Tactical Thursday – Structured Calculation – Master the Ply Theory + PGN GM Davorin Kuljasevic January 23, 2025

We are delighted to announce that the December edition of Tactical Thursday by GM Davorin Kuljasevic is now available as a digital product. In this insightful series, GM Kuljasevic continues to delve into his groundbreaking Ply Theory, providing a structured approach to calculation that combines clarity, logic, and precision.

What’s Inside?

In December, Tactical Thursday explored two crucial aspects of structured calculation: Candidate Moves and Prophylactic Thinking (Awareness of the Opponent). Through four in-depth lectures, GM Kuljasevic offers practical advice and systematic methods to enhance your calculation skills.

1st Thursday – Focus on Candidate Moves

The first two lectures examine the importance of listing candidate moves at the 1-ply step (your move). As GM Kuljasevic emphasizes:

“The best practice is to list relevant candidates at 1-ply before you start calculating anything deeper. This habit will give you a wider overview of the possibilities in the position and allow you to uncover resources you would not have looked at with a more superficial ‘one candidate move’ approach.”

Key takeaways from these lectures include:

• Prioritizing forcing moves (checks, mate threats, captures, threats) over neutral or defensive options.
• Developing a systematic habit of considering multiple logical candidates, even under time pressure.
• How evaluating checks and forcing moves first can lead to sharper, more accurate calculations.

2nd Thursday – Awareness of the Opponent

The second two lectures introduce the 2-ply step, focusing on anticipating your opponent’s best replies. GM Kuljasevic highlights:

“The best question to ask while calculating is: ‘What is the opponent’s best reply (2-ply) to my move (1-ply)?’ This step is just as essential as 0-ply and 1-ply because your opponent’s best reply is the measure of your move’s strength.”

Key concepts include:

• Skeptical Thinking: Actively look for your opponent’s resources and test the strength of your moves.
• Avoiding wishful thinking, which often leads to blunders.
• Building awareness and anticipation of your opponent’s plans to prevent calculation errors.

What You’ll Get

✅ 4 Lectures (6h total video running time)
✅ PGN Files: All examples and concepts discussed in the lectures.
✅ 20 Test Positions: Practical exercises to reinforce your understanding of structured calculation.

What is the Concept Behind Tactical Thursday?

Tactical Thursday is a key component of Modern Chess Academy, offering monthly tactical training designed to improve your dynamic play and calculation skills. Academy members with an active subscription for December 2024, as well as camp participants, already have free access to this product.

Even if you’re not part of the Academy, this standalone product provides a treasure trove of tools to refine your calculation skills.

Learn, practice, and master structured calculation with GM Davorin Kuljasevic’s Ply Theory. This is your opportunity to elevate your tactical vision and minimize blunders in critical positions.