The Art of Thinking in Chess
Seven masterclasses to improve your chess. Strategy, sacrifices, openings, endgames, and defense, with a special bonus dedicated to the brilliant Alexei Shirov.
What you'll learn
- Learn from your mistakes: identify recurring flaws and transform them into opportunities for improvement.
- Master the art of sacrifice: understand when and why to give up the queen for decisive advantages.
- Expand your opening resources: discover creative ideas and dynamic plans in the Jobava system.
- Perfect your endgame technique: recognize key positions and apply precise methods.
- Defend difficult positions: develop defensive resources, resilience, and calculation skills.
- Learn from Faustino Oro: study his creativity and resources for solving complex situations.
- Get inspired by Alexei Shirov: explore his extraordinary tactical imagination and combative style in a special bonus track.
- The goal: develop a deeper understanding of chess, make better decisions, and find resources that previously went unnoticed.
Course content
7 lessons · 11 h 31 min of video
Strategy and Decision Making
Learning From My Mistakes
Mistakes are one of the most valuable sources of learning in chess. In this class, GM Andrés Rodríguez analyzes his own experiences over the board to show how to recognize wrong decisions, understand their causes, and extract useful lessons for future games. A chance to learn from the critical analysis of a grandmaster and discover how to turn mistakes into tools for self-improvement.
1 h 23 min
Tactics
Queen Sacrifices
The queen sacrifice is one of the most spectacular resources in chess, but behind every successful sacrifice lies a deep understanding of the position. In this class, GM Andrés Rodríguez explores the strategic and tactical ideas that justify these sacrifices, showing how piece coordination, initiative, and precise calculation can compensate for the loss of the most valuable piece on the board. A class to develop imagination, overcome material prejudices, and discover possibilities that often go unnoticed.
1 h 33 min
Openings
Jobava II: The Legend Continues
Creativity and surprise are fundamental weapons in the opening. In this second installment dedicated to the Jobava system, GM Andrés Rodríguez dives deep into the dynamic possibilities of an approach that allows you to escape traditional paths and pose concrete problems to your opponent from the very first moves. Through the analysis of positions and lines, the class explores the strategic plans, tactical opportunities, and resources that make the Jobava an attractive alternative for combative players. An invitation to expand your repertoire.
1 h 36 min
Endgames
Endgame Technique
The endgame is a decisive phase of the game, where precision, technical knowledge, and the understanding of positions take on special importance. In this class, IM Jorge Rosito covers fundamental principles of endgame technique, showing how to correctly evaluate positions, coordinate pieces, and find the best plans to capitalize on small advantages or defend difficult situations. An opportunity to strengthen one of the most important aspects of competitive chess and turn knowledge into concrete results.
1 h 25 min
Strategy
Defensive Technique
Knowing how to defend is one of the most important skills in competitive chess. Even in difficult positions, precise defense can neutralize the opponent's initiative, create new opportunities, and turn the tide of a game. In this class, IM Jorge Rosito covers the fundamentals of defensive technique, showing how to identify threats, coordinate pieces, and find resources to withstand opponent pressure. A class to strengthen resilience and improve the evaluation of compromised positions.
1 h 55 minFaustino Oro and the Art of Defense
How does Faustino Oro find defensive resources in complex positions? What can we learn from his ability to resist, calculate, and uncover opportunities when the game seems to take a turn for the worse? In this class, GM Andrés Rodríguez analyzes Faustino Oro's chess from an especially instructive perspective: the art of defending. Through the study of his games, we will explore the importance of precision, piece activity, and the search for resources in demanding situations. An opportunity to learn from one of the greatest talents in chess.
1 h 26 min
Tactics and Calculation
BONUS TRACK: Tribute to Alexei Shirov
Imagination, risk, and creativity find one of their greatest exponents in Alexei Shirov. His bold and combative style has produced some of the most spectacular games in modern chess. In this special class, GM Diego Flores invites us to explore Shirov's chess universe, uncovering the ideas that characterize his extraordinary tactical ability and his unique way of interpreting positions. A tribute to one of the most fascinating players in recent chess history and an opportunity to draw inspiration from his creativity and fighting spirit.
2 h 13 min
Description
THE ART OF THINKING IN CHESS
6 masterclasses + 1 exclusive Bonus Track
What distinguishes a good player from one who truly understands chess? The ability to interpret positions, find resources, learn from mistakes, and make better decisions over the board.
The Art of Thinking in Chess offers a journey through different facets of the game, combining strategy, creativity, technique, and critical thinking.
Through six masterclasses, GMs Andrés Rodríguez and Diego Flores, alongside IM Jorge Rosito, bring us closer to fundamental topics of competitive chess: learning from mistakes, queen sacrifices, Jobava opening ideas, endgame technique, and defensive resources.
The course also includes a class dedicated to Faustino Oro and his ability to find defensive solutions in demanding positions.
And as special content, a BONUS TRACK: Tribute to Alexei Shirov, an opportunity to enjoy and study the creativity, tactical imagination, and fighting spirit of one of the great figures of modern chess.
Seven sessions that invite you to look at the board from new perspectives, better understand positions, and add new resources to your game.
Because improving at chess isn't just about knowing more moves: it's about learning to think better.
Requirements
- Have basic chess knowledge and familiarity with algebraic notation.
- Have experience in analyzing games and positions.
- An intermediate level or higher is recommended to make the most of the content.
- Have an internet connection and a device to watch the classes.
- No minimum Elo or federation title required. The most important thing is an interest in deepening your understanding of the game and continuing to improve.
Instructors
GM Andrés Rodríguez Vila is the first and only Grandmaster in the history of Uruguayan chess. He started playing at 10, played his first World Youth Championship at 12, and at 18 became his country's first International Master. Known as one of the most creative players in South America, he qualified for the 2009 World Cup and represented Uruguay in several Olympiads. Alongside his playing career he specializes in chess teaching and improvement at every level, with a special focus on young talents and high performance. He teaches mainly in Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil and Mexico, and has also given lectures and courses in Chile, Colombia and Spain. He has worked across the whole chess-education pyramid, from beginners to Olympic teams, and is known as a specialist in intensive high-performance courses and tournament preparation. He was general coordinator of high performance at the Ruy López school in Villa Martelli (Buenos Aires, Argentina), and has spent more than 20 years training players through lectures, intensive and regular courses and tournament preparation. Since 2010 he has recorded videos for several sites and platforms; he is co-founder and director of Ajedrez Latino and co-founder of Academia Míjail Tal, and in 2020 he was high-performance coordinator for Fenamac (Mexico). A pioneer of online coaching, he now trains top talents from Uruguay, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico and other countries. He has coached world champions and leading players such as WGM Deysi Cori, GM Jorge Cori, GM Alan Pichot, GM Diego Flores, GM Leandro Krysa, GM Robert Hungaski, GM Leonardo Tristán, GM Luis Supi and WGM Candela Francisco.
GM Diego Flores is one of the leading figures in contemporary Argentine chess. He earned his Grandmaster title in 2008 and reached a peak FIDE rating of 2634. A multiple Argentine champion—matching Miguel Najdorf's historic record of titles—he has represented his country in seven Chess Olympiads and won the 2018 Dubai Open. He combines a deep chess culture with a remarkable ability to convey complex ideas clearly.
IM Jorge Rosito
Jorge Rosito is an Argentine International Master, born in Mar del Plata, and a well-known figure both as a player and a coach. He earned his IM title in 1998 and also holds a Grandmaster norm, achieved at the 2003 American Continental. Throughout his career, he has been an eleven-time champion of Mar del Plata and secured victories against legendary figures such as Miguel Najdorf, Bent Larsen, and Oscar Panno. As a coach, he has worked with players of all levels, including grandmasters, and was the first coach of Faustino Oro, guiding him between 2020 and 2024 during his early years of extraordinary progress. He has also coached GM Jorge Cori and GM Diego Flores, among others. The Argentine Chess Federation named him Coach of the Year in 2016.
What students say
From people who've been through the club and the courses.
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