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 on games five and six

12/2/2024 – Going to the second free day, the match for the FIDE World Championship 2024, between the World Champion Ding Liren and the Challenger D. Gukesh, is tied on 3-3 after six games. Ding seems to be in charge by now, as he has lost a number of opportunities to gain a one or two points lead already! International chess trainer GM Efstratios Grivas provides his take on games five and six.

World Championship games 1-4

11/29/2024 – It is an exciting World Championship. Whereas previous matches had started with five, six and even twelve draws, Ding vs Gukesh had two decisive games – and two tense draws – in the first four. We have provided full live commentary, and a good deal of post-game analysis. Up for some more? Here are all three games with comments from a leading chess trainer. There is a lot to learn from his view of things.
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Learning the Shirov Killer

11/22/2024 – There are tactical motifs which are continuously repeated and can be learned exactly like we learn opening theory. I feel that the correct approach is to collect thematic, nearly identical positions which are involved on similar patterns which you should look for. In this survey I will present an often met tactical motif I call the "Shirov Killer." It was wonderfully demonstrated by legendary GM Alexei Shirov in an Internet blitz game.
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ECU Trainers and Coaches

11/21/2024 – The European Chess Union (ECU) is an independent association for the interests of European chess. It is an affiliated organisation to FIDE, the oldest and strongest continental chess power, founded in 1985. The ECU Trainers Commission (ETC) is the youngest body, founded in late 2022, with its main mission to support the training programs and development in European chess. Here are the regulations and details of the courses for chess coaches.
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ECU Trainers and Coaches

11/14/2024 – The European Chess Union (ECU) is an independent association for the interests of European chess. It is an affiliated organisation to FIDE, the oldest and strongest continental chess power, founded in 1985. The ECU Trainers Commission (ETC) is the youngest body, founded in late 2022, with its main mission to support the training programs and development in European chess. Here are the regulations and details of the courses for chess coaches.

Fischer vs. Greece – clock simul 1968

10/30/2024 – In 1968 the Greek Chess Federation, which had organised multiple Olympiads and Zonal tournaments, invited the 25-year-old American grandmaster to play a clock simultaneous exhibition match against five strong Greek players. The historical games played in Athens have been recorded and carefully annotated by Greek grandmaster and trainer Efstratios Grivas.
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Grivas on rook endings, connected pawns (2)

10/21/2024 – In rook endings, the privilege of having connected passed pawns can easily make the difference. But even in this case there are many hidden resources. After our first lesson a few days ago, today we are going to study a key manoeuvre you have to know if you want to survive against two connected pawns (as in this diagram). We also bring you some historical examples to help you understand the technique. Learn and enjoy.
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Grivas on rook endings, connected pawns

10/14/2024 – In rook endings the privilege of having connected passed pawns can easily make the difference. But even in this case there are many hidden resources. Of course generalisations are not always helpful – still, here is some advice by world-class trainer Efstratios Grivas to help you master this endgame. Study his instructions and count the rating points you gain.
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Grivas on the Chess Olympiad 2024 (2)

10/2/2024 – The Chess Olympiad 2024 in Budapest saw a lot of interesting games, many truely spectacular, and often quite instructive, especially for budding chess masters. Of the total of nearly 8,000 games, here are six treats, selected and annotated by international trainer Eftratios Grivas. Play through them and learn.
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Grivas on the Chess Olympiad 2024 (1)

9/30/2024 – The Chess Olympiad 2024 was held in beautiful Budapest, Hungary, 10 to 23 September 2024. It was the 45th edition for the Open Section and the 30th for the Women Section. As it is natural, a lot of interesting games were played, out of a total of nearly 8,000 games! Here are some treats, selected and annotated by international trainer Eftratios Grivas.
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Petrosian – Learning from the Master

8/14/2024 – Tigran Petrosian was a very conservative player. On the other hand he could see tactics and combinations far in advance, so he went about countering them before even his opponents smell anything! Chess trainer GM Efstratios Grivas has always told his students to study the games of the former World Champion and try to understand what he had seen and why he chose his moves. Here is part two of his lesson.

Krum Ivanov Georgiev, 1958-2024

8/2/2024 – Grandmaster Krum Ivanov Georgiev was born in Pazardzhik (Bulgaria), May 24th, 1958 and passed away in Sofia (Bulgaria), July 31st 2024, after a short illness, at the age of 66. GM Kiril Georgiev wrote: >"Today is a sad day for Bulgarian chess! We lost Grandmaster Krum Georgiev. He was best known for beating the future FIDE World Champion Garry Kasparov in a wild game in the Malta Olympiad, 1980." You can enjoy the annotated game that spread around the globe.
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Petrosian – Learning from the Master

7/8/2024 – Tigran Petrosian was a very conservative player. On the other hand he could see tactics and combinations far in advance, so he went about countering them before even his opponents smell anything! Chess trainer GM Efstratios Grivas has always told his students to study the games of the former World Champion and try to understand what he had seen and why he chose his moves. You too can learn from the great master.

Crime and Punishment

7/1/2024 – Despite the significant advances made in defensive technique over the years, the phenomenon of the unprotected king is still quite common, as it is met in a high number of games. By this we mean a king that has come under enemy fire that is not readily repulsed. Top chess trainer GM Efstratios Grivas gives us a comprehensive lesson in attacking the uncastled king.
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Gathering Piece Force

6/24/2024 – To conduct a successful attack on any part of the board, you need pieces. You need to gather as much power force as possible and force your opponent to kneel down under the unbearable pressure. In more simple words, if the ratio of your attacking pieces surpass the ratio of your enemy’s defensive pieces, then you are in the right track! Even if you cannot see directly a decisive blow, you must be assured that sooner or later the opportunity will come in sight… Let international chess trainer Efstratios Grivas explain the concept with a game he played thirty years ago.
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The Distant Opposition

6/4/2024 – The position shown is taken from a game in the current Dubai Open. White has just captured on d7 with his king, and is playing to win. Black has seven move, all with his king. Only one allows him to hold a draw. Can you tell where the black king must go? Let international trainer Efstratios Grivas explain it all to you and help you understand exactly how this kind of endgame works. You can also register for the interactive training program of the Grivas Chess International Academy, starting June 2024.

Wild Times in Sharjah

5/20/2024 – In any sport, the win can be the result of a mistake, and a player's exploitation of it! The time has come to cut out the funny business, quit over-thinking, and go mate your opponent. There's no better way to claim a quick victory than an efficient, well-executed attack. But then you need to have a sharp tactical eye and a will to go all-in! In the Sharjah Masters two wild games drew the attention of the public. Analysis by Efstratios Grivas.
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Grivas on Underdog Crushes!

5/17/2024 – It is a great way to study chess: follow the notes of a world-class coach, analysing an exciting game from a running event, click on the notation to get a special replayer, where you can start an engine that will assist you in your own analysis, and study the strategy that brought about the final result. Here's an example by GM Efstratios Grivas analysing a stunning upset that occurred in the 7th Sharjah Masters, after a top seed player misjudged his opponent’s attack.
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