iron condor fire
Image generated with Midjourney

Here's Why Legging Out of Iron Condors Can Backfire

By:Kai Zeng

To fully appreciate the potential costs of legging out of iron condors watch the tutorial video that has had more 230,000 views

  • "Legging out" does not outperform a classic management approach.
  • Instead, leads to a significantly lower success rate.
  • Legging out unnecessarily extends the holding duration.

Options traders are often tempted by the practice of "legging out" of a position. This involves closing individual legs of the options strategy separately, typically a neutral strategy, rather than exiting the position, with the aim of increasing potential profits.

However, as we previously discussed in the article, Legging in Options Trading, we usually avoid legging out of naked positions such as strangles. This is because removing one side first exposes the position to unlimited or high risk on the other side, leading to increased P/L volatility and reduced profitability. But, what about risk-defined strategies like iron condors?

The put and call spreads on either side can limit the risk independently, so is it beneficial to exit one side first if it shows a significant profit?

To assess the effectiveness of this approach, two comprehensive studies were conducted. In both, we sold 45-day SPY 30 delta strangles and bought $10 wide wings.

First study

In the first study, we compared: Closing the position at 21DTE or 50% winners and legging out by removing individual spreads at 90% of max profit if possible.

The results were consistent with our observations in naked options. Rather than boosting profits, legging out led to a significantly lower success rate and average P/L per trade.

It also resulted in a substantial decrease in average daily P/L, suggesting that trades are being held longer, potentially tying up capital that could be used in other profitable trades. Interestingly, less than 2% of occurrences showed our 21DTE/50% winner management combo losing while the legging out strategy showed profits.

[cost legging out 11]

Second study

To further verify our results, we conducted a second study comparing our classic 21DTE/50% winner approach to taking off individual spread if the opposing side’s option is breached.

Regrettably, legging out still did not outperform our classic management approach. The results were even worse across all metrics. This time, only 1% of occurrences showed our 21DTE/50% winner management combo losing while the legging out showed profits.

cost legging out 6

Manage your iron condors

In conclusion, while traders have numerous strategies at their disposal, it's vital to evaluate their effectiveness and potential risks. Like naked strangles, the studies presented here strongly suggest that legging out of an iron condor can pose more risk than reward.

We recommend that traders manage their iron condor positions, rather than legging out, to increase their chances of success. The action of legging out unnecessarily extends the holding duration, which cannot guarantee improved daily P/L.

And, we recommend that you watch this video to fully grasp these concepts:

Kai Zeng, director of the research team and head of Chinese content at tastylive, has a 20-year background in derivatives trading and market experience. He cohosts several live shows, including From Theory to Practice and Building Blocks. @kai_zeng1

For live daily programming, market news and commentary, visit tastylive or the YouTube channels tastylive (for options traders), and tastyliveTrending for stocks, futures, forex & macro.

Trade with a better broker, open a tastytrade account today. tastylive, Inc. and tastytrade, Inc. are separate but affiliated companies.


Options involve risk and are not suitable for all investors. Please read Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options before deciding to invest in options.

Related Posts

tastylive content is created, produced, and provided solely by tastylive, Inc. (“tastylive”) and is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not, nor is it intended to be, trading or investment advice or a recommendation that any security, futures contract, digital asset, other product, transaction, or investment strategy is suitable for any person. Trading securities, futures products, and digital assets involve risk and may result in a loss greater than the original amount invested. tastylive, through its content, financial programming or otherwise, does not provide investment or financial advice or make investment recommendations. Investment information provided may not be appropriate for all investors and is provided without respect to individual investor financial sophistication, financial situation, investing time horizon or risk tolerance. tastylive is not in the business of transacting securities trades, nor does it direct client commodity accounts or give commodity trading advice tailored to any particular client’s situation or investment objectives. Supporting documentation for any claims (including claims made on behalf of options programs), comparisons, statistics, or other technical data, if applicable, will be supplied upon request. tastylive is not a licensed financial adviser, registered investment adviser, or a registered broker-dealer.  Options, futures, and futures options are not suitable for all investors.  Prior to trading securities, options, futures, or futures options, please read the applicable risk disclosures, including, but not limited to, the Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options Disclosure and the Futures and Exchange-Traded Options Risk Disclosure found on tastytrade.com/disclosures.

tastytrade, Inc. ("tastytrade”) is a registered broker-dealer and member of FINRA, NFA, and SIPC. tastytrade was previously known as tastyworks, Inc. (“tastyworks”). tastytrade offers self-directed brokerage accounts to its customers. tastytrade does not give financial or trading advice, nor does it make investment recommendations. You alone are responsible for making your investment and trading decisions and for evaluating the merits and risks associated with the use of tastytrade’s systems, services or products. tastytrade is a wholly-owned subsidiary of tastylive, Inc.

tastytrade has entered into a Marketing Agreement with tastylive (“Marketing Agent”) whereby tastytrade pays compensation to Marketing Agent to recommend tastytrade’s brokerage services. The existence of this Marketing Agreement should not be deemed as an endorsement or recommendation of Marketing Agent by tastytrade. tastytrade and Marketing Agent are separate entities with their own products and services. tastylive is the parent company of tastytrade.

tastycrypto is provided solely by tasty Software Solutions, LLC. tasty Software Solutions, LLC is a separate but affiliate company of tastylive, Inc. Neither tastylive nor any of its affiliates are responsible for the products or services provided by tasty Software Solutions, LLC. Cryptocurrency trading is not suitable for all investors due to the number of risks involved. The value of any cryptocurrency, including digital assets pegged to fiat currency, commodities, or any other asset, may go to zero.

© copyright 2013 - 2024 tastylive, Inc. All Rights Reserved.  Applicable portions of the Terms of Use on tastylive.com apply.  Reproduction, adaptation, distribution, public display, exhibition for profit, or storage in any electronic storage media in whole or in part is prohibited under penalty of law, provided that you may download tastylive’s podcasts as necessary to view for personal use. tastylive was previously known as tastytrade, Inc. tastylive is a trademark/servicemark owned by tastylive, Inc.