Swapnil Dhopade leads the February 2026 edition of Tactical Thursday with a deeply practical and often neglected theme — Looking for Options and Defensive Calculation.
In this camp, the focus shifts from spectacular tactics to the real battlefield of practical chess: finding resources when the position is difficult. GM Dhopade will show that strong defenders are not passive calculators, but active problem-solvers who constantly search for options, counterplay, and tactical resources — even in inferior positions.
A central idea of this edition is that good defense begins before calculation. Many players calculate well when attacking, but collapse defensively because they fail to identify all candidate options. This training addresses that imbalance, teaching you how to widen your thinking under pressure and avoid tunnel vision when the opponent is pushing hard.
The second core theme of the camp is defensive calculation. GM Dhopade will demonstrate how elite players calculate accurately when the stakes are high: how to choose defensive candidates, when to simplify, when to complicate, and how to survive positions that look unpleasant at first glance. You will learn how defensive tactics arise naturally from correct piece coordination, timing, and active resistance.
GM Dhopade will demonstrate how elite players:
• Look for defensive options before committing to calculation
• Identify hidden resources and tactical escapes
• Use counterplay to reduce the opponent’s attacking potential
• Calculate forcing defensive lines with accuracy
• Stay objective and resilient under sustained pressure
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: 19.02.2026 and 26.02.2026
✓ Platform: Zoom
✓ Coach: GM Swapnil Dhopade
📅 Program
19.02.2026 – Paris | New York
🕒 17:30 – 19:00 | 11:30 – 13:00 – Looking for Options & Defensive Calculation – Part 1
🕒 19:30 – 21:00 | 13:30 – 15:00 – Looking for Options & Defensive Calculation – Part 2
26.02.2026 – Paris | New York
🕒 17:30 – 19:00 | 11:30 – 13:00 – Looking for Options & Defensive Calculation – Part 3
🕒 19:30 – 21:00 | 13:30 – 15:00 – Looking for Options & Defensive Calculation – 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 structured method for finding defensive resources
• Stronger candidate-move selection under pressure
• Improved calculation in unpleasant and critical positions
• Greater resilience against attacks
• More confident and objective defensive play
This camp will teach you how to defend actively, calculate clearly, and survive difficult positions without panic. A vital tactical upgrade for players who want to be dangerous not only when attacking — but also when under fire.