The Art of Exchanges is one of those under-the-radar 'super skills' that all the strong players possess, and the rest doesn't quite get. It is perhaps the most important, very underestimated SKILL in chess. Few players, other than IMs and GMs realize how powerful that skill really is. Needless to say, over 95% of club players do not put much thought when it comes to exchanging their pieces or pawns. If the exchange looks "fair" or "equal" why not swap a pair of bishops, trade the knight, or few pawns?

If you are looking to take your positional understanding to the next level, the TCW Academy course on the Outposts is a definite must-take! IM Milovan Ratkovic starts out with the basics and quickly deep dives into the mechanics of the outpost play.

Do you struggle in middlegame/endgame play? Have you ever wished you could convert your advantages more seamlessly in your games? If so, have you considered engaging in the middlegame and minor-piece endgame study? We at TheChessWorld.com want to introduce you to Minor Piece Mastery. This 3-hour course will show you how to recognize good and bad minor pieces, when to trade, and how to convert the advantage in seemingly equal positions!