Vertical Spread on TradingView: Bull Put & Bear Call (IBKR TWS)

A vertical spread on TradingView is a two-leg options position you chart the thesis for, then submit as one IBKR combo — bull put or bear call for credit, or debit verticals for directional bets with capped risk.

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Related: Multi-Leg Orders workflow · Parent hub Trade Options on TradingView

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Not financial advice. Options involve substantial risk. Read Risk Disclosure.

Vertical spread basics (two legs)

Type	Legs (simplified)	Typical bias	Premium
Bull put vertical	Short put + long put (lower strike)	Bullish / neutral	Often credit
Bear call vertical	Short call + long call (higher strike)	Bearish / neutral	Often credit
Debit call vertical	Long call + short call (higher)	Bullish	Debit paid
Debit put vertical	Long put + short put (lower)	Bearish	Debit paid

Defined risk (credit verticals): Max loss ≈ strike width − net credit (per share × 100 multiplier).

Why use TradingView for verticals

Step	TradingView	IBKR TWS
Trend / range view	✅ Primary	Secondary
Strike selection context	✅ Levels, IV markers	✅ Chain + combo builder
Bundled submit	❌	✅ Combo ticket
Auto TP/SL on spread	❌ native	✅ Manage combo
Single-leg hedge	Plan on chart	OptionTrigger optional

TradingView does not currently route IBKR options through its native broker panel — use TWS for the vertical ticket (IBKR + TradingView).

Bull put vertical workflow

1. Chart thesis (bullish / neutral)

Open underlying (e.g., SPY) on TradingView Desktop.
Mark support where you expect price to stay above through expiration week.
Check IV — credit verticals often opened when premium is elevated (educational generalization).
Avoid opening into binary events unless that is your strategy.

2. Choose strikes in TWS

Pick expiration (liquidity matters — tight markets on SPY/QQQ).
Short put — OTM below price (delta rule is personal; many teaching examples use ~20–30 delta).
Long put — further OTM for protection wing.
Preview credit, breakeven, max loss, margin.

3. Submit combo

Order type: limit credit
Confirm both legs in one ticket
Paper trade first: Paper trading spoke

4. Manage

Rule (example — customize)	Action in TWS
50% of max profit	Buy back combo
Threatened short strike	Adjust or close
Need fast hedge	Single-leg via OptionTrigger if planned

Bear call vertical workflow

Mirror the bull put process for bearish / neutral bias above price:

Mark resistance / ceiling on TradingView.
Short call OTM below wing call.
Submit bear call combo for credit.
Monitor upside breach risk on chart alerts.

Debit verticals (directional, capped risk)

Debit verticals pay net premium upfront; max loss is roughly the debit paid.

Use case	Chart signal (examples)
Bullish breakout	Break above resistance → debit call vertical
Bearish breakdown	Break below support → debit put vertical

Execution still in TWS combo — TradingView is the trigger context, not the order router.

Common mistakes

Mistake	Fix
Legging puts/calls separately	Use vertical template combo
Ignoring bid-ask width	Trade liquid series
Using stock stops for spread	Manage combo in TWS
Expecting OptionTrigger to open 2 legs	Use TWS; OT for leg 3 only if needed
Skipping paper reps	Paper TWS verticals ×10

OptionTrigger role (single-leg only)

Does: One-click call/put with auto TP/SL.
Does not: Bull put / bear call combo in one click.

Hybrid example: Vertical on in TWS; add long put hedge via chart if price violates your line.

Compare to iron condor

	Vertical (2 legs)	Iron condor (4 legs)
Complexity	Lower	Higher
Capital / margin	Usually simpler	More legs to monitor
Tutorial	This page	Iron Condor

Guide	Why
Connect IBKR	Stack setup
Multi-Leg Orders	General workflow
Options Automation Playbook	Webhook vs chart-native

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Trading guides (2026):

Trade Options on TradingView — brokers, tools, workflows
Options Trading Automation Playbook — webhooks vs chart-native execution
IBKR + TradingView for Options — permissions, TWS, troubleshooting