In this edition of Strategy Wednesday, the focus shifts to one of the most sophisticated forms of imbalance in chess: sacrificing material not for immediate tactics, but for long-term positional domination. Unlike speculative sacrifices aimed at direct attack, positional sacrifices are rooted in deep understanding — control of key squares, superior structure, long-term initiative, and piece coordination.
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For the first time, we explore the Spanish Arkhangelsk with early …Bc5 after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Bc5 with unprecedented depth — studying strategic patterns, dynamic pawn structures, and long-term plans in one of the most ambitious and double-edged systems against the Ruy Lopez. This is not just a repertoire camp. It is a deep positional and dynamic journey into how strong players actually understand and navigate the rich complexity of the Arkhangelsk.
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The Spanish Arkhangelsk with Early ...Bc5 - Deep Understanding
Grigor Grigorov launches a new long-term training concept in February 2026 — Repertoire Builder: Réti for White – Fundamental Structures after 1.Nf3 d5 2.g3. This camp marks the starting point of a six-month Opening Builder journey, designed for players who want to build a real, durable repertoire — not a collection of memorized lines. The focus is on understanding structures, plans, and decision-making from the very first move.
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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.
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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.
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From the Opening to the Middlegame - Positions with Doubled Pawns
For the first time, we explore the Reti against …g6 after 1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 g6 with unprecedented depth – studying strategic patterns, pawn structures, and long-term plans in one of chess’s most flexible and misunderstood opening systems. This is not a repertoire-building camp. It’s a deep positional journey into how strong players actually understand and navigate the rich complexity of Reti structures against King’s Indian–type setups.
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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.
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In this edition of Strategy Wednesday, the focus shifts from individual moves to the deeper question every strong player must answer: What should I be playing for in this position? GM Papaioannou will guide you through the process of identifying the correct plan based on structure, piece placement, long-term imbalances, and the opponent’s resources.
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For the first time, we explore the Reti-Catalan hybrid (1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3) with unprecedented depth – studying strategic patterns, typical plans, and positional mastery in one of White's most flexible opening systems. This is not a repertoire-building camp. It's a deep positional journey into how strong players actually understand and navigate the rich strategic complexity of the Reti-Catalan – a system that combines the best elements of both classical openings.
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GM Swapnil Dhopade leads the December edition of Tactical Thursday with a highly practical and impactful theme — endgame calculation and the method of elimination. A central idea of this camp is that many endgames can be played almost entirely on calculation. Young players with strong calculating abilities often win endgame after endgame — even without deep theoretical knowledge — because the endgame is far more calculation-based than most players realize.
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