The "Silent Move" detector. The course highlights the five positions where the best move is a quiet, non-capturing, non-checking move that completely paralyzes the opponent.
who want to reach expert or master level (2000+ ELO)
Often serving as an introductory or "mindset" course, this focuses on the psychological aspects of chess. It covers how to handle tournament pressure, how to manage the clock, and how to maintain concentration over long games.
The new version specifically focuses on and "The Hedgehog." Smirnov provides "plan cards" for each structure—printable PDFs that tell you exactly where your pieces should go. Verdict: Arguably the most important pure-strategy course in the bundle.
This course is dedicated to the art of the chess combination. It helps you train your eye for tactical patterns and teaches you the techniques to set them up and execute them in your own games, often against unsuspecting opponents. gm igor smirnov all 9 chess courses new
Master Your Chess: A Deep Dive into All 9+ Chess Courses by GM Igor Smirnov (2026 Updated Edition)
Building a reliable and aggressive opening repertoire. 4. How to Beat Titled Players
These courses are designed to provide a complete roadmap from beginner to advanced master levels.
Dedicated students who want to manage their own progress. 🚀 Mastering the System The "Silent Move" detector
To be transparent, Smirnov deliberately removed certain things from the new 9-course system:
“Now teach someone else. That’s course ten.”
The "new" part is critical here. Older chess openings are being refuted by Stockfish 17. Smirnov has updated the lines to avoid the "Englund Gambit" traps and the "Jobava London" counters. He provides a PDF—memorize the first 5 moves of every line, and the rest is just logic.
The most overlooked course. This is why titled players rarely tilt. It covers how to handle tournament pressure, how
With nine targeted programs, the optimal learning path depends on your current strengths, weaknesses, and goals. To help you decide, refer to the table below:
Regardless of your choice, understanding Smirnov’s holistic approach to tactics, strategy, and psychology will change how you see the 64 squares forever. Happy grinding.
This foundational course acts as the cornerstone of Smirnov’s entire methodology. It aims to completely rewrite how you look at a chess board by eliminating chaotic thinking.
Learn to identify the "hot spots" on the board before calculating single tactical lines. 2. The Grandmaster's Positional Understanding
Maximizing scoring chances against superior opposition.