GM Ioannis Papaioannou returns in June 2026 with the next stage of the From the Opening to the Endgame sequence — Typical Endgames in London, Torre, and Trompowsky.
In this edition of Strategy Wednesday, the focus shifts to three of the most widely-played White systems in modern chess — the London System, the Torre Attack, and the Trompowsky. These openings are often discussed separately, but they are bound by a deeper structural logic: in all three, White commits the queen's bishop early, and the resulting middlegames produce the same family of pawn structures and endgames.
These openings are celebrated for their simplicity and ease of preparation, but the games they produce are decided long after the opening phase ends. Strong players know that the same endgame structures arise across all three systems — and that mastering them transforms the practical value of the entire opening complex.
The structural connection is concrete. In all three openings, the early development of the queen's bishop produces the same families of pawn structures — most often Carlsbad formations, where the c-pawn for d-pawn exchange defines the long-term character of the position. White typically plays on the dark squares, using the bishop on f4 or g5 as the centerpiece of the strategic plan. The pawn structures recur across the three systems, and the endgames that follow share the same evaluation criteria and the same technical procedures.
GM Papaioannou will guide you through the essence of these endgames. Why do certain Carlsbad-type structures consistently favor one side? How do strong players steer the middlegame toward a favorable transition? And how do they convert the small structural advantages these systems produce into concrete results?
A central idea of this camp is learning to play endgames where the imbalances are minimal but durable. Unlike the sharp tactical battles of the Sicilian, the endgames of these systems are decided by precise technique applied to small structural edges. These edges do not win automatically. The training addresses exactly that gap, showing how technique, prophylaxis, and accurate piece placement convert positions that look balanced on the surface.
Throughout the camp, GM Papaioannou will demonstrate how recurring endgame patterns across all three openings transform the game. You will see how the shared pawn structures dictate plans, how the dark-square strategy continues into the endgame, and how a small structural edge becomes a winning advantage with precise play.
Throughout the camp, GM Papaioannou will show you:
This training will not only deepen your understanding of a critical phase of the game — it will significantly improve your ability to play accurate, high-level technical chess across an entire family of practical opening systems.
Strategy Wednesday will take place over two Wednesdays — 10.06.2026 and 24.06.2026 — 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.
🛠 Technical Details
✓ Dates: 10.06.2026 and 24.06.2026
✓ Platform: Zoom
✓ Coach: GM Ioannis Papaioannou
📅 Program
10.06.2026 – Paris | New York
🕒 17:30 – 19:00 | 11:30 – 13:00 – Typical Endgames in London, Torre, and Trompowsky – Part 1
🕒 19:30 – 21:00 | 13:30 – 15:00 – Typical Endgames in London, Torre, and Trompowsky – Part 2
24.06.2026 – Paris | New York
🕒 17:30 – 19:00 | 11:30 – 13:00 – Typical Endgames in London, Torre, and Trompowsky – Part 3
🕒 19:30 – 21:00 | 13:30 – 15:00 – Typical Endgames in London, Torre, and Trompowsky – Part 4
🕒 21:00 – 21:30 | 15:00 – 15:30 – Q&A with GM Grigor Grigorov & GM Petar Arnaudov
🎁 Participants Receive:
🔥 What You Will Gain
This camp will help you master the art of technique, accuracy, and strategic conversion — the essential qualities for converting any of these three practical opening systems into full points.
This event is completed.