Remote Chess Academy Courses

When to Trade Pieces in Chess - And When Not To

Master strategic piece exchanges through 10 interactive challenges that reveal when trading helps or hurts your position, covering evaluation principles and positional factors.

• YouTube
• 11 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Free Video

Catalan Chess Opening - Complete Guide for White After 1.d4

Master the Catalan Opening with GM Smirnov's strategic guide, featuring key plans, transpositions, and Magnus Carlsen's winning techniques for dominating after 1.d4.

• YouTube
• 23 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Free Video

10 Positional Rules to Think Like a Grandmaster - Beginner to Advanced

Master 10 essential positional rules from GM Igor Smirnov to build strong positions, control key squares, and think strategically like a grandmaster in every chess game.

• YouTube
• 16 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Free Video

The Highest Win Rate Opening After 1.e4 for White - Deutz Gambit

Discover the Deutz Gambit - the highest win rate opening after 1.e4. Master aggressive pawn sacrifices, devastating traps, and rapid development to dominate opponents in blitz and serious play.

• YouTube
• 18 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Free Video

How to Calculate in Chess Like a Grandmaster

Master the 5 powerful calculation rules grandmasters use to find winning moves efficiently without wasting time on useless variations in just 13 minutes.

• YouTube
• 13 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Free Video

Czech Defense - One Opening for Black Against Anything That White Plays

Master the Czech Defense - a universal opening system for Black that works against any White first move, requiring minimal theory while providing solid counterplay opportunities.

• YouTube
• 17 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Free Video

The Most Underrated Chess Opening Against 1.e4 for Black

Master the Modern Scandinavian Defense with attacking ideas, hidden traps, and dynamic counterplay to confidently face 1.e4 as Black in this comprehensive opening guide.

• YouTube
• 20 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Free Video

7 Key Chess Principles to Improve Your Game - Complete Guide

Master 7 powerful chess principles from GM Igor Smirnov's 32-year journey that will transform your decision-making, reduce blunders, and accelerate your improvement in just 14 minutes.

• YouTube
• 14 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Free Video

The Complete Italian Game Guide - Gambits and Traps for White and Black

Master 10 deadly tactical traps in the Italian Game opening for both White and Black, including the Deutz Gambit, Greco Gambit, and Ulvestad Variation to win games quickly.

• YouTube
• 18 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Free Video

How Capablanca Defeated a Champion Without Studying Opening Theory

Discover Capablanca's 7 timeless rules for winning chess through strategic play rather than memorizing opening theory, demonstrated via his victory over US Champion Frank Marshall.

• YouTube
• 21 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Free Video

Mikhail Tal's 6 Golden Rules of Attack vs Karpov

Master Mikhail Tal's 6 golden attacking principles through analysis of his legendary game against Karpov, learning to create chaos and overwhelm opponents with relentless pressure.

• YouTube
• 14 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Free Video

How Tal Psychologically Destroys His Opponents With His Sacrifices

Discover how Mikhail Tal used fearless sacrifices and psychological warfare to overwhelm opponents, analyzing his shocking knight sacrifice in the 1960 World Championship.

• YouTube
• 16 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Free Video

The Most Solid Chess Opening for Black Against 1.e4 - French Defense

Master the French Defense - a solid, reliable system against 1.e4 that neutralizes White's aggressive attacks and leads to favorable strategic positions for Black.

• YouTube
• 20 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Free Video

These Puzzles Test Your Chess Tactics Level

Master decoy tactics through 10 progressive chess puzzles from 500 to 2800 ELO level, enhancing pattern recognition and tactical vision under pressure.

• YouTube
• 13 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Free Video

Nimzowitsch Defense - Universal Chess Opening System for Black

Master the Nimzowitsch Defense (1...Nc6) - a universal opening system for Black that works against any White first move and can deliver quick wins in just 8 moves, even vs strong players.

• YouTube
• 13 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Free Video