07/28-08/01 Desperate Defenses and Great Escapes (with guest GM David Smerdon!)
Regular price $189.0010:30am-1:00pm ET, 1:30pm - 4:00pm ET
7/28/2025-8/1/2025
All Skill levels, from beginners to strong tournament players are welcome!
Desperate Defenses and Great Escapes:
Not all chess games are brilliant attacking masterpieces where we unleash a devastating tactical onslaught on our hapless opponent. Sometimes we have to defend our king, run and hide, and wait for the right moment to counter attack. In this camp, students will develop their defensive skills and mental toughness by studying how masters employ every resource available to stave off checkmate.
Beginners will see how the basic tactical devices, like pins and forks, can be used not only for attack but also for defense. Advanced students will explore ideas like building fortresses, making “smart” defensive moves, and returning material with defensive sacrifices. Everyone will become a little bit tougher by studying when and how to play defense in chess.
We're excited that Grandmaster David Smerdon will be joining us again this year! He will be joining us on Thursday, July 31st at 5:30pm ET to teach a lesson on the camp's theme. This is an extra event included for all campers. GM Smerdon is a teacher and published author.
Typical schedule for a day:
- 10:30-10:40 Introductions, chat, get to know each other
- 10:40-11:10 Lesson
- 11:10-11:45 Practice games and possibly student game analysis
- 11:45-12:00 Break
- 12:00-12:25 Lesson
- 12:25-1:00 Practice games
More questions? Please take a look at our Online Camp FAQ.
