Tactical Thursday – November Focus: Prophylactic Thinking and Spotting Hidden Tactical Ideas with GM Swapnil Dhopade
This November, the Tactical Thursday series continues with a sophisticated edition led by elite Indian grandmaster and renowned coach GM Swapnil Dhopade. This time, the focus shifts to two of the most crucial and underappreciated aspects of tactical mastery: Prophylactic Thinking and Spotting Hidden Tactical Ideas.
Many players focus exclusively on calculating their own threats while neglecting their opponent's possibilities, leading to preventable tactical disasters and missed opportunities. This camp will teach you to think one step ahead defensively while developing the pattern recognition skills needed to spot the subtle tactical motifs that stronger players see instantly—the hidden tactical ideas that turn equal positions into winning advantages.
Through carefully chosen examples, GM Dhopade will help you:
– Master prophylactic thinking: anticipating and neutralizing your opponent's threats before they materialize
– Develop the visual scanning techniques that allow grandmasters to spot hidden tactical patterns others miss
– Understand the positional prerequisites and warning signs that signal hidden tactical opportunities
– Build a systematic approach to candidate move selection that balances offensive and defensive considerations
This edition is perfect for players who want to eliminate tactical oversights while sharpening their ability to discover the concealed tactical ideas that exist in seemingly quiet positions—the skills that separate tactically alert players from those who repeatedly fall victim to "unexpected" tactics.
As usual, the lectures will be held over two Thursdays — 13.11.2025 and 20.11.2025, with two sessions each day. After each lecture, participants will receive 10 test positions to solve independently. At the end of the camp, all test positions and detailed solutions will be included in the final PGN file.
Tactical Thursday is part of the Modern Chess Academy, which means all Academy members receive free access to the live lectures and the complete digital product released afterward.
Technical Details
✅ Dates: 13.11.2025 and 20.11.2025
✅ Training Platform: Zoom
✅ Coach: GM Swapnil Dhopade
Program
13.11.2025 Paris Time | New York Time
17:30 – 19:00 | 11:30 – 13:00 – Prophylactic Thinking and Spotting Hidden Tactical Ideas – Part 1
19:30 – 21:00 | 13:30 – 15:00 – Prophylactic Thinking and Spotting Hidden Tactical Ideas – Part 2
20.11.2025 Paris Time | New York Time
17:30 – 19:00 | 11:30 – 13:00 – Prophylactic Thinking and Spotting Hidden Tactical Ideas – Part 3
19:30 – 21:00 | 13:30 – 15:00 – Prophylactic Thinking and Spotting Hidden Tactical Ideas – Part 4
21:00 – 21:30 | 15:00 – 15:30 – Q&A Session with GM Grigor Grigorov and GM Petar Arnaudov
As with all Modern Chess camps, participants will receive:
– Recordings of all lectures
– PGN files with all material covered
– Free access to the digital product based on the four lectures
This is your chance to master the dual skills that define tactical excellence—anticipating danger before it strikes while uncovering the hidden tactical gems that transform good positions into winning ones. Join GM Swapnil Dhopade this November and develop the tactical awareness that keeps you safe while spotting the opportunities others overlook.