Price > 5% above max pain + PCR < 0.75 (call-heavy, minimal put protection) + ≤7 days to expiry + RSI 40-72 (not crashed, not parabolic). Options writers (smart money) have max incentive to pin price back toward max pain. Retail calls are deep ITM = writers scramble to delta-hedge downward. Short the extension, target max pain by expiry. Best entries: day still green, PCR lowest.
*Price > max pain 1.05 near expiry = pin-back risk.** Options writers (institutions) profit when price gravitates toward max pain on expiry. When price is significantly above max pain with < 8 days to go, the squeeze back down is statistically likely.
max_pain > 0 + price > max_pain * 1.05 + 0 < expiry_days < 8 + PCR < 0.75 (call-heavy = sellers leaning bearish) + RSI 40–72 + change_pct > 0.
| Horizon | Intraday |
| Scanner timeframe | 15m |
| Confirm entry on | 5m / 15m |
| Typical hold | 30 min – 5 hours |
| Max hold / time-stop | Same-day close (intraday F&O) |
The pages below are free and educational, but the actionable plan stays in the app:
55–65% within 8 days of expiry; weaker beyond. Full breakdown in the premium app.