By investing 50 hours into his free YouTube content, you can replicate the knowledge of the 9 courses, even if you don't own the high-resolution videos or PDF workbooks. If you are dead-set on the actual structured courses, here is the only legitimate way to get them at near-zero cost:
GM Igor Smirnov is one of the few grandmasters who actually gives away his core knowledge on YouTube. If you cannot afford the $29 monthly membership, simply subscribe to the RCA YouTube channel and the "Remote Chess Academy" podcast. GM Igor Smirnov ALL 9 Chess Courses free
The students who succeed are not the ones who hoard 9 PDFs on a hard drive. The students who succeed are those who study one concept—like "prophylaxis" or "passed pawns"—for a week straight. By investing 50 hours into his free YouTube
| | Free Alternative (Legit) | | :--- | :--- | | Positional Understanding | Watch the "RCA Positional Play" playlist on YouTube (17 videos). | | Tactics | Use Chess.com's free puzzles + Smirnov’s "Tactics Explained" shorts. | | Opening (White) | Study the "London System" and "King's Gambit" videos on the RCA channel. | | Opening (Black) | Search "Smirnov Caro-Kann" on YouTube. He uploaded a 2-hour free tutorial. | | Endgames | Access the free "Endgame Strategy" articles on the RCA blog. | The students who succeed are not the ones
GM Smirnov has uploaded hundreds of hours of content to the Remote Chess Academy YouTube channel. While not the full 9 structured courses, many of the core principles from courses like Positional Understanding and Tactics are explained in his 15-minute video lessons. You can build 70% of the knowledge for free—just without the workbooks and PGNs.
So, the search for is essentially a search for nearly $1,000 worth of private intellectual property. Part 2: The Truth About "Free" Grandmaster Courses The Short Answer No, GM Igor Smirnov does not officially give away all 9 courses for free permanently. He is a professional educator selling a high-value product. The "Almost Free" Reality However, there are several legal ways to access his content for significantly reduced cost or temporarily free that fuel these search queries: