If the Options Auto Trader selected strike prices different from what you expected, there are a few common reasons. The system is designed to avoid conflicts with other trades and follows the strike selection rules you set, which may sometimes lead to unexpected results.
Strike prices can appear “wrong” due to one of three main reasons:
Avoiding Strike Overlap – The Auto Trader will never overlap strike prices with another open trade. If you are running 0 DTE or low-volume trades with limited strike availability, a previous trade may occupy the strike your rules target. To prevent conflicts, the system automatically picks the next closest strike prices.
Exact Distance vs. OTM/ITM – If you need a strike price to be an exact distance away from another, you must use the Strike Offset setting. Using Amount OTM or Amount ITM settings doesn’t guarantee a precise difference, which can cause variations in strike selection.
Misunderstanding Strike Selection Methods – The platform offers many ways to pick strikes. More often than not, unexpected results happen because the setup doesn’t match what the trader intended. The software has been thoroughly tested, so misconfiguration is a frequent cause.
Reduce the chance of overlap by:
Running fewer trades at the same time
Allowing more time between trades
Setting the bot’s Max Open Trades to 1
If you want strikes to always be exactly $X away, set them using Strike Offset. Do not rely on OTM or ITM percentages for this purpose.
Review the strike selection method you are using. Ensure your rules align with the result you expect. If needed, revisit the help docs for a breakdown of strike selection types.
The Auto Trader won’t overlap strikes and may choose the next closest available ones.
Use Strike Offset if you need exact distances.
Most strike selection issues come from setup misconfiguration, not a software error.
