All, 

I'm reading about Igor Smirnov's Training called GM's Positional Understanding.  For those of you have done the course, I found the PDF that apparently accompanies the training which is 398 pages.  My question is "is this just the training in paper form"?  or is the vids required together with the PDF?  I'm assuming that "positional chess" is similar or the same as "strategy" and if not please let me know. 

Also, aside of his course, do any of you know solid resources/trainings(Prefereably that are Interacive, but not required) that are ACTUALLY GOOD for learning positional chess/strategy.  I have heard of CONVECTA but have never used their stuff.  Also I heard that Chessbase had a 3 DVD course that was great but is now impossible to get.  Also I've heard that chess4less.com has some stuff by Danny King (Powerplay Series) and Carson Mueller but once again... never tried it.  Thoughts anyone for a USCF 1250 +/- player?  

-TheKnightOne 

You could always try a month of diamond here and see how many of these you can knock off.

The Roots of Positional Understanding, by IM Jeremy Silman. Are you ever at a loss for what to do when there are no immediate tactics in sight? If so, then you need to learn the basics of positional play. The master seems to optimally place his pieces with effortless ease where they coordinate well and control key lines and squares. This is because he sees the board as a structural entity. Using 300 hundred brief Challenges, Silman gives you the basics of this same positional sense and vision. This module will help you to build strength into your quiet positions. This course module was initially intended for intermediate players with USCF or Elo ratings between 1200 and 1800. However, at least half of the challenges are suitable for those rated between 1800 and 2200 and even higher. Experts and Class A players will find this course module more than challenging with the advanced material and very useful review with the intermediate material. Intermediate players will build a solid foundation with the intermediate challenges and gain more and more from the advanced material as they progress in chess strength. (Initial release date of November 20, 1998)

Baddogno... great idea.  So just to be clear.... this is an interactive training called The Roots of Positional Chess offered exclusively through chess.com and not through a Silman book etc.?  Is it one training or several lessons?  Because I surely do have moments where I don't know what to do while not having a tactic. 

Any other thoughts from other people?  

I knew I should have said it was from the Chess Mentor, but I was too lazy to go back and edit it.  That's the longest course on ChessMentor with 300 individual interactive lessons.  Basically you're given a position and have to figure out what to do.  If you're at all familar with Silman's work, well this is more of the same; identifying weaknesses in the enemy camp, creating imbalances and outposts, etc.  Since you're interested let me run over to V3 where the CM courses are grouped by category and see if I can find some more (although this one will keep you plenty busy for a long time).

Don't know if this link will even work, but there are 8 courses they list under strategy including several others by Silman.

http://www.chess.com/lessons/courses/strategy

Sorry the link doesn't work.

I'll go back and copy/paste the whole shebang in another post.  Might work, we will see.

•  

  images.chesscomfiles.com/chess-themes/boards/brown/24.png";);">

  Weak Color Complexes Explained

  IM David Pruess Avg Rating: 1358

  Being sensitive to weak color complexes provides extremely important insight into positional and tactical chess play. It often shapes the entire middlegame struggle, and informs the decisions made as early as the opening phase of the game. Yet many players don't even know what a "weak color complex" is; and many others have heard of it, but partly wonder if it's an artificial abstraction invented by secret grand mages of chess's professional society in order to cloud their art in obscurity. But...
•  

  images.chesscomfiles.com/chess-themes/boards/brown/24.png";);">

  Play Against Bobby Fischer

  IM Igor Khmelnitsky Avg Rating: 1652

  To have successful results in chess you must do well in critical positions. The first task is to recognize a critical position - for example one in which your opponent has created a threat or the one when you have an opportunity to create or execute a threat. The second task is to assess such situation properly and come up with quality move-candidates. Finally, using calculation as well as your knowledge base, to come up with the best move. Experienced players go through...
•  

  images.chesscomfiles.com/chess-themes/boards/brown/24.png";);">

  Strategic Errors

  Jeremy Silman Avg Rating: 1730

  Strategic errors are played at every level of the game. However, in the amateur ranks, strategic mistakes are a dime a dozen. Nevertheless, just because a move might be strategically dubious doesn't mean that it will be punished. This course will help you become more aware of strategic errors, and will help you strive to milk every drop of juicy goodness from your opponent's mistaken concept. Conversely, this course will also convince you that implementing such "attractive" but flawed strategic...
•  

  images.chesscomfiles.com/chess-themes/boards/brown/24.png";);">

  Recognizing the Opponent's Moves

  IM Igor Khmelnitsky & Chess.com Staff Avg Rating: 1561

  In this course you will learn to think about the opponent's moves and ideas when considering how you should continue. As you are able to recognize your opponent's moves and plans you will be better able to plan ahead for success.
•  

  images.chesscomfiles.com/chess-themes/boards/brown/24.png";);">

  The Art of Exchanging Pieces

  Jeremy Silman Avg Rating: 1784

  There are many occasions when an attack isn't possible and positional chess is the order of the day. This means you try to create various favorable imbalances (space, superior minor pieces, weak squares, fractured enemy pawns, etc.) and milk it for all its worth. This particular course explores the eternal question of piece trades: should you or should you not trade one minor piece for another, your Rook for his, or your all-powerful Queen for his equally imposing female deity? At times a trade...
•  

   

   

  5%

  images.chesscomfiles.com/chess-themes/boards/brown/24.png";);">

  Silman's Lessons in Strategy (1)

  IM Jeremy Silman Avg Rating: 1751

  Lessons in Strategy (1) - IM Jeremy Silman This module contains 50 very instructive positional challenges. Some are very long (exceeding 20 moves and one lasts 40 moves), and experts and masters (USCF or Elo ratings above 2000) will not find many of these to be easy. A novice or intermediate level player (USCF or Elo ratings below 2000) will find these challenges quite difficult, but they will learn a bit more with each attempt, all the way until they reach master or higher.
•  

   

   

  10%

  images.chesscomfiles.com/chess-themes/boards/brown/24.png";);">

  Silman's Lessons in Strategy (2)

  IM Jeremy Silman Avg Rating: 1698

  Lessons in Strategy (2) - IM Jeremy Silman This module continues with strategic positional challenges similar in difficulty to those contained in Silman's Lessons in Chess Strategy (1). Some are very long, and experts and masters (USCF or Elo ratings above 2000) will not find many of these to be easy. A novice or intermediate level player (USCF or Elo ratings below 2000) will find these challenges quite difficult, but they will learn a bit more with each attempt, all the way until they reach master...
•  

   

   

  95%

  images.chesscomfiles.com/chess-themes/boards/brown/24.png";);">

  Roots of Positional Understanding

  IM Jeremy Silman Avg Rating: 2067

  The Roots of Positional Understanding, by IM Jeremy Silman. Are you ever at a loss for what to do when there are no immediate tactics in sight? If so, then you need to learn the basics of positional play. The master seems to optimally place his pieces with effortless ease where they coordinate well and control key lines and squares. This is because he sees the board as a structural entity. Using 300 hundred brief Challenges, Silman gives you the basics of this same positional sense and vision....

Baddogno..... You definitely have me interested in both!! I really appreciate your help on this!!  I've noticed I've been stagnant in the way of progression due to lack in postional awareness.  Clearly it will help me but how much did it help you?  I think you have me sold on it :)  If you know of anything at all that you might think I'd be interested in then feel free to push it my way, now or later!!  Maybe we'll run into each other sometime on the board, if you'd like.  I know I'm a bit lower rated compared to you but I'm always up for a possible challange.  Only thing is I don't what V3 is.  

V3 is the new version of chess.com.  It's still in beta but the modules all seem to be working fine for me, although I'm sure there are still bugs.  I thought all members had access to it, but they may have pulled back on that until it's ready to be released.  Down by the green pawn at the bottom of the page, do you see "Try the new Chess.com" ?