114 Part II: Call Option Strategies 
spread strategy, however, would result in a total loss of $300 only if XYZ were below 
30 at October expiration. With XYZ above 30 in October, the long side of the spread 
could be liquidated for some value, thereby avoiding a total loss. The investor has 
reduced the chance of realizing the maximum loss, since the stock price at which that 
loss would occur has been lowered by 5 points. 
As with most investments, the improvement of risk exposure - lowering the 
break-even point and lowering the maximum loss price - necessitates that some 
potential reward be sacrificed. In the original long call position (the October 35), the 
maximum profit potential was unlimited. In the new position, the potential profit is 
limited to 2 points if XYZ should rally back to, or anywhere above, 35 by October 
expiration. To see this, assume XYZ is 35 at expiration. Then the long October 30 call 
would be worth 5 points, while the October 35 would expire worthless. Thus, the 
spread could be liquidated for 5 points, a 2-point profit over the 3 points paid for the 
spread. This is the limit of profit for the spread, however, since if XYZ is above 35 at 
expiration, any further profits in the long October 30 call would be offset by a corre­
sponding loss on the short October 35 call. Thus, if XYZ were to rally heavily by expi­
ration, the "rolled down" position would not realize as large a profit as the original 
long call position would have realized. 
Table 3-5 and Figure 3-2 summarize the original and new positions. Note that 
the new position is better for stock prices between 30 and 40. Below 30, the two posi­
tions are equal, except for the additional commissions spent. If the stock should rally 
back above 40, the original position would have worked out better. The new position 
is an improvement, provided that XYZ does not rally back above 40 by expiration. 
The chances that XYZ could rally 8 points, or 25%, from 32 to 40 would have to be 
considered relatively remote. Rolling the long call down into the spread would thus 
appear to be the correct thing to do in this case. 
This example is particularly attractive, because no additional money was 
required to establish the spread. In many cases, however, one may find that the long 
call cannot be rolled into the spread at even money. Some debit may be required. 
This fact should not necessarily preclude making the change, since a small addition­
al investment may still significantly increase the chance of breaking even or making 
a profit on a rebound. 
Example: The following prices now exist, rather than the ones used earlier. Only the 
October 30 call price has been altered: 
XYZ, 32; 
XYZ October 35 call, 1 ½; and 
XYZ October 30 call, 4.