Second, make sure that the spread is initiated at strikes that are sufficiently out of the money. In other words, give yourself a cushion so that the position can withstand a move against your expectations. The trade above, for example, incorporated a cushion of over three percent. Note that volatility becomes an issue. If market volatility is high, you may have to build in more cushion to avoid getting whipped out of your position.
Credit spreads are thus better suited for a low-volatility environment.
Third, adjust your spread width to allow enough premium to match the risk of the trade. For the OEX, if five points doesn't provide enough credit, look at a 10-point spread. Remember that the wider spread will also have a greater loss potential and a larger margin requirement. QQQ offers the added flexibility of allowing spreads in one-point increments over a range of strike prices. Finally, as with all option trades, it is important to consider transaction costs.