SPXPlay Research
Original market-structure research by VantureCap · Updated July 24, 2026
The research library turns the same historical scenario engine behind Playbook Trainer into transparent aggregate studies. We publish the unfavorable outcomes, the denominator behind every rate, the construction rules, and the limitations — without republishing licensed quote histories.
Latest report
- What 1,051 Historical SPX Scenarios Reveal About 0–3 DTE Vertical Spreads Original aggregate charts, winning and losing outcomes, average and median P&L, VIX/trend regime comparisons, DTE sample sizes, methodology, and limitations.
What makes this first-party research
The counts and charts are computed by VantureCap from the scenario population we built for SPXPlay. They are not summaries of another publisher’s article, a scraped options screen, or generic strategy claims. The analysis compares four choices priced on the same historical setup, so readers can see how payoff shape changes the same underlying outcome.
The first report contains 1,051 eligible SPX sessions and 4,204 trade outcomes. The second number is four paired alternatives per session — not 4,204 independent dates. That distinction, and every other material constraint, appears in the report rather than being hidden in a footnote.
Research standards
- Show the denominator: every regime and DTE comparison includes its scenario count.
- Show the losses: reports include loss rates, average losing outcomes, and near/full maximum-loss frequency where the data supports it.
- Separate description from prediction: historical averages are labeled as sample results, not expected returns or trade recommendations.
- Document construction: spread selection, eligibility, P&L, and regime definitions live on the public methodology page.
- Respect data licenses: public pages contain derived aggregates and educational explanation, not raw option-chain or OHLC downloads. See the research aggregate data license for the exact scope and restrictions.
Use the research with the trainer
An aggregate report reveals the shape of a population; the trainer reveals the decisions inside individual cases. Use the report to notice asymmetry — such as frequent small credits versus infrequent large losses — then use the game to practice recognizing the context without seeing the historical date.
Playbook Trainer is an educational game built on historical market data. Nothing on this page is investment advice or a recommendation to trade. Options involve substantial risk; defined-risk spreads can lose their full maximum loss. Scenario dates are masked, and prices reflect historical option quotes with simplified fills.