Swapnil Dhopade leads the January 2026 edition of Tactical Thursday with a dynamic and highly practical theme — Strategic Calculation and Attacking Combinations.
In this camp, the focus moves from isolated tactics to purpose-driven calculation. GM Dhopade will show that the most dangerous attacking players are not those who calculate the most, but those who calculate in the right direction, guided by strategic cues and concrete targets.
A central idea of this edition is that strong attacks are rarely accidental. They are built through correct evaluation, piece coordination, and the ability to calculate forcing lines once the position is ripe. You will learn how strategic factors — king safety, piece activity, structural weaknesses — dictate when calculation is required and which attacking ideas are realistic.
The second core theme of the camp is attacking combinations. GM Dhopade will break down classic and modern attacking patterns, showing how combinations emerge naturally from superior piece placement and initiative. Instead of memorizing motifs, you will learn how to recognize when a combination must exist — and how to calculate it accurately.
GM Dhopade will demonstrate how elite players:
• Identify attacking potential before calculating
• Use strategic advantages to narrow the calculation tree
• Coordinate pieces for maximum attacking force
• Convert pressure into concrete combinations
• Calculate forcing lines with speed and confidence
Tactical Thursday is part of the Modern Chess Academy, meaning Academy members receive free access to all lectures and the final digital product.
🛠 Technical Details
✓ Dates: 15.01.2026 and 22.01.2026
✓ Platform: Zoom
✓ Coach: GM Swapnil Dhopade
📅 Program
15.01.2026 – Paris | New York
🕒 17:30 – 19:00 | 11:30 – 13:00 – Strategic Calculation – Part 1
🕒 19:30 – 21:00 | 13:30 – 15:00 – Strategic Calculation – Part 2
22.01.2026 – Paris | New York
🕒 17:30 – 19:00 | 11:30 – 13:00 – Attacking Combinations – Part 3
🕒 19:30 – 21:00 | 13:30 – 15:00 – Attacking Combinations – Part 4
🕒 21:00 – 21:30 | 15:00 – 15:30 – Q&A with GM Grigor Grigorov & GM Petar Arnaudov
🎁 Participants Receive:
• Recordings of all lectures
• PGN files with all material (2–3 weeks after the event)
• Final digital product based on all four lectures
• Free access for Academy members
🔥 What You Will Gain
• A clearer link between strategy and calculation
• The ability to calculate only what truly matters
• Improved recognition of attacking moments
• Greater confidence when launching an attack
• More decisive and effective tactical play
This camp will teach you how to calculate with intent, transform advantages into attacks, and execute combinations with precision. It is a powerful tactical upgrade for ambitious players who want to attack with clarity rather than hope.
This event is completed.