Any reviews of the 'International Chess School'?

I looked at this site, and concluded that it's main value was in how information is collected. Most amateurs bounce around from one topic to the next never mastering any of them and collecting lots of "knowledge" but not enough "skill".

The real value in a system like this or proper coaching is that you save time.

Example, most amatuers have a random opening repertoire based on either what books they acquired or based off their "style" of play. Even worse, they jump from opening to opening-

with a coach or a system like ICS you should end up with a fairly complementary repertoire that makes sense together instead of something cobbled together.

Hey guys, I just found this thread whilst looking for a similar thread I replied in a couple days ago relating to ICS and I think it's appropriate to reply here.

First of all, I have been a member of ICS for around 18 months having paid for the entire first year course (although FAR from having worked through it all) and now 5 months into year 2, although I havent' really worked through that material either.

I am also on the ICS Forum as Bilbo and therefore know BDK fairly well and I think can speak for him in his absence on this.

First of all, the ICS Forum is just a free forum set up  by BDK who has nothing at all to do with the actual ICS team. It's completely unofficial and I'm not even aware if the actual ICS school are even aware of it, although I presume they must have noticed it by now. Anyway, it's just a forum that BDK made up for those of us doing the course to discuss it. A few of us joined around the same time and I guess it made sense to set it up.

Secondly the 'GM' rank that he has on the forum is purely to do with the number of posts he has made on the forum and has nothing to do with his actual chess grade!

He's most definitely not a shill, just a chess improver who started the course a couple years ago and then set up a forum to discuss it with others. I've not spoken to him for some time but I'm presuming he's still continuing with it. If you view his blog you will see he has experimented with many books and material etc, ICS being just one of them.

I think, like me, he would recommend the course with a few reservations. The material can be difficult and requires a big time commitment. The English of the teachers is sometimes not the best and can feel rather unnatural at times, although  I have never found it hard to understand what they are saying. It's more quaint and endearing to me, but might be annoying to some.

As to the perceived value, compared to books I'm not sure. Generally there is around 80 or so pages of PDF material a month, less on exercise months. You also receive a lot of chessbase database material as well however which of course you wouldn't get in a book. Having their opening reportoire in both pdf and CB database format is very useful to me as when I buy a printed book I invariably have to spend many hours entering it back into CB format, and ICS saves me many hours having already done it, which to me means it is definitely worth the money.

As an counter example I purchased Artur Yusupov's Build Up Your Chess workbooks which seem excellent but I gave up after a few chapters because I just found entering them back into CB format was too time consuming. With ICS I get both PDF for reading and CB format for playing over the moves so that is a big plus.

It's also fairly unique material and I've had good success with the opening reportoire as I think few people know these lines. How good they would be at GM level I don't know, but as I am currently around 140 ECF I don't care either.

All in all, it's a good course, well worth the money if you are willing to put in hard work. If you are a more casual learner however you will gain little from it and would be better served with books and videos.

Hello to everyone,

I am a subscriber of ICS since some days. I am very unsure if the course is useful for me in respect of the subscription fee compared to the many books I could get for the money.

Very sceptical makes me the fact that every subscriber - it doesn't matter if his ELO is 2200 or 900 - gets just the same material.

I could look only on the material of MONTH 1 and it was logical and fine ... as many good Middlegame Books. The 3 Videos are excellent.

Iam 65 years old and have an International ELO of about 2160, my best was about 2260. My National German ELO ("DWZ") is about 2100, my best was about 2280 (20 years ago!).

Because I think I am not able to learn very much from ICS I think I will cancel the course. For more than 300 Dollars I can find more individuel material. That's my personal view.

Maybe for other players it is useful. The ICS people should explain for which class of players the course is made.

@sc64: Yes, i think the course is not meant for novices or noobs. The material is a high quality one, and it needs some good positional understanding and tactics before one can go through it. Otherwise, it is a waste of money.

As per your ratngs, i think you would have found it useful had you continued to month 6-7 where more intricacies are provided.

I didn't cancel my subscription - but I am still asking me if I should do that. You are right - the material (of month 1 is what I got) has high quality in itself.

The International Chess School should inform potential subscribers to whom their program is addressed. Then you can decide if it fits to you. I don't believe that chessplayers rated with an international ELO of 1400 should benefit from the very same material as a 2200 rated player!

My second question is: How many very good chess books would I get für about 400 bucks I pay for the course? For this sum I could get all books of the Dvoretzky-School! Maybe that's more usefull. But I don't know.

I plan on joining it, but I am sort of really new to chess.

Anyone actually recommends it?

If you are new to chess - do not join ICS - level is way too high for a beginner...

Do you have anything to recommend for a beginner? I really want to learn how to play.

Did I smell a hint of sarcasm?

I play for 3 weeks, so I can tell you that I don't really play any tournaments, haha.

Just want to know how to get better. I'm currently reading the "basics" on WikiBooks.

@Ve3: One suggestion for you. As a beginner, the first step is making your tactics strong, next comes the positional understanding.

For tactics to make it strong, you can either be a chess.com member, where there are thousands (in fact lakhs) of tactical problems which you can solve, and i can guarantee, you will see a substantial rating increase. In case, if you don't want to spend for membership, there are other sites as well, where you can get free tactical problems, and get a tactical rating (just google it).

Next step comes the positional understanding, for which you will find ICS beneficial, but the first step (improve tactics) itself will take some 2-3 years (if you are very sincere, else more). So go ahead with your tactics first.

It's the Bossest course ever!

SC64, did you continue your subscription?

Did you find it valuable for you?

S.

Hello ladies and gents,

I am just starting the course. I have, and still do, play here very often. I will attempt to keep you up to date. The complaint that the pages are pdf is exactly why I LIKE this course so far. It makes me get off the computer and get out my real world chess board where I am not tempted to "just let fritz" analyse the game for me. I am 46 years old and have beeen a rabid player with little improvement for about ten years. This is my last push to get to that magical 2000+ otb rating!  so I will be looking for long games with some "honest" players here!

All the best and great games to you all

Mike

p.s. drop me a note and remind me to post my experiences here...I am very forgetful about these forums!

I have 4 months of the Main Course and Opening modules.  I just started the "What Really Matters" course as well.  

I think if anyone really committed themselves to sitting down and doing the course it will pat off but it is work.  

I am 69 and have the time so I am giving it a shot.  I can say that it has improved my OTB game because it teaches you to think rather than react and on long tournament games you have the time to think.  

I think it is a good course but it is work!!

Yes, this much is true. I would guess someone around 1600 or higher (USCF) would benefit greatly from the course.

Seems like the course price has increased. I checked the site, and they want $39/month, or $397 for the full Grandmaster package (~$33/mo). Anyone else looking into it since almost a year and a half ago?

There is material available on Internet (including chess.com) for free.

ICS's material is for sale as they have put a lot of work in it.

But no more work then you can find all over the internet. The only major difference is how they compiled it. You are basically paying for organization of material rather than the material (that you can get for free) itself.

I don't think this is the case. There are many explanations and ideas found in books that you won't find on the Internet, even if you search hard.