beardogjones wrote:
If you send me $15.99 I'll send you a report on how to get people to
send you $15.99
Truer words were never spoken, too bad everyone else who wants your money for a "get rich quick" scheme isn't so honest
The Grandmaster's positional understanding, by Igor Smirnov
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For all the skeptics, I recommend checking out some of his YouTube videos. Then you can make your own decision about the quality of his materials.
Before calling something a sham because it "sounds too good to be true," check it out for yourself and THEN judge.
Andre_Harding wrote:
For all the skeptics, I recommend checking out some of his YouTube videos. Then you can make your own decision about the quality of his materials.
Before calling something a sham because it "sounds too good to be true," check it out for yourself and THEN judge.
+1. I agree with Andre. He's a titled player and coach who has contributed solid value here in the form of sharing his knowledge. So when he says he purchased all of the courses and found them to be worth a recommendation...coming from someone of his level and stature, I have to take it seriously.
Having also checked out GM Smirnov's videos, he seems to offer some great stuff. For example, after watching one of his videos on 1.b3 for white, I immediately came on here and tried it on a blitz game and won.
That doesn't mean I'm going to switch to playing that all the time, but it was enough of a litmus test to see his stuff works and that as a Grandmaster, he knows what he's talking about.
You can also check out his games on Chessgames.com
I found 33 of them under his name listed as I Smirnov
"Extraordinary claims, require extraordinary evidence!". But Ok - let's be fair now - any evidence will suffice. I'd love to buy Igor's courses - could one of his course customers please come forward and direct us to your chess.com stats that demonstrate the advantage from before to after doing his courses. That would be fantastic for us and Igor. Maybe Andre, with his astute connections and expertise (thanks learningthemoves) could help with this. Show me the evidence and I'll be Igor's next customer. If it looks like a duck ...
In a previous post I told I have bought one of his courses. I'm not too impressed, BUT I have to admit I have not done the exercises!
There are many good books and courses, BUT if you don't do the work (exercises) you will not get any benefit from the book/course.
Reading a chess book is not like reading a fiction book. Same thing with a chess course or video. Passive listening and looking will not make you a better chess player.
So if Smirnovs courses are good or bad, I can't judge. But I have seen positive reviews from strong players.
kiwichesskiwi wrote:
"Extraordinary claims, require extraordinary evidence!". But Ok - let's be fair now - any evidence will suffice. I'd love to buy Igor's courses - could one of his course customers please come forward and direct us to your chess.com stats that demonstrate the advantage from before to after doing his courses. That would be fantastic for us and Igor. Maybe Andre, with his astute connections and expertise (thanks learningthemoves) could help with this. Show me the evidence and I'll be Igor's next customer. If it looks like a duck ...
First of all, I don't play on chess.com. Secondly, I study and review a variety of materials for myself and my students, so I cannot say that Smirnov's courses led me or my students to a gain of X rating points.
What I can say is that Smirnov's materials helped my thinking process and improved the clarity of my understanding and planning/move selection, and also helped me to explain things better in classes and in lessons. I wish I had his courses in 1997 or 1998.
Your mileage may vary.
If it looks like a duck, check to see if it actually IS a duck, and don't assume that it is.
Just my two cents. I won't post anymore on this topic.
learningthemoves wrote:
Andre_Harding wrote:
For all the skeptics, I recommend checking out some of his YouTube videos. Then you can make your own decision about the quality of his materials.
Before calling something a sham because it "sounds too good to be true," check it out for yourself and THEN judge.
+1. I agree with Andre. He's a titled player and coach who has contributed solid value here in the form of sharing his knowledge. So when he says he purchased all of the courses and found them to be worth a recommendation...coming from someone of his level and stature, I have to take it seriously.
Having also checked out GM Smirnov's videos, he seems to offer some great stuff. For example, after watching one of his videos on 1.b3 for white, I immediately came on here and tried it on a blitz game and won.
That doesn't mean I'm going to switch to playing that all the time, but it was enough of a litmus test to see his stuff works and that as a Grandmaster, he knows what he's talking about.
Mr. @Learningthemoves reeks of hyperbole. He posts BS, and blocks whomever disagrees with him. Like me. 
The following 4 books (below) contain immensely more useful chess information than anything GM Smirnov can sell you (via videos) for 3 easy payments of $19.95 --
- GM Johan Hellsten, Mastering Chess Strategy (2010), and Mastering Opening Strategy (2012).
- And two (short, but very effective) books by GM John Nunn, Understanding Chess Endgames (2009), and Understanding Chess Middlegames (2011), will improve your playing strength much more effectively than those thin, overpriced, videos.
But if you still insist on being a lazy-ass, just stick to You Tube, at least that's free.
And block anyone who might disagree with you.
"Buyer Beware"
zborg wrote:
learningthemoves wrote:
Andre_Harding wrote:
For all the skeptics, I recommend checking out some of his YouTube videos. Then you can make your own decision about the quality of his materials.
Before calling something a sham because it "sounds too good to be true," check it out for yourself and THEN judge.
+1. I agree with Andre. He's a titled player and coach who has contributed solid value here in the form of sharing his knowledge. So when he says he purchased all of the courses and found them to be worth a recommendation...coming from someone of his level and stature, I have to take it seriously.
Having also checked out GM Smirnov's videos, he seems to offer some great stuff. For example, after watching one of his videos on 1.b3 for white, I immediately came on here and tried it on a blitz game and won.
That doesn't mean I'm going to switch to playing that all the time, but it was enough of a litmus test to see his stuff works and that as a Grandmaster, he knows what he's talking about.
Mr. @Learningthemoves reeks of hyperbole. He posts BS, and blocks whomever disagrees with him. Like me.
The following 4 books (below) contain immensely more useful chess information than anything GM Smirnov can sell you (via videos) for 3 easy payments of $19.95 --
GM Johan Hellsten, Mastering Chess Strategy (2010), and Mastering Opening Strategy (2012). And two (short, but very effective) books by GM John Nunn, Understanding Chess Endgames (2009), and Understanding Chess Middlegames (2011), will improve your playing strength much more effectively than those thin, overpriced, videos.But if you still insist on being a lazy-ass, just stick to You Tube, at least that's free.
And block anyone who might disagree with you.
"Buyer Beware"
Your false accusation "reeks of hyperbole" only betrays what really reeks...your ignorance.
Hyperbole is exaggeration. Not once did I exaggerate. Not once.
When you have proof, why exaggerate?
I don't deceive even in the form of exaggeration.
The other false accusation you made against me which was never your place to judge someone anyway, was that I "block someone who doesn't agree with me."
That's blatantly false. I enjoy a good, intelligent debate as much as anyone.
I block those who resort to petty insults, libel, personal character attacks because they don't agree with me.
If you can prove you know how to engage in discourse without the smart alec sarcasm, false accusations and personal attacks just because someone doesn't tickle your ear just the way you like it, then it would be a change for the better.
Until then, I can't really believe anything you have to say because you've shown you'll lie and falsely accuse if you don't like someone's manner. And I simply won't stoop that low because I have better options.
"I block those who resort to petty insults, libel, personal character attacks because they don't agree with me."
And me. I simply pointed out that it was subjective whether your other thread was lame, as so many other people thought it was.
As for Smirnov, he's incredibly difficult to listen to.
Scottrf wrote:
"I block those who resort to petty insults, libel, personal character attacks because they don't agree with me."
And me. I simply pointed out that it was subjective whether your other thread was lame, as so many other people thought it was.
As for Smirnov, he's incredibly difficult to listen to.
You're not kidding. His voice is ridiculous it can't be real. It sounds robotic.
Scottrf wrote:
"I block those who resort to petty insults, libel, personal character attacks because they don't agree with me."
And me. I simply pointed out that it was subjective whether your other thread was lame, as so many other people thought it was.
As for Smirnov, he's incredibly difficult to listen to.
Again, falsehood. You insulted my person saying, "The world is against you, insn't it?" and then tried to justify the insult by basically saying that's the way something I said came across. LIsten. I couldn't care less how something could be twisted to "come across". I've never been a menpleaser and won't start now.
If those I blocked could simply stay on topic instead of resorting to base insults and personal attacks against people they don't agree with, then there wouldn't be the need to correct their false allegations everytime they cry about a member who blocked them for being abusive.
You think I want to put up with that nonsense? Not for a second.And I don't have to either.
My personal block policy is very fair, reasonable and easy to understand:
You engage with me courteously or you lose the privilige.
I've never read anything by Smirnov so I can't comment on the quality (or lack thereof) of his writings but it sure seems strange that he has so many more "fans" than any other writer who go about extolling his virtues in forum after forum - is this guy really that much more awesome than Silman, Nunn, Nimzovitch, Euwe, Pachman etc? All of them put together don't seem to get as many plugs as Smirnov...interesting isn't it?
NimzoRoy: Smirnov has videos. I think Smirnov is pretty good; not fantastic, but I have enjoyed some of his videos. What's nice is that he has a different style from most commentators, making the way he presents material seem fresh, even if it's not necessarily done in a better way.
That's easy to explain. From what I can see, he runs an affiliate program paying cash commissions to those who refer customers his way.
And that's good for him. He's a smart business man for incorporating that as a marketing strategy. His business needs to turn a profit like any other.
It's a shame though, in my opinion, that the less savvy consumer will throw the baby out with the bathwater believing all recommendations to be an affiliate 'shill' for the seller...when in fact, the possibiity does exist that he could just provide good products.
The ones that are most obvious are where the affiliate will use his/her affiliate tracking link to refer others to the free course which is the front end offer into the sales funnel.
So that probably accounts for any 'over the top' sounding recommendations because there is a vested interest for the affiliate to make the sale, so naturally they claim it's the best thing since sliced bread.
But just because they are paid to say it doesn't make it untrue.
At the end of the day, I guess the only way to figure it out is to take the plunge and find out for yourself. Since he offers a money back guarantee there doesn't seem to be any risk involved.
LMAO - sorry sorry - didn't mean to strike a match just at the moment someone farted - I just quietly wanted to know if it was a duck or not lol. Now I have another question - Is learningthemoves actually Smirnov under cover and is Andre really just Igor in disguise with voice-over?? 
No Kiwi, I'm most certainly not Smirnov (wish I could play chess like the guy though)...and I'm not affiliated with him in any way nor do I get any royalties or commissions from the sell of his or any other chess product publisher. 
I'm pretty sure Mr.Andre Harding is a successful chess coach in New York and is a completely separate entity from Mr.Smirnov.
@Kiwi -- (by the way, how on earth did you know I farted?)
lol learningthemoves - just because of the halo, I'll believe you. Have a great day!!
Well, sadly, I must say I am disappointed. My wife said I could default our next car and mortgage payment and my finger has been hovering over the paypal button to get FOUR of Igor's videos. As per my post above I am still just waiting for even one of his many many many satisfied and successful students to show me their stats. Sadly a whole day has gone by and nothing from a student of Igor on an entire forum bearing his name. So a lot of Igor's friends must see this. Again - calling Igor's successful students - HELLO HELLO HELLO The esteemed Andre Harbinger has come up with a few excuses like - well I don't play here, I use lots of other stuff too ... but then for some reason he's decided not to comment here again - ok - bye Andre. My new friend learningthemoves (who is feeling better after passing wind - despite the big bang) just got very cross with everyone lol. So... no students stats, the expected comment now - well the course obvioulsy is only as good as the student - so if it's useless of course it's not Igor's fault it's the bad student lol and the old line - to be sure you must try it for yourself and you can always get your money back - yeah right!!! I've a tiny bit more to say on this but I'll wait a bit longer to view these stats which must start pouring in any minute now. I really want those videos!! 
(mainly so I can fasttrack direct to GM, start selling my own videos online and pay for that damn car).
If you send me $15.99 I'll send you a report on how to get people to
send you $15.99