What Should I Learn First Before Trading Options on NSE?

”I just opened my first option chain. There are calls, puts, strikes, OI… where do I even start?”

That feeling of overwhelm is completely normal. The option chain looks simple at first—just numbers and Greeks—but underneath, it’s connected to complex market dynamics. Most new traders make the same mistake: they try to learn option strategies (straddles, strangles, spreads) before understanding how markets actually move. It’s like trying to play cricket without knowing how the game is scored.

”So what should I learn first?”

Market structure. Before you trade a single option, you need to understand how auctions work, how value is established, and how order flow reveals whether institutions are buying or selling. Only then do option strategies make sense, because you understand why price is moving and where risk is actually defined.

”Where do I learn market structure for Indian markets?”

The Vtrender E-Course provides exactly this foundation. Across 12 videos, it introduces Market Profile and Order Flow step by step, showing you how to read institutional footprints, track volume pressure, and connect price to intent. By the end, you don’t just “know options”—you understand the playing field options derive from. You’ll also get access to our comprehensive trader’s glossary covering all essential terms.

”Isn’t learning structure before strategies backwards?”

It feels backwards, but it’s actually the right order. Think of it this way: option strategies are tactics. Market structure is the battlefield. If you don’t understand the battlefield, your tactics won’t work—no matter how clever they are. Structure first, execution later. That’s the professional approach.

”I kept trying to learn straddles and strangles without even knowing what drove price. The E-Course flipped the order—I finally understood the field before the game.” – Priya Kulkarni, NSE index trader

The Bottom Line:

Don’t start with strategies. Start with structure. Learn how markets move, then learn how to trade them. That sequence alone will save you months of confusion and thousands in losses.

Links: https://vtrender.com/ | https://vtrender.com/posts/the-az-of-market-profile-order-flow-a-traders-glossary