For pure calculation, nothing beats an endless supply of interactive puzzles that adapt to your strength. Smirnov's courses are good, but interactive, spaced-repetition training is superior to passive video watching for calculation. 3. Free Alternatives to "The Grandmaster's Opening Lab"
To get the absolute most out of GM Smirnov's training without breaking the bank, follow this specific pathway:
Psychology-focused training. Self-Taught Grandmaster: A guide to training methods.
The only metric where free content wins is cost. In every metric that actually improves your rating , Smirnov wins decisively.
Let us answer the search query directly:
Do not memorize moves. Focus on rapid development, control of the center, and king safety. 4. Calculation Turbo
Access to the Movetext software and numerous free "Short & Sweet" courses created by top titled players. Paid vs. Free: A Direct Comparison GM Igor Smirnov's Paid Courses Free Online Resources (YouTube/Lichess) Structure Highly systematic, step-by-step curriculum. Often fragmented, requires self-organization. Time Efficiency Direct, fluff-free instructional design. Requires filtering through hours of entertainment content. Active Learning Includes specific practical exercises and tasks. Mostly passive watching unless using Lichess studies. Cost Premium financial investment. 100% Free. The Verdict: Is Free Better?
You do not need to spend $999 to learn like a Grandmaster. By strategically utilizing GM Igor Smirnov’s (like the "9 Essential Tips" and "10 Positional Rules") and pairing them with free platforms like Lichess, ChessMood, and Chessable , you can build a 2000 ELO study plan for exactly $0.
Ultimately, no course can do the hard work for you. Whether you pay for Smirnov’s structured ecosystem or curate your own free training regimen, your chess growth will always depend on your willingness to sit down, analyze your mistakes, and play competitive games. If you want to tailor your study plan further, tell me: What is your (and on which platform)? How many hours per week can you dedicate to studying?
Understanding universal opening principles instead of memorizing endless variations. 4. How to Beat Better Players Focus: Psychological warfare and practical chess.
While Smirnov focuses heavily on a specific "daydreaming" method, Lichess offers a broader, community-vetted approach to candidate moves and prophylactic thinking. 2. Free Alternatives to "Calculate Till Mate" Better Free: Lichess Tactics Trainer and Chess.com Puzzles .
But the ultimate question many players ask is:
What makes a course “better”? “Better” is relative: for learners, it depends on goals, level, learning style, and teaching quality. Key attributes that can make Smirnov’s (or any) courses better than others include:
It takes 100 hours of YouTube to find what's in one 5-hour targeted course.
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 .
The RCA blog contains hundreds of heavily annotated games and tactical breakdowns. Most of these articles include free downloadable PGN files, allowing you to load his lessons directly into your favorite chess GUI or Lichess study board. Why Smirnov's Method Works
“All 9 GM Smirnov chess courses better free” → FALSE. Corrected statement: “High-quality free chess resources exist, but they are not a substitute for the curated, sequential, time-saving system of GM Smirnov’s paid courses. A hybrid approach is optimal.”
If you are looking for the "all 9 courses" experience—or more, as his library actually contains dozens—here is how to navigate his resources effectively.
If you are a beginner (