What is a naked call option strategy?

A naked call option strategy is one in which an investor writes/sells a call contract without owning the underlying securities. This strategy is sometimes referred to as uncovered call writing or a short call and is much riskier than the covered call alternative. The risk is that by writing the contract you are promising the buyer of the contract the right to buy shares at the strike price. In a covered call you already own the shares and the buyer of the contract simply takes your shares at the strike price if they are in the money. With an uncovered call or naked call you must buy the shares if the contract is executed regardless of the price. That price in effect could go up dramatically leaving you on the hook for a loss that in a sense is unlimited. Many firms will not even allow for the trading of naked calls and those that do often have strict margin requirements that are involved. The advantage of the naked call strategy is the chance to capture the premium from writing the call without the required investment on the underlying security.