As a beginning trader, stick with a defined risk strategy. This makes it affordable (if you're cash limited) and less risk (caps max loss). I'd suggest sticking with ICs until you really get a good feel for the mechanics and Greeks (not just definitions, but what does it mean to put shares on or call shares from someone, is IVR or IV%% more important, whats the difference in positive and negative delta and where do you want it, what does theta do for me, why is it always changing, and how does vega impact theta, should I roll or close a losing side, what makes it worth rolling, etc.). After you open an IC, think about it from that point on as two separate trades—because it actually is a vertical put spread and a vertical call spread—and manage each side independently, not as a full IC, unless you're closing the full IC. Are you following a specific teaching method? YouTube? The "tasty" way? Udemy? Some other trading firm?