Fiancho Chess

Intermediate to advanced level

Calculation & Visualization Training

A structured training course in calculating forcing lines and visualizing positions without moving the pieces. The exercises start short and grow longer and harder across the course, and every one comes with a worked solution that shows the full line and the replies that had to be checked.

Level
Intermediate to advanced
Format
.zip with a PDF workbook and PGN files
Study
Self-paced, self-study
Delivery
Instant download link by email and on screen

Self-study material. This course is a written workbook with PGN files. There is no video, no live instruction, no coaching, and no feedback on your games.

Full contents

What the course covers

The workbook is organized into the parts below. Each part explains its ideas first, shows them in annotated examples, and then gives training positions with worked solutions.

  1. How to calculate

    A simple method for working through variations: list candidate moves, start with forcing moves, check every reply, and assess the final position.

  2. Visualization basics

    Exercises in seeing the board without moving pieces: square colors, diagonals, knight routes, and following short sequences in your head.

  3. Short forcing lines

    Sequences of checks, captures and threats a few moves deep, where every reply has to be found and answered.

  4. Longer calculations

    Positions that need deeper and wider calculation, including quiet moves in the middle of a forcing line and defensive resources that are easy to miss.

  5. Holding the position in your head

    Exercises that give a position and a sequence of moves in writing, and ask you to assess the final position without setting it up on a board.

  6. Mixed training sets

    A final run of exercises that mixes every type, arranged in increasing difficulty, each with a fully worked solution.

Inside the workbook

Preview pages

Illustrations of representative pages, showing how the workbook is laid out: a training position, a worked solution and a section from the explanations.

Preview of a training position page: white to moveA workbook page showing a chessboard diagram, white to move, with the task: Calculate a forced checkmate.FIANCHO CHESSCALCULATION TRAININGTRAINING POSITIONWhite to moveabcdefgh87654321Calculate a forced checkmate.The worked solution follows in the solutions section.
Training positionA board diagram with the task stated underneath, the way every training position is set out.
Preview of a worked solution page: Double check, then smotherA workbook page with a small diagram and the worked solution. 1.Qe6+ Kh8 (1...Kf8 2.Qf7#) 2.Nf7+ Kg8 3.Nh6+ Kh8 (3...Kf8 4.Qf7#) 4.Qg8+! Rxg8 5.Nf7# The double check drives the king back to the corner, and the queen sacrifice lets its own rook block its last square.FIANCHO CHESSCALCULATION TRAININGWORKED SOLUTIONDouble check, then smotherPOSITIONWhite to moveTHEMEForcing sequence1.Qe6+ Kh8(1...Kf8 2.Qf7#)2.Nf7+ Kg8 3.Nh6+ Kh8(3...Kf8 4.Qf7#)4.Qg8+! Rxg8 5.Nf7#The double check drives the king back tothe corner, and the queen sacrifice letsits own rook block its last square.
Worked solutionThe full solution line with the defensive tries and a plain-language explanation of each step.
Preview of an explanation page: Forcing moves firstA workbook page from the explanations. When you calculate, look at checks, then captures, then threats. Forcing moves limit the opponent’s replies, which keeps the number of lines small enough to work through accurately. Key idea: For every forcing move, list all of the opponent’s legal replies before going deeper, not just the obvious one. At the end of a line, stop and look at the final position again before you decide it is good.FIANCHO CHESSCALCULATION TRAININGEXPLANATIONForcing moves firstWhen you calculate, look at checks, thencaptures, then threats. Forcing moveslimit the opponent’s replies, which keepsthe number of lines small enough to workthrough accurately.KEY IDEAFor every forcing move, list all of theopponent’s legal replies before goingdeeper, not just the obvious one.At the end of a line, stop and look atthe final position again before youdecide it is good.
From the explanationsAn explanation section introducing an idea, with a key point set apart for quick review.

Who it’s for

  • Players who see the right ideas but lose track of the position a few moves into a line.
  • Players who want structured, progressive exercises instead of random puzzles.
  • Players who are comfortable with the basic tactical patterns and want to go further.

Who it isn’t for

  • Beginners still learning the basic tactical patterns. Tactics Fundamentals comes first.
  • Players who want quick puzzles to solve on screen. These exercises are meant for slow, careful work.
  • Anyone looking for video lessons or personal feedback. This is a self-study workbook.

The download

What’s in the .zip

One download holds the whole course. Open the PDF in any PDF reader and load the PGN files into any chess software or online analysis board that opens PGN files. The FAQ explains how to open both.

  • PDF workbookThe explanations, board diagrams, training positions and fully worked solutions, organized by chapter.
  • PGN filesEvery position and line in the course, so you can load them into any chess software or online analysis board that opens PGN files.

Delivery and refunds

Your download link arrives by email right after payment and is shown on the confirmation screen. Any purchase can be refunded in full within 14 days, no reason required.

Delivery PolicyRefund Policy