The Grandmaster's positional understanding, by Igor Smirnov

And what a privilege that must be.

I've seen the free videos and ads put out by Igor Smirnov and considered purchasing his courses. But I find that watching the videos here on chess.com and on Youtube takes up all of my free time and I personally don't think Smirnov's material is any better, or any worse, than the materials that are available to chess.com members.

@LearningTheMoves is a shill for these overpriced videos.

But remember to kiss his little "arse," or he vows to block you.    

Wrong again Zborg. 0-10. Who pays you to falsely accuse me? It must pay well and be sure to tell your boss you deserve overtime pay. 

Regarding GM Smirnov's stuff...I have no dog in that fight and don't know anything about the man except for what I've read online and seen in his videos.

All I said was I experimented with the 1. b3 white opening he teaches in one of his free YouTube videos right after watching it and won the blitz game where I used it.

I saw the ideas behind the opening and it made sense to me from that experience to believe he has a solid understanding of chess and teaching. 

@Kiwi--you have a great day too and thanks! (Good luck on the quest to find out the "real deal" on Smirnov's stuff, but I wouldn't hock the television or default the mortgage!)

I think Andre may have the right idea.

The poor guy comes on here to provide insights based on his experience as a customer (only because it was requested his customers share their experience) and then instead of a thank you, gets his feet held to the fire with interrogations demanding proof of his increased rating which he never claimed in the first place.

See, I'll shed a little light on this...Andre, nor I, nor anyone else doesn't owe anyone anything in terms of proving a chess publisher's products.

However, a little "thanks" may be in order to Mr. Harding for coming forward and sharing his experience in the first place.

That's ridiculous.

I spent an hour going through over a thousand of my blitz games trying to remember what month it was I tested out the 1.b3 and only 26 games period were in the archives so it's a no-go there so far.

I don't have anything else to say about it either presently and that's not proof of some chess conspiracy or anything either.

Have a great one all...and yes as much as it pains me, even you Zborg.

Methinks the gentleman doth protest too strongly.  So much text above.

Get a life.  You're an online embarrassment, unfortunately.

0-11.

Apparently, you've stopped taking your medication.

Have a Nice Day, Mr. @UnlearningRapidly.

Please, close the door on your way out.

Methinks the flying pig doth project much. Thanks. I'll do my best.

Anyone ever try the international chess school program? Its a bit pricey as well. Anyone have good results with it? How does it compare to smirnovs program other than the fact that smirnovs program is mostly videos?

And heavily advertised! I don't think there's any other chess product quite so ubiquitously advertised on the internet, not even de la Maza's Rapid Chess Improvement or Dzindzi's "Roman Lab" stuff.

Do people get discounts for advertising it?

If you'll send me your money, I'll show how easy it is to make money fast...

Well, things being popular does commonly in and of itself make them useful things to have. It's good to know what one's opponent is thinking. If my opponent has likely watched Smirnov's and Dzindzichashvili's videos, then I should watch them too. So when he plays 1. b3, I know what his plan is, and when he plays 1. e4 d6 2. d4 e5 as Black, again, I know what his plan is. Same with quirks like Smirnov's advice for Black to always respond to a Bg5 pin with an immediate ...h6 Bh4 g5. It's good to know what's popular!

As for Smirnov, I have enjoyed most of his free videos. Unlike those who hate his voice, I find it quite endearing, but hey, de gustibus non disputandum. I've not yet seen fit to splash out on his paid courses, but perhaps I will if I'm feeling rich some time and not already engaged with some more self-directed study.

What I have found from a couple of hard-sell sites like Smirnov's (well, the couple from which I've bough their wares anyway; I can't speak for the many I passed over, of course) is that they each had one awesome product, and a bunch of products that that really were just milking the idea. I wonder if this is the case with Smirnov's products, and if so, I wonder which product is the awesome one.

I have just now gotten a copy of Smirnov's GM Secrets. I didn't pay 4 it and how I got it is my little secret. I've just now finished watching the intro video and what he says--if u can put up with the funny accent--is that why can a kid beat an experienced master? This happens time after time as we all know, possibly to our chagrin. Smirnov says that while knowledge is important the most important thing is the thought process. How we think about our game and our moves can be even more important than our education and our erudition. This makes sense to me. I will watch further lessons and report back.

Just looking at chess investments

The latest Deep Fritz 13: $127.74 

Igor Smirnov: ($57 $53 $69 $69 $98 $129 $139 $149)  $763.00

hmm hard choice this one.

I love chess, I always have.  I've revered it as perhaps man's greatest intellectual activity of pleasure.

It is all at once just a game but also a demonstration and celebration of our greatest of mental capacity.

Most likely the reason that I am bad at it.

It has even, in a way, measured our achievements and intellectual development as species.  

Deep Blue beating Kasparov was a moment, perhaps too simplistically, which was taken to mark our eclipse by our own technology.

But of course it is OUR technology.

My point is this - my beloved chess is the noble game - it is the noblest of games. 

Grandmaster is the highest title a chess player can attain. Once achieved, the title is held for life.

Having achieved such supremacy and such an accolade: Igor's actions, methods and products, to me at least, disrespect the game.

Chess is not cards, snooker or pool and Igor is no pub patzer.

People like Silman and others have achieved less FIDE greatness and perhaps way greater financial success in their teaching careers.

But they have done so with a respectful, heightened, everlasting, noble and humble grace which sadly puts Mr Smirnov to shame.

For a grandmaster to ply his wares as Igor does, diminishes the game and it diminishes him.

But perhaps I just love the game too much.

Watched a few minutes of his how to get a 3000 rating at blitz on ICC, and frankly found it ridiculous.

He said things like 'blitz is tactics, make sure you know basic tactical patterns', like anyone who doesn't consider something so simplistic will even get to half that rating.

Seemed like he was trying to make you believe in a quick fix approach to blitz which isn't realistic and made me sceptical of his judgement.

Depend on what you want, Deep Fritz is a software programme, while Igor Smirnov is chess course. Its totally different if we want to compare, you can get this discount if you by whole package. click here: http://bit.ly/O9fsX0 you will get 135USD Discounts!!

I have now gone over the lesson 1.1 and 1.2. Smirnov does make some interesting points, he says don't play passively, keep making threats and don't move pieces back unless you really have to, keep moving forward. Just following this advice alone increased by ratings a few points. You really don't have to spend  763 smackers, just get one and c if u like it. Maybe u can borrow one from a friend or get one free like I did.

moving backward is the hardest thing to do, but GM do whenever needed but in style!

That sort of advice is given by every coach worth his salt. And that's been one of the main criticisms I've seen of his work. The material is good, but not terribly original. His main idea seems to be an expression of Kasparov's advice: target your efforts.

Many years ago, Kasparov recommended making a list of strengths and weaknesses. Be as precise as possible. For instance, don't just say that you're weak in endgames. Find out which endgame give you the most trouble and work on that until it becomes a strength. Then work on the next weakness.

The real problem for most students is that they aren't motivated enough to stick with a program for the long haul. Perhaps paying a large sum of money provides that incentive to get something out of the lessons?