Most traders who "know the basics" of options still blow up their account the same way: they size positions off conviction instead of risk.

Here's the pattern I see constantly:

• A trade "feels" like a sure thing → position gets 3-5x normal size

• The setup is actually solid, so it works... until it doesn't

• One bad week wipes out a month of gains because there was no hard cap on daily loss

The fix isn't a better indicator. It's three rules, applied without exception:

1. Fixed risk per trade — pick a max % of account you'll risk (1-2% is standard), and size the position math around that number, not your gut feel about the setup.

2. Hard daily loss limit — decide before the market opens how much you're willing to lose today. Hit it, you're done. No revenge trades.

3. Pre-defined exit before entry — know your stop and your target before you place the trade, not after you're already down and hoping.

Options make this harder because leverage amplifies both the wins and the "it'll come back" delusion. The traders who last aren't the ones with the best setups — they're the ones who treat risk management as non-negotiable.

If you're an intermediate trader who's got the strategy part down but keeps giving back gains to bad risk decisions, that's exactly what I coach on. Happy to answer questions on this in the comments.