Efstratios Grivas

Efstratios Grivas (30.03.1966) is a highly experienced chess trainer and chess author. He has been awarded by the International Chess Federation (FIDE) the titles of International Chess Grandmaster, FIDE Senior Trainer, International Chess Arbiter and International Chess Organiser.

His main successes over the board are the Silver Medal Olympiad 1998 (3rd Board), the Gold Medal European Team Championship 1989 (3rd Board) and the 4th Position World Junior Championship U.20 1985. He has also won 5 Balkan Medals (2 Gold - 1 Silver - 2 Bronze) and he was 3 times Winner of the International ‘Acropolis’ Tournament. He has also in his credit the 28 times first position in Greek Individual & Team Championships and he has won various international tournaments as well. He was also been awarded six FIDE Medals in the Annual FIDE Awards (Winner of the FIDE Boleslavsky Medal 2009 & 2015 (best author) - Winner of the FIDE Euwe Medal 2011 & 2012 & 2017 (best junior trainer) - Winner of the FIDE Razuvaev Medal 2014 (Trainers’ education) and has been a professional Lecturer at FIDE Seminars for Training & Certifying Trainers. He has published a large number of Books & DVDs in Arabic, English, Greek, Italian, Spanish & Turkish languages. Since 2009 he is the Secretary of the FIDE Trainers’ Commission and since 2012 the Director of the FIDE Grivas Chess International Academy (Athens).

Recent news

Grivas: Endgames in Baku – (1)

8/25/2023 – The World Cup in Baku produced some exciting games and surprising results. But also a number of remarkable engames which it is well to study. What better way than to receive the assistance of a great trainer who shows us were some of the players went wrong, and what was needed to get a positive result. Learn more about the endgame from the instructive commentary provided to us by grandmaster Efstratios Grivas. Enjoy and learn.
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Grivas: Masterpiece by Magnus

7/13/2023 – In the SuperUnited Rapid & Blitz Croatia we saw a true masterpiece by Magnus Carlsen. The former World Champion played super accurate moves, while his Polish opponent showed poor understanding and a lack of knowledge of classical games of the Catalan. Learn more about this opening and the strategy behind it from chess trainer GM Efstratios Grivas.
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Grivas World Championship wrap-up

5/2/2023 – The final phase of the Astana World Championship brought us unparalleled drama. You saw Ding pull it off with tenacious defence in game 14, and then continue with extraordinary defensive skills in the first three playoff game. In the fourth game the Chinese GM took a very brave decision in the ending, to reject a draw and play for a win – a decision that paid off handsomely. Once again we have deep, instructive commentary for you to study, kindly provided to us by grandmaster Efstratios Grivas. We include pictures and the closing ceremony video.

Grivas on Nepo-Ding 12-13

4/28/2023 – The last free day of the Astana World Championship: time to take another look at the two previous games. Once again we have deep, instructive commentary for you to study, kindly provided to us by grandmaster Efstratios Grivas, trainer and FIDE international organizer. Our replay app makes it very easy to follow the annotations. You can even start an engine to work out the most subtle questions you might have.

Grivas on Nepo-Ding 10-11

4/25/2023 – Three games left, and Ding Liren is trailing Ian Nepomniachtchi 5:6. Will the top Chinese be able to catch his Russian opponent? The second-last free day of the Astana World Championship is a good time to take another look at the last two games. Once again we have deep, instructive analyses for you to study, kindly provided to us by grandmaster Efstratios Grivas, trainer and FIDE international organizer. Our replay app makes it very easy to follow the annotations. You can even start an engine to work out the most subtle questions you might have. | Photo: FIDE / Stev Bonhage

Grivas on Nepo-Ding 7-9

4/22/2023 – A free day at the Astana World Championship – a good time to take another look at the last three games. Once again we have deep, instructive analyses for you to study, kindly provided to us by grandmaster Efstratios Grivas, trainer and FIDE international organizer. Our replay app makes it very easy to follow the annotations. You can even start an engine to work out the most subtle questions you might have. | Photo: FIDE / Stev Bonhage
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My notes on Nepo-Ding

4/17/2023 – Today is a free day at the Astana World Championship. Nothing to see, no move coming over in real time. But: we have a special treat for you! Grandmaster Efstratios Grivas, trainer and FIDE international organizer, has sent us some deeply annotated games, actually the last three decisive encounters. Go through them on our replay app, learn and enjoy.
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GM tutorial: learn to play the Ruy Lopez

6/28/2018 – GM EFSTRATIOS GRIVAS is a world renown trainer. He tells you what the strategic goals of the main line of the Ruy Lopez are, and the way you can continue in tournament play. After reading a few paragraphs about this very popular opening, you can try it out for yourself, right there in your browser, against an engine that matches the playing strength of your potential opponents. You can play any number of games and test different ideas. Have fun!

Grivas teaches: Rook vs Bishop (3)

9/18/2017 – The FIDE World Cup in Tbilisi is turning into a master class for the endgame rook vs bishop: Last week French GM Maxime Vachier Lagrave held a theoretically lost tiebreak game against Russian GM Alexander Grischuk and thus qualified for the next round. Where did Grischuk go wrong and how could he have won? World-class trainer Efstratios Grivas show you how — and gives you the chance to win rating points in the process.

Grivas teaches: Rook vs Bishop (2)

9/17/2017 – In his previous instalment GM Efstratios Grivas showed us, systematically, how to win rook vs bishop with three paws each on the same side. In Round 4 of the FIDE World Cup, the endgame rook vs bishop occurred again, this time with a pawn each on the same side. The experienced Armenian Levon Aronian, currently number two in the world, decisively defeated the young Russian Daniil Dubov. Grivas tells us exactly how.

Grivas teaches: Rook vs Bishop (1)

9/15/2017 – Like to earn some extra rating points? Or progress one more round in the World Cup? Last Friday in Tbilisi the young Hungarian GM Richard rapport drew our admiration by flawlessly winning a difficult endgame against Chinese GM Wei Yi. We reported on that fateful game, and now thankfully a top international chess trainer provides systematic instruction on how to play the rook vs bishop ending. First installment from Efstratios Grivas: Modern Endgame Manual.
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