Ioannis Papaioannou returns in February 2026 with a theme that sits at the core of modern positional understanding — From the Opening to the Middlegame: Positions with Doubled Pawns.
In this edition of Strategy Wednesday, the focus moves to one of the most misunderstood structural imbalances in chess: doubled pawns. Far from being a simple weakness, doubled pawns often define the entire strategic narrative of a position. GM Papaioannou will show how these structures arise naturally from the opening and how they shape plans, piece coordination, and long-term decision-making in the middlegame.
A central idea of this camp is learning to evaluate structure dynamically, not dogmatically. Many players label doubled pawns as “bad” and drift without a plan. This training addresses that misconception head-on, demonstrating when doubled pawns are a liability, when they are a strength, and how strong players build coherent plans around them.
Throughout the camp, GM Papaioannou will demonstrate how structural features are not static evaluations, but practical guides for play. You will see how doubled pawns influence piece activity, king safety, pawn breaks, and endgame transitions — and how plans must adapt as the position evolves.
Throughout the camp, GM Papaioannou will show you:
• How doubled pawns typically arise from the opening
• When doubled pawns are a weakness — and when they are an asset
• How to build plans around structure, not surface evaluation
• How piece coordination compensates for structural defects
• How strong players exploit (or neutralise) doubled pawns in practice
This training will not only sharpen your structural understanding — it will help you play with clarity, realism, and confidence in complex middlegame positions.
Strategy Wednesday will take place over two Wednesdays — 18.02.2026 and 25.02.2026 — with two sessions per day.
After each training day, participants will receive 10 test positions designed to reinforce the concepts introduced during the lectures. All positions will be included with solutions in the final PGN file.
All sessions are part of the Modern Chess Academy, meaning Academy members receive free access to the live lectures and to the complete digital product released afterward.
✓ Dates: 18.02.2026 and 25.02.2026
✓ Platform: Zoom
✓ Coach: GM Ioannis Papaioannou
18.02.2026 – Paris | New York
🕒 17:30 – 19:00 | 11:30 – 13:00 – Positions with Doubled Pawns – Part 1
🕒 19:30 – 21:00 | 13:30 – 15:00 – Positions with Doubled Pawns – Part 2
25.02.2026 – Paris | New York
🕒 17:30 – 19:00 | 11:30 – 13:00 – Positions with Doubled Pawns – Part 3
🕒 19:30 – 21:00 | 13:30 – 15:00 – Positions with Doubled Pawns – Part 4
🕒 21:00 – 21:30 | 15:00 – 15:30 – Q&A with GM Grigor Grigorov & GM Petar Arnaudov
• 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
• A clear framework for evaluating doubled-pawn structures
• Better plan selection in structurally imbalanced positions
• Improved coordination between structure and piece activity
• Greater confidence in transition from opening to middlegame
• More consistent, plan-driven practical decisions
This camp will help you stop judging positions superficially and start playing structurally sound, purposeful chess. A fundamental strategic upgrade for players who want deeper understanding and long-term control at the board.