Strike Selection

How do traders determine which credit target to use when following the 3:10 PM CST RSAi and EDR signals for SPX Iron Condor entries?

VixShield Research Team · Based on SPX Mastery by Russell Clark · May 3, 2026 · 0 views
1DTE Iron Condor credit targets RSAi signals EDR indicator VIX Risk Scaling

VixShield Answer

At VixShield we rely exclusively on our 1DTE SPX Iron Condor Command executed at the 3:10 PM CST post-close window. The RSAi engine combined with the EDR indicator delivers three precise credit targets each trading day: Conservative at 0.70, Balanced at 1.15, and Aggressive at 1.60. These are not arbitrary; they are derived from real-time skew analysis via RSAi and the Expected Daily Range calculation that blends VIX9D and 20-day historical volatility. Current market conditions with VIX at 17.95, below its five-day moving average of 18.58, place us firmly in a contango regime where all three tiers remain available under our VIX Risk Scaling rules. When VIX sits below 15 we freely rotate among all tiers, between 15 and 20 we limit ourselves to Conservative and Balanced, and above 20 we enter full HOLD mode while keeping our ALVH hedge active. Position sizing stays at a maximum of 10 percent of account balance per trade to maintain defined risk. The Conservative tier, which historically delivers approximately 90 percent win rate or 18 out of 20 trading days, is our default for newer traders or when protecting capital in slightly elevated volatility. Balanced offers a middle path for steady income, while Aggressive is reserved for the cleanest contango setups where EDR projects a narrow daily range and RSAi confirms favorable skew on both wings. Our methodology is strictly Set and Forget with no stop losses; instead we rely on the Theta Time Shift mechanism to roll threatened positions forward to 1-7 DTE on EDR above 0.94 percent or VIX above 16, then roll back on VWAP pullbacks to harvest additional theta without adding capital. This Temporal Theta Martingale has shown an 88 percent loss recovery rate in our 2015-2025 backtests. The ALVH hedge, layered in a 4/4/2 ratio across short, medium, and long VIX calls, provides the protective vanguard that cuts drawdowns by 35-40 percent during spikes at an annual cost of only 1-2 percent of account value. All trading involves substantial risk of loss and is not suitable for all investors. For deeper implementation details including live signal examples and ALVH roll schedules, we invite you to explore the structured curriculum inside VixShield.
⚠️ Risk Disclaimer: Options trading involves substantial risk of loss and is not appropriate for all investors. The information on this page is educational only and does not constitute financial advice or a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Always consult a qualified financial professional before trading.

💬 Community Pulse

Community traders often approach the choice between 0.70, 1.15, and 1.60 credit targets by first checking the current VIX level against established risk scaling thresholds. Many begin with the Conservative tier to build consistency before scaling into Balanced or Aggressive setups during strong contango readings. A common misconception is that higher credit always equals better returns; experienced practitioners emphasize that proper tier selection aligned with EDR projections and RSAi skew signals produces smoother equity curves than chasing maximum premium. Discussions frequently highlight the importance of maintaining strict 10 percent position sizing and allowing the Theta Time Shift to handle recovery rather than intervening manually. Overall the consensus centers on discipline around the 3:10 PM CST entry window and full integration of the ALVH hedge for sustained performance across varying volatility regimes.
📖 Glossary Terms Referenced

APA Citation

VixShield Research Team. (2026). How do traders determine which credit target to use when following the 3:10 PM CST RSAi and EDR signals for SPX Iron Condor entries?. Ask VixShield. Retrieved from https://www.vixshield.com/ask/anyone-using-the-310-pm-cst-rsai-edr-signals-for-spx-ic-entries-how-do-you-decide-between-the-070-115-or-160-credit-targ

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