If you prefer free materials before buying, Smirnov provides extensive high-quality content:
Grandmaster Igor Smirnov, the founder of the Remote Chess Academy (RCA), is one of the most prominent online chess coaches. His teaching philosophy focuses on understanding core principles over memorizing endless opening lines.
: Covers aggressive plans like "7 Winning Attacking Plans in the Italian Game".
Grandmaster Igor Smirnov, the founder of the Remote Chess Academy (RCA), is famous for his structured approach to chess education. His premium courses claim to reveal the "secrets" of GM thinking. However, these courses carry a premium price tag. gm igor smirnov all 9 chess courses better free
While the best order depends on your current level, the official RCA guide suggests this progression for a solid foundation: : Best for establishing fundamentals.
The 9 chess courses by GM Igor Smirnov offer a high-quality, structured approach to chess training, particularly focusing on the "thinking system" necessary for high-level play. While they are not a substitute for practice, they offer a very efficient, organized path that many players find superior to the time-consuming process of curating free resources.
: Look for free chess eBooks or PDF previews online focusing on classic strategic planning. 9. Meet the Attacking Chess Master If you prefer free materials before buying, Smirnov
Watch the RCA video series "How to Think Like a Grandmaster."
Read the articles in the "Chess Strategy" section of the official Remote Chess Academy blog.
Many players wonder if investing in is truly better than free resources, such as YouTube tutorials, free articles, or study tools on Lichess and Chess.com. This article dives deep into the 9-course curriculum, Smirnov’s philosophy, and whether this paid path offers superior value. 1. Who is GM Igor Smirnov? Grandmaster Igor Smirnov, the founder of the Remote
Leo stopped binge-watching courses. He started playing slower. He asked one question per move: "If I do nothing, what kills me?" Within two months, he hit 1850. He never bought another course.
: Balancing your study time between tactics, openings, positional play, and endgames.
| Criteria | Free Content (YouTube/Lichess) | GM Smirnov’s Courses | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | 4/10 (surface level) | 9/10 (Grandmaster insights) | | Structure | 2/10 (random order) | 10/10 (graded difficulty) | | Practice Integration | 1/10 (you find your own) | 9/10 (PGNs & exercises included) | | Psychology | 0/10 (ignored) | 9/10 (core focus) | | Time Efficiency | 3/10 (watch 50 hrs to learn 5 hrs worth) | 9/10 (every minute is dense) | | Cost | 10/10 (free) | 5/10 (one-time payment) |
The screen went black. Leo rebooted. All nine courses were still there, untouched. But now, every time he opened one, a watermark appeared in the corner:
Finding the right path to improvement is often the hardest part of chess. While thousands of free videos exist, many players find themselves "stuck" at a specific rating plateau. GM Igor Smirnov , founder of the Remote Chess Academy , argues that this is because most free content provides information without teaching a cohesive .