Below 1200 rating, the conceptual density will overwhelm. Above 2200, the material becomes too general; titled players need deep opening theory or endgame precision, which Smirnov barely touches. His sweet spot is the solid intermediate (1400-2000). The Verdict: An Unmatched System, With Caveats GM Igor Smirnov’s nine chess courses represent the most complete system of practical chess education available for the club player. No other single author has so thoroughly mapped the journey from positional ignorance to strategic confidence. The emphasis on defense, psychology, and self-training fills gaping holes left by traditional chess books.
The foundation of the library rests on and “Self-Training: How to Improve Your Chess Without an Opponent.” These are not about memorizing the Berlin Defense or the Najdorf Sicilian; they are about understanding pawn structures, piece activity, and, crucially, how to study. Smirnov argues that the average player’s practice (mindless blitz games) is actively harmful. His courses replace volume with deliberate, principle-based reflection. This is a liberating idea: you don’t need a better memory, just better questions to ask at the board. The Nine Pillars: A Map of the Catalogue Smirnov’s nine courses can be grouped into three distinct phases of a player’s development journey:
Smirnov’s marketing is aggressive (time-limited discounts, “secrets the grandmasters don’t want you to know” rhetoric). The full nine-course bundle typically costs several hundred dollars. While individually each course offers value, the cumulative price approaches that of a university semester. For a similar investment, one could hire a FIDE trainer for personalized lessons, which might yield faster results. GM Igor Smirnov ALL 9 Chess Courses
Smirnov’s core ideas—the “three stages of a game,” the importance of intuition, the flaws of engine training—appear in almost every course. The “Grandmaster’s Thinking” course, for example, rehashes significant material from “Positional Understanding” and “Calculate Till Mate.” For a student who buys the full bundle, this can feel like paying for the same lecture multiple times with different titles.
The opening courses ( The King’s Gambit , Universal System ) are deliberately narrow. If your opponent plays 1…c6 (Caro-Kann) or 1…e6 (French), the Universal System (based on 1.d4 and 2.g3) can struggle. Smirnov’s answer—“just play positional chess”—is philosophically consistent but practically frustrating for players who want concrete variations. Below 1200 rating, the conceptual density will overwhelm
Second, He excels at simplifying complex concepts. His explanation of “prophylaxis” (preventing your opponent’s plan) or “the principle of the least active piece” is clearer than in many classic textbooks. The video format, with his calm, accented English narration and clear board visuals, is highly effective.
Yet, it is not a panacea. The system demands a disciplined student willing to spend months (not weeks) on deliberate practice. The redundancies and cost mean that few players need the entire bundle. A wiser path is to purchase the core trilogy (, Self-Training , Art of Defense ) and supplement with a free opening database. The Verdict: An Unmatched System, With Caveats GM
Ultimately, Smirnov’s legacy is not the nine courses themselves, but the mindset they instill: chess mastery is not about knowing more than your opponent; it is about thinking more clearly. For that lesson alone, his catalogue is worth a serious look—just don’t expect to buy your way to a title without the hard work of unlearning your own bad habits.