He entered a weekend rapid tournament. Round one: a 1950 FM. Leo played the London System—not mechanically, but actively , using Igor’s “universal piece placement.” By move 20, the FM had no good moves. Only bad ones and worse ones. Leo checkmated him with a rook lift that Igor had diagrammed in The Attacking Manual , page 47.
Before diving into the nine courses, you must understand why Smirnov rebooted his entire curriculum.
Focuses on the principles of opening play, ensuring students understand why moves are made rather than just memorizing lines.
8 hours | 200 "Candidate Move" challenges The Hook: You don’t need to calculate 20 moves deep. You need to calculate the right 3 moves deep.
By month two, Leo had finished five courses. He wasn’t just playing chess; he was conducting it. The Universal Opening System gave him a simple, repeatable setup against d4, e4, and everything else. No more theory panic. The Attacking Manual taught him that attacks aren’t spontaneous—they’re created by fixing the opponent’s weakness , then throwing everything at it. gm igor smirnov all 9 chess courses new
The endgame is where many games are won or lost, yet it is often the most neglected area of study. Practical endgame knowledge (not just theoretical).
Learn how to identify "candidate moves" instantly, visualize lines multiple moves ahead without getting confused, and calculate safely under time pressure. 5. Your Winning Plan
Smirnov’s courses are built around a cohesive —the same system he used to become a Grandmaster. This approach emphasizes:
A foundational course that reveals the hidden principles that strong players use but rarely talk about. It covers everything from intuition development to evaluating positions quickly. 5. Your Winning Plan He entered a weekend rapid tournament
This course is a collaboration with IM Maximiliano Perez and coach Angelos Kesaris, providing multiple expert perspectives on the journey to 2000 ELO.
Purists who love the Spanish Opening will hate this course. Pragmatists who want to beat 1800-rated players on a Friday night will love it.
Leo felt a crack in his chest. The fog didn’t just lift—it shattered.
GM Smirnov's courses are unique in that they are designed to be accessible to players of all levels, from beginners to advanced players. His teaching style is clear, concise, and engaging, making it easy to follow along and understand complex concepts. Additionally, his courses are filled with interactive exercises, quizzes, and puzzles that help reinforce your learning and keep you motivated. Only bad ones and worse ones
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.
in order of importance for your current level (Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced). ALL Chess Courses by GM Igor Smirnov - TheChessWorld.com
: “In my opinion they are the best chess courses ever made.”