Self-taught Grandmaster Apr 2026

is a specialized chess training course created by Ukrainian Grandmaster Igor Smirnov . Unlike many courses that focus on specific openings or tactical patterns, this program is designed to be a comprehensive "training system" for players who want to improve without a personal coach. Core Content & Structure

This is not a "passive" course. To see results, you must commit to the rigorous practical exercises and repetitive training tasks.

Includes a set of 20 special training tasks and 200 commented games and puzzles designed to automate the thinking algorithms Smirnov teaches. Self-Taught Grandmaster

The course is built on the philosophy that modern players often "know" too much but "do" too little, leading to inconsistent results. It focuses on transforming passive knowledge into "unconscious competence"—skills that trigger automatically during a game.

The course covers the "Main Problem" of self-taught players (lack of a clear system) and moves into advanced concepts like planning, style development, and the "High School" of chess. is a specialized chess training course created by

Focuses on how to think rather than what to think, helping players stabilize their performance.

Can we become a Grand Master through self study? - Chessable To see results, you must commit to the

Some users find the older video format and Smirnov’s accent a bit dated compared to modern Chessable or Chess.com courses.