Chess Opening Intensive with GM Jacek Stopa
Come and join GM Jacek Stopa for his new set of one day intensive classes on openings!

Date: Saturday April 6th
Time: 1:00-5:00 pm
Location: Mechanics' Institute Chess Club Annex
Cost: Members: $150
​Non-members: $200
Registration here.

Come and join GM Jacek Stopa for his new set of one day intensive classes on openings! For the first session, expand your repertoire with black and learn an aggressive line in the Ruy Lopez.

The first series of sessions will focus on the Arkhangelsk Variation with 6...Bc5 (C78) of the Ruy Lopez, with all of its major sidelines and main line theory. This particular line offers black a lot of dynamic counterplay with many lines quickly giving black the opening edge. Many of the world's top players have used this line with success over the years. The positions tend to get very sharp, quickly rewarding the more prepared and tactical players.

The course will begin with a brief introduction focused on historical details of the variation and quickly delve into actual games and theory. The variation was first used in a recorded game in the mid-19th century by Paul Morphy, which gives us an idea of just how long-lived it is. The line is legitimate in that there is no known refutation. The class will build on the earlier games first so the players can get an idea of how the variation developed, and gradually get to the most recent cutting-edge theory based on the most recent games.

The course is targeted at players USCF 1600+, but all are welcome. Future sessions may continue to explore the Arkhangelsk or delve into GM Stopa’s other specialities, such as the Catalan.

About GM Jacek Stopa

Grandmaster Jacek Stopa achieved the highest ranking in his career so far in 2015 with a score of 2544 points, and was then ranked 19th among Polish chess players. He is a three-time gold medalist of the Polish junior championships: under 12 (1999, Wisła), under 18 (2005, Łeba) and under 20 (2006, Środa Wlkp.). In 2005 in Środa Wlkp. he won a bronze medal in the category under the age of 20. In 2004, he shared the first place in the grandmaster tournament in Legnica. A year later, he won in the open tournament in Rybnik and achieved the greatest success in his career, winning the bronze medal at the U18 World Junior Championships in Belfort. In 2009, he achieved further successes, twice dividing the 1st place in open tournaments in Philadelphia and Indianapolis. In 2014, he shared the 1st place in Rethymno and Cologne, and shared the 2nd place in Bratto. In 2014, he shared the first place in Berlin, and in 2015 he won the Khazar International Open tournament in Rashta.

In addition to good results in the classic time control events, he is also very successful in solving chess problems. In this discipline, he won the title of European Junior Champion in 2005, and in 2006 he was ranked 3rd in Europe in the junior category and 6th in the world in the senior category. He was also a member of the Polish national team that won the bronze medal at the European Team Championships. He achieved another success in 2007, winning the title of European Junior Champion in Pardubice.

Cancellation Policy

We reserve the right to cancel at any time and issue a full refund. If you are unable to attend this series, please email [email protected] by Monday, April 1, 2024, to receive a full refund less our administrative fee and any non-refundable ticketing fees which may be applicable. All fees must be paid at the time of registration. After Tuesday, April 2, 2024 no refunds will be issued.

Questions? Please contact [email protected].