 (overshoots $4.98). The [P25–P75] under each Total is that door's credit across those paths; % credit is the share of those challenges where the roll is a net credit.
MoveNew strike ≈New expiryTenorEst netTotal (2 ct)POP / surv
of new CC
If rolled & exited
total P&L · cap gain @ new strike
Roll out (same strike, buy time)~$20514 Aug 202612d left+$0.49/sh+$99
cycle +$177
[+$114…+$616] · 86% credit
67%
surv 52%
-$11,765 NOT
cap gain +$22,997
Up-and-out for even (raise the cap, free)~$20514 Aug 202612d left+$0.31/sh+$63
cycle +$141
[+$68…+$570] · 83% credit
67%
surv 53%
-$11,589 NOT
cap gain +$23,173
Max even-money escape in the band~$21021 Aug 202618d left+$0.30/sh+$60
cycle +$138
[-$97…+$515] · 69% credit
69%
surv 59%
-$8,944 NOT
cap gain +$25,818
SS $224 not reachable for even money within 45d; this is the ceiling of the free ladder
If rolled & exited = your total from-entry P&L if you roll to that strike and then close the whole fortress with the stock pinned there (all legs repriced; SAFE = P&L ≥ 0). Cap gain is what that roll earns THIS cycle (premium + appreciation from today to the new strike); the total adds your existing MTM on top. Same from-entry basis as this tool's @cap / total-exit numbers, at the rolled strike.
POP = P(stays ≤ strike + premium collected, the call is profitable); surv = P(stays ≤ strike, the call expires fully worthless). Survival is the stricter bar (no premium cushion), so it sits below POP.
Method: each leg = its live quote (buyback off the ask, sells off the bid) × a Black-Scholes ratio to the challenge, using the leg's own IV shifted -0.4 vol pt per +1% move (equity skew: vol eases as spot rises; buyback shift floored at 0). Estimates, not quotes; the live roll table owns the real decision when a CC is actually threatened.
More detail, income coverage, downside budget, tripwires, held-to-expiry ladder, V-bounce stress
Income coverage
Gross FIGHT income$260/mo
vs 50% target ($4,547/mo)-94%
vs normal income ($9,094/mo)3% covered
Net income (after hedge)$236/mo
Downside budget
⚠ $205 is $24 below CC-SS $228.74: assignment on a recovery to whole locks the cap give-up below.
Cap give-up @ CC-SS (V-bounce)-$4,671
… as % of IC ($17,000)27.5%
… as % of ML ($77,000)6.1%
Recovery months (at normal income)0.5 mo
Surgical close (2 ct)$-13,926
Tripwiresprice and time left decide together; the matrix is the playbook
The one rule: roll when the short call's remaining TIME VALUE < $0.10/sh (~25% of the $0.39 collected) or spot ≥ $205.50 (breakeven), whichever comes first. Time value = call mark price minus intrinsic (max(0, spot − $205)); NOT the premium you collected. Momentum override: two daily closes above $193.07 (daily upper band) or daily RSI > 70 → treat "pressing" as "through".
Spot \ Time≥ 5d left3-4d left≤ 2d (expiry)
Below $202.95Do nothing. Theta wins.Do nothing.Penny buyback at the close; re-sell next cycle.
Pressing the strike
$203-205.50
Hold, alert at breakeven. Rolling into a spike pays top dollar; let theta bleed the buyback first.★ Roll on strength NOW: cheap buyback, fat credits.Close or roll same day; pin risk at the strike.
Through breakeven
≥ $205.50
Act now: intrinsic compounds daily. Up-and-out or safety roll.Roll or close immediately; time value is gone.Close today, or be assigned.
If held to expiryexact, settlement = intrinsic  ·  fortress delta 1.06 (IBKR)
ScenarioSpotCC leg netPosition totalvs todayvs do-nothing
at strike$205.00 (2.0σ)$78$-11,864+$22,899+$8
+2.5%$210.12 (2.2σ)$-947$-10,175+$24,587-$1,017
+5%$215.25 (2.5σ)$-1,972$-8,487+$26,276-$2,042
SS (= V-bounce)$224.00 (2.9σ)$-3,722$-6,803+$27,959-$2,992
V-BOUNCE STRESS (stock → CC-SS $228.74, where you are whole again, by expiry)
Starting unrealized P&L: $-34,763
+ Fortress recovery (un-capped): +$35,288
− CC assignment net of premium (2 × $205): -$4,671
− Conservative CC assignment net of premium (3 × $220): -$2,518
Total Position P&L @ SS: $-6,663 (+$28,099 vs today)
Do-nothing baseline at SS: $-3,671 (this trade vs do-nothing: $-2,992, the opportunity cost of earning $260/mo FIGHT income now)
🛡 safe yield5 × $192.507 Aug9d18.8%91%hist 100%18%hist 5%+4pp$590$1,967-$2,750$17,532
Sell 5 × $192.50 18.8% OTM over spot $162.10 7 Aug 2026 (9d, $1.28 mid)
= $590 credit for the 9d cycle → $1,967/mo projected
Survival (stays ≤ $192.50)
91%
Breach risk
9%
POP (stays ≤ $193.78)
92%
EV / mo
+$1,013
📈 CAMPAIGN OUTLOOK (400 simulated futures, this rung on repeat for 9 months, no directional opinion)
FIGHT'S EDGE
+4pp
57% whole by 9mo vs 53% doing nothing
FIRE DRILLS
~0.9/quarter
challenges to roll; realized tends lower (calibration)
BANKED RATE WHILE FIGHTING
$1,071/mo
median; plan ~$728/mo after 68% keep · $5,469 banked by campaign end (selling stops once whole)
green: with FIGHT · grey: without
if it recovers, the typical trip is ~2.0 mo [1.1-4.0], measured ONLY among the 57% of futures that got whole
🛡 IF CHALLENGED (spot reaches the strike) · challenge = the strike is touched at any point, so it runs ~2x the breach risk (finishing through it)
Challenge odds (touch by expiry)
14%
Flat exit net (mid-life)
-$3,446
Free roll-up
+$0/wk
Safest escape (by 21 Aug 2026)
$200 @ 70% POP
63% survival
Roll menuyour doors if the call gets challenged; each row = buy back the 5 calls + sell the new ones, one order. Prices assume the central case (day 4 of 9); earlier = worse credits, later = better, through the strike = add intrinsic
Buyback gross: $11.41/sh now → $8.07 mid-life (likely $6.77–$11.88)≈ $0 at expiry  |  you banked $1.18/sh, so a flat mid-life exit nets -$6.89/sh  |  roll rows are incremental, the banked premium stays yours
📊 Across 411 simulated challenges: the $192 strike is typically first touched on day 6 of 9, at $198 (overshoots $5.04). The [P25–P75] under each Total is that door's credit across those paths; % credit is the share of those challenges where the roll is a net credit.
MoveNew strike ≈New expiryTenorEst netTotal (5 ct)POP / surv
of new CC
If rolled & exited
total P&L · cap gain @ new strike
Roll out (same strike, buy time)~$19214 Aug 202612d left+$0.87/sh+$437
cycle +$1,027
[+$96…+$1,244] · 81% credit
67%
surv 52%
-$17,638 NOT
cap gain +$17,124
Up-and-out for even (raise the cap, free)~$19314 Aug 202612d left+$0.70/sh+$348
cycle +$938
[-$15…+$1,152] · 74% credit
67%
surv 53%
-$17,516 NOT
cap gain +$17,246
Reliable up-and-out (highest cap still free ≥60%)~$19521 Aug 202618d left+$1.36/sh+$680
cycle +$1,270
[-$55…+$1,479] · 73% credit
67%
surv 57%
-$15,861 NOT
cap gain +$18,902
Max even-money escape in the band~$19821 Aug 202618d left+$0.60/sh+$298
cycle +$888
[-$516…+$1,056] · 57% credit
69%
surv 60%
-$14,919 NOT
cap gain +$19,844
SS $224 not reachable for even money within 45d; this is the ceiling of the free ladder
Safety roll (pay small debit, max POP)~$20021 Aug 202618d left-$0.40/sh-$202
cycle +$388
[-$1,101…+$519] · 37% credit
70%
surv 63%
-$14,095 NOT
cap gain +$20,668
budget: banked $590 debit $202 (34% used ≈ 0.4 wk of income) → whole cycle still +$388 cash · rolled 5 ct earn ≈ $6,389/mo while parked; 0 ct free to re-sell
If rolled & exited = your total from-entry P&L if you roll to that strike and then close the whole fortress with the stock pinned there (all legs repriced; SAFE = P&L ≥ 0). Cap gain is what that roll earns THIS cycle (premium + appreciation from today to the new strike); the total adds your existing MTM on top. Same from-entry basis as this tool's @cap / total-exit numbers, at the rolled strike.
POP = P(stays ≤ strike + premium collected, the call is profitable); surv = P(stays ≤ strike, the call expires fully worthless). Survival is the stricter bar (no premium cushion), so it sits below POP.
Method: each leg = its live quote (buyback off the ask, sells off the bid) × a Black-Scholes ratio to the challenge, using the leg's own IV shifted -0.4 vol pt per +1% move (equity skew: vol eases as spot rises; buyback shift floored at 0). Estimates, not quotes; the live roll table owns the real decision when a CC is actually threatened.
More detail, income coverage, downside budget, tripwires, held-to-expiry ladder, V-bounce stress
Income coverage
Gross FIGHT income$1,967/mo
vs 50% target ($4,547/mo)-57%
vs normal income ($9,094/mo)22% covered
Net income (after hedge)$1,746/mo
Downside budget
⚠ $192.50 is $36 below CC-SS $228.74: assignment on a recovery to whole locks the cap give-up below.
Cap give-up @ CC-SS (V-bounce)-$17,532
… as % of IC ($17,000)103.1%
… as % of ML ($77,000)22.8%
Recovery months (at normal income)1.9 mo
Surgical close (5 ct)$-34,815
Tripwiresprice and time left decide together; the matrix is the playbook
The one rule: roll when the short call's remaining TIME VALUE < $0.29/sh (~25% of the $1.18 collected) or spot ≥ $193.78 (breakeven), whichever comes first. Time value = call mark price minus intrinsic (max(0, spot − $192)); NOT the premium you collected. Momentum override: two daily closes above $193.07 (daily upper band) or daily RSI > 70 → treat "pressing" as "through".
Spot \ Time≥ 5d left3-4d left≤ 2d (expiry)
Below $190.57Do nothing. Theta wins.Do nothing.Penny buyback at the close; re-sell next cycle.
Pressing the strike
$191-193.78
Hold, alert at breakeven. Rolling into a spike pays top dollar; let theta bleed the buyback first.★ Roll on strength NOW: cheap buyback, fat credits.Close or roll same day; pin risk at the strike.
Through breakeven
≥ $193.78
Act now: intrinsic compounds daily. Up-and-out or safety roll.Roll or close immediately; time value is gone.Close today, or be assigned.
If held to expiryexact, settlement = intrinsic  ·  fortress delta 1.06 (IBKR)
ScenarioSpotCC leg netPosition totalvs todayvs do-nothing
at strike$192.50 (1.4σ)$590$-18,076+$16,687+$415
+2.5%$197.31 (1.6σ)$-1,816$-17,934+$16,829-$1,991
+5%$202.12 (1.8σ)$-4,222$-17,792+$16,971-$4,398
SS (= V-bounce)$224.00 (2.9σ)$-15,160$-17,146+$17,616-$13,335
V-BOUNCE STRESS (stock → CC-SS $228.74, where you are whole again, by expiry)
Starting unrealized P&L: $-34,763
+ Fortress recovery (un-capped): +$35,288
− CC assignment net of premium (5 × $192.50): -$17,532
Total Position P&L @ SS: $-17,006 (+$17,756 vs today)
Do-nothing baseline at SS: $-3,671 (this trade vs do-nothing: $-13,335, the opportunity cost of earning $1,967/mo FIGHT income now)
33% normal5 × $1857 Aug9d14.1%85%hist 99%30%hist 18%+7pp$1,010$3,367-$1,350$20,862
Sell 5 × $185 14.1% OTM over spot $162.10 7 Aug 2026 (9d, $2.17 mid)
= $1,010 credit for the 9d cycle → $3,367/mo projected
Survival (stays ≤ $185)
85%
Breach risk
15%
POP (stays ≤ $187.17)
87%
EV / mo
+$1,386
📈 CAMPAIGN OUTLOOK (400 simulated futures, this rung on repeat for 9 months, no directional opinion)
FIGHT'S EDGE
+7pp
58% whole by 9mo vs 51% doing nothing
FIRE DRILLS
~1.4/quarter
challenges to roll; realized tends lower (calibration)
BANKED RATE WHILE FIGHTING
$1,630/mo
median; plan ~$1,109/mo after 68% keep · $8,645 banked by campaign end (selling stops once whole)
green: with FIGHT · grey: without
if it recovers, the typical trip is ~2.3 mo [1.1-4.2], measured ONLY among the 58% of futures that got whole
🛡 IF CHALLENGED (spot reaches the strike) · challenge = the strike is touched at any point, so it runs ~2x the breach risk (finishing through it)
Challenge odds (touch by expiry)
23%
Flat exit net (mid-life)
-$2,869
Free roll-up
+$0/wk
Safest escape (by 21 Aug 2026)
$195 @ 75% POP
68% survival
Roll menuyour doors if the call gets challenged; each row = buy back the 5 calls + sell the new ones, one order. Prices assume the central case (day 4 of 9); earlier = worse credits, later = better, through the strike = add intrinsic
Buyback gross: $10.97/sh now → $7.76 mid-life (likely $7.09–$11.96)≈ $0 at expiry  |  you banked $2.02/sh, so a flat mid-life exit nets -$5.74/sh  |  roll rows are incremental, the banked premium stays yours
📊 Across 700 simulated challenges: the $185 strike is typically first touched on day 6 of 9, at $190 (overshoots $4.82). The [P25–P75] under each Total is that door's credit across those paths; % credit is the share of those challenges where the roll is a net credit.
MoveNew strike ≈New expiryTenorEst netTotal (5 ct)POP / surv
of new CC
If rolled & exited
total P&L · cap gain @ new strike
Roll out (same strike, buy time)~$18514 Aug 202612d left+$1.08/sh+$539
cycle +$1,549
[+$32…+$1,171] · 78% credit
67%
surv 52%
-$21,088 NOT
cap gain +$13,674
Up-and-out for even (raise the cap, free)~$18514 Aug 202612d left+$0.90/sh+$449
cycle +$1,459
[-$77…+$1,071] · 71% credit
67%
surv 53%
-$20,966 NOT
cap gain +$13,797
Reliable up-and-out (highest cap still free ≥60%)~$18821 Aug 202618d left+$1.51/sh+$754
cycle +$1,764
[-$194…+$1,248] · 69% credit
67%
surv 57%
-$19,337 NOT
cap gain +$15,425
Max even-money escape in the band~$19021 Aug 202618d left+$0.75/sh+$373
cycle +$1,383
[-$621…+$846] · 53% credit
69%
surv 60%
-$18,395 NOT
cap gain +$16,368
SS $224 not reachable for even money within 45d; this is the ceiling of the free ladder
Safety roll (pay small debit, max POP)~$19521 Aug 202618d left-$1.33/sh-$665
cycle +$345
[-$1,632…-$187] · 21% credit
75%
surv 68%
-$16,786 NOT
cap gain +$17,977
budget: banked $1,010 debit $665 (66% used ≈ 0.9 wk of income) → whole cycle still +$345 cash · rolled 5 ct earn ≈ $5,355/mo while parked; 0 ct free to re-sell
If rolled & exited = your total from-entry P&L if you roll to that strike and then close the whole fortress with the stock pinned there (all legs repriced; SAFE = P&L ≥ 0). Cap gain is what that roll earns THIS cycle (premium + appreciation from today to the new strike); the total adds your existing MTM on top. Same from-entry basis as this tool's @cap / total-exit numbers, at the rolled strike.
POP = P(stays ≤ strike + premium collected, the call is profitable); surv = P(stays ≤ strike, the call expires fully worthless). Survival is the stricter bar (no premium cushion), so it sits below POP.
Method: each leg = its live quote (buyback off the ask, sells off the bid) × a Black-Scholes ratio to the challenge, using the leg's own IV shifted -0.4 vol pt per +1% move (equity skew: vol eases as spot rises; buyback shift floored at 0). Estimates, not quotes; the live roll table owns the real decision when a CC is actually threatened.
More detail, income coverage, downside budget, tripwires, held-to-expiry ladder, V-bounce stress
Income coverage
Gross FIGHT income$3,367/mo
vs 50% target ($4,547/mo)-26%
vs normal income ($9,094/mo)37% covered
Net income (after hedge)$3,146/mo
Downside budget
⚠ $185 is $44 below CC-SS $228.74: assignment on a recovery to whole locks the cap give-up below.
Cap give-up @ CC-SS (V-bounce)-$20,862
… as % of IC ($17,000)122.7%
… as % of ML ($77,000)27.1%
Recovery months (at normal income)2.3 mo
Surgical close (5 ct)$-34,838
Tripwiresprice and time left decide together; the matrix is the playbook
The one rule: roll when the short call's remaining TIME VALUE < $0.51/sh (~25% of the $2.02 collected) or spot ≥ $187.17 (breakeven), whichever comes first. Time value = call mark price minus intrinsic (max(0, spot − $185)); NOT the premium you collected. Momentum override: two daily closes above $193.07 (daily upper band) or daily RSI > 70 → treat "pressing" as "through".
Spot \ Time≥ 5d left3-4d left≤ 2d (expiry)
Below $183.15Do nothing. Theta wins.Do nothing.Penny buyback at the close; re-sell next cycle.
Pressing the strike
$183-187.17
Hold, alert at breakeven. Rolling into a spike pays top dollar; let theta bleed the buyback first.★ Roll on strength NOW: cheap buyback, fat credits.Close or roll same day; pin risk at the strike.
Through breakeven
≥ $187.17
Act now: intrinsic compounds daily. Up-and-out or safety roll.Roll or close immediately; time value is gone.Close today, or be assigned.
If held to expiryexact, settlement = intrinsic  ·  fortress delta 1.06 (IBKR)
ScenarioSpotCC leg netPosition totalvs todayvs do-nothing
at strike$185.00 (1.1σ)$1,010$-21,627+$13,136+$835
+2.5%$189.62 (1.3σ)$-1,302$-21,491+$13,272-$1,477
+5%$194.25 (1.5σ)$-3,615$-21,354+$13,408-$3,790
SS (= V-bounce)$224.00 (2.9σ)$-18,490$-20,476+$14,286-$16,665
V-BOUNCE STRESS (stock → CC-SS $228.74, where you are whole again, by expiry)
Starting unrealized P&L: $-34,763
+ Fortress recovery (un-capped): +$35,288
− CC assignment net of premium (5 × $185): -$20,862
Total Position P&L @ SS: $-20,336 (+$14,426 vs today)
Do-nothing baseline at SS: $-3,671 (this trade vs do-nothing: $-16,665, the opportunity cost of earning $3,367/mo FIGHT income now)
🎯 50% normal5 × $1807 Aug9d11.0%80%hist 99%41%hist 28%+7pp$1,415$4,717$22,957
Sell 5 × $180 11.0% OTM over spot $162.10 7 Aug 2026 (9d, $3.12 mid)
= $1,415 credit for the 9d cycle → $4,717/mo projected
Survival (stays ≤ $180)
80%
Breach risk
20%
POP (stays ≤ $183.12)
84%
EV / mo
+$1,642
📈 CAMPAIGN OUTLOOK (400 simulated futures, this rung on repeat for 9 months, no directional opinion)
FIGHT'S EDGE
+7pp
54% whole by 9mo vs 47% doing nothing
FIRE DRILLS
~2.0/quarter
challenges to roll; realized tends lower (calibration)
BANKED RATE WHILE FIGHTING
$2,002/mo
median; plan ~$1,361/mo after 68% keep · $11,817 banked by campaign end (selling stops once whole)
green: with FIGHT · grey: without
if it recovers, the typical trip is ~1.9 mo [1.0-3.6], measured ONLY among the 54% of futures that got whole
🛡 IF CHALLENGED (spot reaches the strike) · challenge = the strike is touched at any point, so it runs ~2x the breach risk (finishing through it)
Challenge odds (touch by expiry)
32%
Flat exit net (mid-life)
-$2,359
Free roll-up
+$0/wk
Safest escape (by 21 Aug 2026)
$195 @ 79% POP
74% survival
Roll menuyour doors if the call gets challenged; each row = buy back the 5 calls + sell the new ones, one order. Prices assume the central case (day 4 of 9); earlier = worse credits, later = better, through the strike = add intrinsic
Buyback gross: $10.67/sh now → $7.55 mid-life (likely $7.84–$12.08)≈ $0 at expiry  |  you banked $2.83/sh, so a flat mid-life exit nets -$4.72/sh  |  roll rows are incremental, the banked premium stays yours
📊 Across 965 simulated challenges: the $180 strike is typically first touched on day 5 of 9, at $185 (overshoots $4.61). The [P25–P75] under each Total is that door's credit across those paths; % credit is the share of those challenges where the roll is a net credit.
MoveNew strike ≈New expiryTenorEst netTotal (5 ct)POP / surv
of new CC
If rolled & exited
total P&L · cap gain @ new strike
Roll out (same strike, buy time)~$18014 Aug 202612d left+$1.20/sh+$601
cycle +$2,016
[+$32…+$890] · 78% credit
67%
surv 53%
-$23,268 NOT
cap gain +$11,494
Up-and-out for even (raise the cap, free)~$18014 Aug 202612d left+$1.02/sh+$512
cycle +$1,927
[-$76…+$786] · 70% credit
67%
surv 53%
-$23,146 NOT
cap gain +$11,616
Reliable up-and-out (highest cap still free ≥60%)~$18321 Aug 202618d left+$1.60/sh+$798
cycle +$2,213
[-$213…+$935] · 67% credit
67%
surv 57%
-$21,536 NOT
cap gain +$13,227
Max even-money escape in the band~$18521 Aug 202618d left+$0.84/sh+$418
cycle +$1,833
[-$649…+$532] · 44% credit
69%
surv 60%
-$20,592 NOT
cap gain +$14,170
SS $224 not reachable for even money within 45d; this is the ceiling of the free ladder
Safety roll (pay small debit, max POP)~$19521 Aug 202618d left-$2.57/sh-$1,287
cycle +$128
[-$2,504…-$1,249] · 5% credit
79%
surv 74%
-$17,002 NOT
cap gain +$17,760
budget: banked $1,415 debit $1,287 (91% used ≈ 1.2 wk of income) → whole cycle still +$128 cash · rolled 5 ct earn ≈ $4,144/mo while parked; 0 ct free to re-sell
If rolled & exited = your total from-entry P&L if you roll to that strike and then close the whole fortress with the stock pinned there (all legs repriced; SAFE = P&L ≥ 0). Cap gain is what that roll earns THIS cycle (premium + appreciation from today to the new strike); the total adds your existing MTM on top. Same from-entry basis as this tool's @cap / total-exit numbers, at the rolled strike.
POP = P(stays ≤ strike + premium collected, the call is profitable); surv = P(stays ≤ strike, the call expires fully worthless). Survival is the stricter bar (no premium cushion), so it sits below POP.
Method: each leg = its live quote (buyback off the ask, sells off the bid) × a Black-Scholes ratio to the challenge, using the leg's own IV shifted -0.4 vol pt per +1% move (equity skew: vol eases as spot rises; buyback shift floored at 0). Estimates, not quotes; the live roll table owns the real decision when a CC is actually threatened.
More detail, income coverage, downside budget, tripwires, held-to-expiry ladder, V-bounce stress
Income coverage
Gross FIGHT income$4,717/mo
vs 50% target ($4,547/mo)+4%
vs normal income ($9,094/mo)52% covered
Net income (after hedge)$4,496/mo
Downside budget
⚠ $180 is $49 below CC-SS $228.74: assignment on a recovery to whole locks the cap give-up below.
Cap give-up @ CC-SS (V-bounce)-$22,957
… as % of IC ($17,000)135.0%
… as % of ML ($77,000)29.8%
Recovery months (at normal income)2.5 mo
Surgical close (5 ct)$-34,905
Tripwiresprice and time left decide together; the matrix is the playbook
The one rule: roll when the short call's remaining TIME VALUE < $0.71/sh (~25% of the $2.83 collected) or spot ≥ $183.12 (breakeven), whichever comes first. Time value = call mark price minus intrinsic (max(0, spot − $180)); NOT the premium you collected. Momentum override: two daily closes above $193.07 (daily upper band) or daily RSI > 70 → treat "pressing" as "through".
Spot \ Time≥ 5d left3-4d left≤ 2d (expiry)
Below $178.20Do nothing. Theta wins.Do nothing.Penny buyback at the close; re-sell next cycle.
Pressing the strike
$178-183.12
Hold, alert at breakeven. Rolling into a spike pays top dollar; let theta bleed the buyback first.★ Roll on strength NOW: cheap buyback, fat credits.Close or roll same day; pin risk at the strike.
Through breakeven
≥ $183.12
Act now: intrinsic compounds daily. Up-and-out or safety roll.Roll or close immediately; time value is gone.Close today, or be assigned.
If held to expiryexact, settlement = intrinsic  ·  fortress delta 1.06 (IBKR)
ScenarioSpotCC leg netPosition totalvs todayvs do-nothing
at strike$180.00 (≤1σ, normal week)$1,415$-23,869+$10,893+$1,240
+2.5%$184.50 (1.0σ)$-835$-23,737+$11,026-$1,010
+5%$189.00 (1.2σ)$-3,085$-23,604+$11,159-$3,260
SS (= V-bounce)$224.00 (2.9σ)$-20,585$-22,571+$12,191-$18,760
V-BOUNCE STRESS (stock → CC-SS $228.74, where you are whole again, by expiry)
Starting unrealized P&L: $-34,763
+ Fortress recovery (un-capped): +$35,288
− CC assignment net of premium (5 × $180): -$22,957
Total Position P&L @ SS: $-22,431 (+$12,331 vs today)
Do-nothing baseline at SS: $-3,671 (this trade vs do-nothing: $-18,760, the opportunity cost of earning $4,717/mo FIGHT income now)
100% normal5 × $167.507 Aug9d3.3%62%hist 80%79%hist 59%+12pp$3,150$10,500+$5,783$27,472
Sell 5 × $167.50 3.3% OTM over spot $162.10 7 Aug 2026 (9d, $6.78 mid)
= $3,150 credit for the 9d cycle → $10,500/mo projected
Survival (stays ≤ $167.50)
62%
Breach risk
38%
POP (stays ≤ $174.28)
73%
EV / mo
+$2,064
📈 CAMPAIGN OUTLOOK (400 simulated futures, this rung on repeat for 9 months, no directional opinion)
FIGHT'S EDGE
+12pp
61% whole by 9mo vs 49% doing nothing
FIRE DRILLS
~5.1/quarter
challenges to roll; realized tends lower (calibration)
BANKED RATE WHILE FIGHTING
$3,104/mo
median; plan ~$2,111/mo after 68% keep · $15,192 banked by campaign end (selling stops once whole)
green: with FIGHT · grey: without
if it recovers, the typical trip is ~1.9 mo [1.1-3.8], measured ONLY among the 61% of futures that got whole
🛡 IF CHALLENGED (spot reaches the strike) · challenge = the strike is touched at any point, so it runs ~2x the breach risk (finishing through it)
Challenge odds (touch by expiry)
65%
Flat exit net (mid-life)
-$362
Free roll-up
+$3/wk
Safest escape (by 21 Aug 2026)
$200 @ 90% POP
89% survival
Roll menuyour doors if the call gets challenged; each row = buy back the 5 calls + sell the new ones, one order. Prices assume the central case (day 4 of 9); earlier = worse credits, later = better, through the strike = add intrinsic
Buyback gross: $9.93/sh now → $7.02 mid-life (likely $9.20–$12.68)≈ $0 at expiry  |  you banked $6.30/sh, so a flat mid-life exit nets -$0.72/sh  |  roll rows are incremental, the banked premium stays yours
📊 Across 1,947 simulated challenges: the $168 strike is typically first touched on day 3 of 9, at $172 (overshoots $4.59). The [P25–P75] under each Total is that door's credit across those paths; % credit is the share of those challenges where the roll is a net credit.
MoveNew strike ≈New expiryTenorEst netTotal (5 ct)POP / surv
of new CC
If rolled & exited
total P&L · cap gain @ new strike
Reliable up-and-out (highest cap still free ≥60%)~$16821 Aug 202618d left+$2.96/sh+$1,478
cycle +$4,628
[+$280…+$976] · 86% credit
66%
surv 54%
-$27,064 NOT
cap gain +$7,699
Roll out (same strike, buy time)~$16814 Aug 202612d left+$1.48/sh+$738
cycle +$3,888
[-$39…+$432] · 71% credit
67%
surv 53%
-$28,015 NOT
cap gain +$6,748
Up-and-out for even (raise the cap, free)~$17014 Aug 202612d left+$0.24/sh+$120
cycle +$3,270
[-$775…-$259] · 16% credit
70%
surv 58%
-$27,098 NOT
cap gain +$7,665
Max even-money escape in the band~$17521 Aug 202618d left+$0.06/sh+$28
cycle +$3,178
[-$1,463…-$568] · 12% credit
71%
surv 63%
-$24,542 NOT
cap gain +$10,221
SS $224 not reachable for even money within 45d; this is the ceiling of the free ladder
Safety roll (pay small debit, max POP)~$20021 Aug 202618d left-$5.24/sh-$2,619
cycle +$531
[-$4,764…-$3,461]
90%
surv 89%
-$13,952 NOT
cap gain +$20,811
budget: banked $3,150 debit $2,619 (83% used ≈ 1.1 wk of income) → whole cycle still +$531 cash · rolled 5 ct earn ≈ $1,488/mo while parked; 0 ct free to re-sell
If rolled & exited = your total from-entry P&L if you roll to that strike and then close the whole fortress with the stock pinned there (all legs repriced; SAFE = P&L ≥ 0). Cap gain is what that roll earns THIS cycle (premium + appreciation from today to the new strike); the total adds your existing MTM on top. Same from-entry basis as this tool's @cap / total-exit numbers, at the rolled strike.
POP = P(stays ≤ strike + premium collected, the call is profitable); surv = P(stays ≤ strike, the call expires fully worthless). Survival is the stricter bar (no premium cushion), so it sits below POP.
Method: each leg = its live quote (buyback off the ask, sells off the bid) × a Black-Scholes ratio to the challenge, using the leg's own IV shifted -0.4 vol pt per +1% move (equity skew: vol eases as spot rises; buyback shift floored at 0). Estimates, not quotes; the live roll table owns the real decision when a CC is actually threatened.
More detail, income coverage, downside budget, tripwires, held-to-expiry ladder, V-bounce stress
Income coverage
Gross FIGHT income$10,500/mo
vs 50% target ($4,547/mo)+131%
vs normal income ($9,094/mo)115% covered
Net income (after hedge)$10,279/mo
Downside budget
⚠ $167.50 is $61 below CC-SS $228.74: assignment on a recovery to whole locks the cap give-up below.
Cap give-up @ CC-SS (V-bounce)-$27,472
… as % of IC ($17,000)161.6%
… as % of ML ($77,000)35.7%
Recovery months (at normal income)3.0 mo
Surgical close (5 ct)$-35,000
Tripwiresprice and time left decide together; the matrix is the playbook
The one rule: roll when the short call's remaining TIME VALUE < $1.57/sh (~25% of the $6.30 collected) or spot ≥ $174.28 (breakeven), whichever comes first. Time value = call mark price minus intrinsic (max(0, spot − $168)); NOT the premium you collected. Momentum override: two daily closes above $193.07 (daily upper band) or daily RSI > 70 → treat "pressing" as "through".
Spot \ Time≥ 5d left3-4d left≤ 2d (expiry)
Below $165.82Do nothing. Theta wins.Do nothing.Penny buyback at the close; re-sell next cycle.
Pressing the strike
$166-174.28
Hold, alert at breakeven. Rolling into a spike pays top dollar; let theta bleed the buyback first.★ Roll on strength NOW: cheap buyback, fat credits.Close or roll same day; pin risk at the strike.
Through breakeven
≥ $174.28
Act now: intrinsic compounds daily. Up-and-out or safety roll.Roll or close immediately; time value is gone.Close today, or be assigned.
If held to expiryexact, settlement = intrinsic  ·  fortress delta 1.06 (IBKR)
ScenarioSpotCC leg netPosition totalvs todayvs do-nothing
at strike$167.50 (≤1σ, normal week)$3,150$-28,753+$6,009+$2,975
+2.5%$171.69 (≤1σ, normal week)$1,056$-28,630+$6,133+$881
+5%$175.88 (≤1σ, normal week)$-1,038$-28,506+$6,256-$1,212
SS (= V-bounce)$224.00 (2.9σ)$-25,100$-27,086+$7,676-$23,275
V-BOUNCE STRESS (stock → CC-SS $228.74, where you are whole again, by expiry)
Starting unrealized P&L: $-34,763
+ Fortress recovery (un-capped): +$35,288
− CC assignment net of premium (5 × $167.50): -$27,472
Total Position P&L @ SS: $-26,946 (+$7,816 vs today)
Do-nothing baseline at SS: $-3,671 (this trade vs do-nothing: $-23,275, the opportunity cost of earning $10,500/mo FIGHT income now)
A nudge, not a rule: the engine maximizes income at acceptable safety; this weighs the income you would give up against the breach risk you would shed. Your hedge bleed and your read on QCOM are the tiebreakers.
⚔ FIGHT CC options · full candidate scan (34 clear the floor), click to expand

Every eligible strike x expiry in the 2-45 DTE band (4 expiries scanned, 34 clear the income floor), each sized to the minimum contracts that clear it. Sorted by survival (safest first): the primary 🎯 is the safest; rows below trade safety for income.

Fortress delta: 1.059 (IBKR)  |  Recovery@SS: +$35,288 (un-capped fortress gain if stock rallies to SS)  |  Do-nothing @ SS: $-3,671

StrikeDTEExpiryBidSellIncome/moNet/moSurvivalPOP (mid)EV/moCap Give-up @ CC-SS%ICTotal P&L @ SS
$187.502d31 Jul 2026$0.755/5$5,625$5,40493%94%+$3,527-$20,247119.1%$-19,721 (vs do-nothing $-16,050)
$1852d31 Jul 2026$1.004/5$6,000$5,84591%92%+$3,565-$17,098100.6%$-17,411 (vs do-nothing $-13,740)
$182.502d31 Jul 2026$1.283/5$5,760$5,67189%90%+$3,151-$13,48979.3%$-14,642 (vs do-nothing $-10,971)
$1802d31 Jul 2026$1.602/5$4,800$4,77686%88%+$2,358-$9,42955.5%$-11,421 (vs do-nothing $-7,750)
$177.502d31 Jul 2026$1.912/5$5,730$5,70683%85%+$2,360-$9,86758.0%$-11,859 (vs do-nothing $-8,188)
$1809d7 Aug 2026$2.835/5$4,717$4,49680%84%+$1,642-$22,957135.0%$-22,431 (vs do-nothing $-18,760)
$1752d31 Jul 2026$2.532/5$7,590$7,56679%83%+$3,022-$10,24360.3%$-12,235 (vs do-nothing $-8,564)
$177.509d7 Aug 2026$3.355/5$5,583$5,36377%82%+$1,765-$23,947140.9%$-23,421 (vs do-nothing $-19,750)
$172.502d31 Jul 2026$3.101/5$4,650$4,69274%80%+$1,607-$5,31431.3%$-8,146 (vs do-nothing $-4,475)
$1759d7 Aug 2026$3.904/5$5,200$5,04574%79%+$1,433-$19,938117.3%$-20,251 (vs do-nothing $-16,580)
$17516d14 Aug 2026$5.155/5$4,828$4,60872%78%+$1,162-$24,297142.9%$-23,771 (vs do-nothing $-20,100)
$172.509d7 Aug 2026$4.603/5$4,600$4,51170%77%+$1,142-$15,49391.1%$-16,646 (vs do-nothing $-12,975)
$1702d31 Jul 2026$3.801/5$5,700$5,74270%77%+$1,710-$5,49432.3%$-8,326 (vs do-nothing $-4,655)
Show 21 more candidates (lower strikes: more income, lower survival)
StrikeDTEExpiryBidSellIncome/moNet/moSurvivalPOP (mid)EV/moCap Give-up @ CC-SS%ICTotal P&L @ SS
$172.5016d14 Aug 2026$5.855/5$5,484$5,26468%76%+$1,170-$25,197148.2%$-24,671 (vs do-nothing $-21,000)
$172.5023d21 Aug 2026$7.105/5$4,630$4,41067%75%+$999-$24,572144.5%$-24,046 (vs do-nothing $-20,375)
$1709d7 Aug 2026$5.403/5$5,400$5,31166%75%+$1,200-$16,00394.1%$-17,156 (vs do-nothing $-13,485)
$17016d14 Aug 2026$6.654/5$4,988$4,83365%74%+$946-$20,838122.6%$-21,151 (vs do-nothing $-17,480)
$167.502d31 Jul 2026$4.601/5$6,900$6,94264%74%+$1,749-$5,66433.3%$-8,496 (vs do-nothing $-4,825)
$17023d21 Aug 2026$8.005/5$5,217$4,99763%71%$-309-$25,372149.2%$-24,846 (vs do-nothing $-21,175)
$167.509d7 Aug 2026$6.303/5$6,300$6,21162%73%+$1,238-$16,48397.0%$-17,636 (vs do-nothing $-13,965)
$167.5016d14 Aug 2026$7.654/5$5,738$5,58361%72%+$1,029-$21,438126.1%$-21,751 (vs do-nothing $-18,080)
$167.5023d21 Aug 2026$9.004/5$4,696$4,54160%70%$-218-$20,898122.9%$-21,211 (vs do-nothing $-17,540)
$1652d31 Jul 2026$5.551/5$8,325$8,36759%71%+$1,776-$5,81934.2%$-8,651 (vs do-nothing $-4,980)
$1659d7 Aug 2026$7.102/5$4,733$4,71058%71%+$701-$11,32966.6%$-13,321 (vs do-nothing $-9,650)
$16516d14 Aug 2026$8.653/5$4,866$4,77658%71%+$774-$16,52897.2%$-17,681 (vs do-nothing $-14,010)
$16523d21 Aug 2026$9.754/5$5,087$4,93258%68%$-360-$21,598127.0%$-21,911 (vs do-nothing $-18,240)
$162.5023d21 Aug 2026$10.954/5$5,713$5,55855%67%$-310-$22,118130.1%$-22,431 (vs do-nothing $-18,760)
$162.5016d14 Aug 2026$9.703/5$5,456$5,36754%69%+$740-$16,96399.8%$-18,116 (vs do-nothing $-14,445)
$162.509d7 Aug 2026$8.152/5$5,433$5,41053%68%+$655-$11,61968.3%$-13,611 (vs do-nothing $-9,940)
$162.502d31 Jul 2026$6.251/5$9,375$9,41753%68%+$1,172-$5,99935.3%$-8,831 (vs do-nothing $-5,160)
$16023d21 Aug 2026$12.103/5$4,735$4,64552%66%$-248-$16,993100.0%$-18,146 (vs do-nothing $-14,475)
$16016d14 Aug 2026$10.803/5$6,075$5,98650%67%+$668-$17,383102.3%$-18,536 (vs do-nothing $-14,865)
$1609d7 Aug 2026$9.402/5$6,267$6,24349%66%+$651-$11,86969.8%$-13,861 (vs do-nothing $-10,190)
$1602d31 Jul 2026$7.851/5$11,775$11,81747%66%+$1,652-$6,08935.8%$-8,921 (vs do-nothing $-5,250)

Income/mo = FIGHT leg gross, DTE-prorated. Net/mo = FIGHT + conservative CC gross minus hedge cost. POP (mid) = probability stock closes at or below (strike + mid premium) at expiry, per-strike chain IV when available. Survival = CC expires fully worthless. EV/mo = premium minus expected buyback, monthly, with realized vol = IV x 85% (variance risk premium 15%). Survival, POP and touch use vol x 1.00 (raw implied: the VRP haircut is applied to the premium edge but NOT to risk, because understating the edge costs opportunity while understating breach odds costs capital; the risk-side haircut arms only from the graded ledger). Cap give-up @ SS = recovery mortgaged on a V-bounce to SS, net of premium. Total P&L @ SS = absolute position P&L if the stock closes at SS; "vs do-nothing" = opportunity cost against holding all 5 contracts at the conservative CC.

fortress_fight.py v6.3  |  2026-07-29 21:41