The Quiet Art: 5 Courses For Learning The Basics Of Positional Chess

Dear Improvers,

Tactics may dazzle, but it’s positional understanding that sustains mastery. In fact, a good position creates the conditions to have those dazzling combinations. Most players reach a point where they realize that opening traps and quick tricks are not enough to take down their opponents. The board becomes quieter, the plans more uncertain, and the questions become deeper:

How do I improve my pieces? Should I trade or keep? How does this pawn move change the position?

Welcome to the terrain of positional chess. It’s the part of chess that feels like speaking a harder language. The best players are universal and can speak both languages fluently.

As someone who admires the subtle beauty of chess strategy, I wrote an editorial about the language of positional chess and specifically GM Johan Hellsten’s seminal work: Mastering Chess Strategy. This masterpiece is generally regarded as the definitive guide to positional chess, but the material is very challenging for the uninitiated.

So here I round up course recommendations for beginners who want to dabble into positional play.

1. Winning Chess Strategies
   An all-time best-seller created by two legends of the game: GM Yasser Seirawan and the late IM Jeremy Silman.
   The course focuses on essential middlegame concepts (understanding where the pieces go, how to use pawns, creation of targets, etc.) offering a structured progression into strategic thinking and helping players sustain long-term advantages.
   
   
   
   
2. Beginner’s Guide To Chess Strategy
   Perfect for players who want to learn the ropes of positional play, this course dissects strategic ideas piece by piece. Authors FM Midas Ratsma and WIM Svetlana Sucikova show you signature maneuvers and teach you how to identify and implement them in real games. A beautiful framework that moves you toward strategic fluency in a meticulous yet accessible way.
   
   
   
   
3. The Complete Book Of Chess Strategy By IM Jeremy Silman
   You cannot go wrong with a book by America’s Chess Teacher. The late IM Jeremy Silman wrote many cult chess books and thus guided thousands of players to unravel the secrets of chess. The encyclopedic format makes it ideal for those looking for a comprehensive reference. Covering openings, middlegames, endgames, and even practical concerns like time pressure, this work invites players to understand not just how to play but why each move carries weight. On top of Silman’s notes, the video is presented by IM Christof Sielecki, a.k.a. ChessExplained. The 5-star instruction in this course is even more apparent with Sielecki’s signature teaching.
   
   
   
   
4. Chess Crime And Punishment
   Dr. Can Kabadayi is a cognitive scientist and Candidate Master (CM) who has carved a reputation for himself as an extraordinary guide for chess improvement and all things strategy.
   Chess Crime and Punishment was his first course and it explores the typical mistakes that club players make and how to punish those of your opponent.
   All of the courses in Kabadayi’s series “The Art Of” also deal with themes of positional chess in a digestible way. His thoughtful work and clear explanations earned him the 2024 Chessable Author of the Year award.
   
   
   
   
5. Andras Toth’s Chess Basics: Opening Strategy
   IM Andras Toth is a prolific author and content creator who specializes in helping adult improvers. The 2021 Chessable Author of the Year, Coach Andras boils down the opening to two core goals. Then, he teaches you how to align your moves to these goals, and in the process you learn how to think strategically about this phase of the game. Rather than going for specific lines, Toth aims to cultivate an understanding of the healthy habits that set you up for a successful game.
   
   

These courses are packed with positional wisdom while still being accessible. They will help you get the foundations of positional play before you leap to Mastering Chess Strategy. Let us know which one(s) sparked your interest.

Just as positional chess teaches us to see things in the long term, remember to see your own progress in this light. Sometimes the results are not evident right away but great things might be brewing.

Good luck and enjoy the journey!