diff --git a/vast.py b/vast.py
index c9af6aa0..85afa348 100644
--- a/vast.py
+++ b/vast.py
@@ -3468,11 +3468,13 @@ def _parse_region(region):
     return region
 
 @parser.command(
-    argument("-g", "--gpu-name", type=str, required=True, choices=_get_gpu_names(), help="Name of the GPU model, replace spaces with underscores"),
-    argument("-n", "--num-gpus", type=str, required=True, choices=["1", "2", "4", "8", "12", "14"], help="Number of GPUs required"),
+    argument("-g", "--gpu-name", type=str, default=None, choices=_get_gpu_names(), help="Name of the GPU model, replace spaces with underscores (required unless --query is set)"),
+    argument("-n", "--num-gpus", type=str, default=None, choices=["1", "2", "4", "8", "12", "14"], help="Number of GPUs required (required unless --query is set)"),
     argument("-r", "--region", type=str, help="Geographical location of the instance"),
     argument("-i", "--image", required=True, help="Name of the image to use for instance"),
+    argument("--query", type=str, default=None, help="Search query in simple query syntax (e.g. 'gpu_name=RTX_3090 num_gpus=1'). If set, overrides -g/-n/-r/--disk/--cpu-ram for offer selection."),
     argument("-d", "--disk", type=float, default=16.0, help="Disk space required in GB"),
+    argument("--cpu-ram", type=float, default=None, help="Minimum system RAM required in GB"),
     argument("--limit", default=3, type=int, help=""),
     argument("-o", "--order", type=str, help="Comma-separated list of fields to sort on. postfix field with - to sort desc. ex: -o 'num_gpus,total_flops-'.  default='score-'", default='score-'),
     argument("--login", help="docker login arguments for private repo authentication, surround with '' ", type=str),
@@ -3491,7 +3493,7 @@ def _parse_region(region):
     argument("--env",   help="env variables and port mapping options, surround with '' ", type=str),
     argument("--args",  nargs=argparse.REMAINDER, help="list of arguments passed to container ENTRYPOINT. Onstart is recommended for this purpose. (must be last argument)"),
     argument("--force", help="Skip sanity checks when creating from an existing instance", action="store_true"),
-    argument("--cancel-unavail", help="Return error if scheduling fails (rather than creating a stopped instance)", action="store_true"),
+    argument("--cancel-unavail", default=True, help="Return error if scheduling fails (rather than creating a stopped instance)", action="store_true"),
     argument("--template_hash",   help="template hash which contains all relevant information about an instance. This can be used as a replacement for other parameters describing the instance configuration", type=str),
     usage="vastai launch instance [--help] [--api-key API_KEY] <gpu_name> <num_gpus> <image> [geolocation] [disk_space]",
     help="Launch the top instance from the search offers based on the given parameters",
@@ -3531,20 +3533,41 @@ def launch__instance(args):
 
     :param argparse.Namespace args: Namespace with many fields relevant to the endpoint.
     """
-    args_query = f"num_gpus={args.num_gpus} gpu_name={args.gpu_name}"
+    base_query = {"verified": {"eq": True}, "external": {"eq": False}, "rentable": {"eq": True}, "rented": {"eq": False}}
 
-    if args.region:
-        if not _is_valid_region(args.region):
-            print("Invalid region or country codes provided.")
-            return
-        region_query = _parse_region(args.region)
-        args_query += f" geolocation in {region_query}"
+    if args.query is not None:
+        # --query mode: parse the raw query string directly, ignoring individual offer-selection args
+        try:
+            query = parse_query(args.query, base_query, offers_fields, offers_alias, offers_mult)
+        except ValueError as e:
+            print("Error parsing --query:", e)
+            return 1
+    else:
+        # individual-arg mode: --gpu-name and --num-gpus are required
+        if args.gpu_name is None or args.num_gpus is None:
+            print("Error: --gpu-name and --num-gpus are required when --query is not set.")
+            return 1
 
-    if args.disk:
-        args_query += f" disk_space>={args.disk}"
+        args_query = f"num_gpus={args.num_gpus} gpu_name={args.gpu_name}"
 
-    base_query = {"verified": {"eq": True}, "external": {"eq": False}, "rentable": {"eq": True}, "rented": {"eq": False}}
-    query = parse_query(args_query, base_query, offers_fields, offers_alias, offers_mult)
+        if args.region:
+            if not _is_valid_region(args.region):
+                print("Invalid region or country codes provided.")
+                return
+            region_query = _parse_region(args.region)
+            args_query += f" geolocation in {region_query}"
+
+        if args.disk:
+            args_query += f" disk_space>={args.disk}"
+
+        if args.cpu_ram:
+            args_query += f" cpu_ram>={args.cpu_ram}"
+
+        try:
+            query = parse_query(args_query, base_query, offers_fields, offers_alias, offers_mult)
+        except ValueError as e:
+            print("Error:", e)
+            return 1
 
     order = []
     for name in args.order.split(","):
@@ -3598,7 +3621,8 @@ def launch__instance(args):
         "jupyter_dir": args.jupyter_dir,
         "force": args.force,
         "cancel_unavail": args.cancel_unavail,
-        "template_hash_id" : args.template_hash
+        "template_hash_id" : args.template_hash,
+        "cpu_ram": args.cpu_ram
     }
     # don't send runtype with template_hash
     if args.template_hash is None: