Understand how to read the pawn structure to dictate your plan, identify weaknesses in the enemy camp, and execute multi-stage maneuvers with patience and precision. 6. An Attacking Genius
This course provides a complete, powerful opening repertoire at the Grandmaster level. It focuses on efficiency and understanding, steering clear of encyclopedic lists of variations. The course aims to turn opening preparation into a major strength, allowing you to play with confidence from the very first move.
Positional chess is the art of improving your position gradually. Many club players fail to understand when to transition from the opening to the middlegame or how to improve passive pieces. Strategic planning and positional mastery.
12 hours | Specific to the Sicilian & French The Hook: Most Black repertoires are defensive. Smirnov’s new Black course teaches "provocative defense." gm igor smirnov all 9 chess courses new
Limitations and critical concerns Despite its practical orientation, the collection has notable limitations. First, the pedagogical quality varies across modules: some lessons offer deep, scaffolded learning sequences, while others are more cursory. Learners seeking advanced theoretical depth — such as in complex opening theory or high-level endgame studies — may find the material insufficient. Smirnov’s pragmatic simplifications (e.g., streamlined repertoires) can also lead to stylistic constraints; players who prefer rich, creative opening systems or who wish to specialize in complex theoretical lines may need supplementary resources.
To prevent information overload, do not study these nine courses simultaneously. Follow this optimized learning path to systematically build your skills:
Instead of equalizing, you bait White into overextending. The new edition focuses heavily on the and the Winawer French . Smirnov includes a "Trap Index"—a cheat sheet of 30 opening traps you can set by move 12. Understand how to read the pawn structure to
His courses are built around the premise that chess improvement comes from understanding general principles, typical patterns, and the logic behind moves, rather than pure calculation. The production quality is generally high, featuring video lessons with graphical overlays that highlight key squares and pieces, making complex ideas easier to visualize.
Before diving into the list, you must understand GM Smirnov’s core teaching axiom: Don’t memorize moves; understand the logic.
Will benefit immensely from the fundamental thought processes outlined in The Grandmaster's Secrets and Calculate Till Mate . It focuses on efficiency and understanding, steering clear
When you search for , you are looking for a closed ecosystem that replaces Chessable, YouTube, and your local library. Let’s see if it holds up.
This course acts as a foundational guide for understanding the "grandmaster mindset." Core principles of chess improvement.
By merging deep positional understanding with tactical calculation and tournament psychology, the core 9-course curriculum offered by the Remote Chess Academy breaks down the specific differences that separate chess masters from standard club-level players. Core Pillars of the All 9 Chess Courses Bundle
So, what can you expect from GM Smirnov's 9 chess courses? Here's a brief overview of each course: