Daily Lessons with a GM

Course

378 EPISODES (54h 3m)

Creator

GM Avetik Grigoryan GM Gabuzyan Hovhannes GM Johan Hellsten
Buy this course for $950

“I personally recommend this source to almost all my students. It can be a great complementary addition to the daily chess routine. There is no excuse not to find 8 minutes daily to watch a very instructive video with detailed topic explanations of Grandmaster!”

GM Boris Avrukh

This course has 365 short lessons, each explained by a Grandmaster in around 7 minutes – covering different topics such as – openings, middlegames, endgames, tactics, etc. 
Every short lesson here will give you a practical nugget, like an important rule, a typical idea, that you can immediately start implementing in your game. 

At the end of each lesson, there’s a short test to check if you’ve digested the idea properly. The answers to all these tests you can find in a separate video.

Ready? 
Sit back, relax and start watching!

What you'll learn

  • A practical chess idea, concept, typical plan, psychological hack explained in as little time as possible.
  • Concepts like ‘Show your cards’, ‘Fundamental Defense’, ‘Positional Pin’ that aid practical decision making.   
  • Common patterns that aren’t covered in chess literature but click instinctively in a stronger player’s mind.
  • Strategies to deal with common chess questions like – ‘How to break solid positions’, ‘How to attack with opposite color Bishops?’, ‘When to fianchetto the Bishop?’ etc. 
  • Common and rare ideas used in attack, defense, tactics, openings, middlegames and endgames.

Lesson Plan 378 episode(s)

61. Constructive thinking vs nice-looking moves
6m 38s
62. Exploiting unconnected Rooks
6m 7s
63. Defending in chess (total blockade strategy)
5m 53s
64. GM Vladimir Akopian's important rule (on piece activation)
7m 35s
65. Exploiting entry squares
6m 3s
66. Meeting attack with counterattack
3m 46s
67. Maneuvering the mighty Queen (example from Petrosian - Gulko)
7m 46s
68. To include h4-h5 in a position or not? | Part 1
7m 24s
69. To include h4-h5 in a position or not? | Part 2
4m 33s
70. What if your opponent avoids opening theory? (French defense example)
5m 47s
71. A modern Rook (uncommon way to activate a Rook)
6m 41s
72. How to remember variations in your opening repertoire?
9m 40s
73. What would Vaganian play?
5m 32s
74. Using GM Vladimir Akopian's rule in attack | Part 2
3m 55s
75. Elephant gambit | The refutation
30m 51s
76. Playing ugly chess can give you an advantage (sometimes!)
7m 58s
77. Entry squares for the Queen (very specific squares!)
7m 20s
78. To exchange Queens or not? (check an important factor!)
7m 53s
79. Don't play chess on autopilot (or pre-moves)
5m 22s
80. Chess counterattack
6m 42s
81. Playing flexible chess moves
7m 1s
82. How to crash-through with your attack? (hint-sacrifice!)
7m 11s
83. An important tactical pattern (from Radjabov-Vachier Lagrave)
7m 5s
84. Reversed chess battery
7m 14s
85. Active moves vs passive moves
4m 27s
86. To accept or decline a chess sacrifice? (a very important tip!)
7m 48s
87. Attacking a King (by using pawn-majority)
7m 27s
88. How to launch a queenside majority attack? (in Maroczy-bind structure)
7m 3s
89. Before you exchange Queens in the opening, check this factor
6m 5s
90. Chess prophylaxis (important defensive strategy)
6m 55s
Daily lesson tests' answers | 61-90
52m 45s
91. The last daily lesson with a grandmaster
6m 48s
92. Endgame tactics | Part 1 (why are they tough to notice?)
6m 23s
93. Endgame tactics | Part 2 (from Wang Yue - Alexey Dreev)
5m 18s
94. A Knight raid to exchange an important Bishop
4m 53s
95. When to fianchetto your Bishop?
9m 37s
96. Do this when you face a strange move order in the opening
10m 13s
97. Choose the correct move order in calculation (Alekhine - Hoelsdar)
7m 31s
98. Rook vs Pawn endgames
9m 16s
99. Queen trap in chess | Part 1
5m 50s
100. How a grandmaster spots chess tactics
10m 45s
101. How to fix Pawns and create weak squares?
4m 8s
102. Queen trap in chess | Part 2
6m 5s
103. Rook vs 2 separated pawns endgame
4m 12s
104. Rook vs Pawn endgame (different pawn promotion)
4m 30s
105. How to exploit a weak back rank? (by deflection)
6m 48s
106. Outflanking in Rook vs Pawn endgames
3m 53s
107. The right way to activate the King in endgame
7m 16s
108. Why you should challenge a fianchetto Bishop?
7m 14s
109. Shouldering in Rook vs Pawn endgame
6m 40s
110. Anchoring technique in Rook vs Pawn endgame
4m 52s
111. What is fundamental defense in chess
7m 6s
112. Ugly but fundamental defense in chess
7m 18s
113. How to use outflanking + anchoring in Rook vs Pawn ending?
3m 39s
114. 3 downsides of grabbing a toxic b2 Pawn in the opening
7m 23s
115. Vacating squares | An uncommon tactical pattern
9m 4s
116. Instructive idea from Ding Liren vs Grischuk, FIDE Candidates 2021
5m 59s
117. Backward moves with the Knight
5m 15s
118. Non-standard breakthrough in chess (thank you Pavel Eljanov!)
7m 3s
119. Bishop and Rook-Pawn vs King endgame
6m 13s
120. Bishop and Pawn endgame (the central pawns)
3m 59s
Daily lesson tests' answers 91-120
41m 10s
121. Stafford gambit | The refutation
24m 33s
122. What is multitasking in Bishop vs Pawn endgame?
4m 13s
123. Passed Pawn vs Bishop endgame
5m 29s
124. Cross pin tactic with Queen + Bishop
6m 33s
125. Cross pin tactic with Queen + Rook
5m 18s
126. Insane moves with the King
6m 8s
127. An instructive defensive concept (Khalifman vs Kramnik)
7m 28s
128. Knight and Pawn vs King (endgame basics you should know)
5m 48s
129. Pawn and Knight vs Pawn
4m 46s
130. The power of a centralized Queen
8m 39s
131. Knight vs Pawn endgame | When the King is far
7m 31s
132. Knight vs Pawn endgames | Stopping the Rook-Pawn
4m 34s
133. Why you should see the whole board
7m 46s
134. Which passed Pawns can a Knight single-handedly stop?
4m 21s
135. 2 Rooks crushing through the 7th rank
7m 14s
136. Using open lines to crush though the 8th rank
6m 17s
137. What is a useless open line?
7m 48s
138. Colorado gambit | The refutation
20m 49s
139. How to fight for the open Line?
4m 45s
140. Can backward Pawn be a strength?
6m 49s
141. Controlling an open line with doubling
4m 58s
142. Checkmating pattern with 2 Knights in the middlegame
4m 14s
143. If there's Ng6, remember Qh5 (a subtle pattern) | Part 1
6m 9s
144. If there's Ng6, watch out for h4-h5 | Part 2
9m 47s
145. Common tactical pattern with Nxe5 (or Nxe4) in the opening
8m 14s
146. Backward moves with the Bishop
5m 43s
147. The Boden's mate | Mating pattern
8m 32s
148. The Windmill | Chess tactics
8m 48s
149. Advancing the future Queen in Pawn endgames
5m 55s
150. The Anastasia's mate | Checkmating pattern
8m 8s
151. Arabian mate (and its history) | Checkmating pattern
8m 49s
Daily lesson tests' answers for May | Lessons 121 - 151
38m 11s
152. Punish early Queen development (by not attacking the Queen!)
8m 30s
153. Blind Swine mate (and It's history) | Checkmating pattern
7m 35s
154. The intermediate move | Chess tactics
7m 33s
155. Blackburne's mate | Checkmating pattern
9m 24s
156. Nxe5 tactic (after which h5 hangs)
6m 36s
157. Killer pin: The pin which paralyzes the position
5m 30s
158. Invisible en passant (to stop attacks, get rid of weaknesses)
5m 45s
159. Using Pawn majority in the centre
8m 26s
160. Stop the development of Bf8 with Qg4, Qg3
10m 15s
161. The right time to pause and think in the opening
7m 22s
162. Greco's mate | Checkmating pattern
8m 50s
163. Typical method to defend in worse opposite colored Bishop positions
7m 58s
164. The Balestra mate | Checkmating pattern
8m 26s
165. The power of an exchange sacrifice on a key square
6m 48s
166. The Morphy mate | Checkmating pattern
7m 25s
167. Anderssen's mate | Checkmating pattern
7m 56s
168. The Hook mate | Checkmating pattern
8m 25s
169. The Vukovic mate | Checkmating pattern
7m 16s
170. The Mayet's mate | Checkmating pattern
8m 21s
171. Your secret weapon in hopeless positions
10m 9s
172. Breakthroughs that are 'Invisible'
10m 2s
173. How to choose between 2 attractive recaptures?
7m 9s
174. The problematic Bg6(or Bg3)
7m 37s
175. Desperado | Chess tactics
5m 43s
176. Push the passed Pawn!
8m 22s
177. How to create a passed Pawn?
8m 29s
178. The Bishop is still in quarantine...
7m 45s
179. Pawn sacrifice to quarantine a Bishop
7m 34s
180. Queen vs Pawn - A complete guide for the tournament player
19m 8s
181. Damiano's mate | Checkmating pattern
8m 4s
Daily lesson tests' answers for June | 152 - 181
31m 22s
182. Ahead in material? Exchange!
8m 41s
183. How to create more weaknesses and win a slightly better endgame?
5m 21s
184. Sudden Queen trap | Part 3
5m 36s
185. Open the center to deal with a flank attack (an important principle)
10m 22s
186. h-File mate | Checkmating pattern
9m 47s
187. Exploiting weak b7 (b2) pawn when there's no Bishop
5m 8s
188. Epaulette mate | Checkmating pattern
10m 51s
189. Queen + Bishop battery in opposite colored Bishop
11m 8s
190. Paralyzing Pawn
6m 44s
191. Paralyzing Pawn (part 2) | Pawn sacrifice
7m 3s
192. Regrouping your pieces
9m 50s
193. Killer tactical pattern (with Ba3)
7m 56s
194. Killer tactical pattern (with ...Bh3)
6m 39s
195. When you shouldn't play active chess in the opening
6m 6s
196. Weak King or weak Pawn, where will you attack
5m 48s
197. My Godfather's favorite lesson
5m 34s
198. Watch the backrank with X-ray tactic
4m 51s
199. To castle or not to castle? That's the question
6m 4s
200. Throwing a bomb
8m 35s
201. Sometimes, exchange your opponent's bad pieces!
9m 57s
202. Exchange the defensive piece
10m 9s
203. How to attack with opposite-colored Bishops
9m 58s
204. Decoy the King & hunt it down!
7m 34s
205. When a Queen or Knight can't stop a passed-pawn (typical pattern)
7m 49s
206. 1st rule to remember when playing against a weak Pawn
9m 42s
207. Push your flank Pawns (a4, a5, h4, h5) to weaken the position
10m 58s
208. How to create weak squares by pushing your Pawns
10m 23s
209. Provoking your opponent to create a weak square
9m 10s
210. You wouldn't believe such backward Queen moves exist
7m 38s
211. Happy Bishop ?
9m 49s
212. Can 2 happy Bishops ?? be worth more than an exchange
8m 14s
Daily lesson tests' answers for July | 182 - 212
52m 59s
213. Sudden piece trap (Vishy Anand's spectacular idea vs Kramnik)
12m 5s
214. The overloaded Bg2
9m 36s
215. Sac the Pawn, ruin the structure!
9m 20s
216. Grandmaster's guide to Greek gift sacrifice (all you need to know!)
26m 33s
217. How Double Bishop sacrifice can give you a crushing attack
12m 19s
218. Saving private Ryan behind enemy lines in chess
10m 51s
219. A subtle move that prevents castling (part 1)
10m 48s
220. When to play Ba3, sacrifice an exchange to prevent castling (part 2)
9m 17s
221. 'Do I castle short or do I castle long'
7m 1s
222. The smart way to be greedy in chess
5m 59s
223. GM Gabuzyan's favorite chess topic
7m 18s
224. What to do if your opponent's King is stuck in the center
9m 17s
225. When ugly moves can improve your position
9m 35s
226. How the h-Pawn can create unexpected problems in solid positions
16m 35s
227. Play on both sides of the board (when, why & how)
12m 2s
228. The disadvantage of playing Nd2/Ne2 (instead of Nc3/Nf3)
12m 10s
229. Where to castle when you have space in the center
11m 11s
230. A powerful Pawn break to crush the center and ruin the Pawn structure
10m 24s
231. Invisible defense
6m 0s
232. A mate pattern with Queen and Knight against doubled g-Pawns
10m 20s
233. A Pawn sacrifice (...e4-e5) to activate your pieces
11m 29s
234. A common mistake while defending opposite-side castling positions
9m 12s
235. When it's time to exchange Queens
9m 52s
236. The right time to exchange Queens and ruin your own pawn structure!
8m 0s
237. The ideal time to launch a pawn storm in same-side castling
10m 1s
238. When you can't launch a pawn storm in same-side castling
10m 26s
239. How to attack with your pieces in same-side castling positions
11m 7s
240. The right time to abandon a strong outpost
6m 26s
241. How to deal with an overextended Pawn
7m 58s
242. A key reason behind blunders in strategical positions
8m 24s
243. A simple and strong Bishop maneuver that's easy to miss
6m 5s
Daily lesson tests' answers for August | 213 - 243
37m 35s
244. Exchange the main defender during an attack
9m 13s
245. How multifunctional moves can improve your position
6m 39s
246. The crazy Bb1! Idea used by Mikhail Tal and Nepomniachtchi
9m 9s
247. 3 reasons why a Knight is the best blockader of the passed Pawn
7m 13s
248. Hidden cross pin
7m 1s
249. When to avoid exchanging opponent's most advanced piece
5m 39s
250. A powerful attacking idea with g6 (or ...g3) to accelerate your attack
9m 48s
251. The power of a flexible Bishop
6m 43s
252. How to create back rank problems by pushing your Pawn to the 6th rank
8m 51s
253. Sometimes, development might be useless. What to do in such cases
5m 31s
254. When a back rank mate is unstoppable
8m 2s
255. A simple way to close the flank and stop opponent's attack
6m 11s
256. What to do when you are exchange up?
6m 44s
257. Grandmaster shows why the Nf7 sacrifice is so powerful!
10m 31s
258. Watch out for backward moves with the Rook!
7m 0s
259. A strategy to stop Pawn push with your pieces
6m 51s
260. A strategy to stop Pawn push with your pieces | Part 2 ft. Bishop
7m 18s
261. A strategy to stop Pawn push with your pieces | Part 3 ft. Rook
6m 58s
262. A strategy to stop Pawn push with your pieces | Part 4 ft. Queen
5m 51s
263. Rook vs 2 pieces - Is having a Rook always worse ?
9m 26s
264. Peter Leko's idea shows how en passant can halt opponent's attack
9m 2s
265. 2021 European champion's game shows the power of Queen and Knight
9m 4s
266. Rc3 attacking sacrifice | Typical exchange sacrifice | Part 1
11m 53s
267. Rc3 positional sacrifice | Typical exchange sacrifice | Part 2
8m 23s
268. Mikhail Tal's Re6 sacrifice | Typical exchange sacrifice | Part 3
11m 22s
269. Rf6/Rf3 sacrifice | Typical exchange sacrifice | Part 4
10m 28s
270. How to quarantine a Knight? | Part 1
11m 4s
271. How to quarantine a Rook? | Part 2
8m 33s
272. The quarantined Queen | Part 3
10m 20s
273. A simple question that'll help you find the right move
5m 48s
Daily lesson tests' answers for September | 244 - 273
40m 5s
274. Petrosian's piece sac to get strong central Pawns (part 1)
10m 57s
275. Kramnik's piece sac to get strong flank Pawns (part 2)
8m 55s
276. Give up the Rook and get strong Pawns! (part 3)
8m 9s
277. Queen vs strong Pawns (part 4)
7m 57s
278. How to dislodge a Knight in the center? (Anand vs Svidler)
8m 58s
279. Practical tips to NOT resign in drawish positions
10m 14s
280. "It's not over until it's over!"
6m 56s
281. Trust no one! Not even Nepo or Carlsen! ?
7m 22s
282. How would you activate a Knight?
7m 50s
283. When Lasker made his Knight happy against Capablanca
9m 0s
284. Use this attacking idea in opposite-side castling position
7m 1s
285. On which side of the board you should play? | Part 1
5m 57s
286. On which side of the board you should Play?
7m 44s
287. When should you play on your weaker side? | Part 3
6m 10s
288. Create play where you could be potentially stronger | Part 4
9m 59s
289. The beautiful Bxf7 sacrifice
7m 3s
290. Happy Queen | Part 1
6m 37s
291. Happy Queen | Part 2
8m 29s
292. A simple strategy that makes your attack irresistible
5m 35s
293. How underpromotion can be a powerful weapon
6m 26s
294. SLP - Creating traps
8m 3s
295. Outside passed Pawn explained in 7 minutes!
7m 21s
296. Why winning Pawn endgames is the secret to winning positions
5m 55s
297. Is giving up an exchange (Ra1) for fianchetto Bishop (Bg7) worth it?
6m 51s
298. This Rook + Knight draw pattern might help you save lost positions
9m 15s
299. The downside of f3 which protects Be3 from Ng4
7m 23s
300. Should you sacrifice exchange after Bh6 Bh8 Bf8?
7m 11s
301. Artificial castling
6m 22s
302. How to get extra value out of a Queen exchange
7m 45s
303. Should you grab the dangerous Pawn with Bh2? (Spassky-Fischer)
5m 39s
304. To grab the dangerous Pawn with Ba7 (Ba2) or not? | Part 2
6m 5s
Daily lesson tests' answers for October | 274 - 304
46m 40s
305. When it's safe to capture the dangerous Pawn with Ba2 | Part 3
5m 11s
306. Alekhine shows how to use the Alekhine Gun
8m 33s
307. A strategy that'll make your attack unstoppable! ?
5m 21s
308. A simple, smart way to fight for d4-weak square
6m 21s
309. How 2 Knights can paralyze a position
7m 58s
310. Double pin
6m 37s
311. The way to create an eternal asset in the endgame
6m 39s
312. 3 effective strategies to grab an isolated Pawn
5m 32s
313. A strong blockader in opposite color Bishop middlegames
6m 16s
314. A good time to push the h-Pawn
6m 6s
315. A lesson from Jonathan Penrose vs Mikhail Tal game
9m 30s
316. Pawns don't move backwards!
5m 47s
317. An endgame strategy that can be more efective than King activation
5m 58s
318. An effective way to cement a Knight on an outpost
7m 47s
319. The strategy for playing Queen vs 2 Rooks positions
6m 4s
320. Keep the King safe in 2 Rooks vs Queen positions
6m 5s
321. A strategy to maximize your advantage in 2 Rooks vs Queen position
7m 4s
322. Go for an attack in Queen vs 2 Rooks positions!
7m 9s
323. Why a Pawn on f6 is a powerful attacking asset
9m 54s
324. How to find unexpected moves, stop counterplay & blow minds ?
6m 35s
325. 3 Pawns vs 1 piece. Who's actually stronger? Here are 2 guidelines...
5m 53s
326. 3 Pawns vs 1 piece
8m 54s
327. Rook on 7th rank in the endgame is not always good!
5m 32s
328. Bishop vs Knight | Who's stronger in opposite-castling positions
6m 19s
329. An advanced strategy to create problems with the h-pawn
8m 34s
330. We enter from 8th rank!
7m 51s
331. A simple strategy to play against a bad Bishop
5m 55s
332. A defensive maneuver in opposite castling positions
7m 39s
333. A strategy to play with space advantage in KID, French defense
8m 18s
334. An unexpected tactical pattern
5m 17s
Daily lesson tests' answers for November | 305 - 334
38m 32s
335. How a difference in Pawn structure changes the position's evaluation
4m 43s
336. The power of an unstoppable triple fork
5m 3s
337. The secret to convert strategically winning positions into a win
6m 54s
338. Follow this practical advice when you see a winning move
5m 45s
339. Use this strategy when you're forced to return material
6m 26s
340. How to destroy enemy Pawns on 7th rank and make your Rooks stronger
6m 14s
341. The all-important Be3 vs fianchetto Bg7
8m 41s
342. Your Rooks need the right support on the 7th rank
6m 49s
343. Crush a Scandinavian gambit with active play! (1.e4 d5 2.ed5 c6)
5m 50s
344. Why passers are less important in Rook ending, compared to other endings
7m 0s
345. Should you recapture with the Bishop or the Pawn (Dutch defense)
7m 21s
346. The right way to block the opponent's passed Pawn in Rook endgame
4m 51s
347. When and why it's good to keep the tension
10m 47s
348. Make your Bishop pair stronger with a simple strategy
6m 5s
349. When 1 Pawn can block 3 pawns combined!
5m 29s
350. How to play against the semi-Hippo setup
12m 37s
351. How to defend in opposite color Bishop endgames
8m 57s
352. Strategy with a passed Pawn in opposite color Bishop endgame
10m 55s
353. Use this strategy when there's tension in the center
5m 37s
354. The strategy to coordinate your Bishop and Pawns
4m 47s
355. Provoking and attacking a weakness on h6
5m 37s
356. What's a traitor Pawn? What does it have to do with King safety?
6m 55s
357. The most common mistake beginners make
5m 43s
358. A common opening blunder arising from ChessMood repertoire
6m 14s
359. A smart hack to remove a Knight from a strong square
6m 33s
360. Have you heard of a 'positional pin' ?
4m 48s
361. A subtle way to create connected passed Pawns
7m 38s
362. Strengthen your attack using the h-Pawn
7m 15s
363. Before starting an attack with h4, prevent opponent's ...h5
5m 29s
364. How to become good at tactics without solving million positions
4m 52s
365. Svidler's unbelievable defense!
4m 4s
Daily lesson tests' answers for December | 335 - 365
39m 13s
5

Students give this course an average of 5 out of 5 stars.