Weekly options can go to zero by Friday. Check these 10 things first.

One free page for short-dated calls and puts. It covers max loss, breakeven, time decay, earnings and your exit. The math is worked out for you.

• Know your max loss before you click buy
• The breakeven math in one line
• Why being right late can still lose
• A trade log template that records the losers too

Not a signal: this checklist contains no trade recommendations.

A preview of what's inside

• Max loss = the premium you pay. Illustration only: 1 contract at $2.00 = $200 at risk (2.00 × 100).
• Size from that max loss. 5–10% of the account per trade at most for smaller accounts, and only an amount you'd accept losing in full.
• Breakeven at expiry. Call: strike + premium. Put: strike − premium.
• Time decay speeds up in the final days of a weekly.