Stop Guessing. Start Training
With A Chess Master
Get a structured training plan to improve your playing with LIVE Bootcamps, Personalized Feedback, and a National Master coaching you every single month.
LIVE Monthly Bootcamps
Develop a new chess skill every month with daily training videos and hands-on exercises.
Plus join a community of serious players to train with and stay accountable.
Direct Access To Nelson
Ask questions live on the monthly group coaching calls.
Giving you direct access to a National Master personally coaching you for a fraction of the price of private lessons.
Structured Training Plan
No more guessing on what to study or do next.
Just follow a curated, progressive training plan where each month builds on the last and watch your ELO rating climb.
What Is The Fastest Way To Improve Your Playing And Climb The Ratings Ladder?
Should you study tactics? Review an opening? Analyze your last game in Stockfish?
One video says do chess puzzles every day. A Reddit thread says just play more games. Your favorite grandmaster says study the classics…
But no matter what you try, whenever the clock is ticking and it’s your move:
- You keep blundering the same way you’ve done dozens of times
- You miss the tactics you just practiced in your puzzles
- You get lost in the middlegame and start trading pieces
- And you keep losing games you know you should be winning
Leaving you frustrated and confused, wondering why all that time and effort isn’t leading to more wins and a higher ELO rating.
MEET YOUR INSTRUCTOR
Nelson Lopez
National Master • 2400 ELO
30+ Years
Competitive Chess
2400 ELO
National Master
655k+
YouTube Subscribers
6,000+
Students Taught
Here’s Why You’ve Been Stuck In The Same ELO Range For Months (Or Years!)
After 35+ years playing chess, and over two decades teaching thousands of students along the way, here’s where most players go wrong:
It’s not an information problem. It’s the application.
The internet has given us access to more chess education than any time in history.
But there’s a massive difference between having access to information and knowing how to apply it. (Especially when the game is on the line!)
Which is why so many players end up hovering in the same ELO range, jumping between openings, playing random puzzles, and wasting their time without making any real progress.
Stop Studying. Start Training
Training chess is different:
Training chess means taking one specific concept, getting laser focused on exactly what you need to know for your rating level…
And then practicing it with exercises in a diverse set of positions, hammering it home until the moves become automatic.
And just like training in the gym, if you want to really add the jet fuel to your progress…
You need an expert to give you feedback and organize what you’re learning in a structured way.
Which is why, after many months of work, I'm incredibly excited to introduce…
Chess Vibes Academy is my brand new online membership, where you’ll gain access to a new “Bootcamp” every month and direct access to me with LIVE group coaching calls.
This is not another course library where you watch videos and hope something sticks.
Instead, you’ll get a structured training plan where I’ll release daily training videos with hands-on exercises to immediately apply what you learn in your games.
The following week, we do a LIVE Q&A where you can ask me anything.
Didn’t understand a concept? Not sure how to apply it? Bring your questions and I’ll answer them in real time.
There’s also an interactive discussion group where you can engage with other serious players, share your games, get feedback, and hold each other accountable.
Best chess training I went through
“I watch many GM’s and IM’s on youtube and have purchased some of there stuff also.
This by far was the best. I also believe Nelson is the best out of all the creators I watch that just knows how to explain things in a way that makes it easier for someone at a lower level to understand.”
Robert B.
Absolutely Brilliant
“The training is comprehensive and well-structured, allowing a methodical way to learn and improve your chess.
Starting at 1200, I broke through 1500 after two months.
The journey continues, thanks to Nelson! Highly recommended!!”
Chris B.
If you're looking for a miracle, look in the mirror.
“What’s far more valuable than the technical information Nelson provided is the genuine way he speaks to us and makes us love chess. The rest is up to us.
He puts in a lot of effort to compile various chess principles and knowledge, without forgetting the psychological aspect of the game.”
Attila S.
Great instructions for beginners and intermediate players.
“I had a great time following this training, it was very well-structured and I have learned a lot from it.
So far, my rating has gone up about 200 Elo points in the first month, so I would already say it was worth my money!”
Robin S.
Here's How It Works...
- Every month you get a brand new bootcamp focused on a specific area of your game.
- Each video comes with exercises for you to complete and apply in your own games. You're not just watching. You're doing.
- The following week, I go LIVE for a Q&A session where you can ask me anything about the material.
- There's also a live discussion group for each bootcamp where members share their games, post their results, and get feedback from each other in real time.
A single hour of private chess coaching can cost $75 to $150. This is an entire year of structured training, live bootcamps, and direct access to me for less than two coaching sessions.
Here Are Your First 3 LIVE Trainings
BOOTCAMP #1
The #1 reason players stay stuck? Blunders. Not because they’re bad at chess, but because they don’t have a system for checking their moves before they play them.
This bootcamp gives you that system. You’ll build a pre-move checklist that becomes automatic, so you stop giving away pieces for free.
BOOTCAMP #2
You can solve a puzzle in 10 seconds. But can you spot the same pattern in a real game?
This bootcamp trains the 50 most common tactical patterns that actually show up at your rating level. Not obscure Grandmaster combinations, instead learn the top tactics you’ll actually see.
BOOTCAMP #3
Most players get through the opening fine… and then freeze. They have no idea what to do next.
This bootcamp teaches you how to look at any middlegame position and build a plan. Not a memorized sequence of moves. A real, logical plan based on what’s actually happening on the board.
The Ultimate Training Library
When you join the Academy, you also get instant access to my full library of structured chess courses.
With 80+ hours of material covering openings, gambits, tactics, strategy, and more. Courses include:
- Chess Vibes Guide to the Ponziani Opening
- Chess Vibes Guide to the Scandinavian
- How To Play Chess (For Complete Beginners)
- The King's Indian Defense
- Strategic Thinking
- The Time-Savvy Chess Player
- The Tricky O'Kelly Variation
- Winning With White
Every course is designed to sharpen a specific part of your game, so you can go deeper on whatever interests you most.
The CVA Community
Chess improvement doesn’t have to be a solo grind.
Inside the Academy, you’re training alongside other players who are just as serious about getting better as you are.
Share your games and get honest feedback. Ask questions and get real answers.
When you’re stuck, chances are someone else just worked through the same thing and can show you how they cracked it.
You also get a say in what comes next:
Vote on future bootcamp topics so the training stays focused on what the community actually needs.
30 Day Money-Back "ELO Increase" Guarantee
On top of that, I believe in this program so much, I’m also including a no questions asked 30-Day Money-Back “ELO Increase” guarantee.
This gives you a full month to try out the membership, go through the first bootcamp, watch some of the course videos…
And if you don’t see an immediate impact in your games, if you don’t have a new-found confidence and excitement every time you start a new game…
If after 30 days, you don’t see a noticeable improvement in your ELO rating, just shoot my team a message and I’ll send you 100% of your money back!
Just make an honest attempt at applying what you learn in this program, and I will literally guarantee a tangible increase in your ELO rating!
WARNING: Enrollment Closes When The Timer Hits Zero
This is a founding members launch. Once the timer runs out, we’re closing enrollment for at least 3 months to focus on the members inside.
If you want access to the first 3 bootcamps (The Blunder-Proof Protocol, The 50 Tactics You MUST Know, and The Middlegame Masterplan), you need to get in now.
The next enrollment window isn’t until at least July 2026. That’s three more months of figuring it out alone.
So if you’re serious about getting better at chess and want a National Master helping you level up every aspect of your game, join now and become a founding member!
Let's Recap Everything You Get:
Monthly Bootcamps
Develop a new chess skill every month with daily training videos and hands-on exercises.
Each bootcamp focuses on one concept and drills it until the moves become automatic.
Coaching Calls
Monthly group coaching calls with Nelson where you can ask questions, get feedback on your games, and have a National Master personally guiding your improvement.
Course Library
80+ hours of structured courses covering openings, gambits, tactics, strategy, and more.
Instant access when you join.
Community
Chess improvement doesn’t have to be a solo grind.
Inside The Academy you’ll be training alongside other players who are serious about getting better.
Pick Your Plan And Start Training With A Master Today
Monthly
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Monthly LIVE Bootcamps
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LIVE Q&A with Nelson
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Full course library (80+ hours)
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Cancel anytime
ANNUAL
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Everything in Monthly
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Best value for serious players
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Save $132/year vs. monthly
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Cancel anytime
LIFETIME ACCESS
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Everything in Monthly, forever
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Every future bootcamp included
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Every future course included
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One payment, never pay again
GOT QUESTIONS?
Frequently Asked Questions
The Chess Vibes Academy is specifically designed for busy adults. Each bootcamp video can be completed in a focused 20-30 minute session. The exercises each day will take another 20-30 minutes.
This membership is for ANY chess player who is serious about improving:
If you’re a beginner (under 600): This is the perfect place to start. You’ll build a rock-solid foundation of strategy and thinking that most new players completely miss, letting you skip months of painful trial-and-error.
If you’re in the 600-1600 range: This is your roadmap. The entire membership is built around breaking through the plateaus that trap 90% of players in this range. We’ll find the specific things holding you back and fix them.
If you’re an advanced player (1600+): You know that one small, recurring mistake can cost you a game. I’ve included tips and tricks for high rated players as well to help you spot the tactical blind spots and bad habits you don’t even know you have.
The bottom line is, if you want to understand the why behind what is holding you back and how to fix it for good, you’re in the right place.
My YouTube videos teach you individual concepts. The Academy turns those concepts into a structured training system with exercises, monthly bootcamps, and most importantly, direct access to me.
You can ask questions, get feedback on your games, and have a National Master personally guiding your improvement.
My YouTube channel shows you what to learn. The Academy shows you how to train it, and gives you a coach making sure you’re applying what you learn.
Breaking 1500 is a standalone, intensive course specifically designed to help players target that milestone. The Academy is an ongoing training system with new bootcamps every month, live Q&A sessions, a community, and a growing course library. Many players do both.
Most chess courses give you information and leave you on your own to figure out how to use it. You watch the videos, you understand the concepts, but nothing changes in your actual games. That’s because information without application doesn’t work.
The Academy is built around training, not just teaching. Every bootcamp comes with exercises you apply to real games, live Q&A where I answer your specific questions, and a structure that makes sure you’re actually practicing what you learned.
On top of that, most chess courses are built by Grandmasters who haven’t been 1000 Elo since they were six years old. They teach theory designed for 2000+ rated players and sell it to beginners. Everything inside the Academy is built specifically for the 800-1500 range, focusing on the patterns and habits that actually show up in YOUR games.
The bootcamp videos are released daily and you can watch them whenever it’s convenient for you. The LIVE Q&A sessions will take place the following Thursday, but if you can’t attend live, your questions can be submitted in advance and every session is recorded and added to the members area.
As long as your membership is active, you have full access to everything: all courses, all bootcamp recordings, the community, and all live sessions. Monthly members have access month-to-month. Annual members have a full year of access.
Nope! You can cancel your membership at any time, for any reason. If you cancel before the end of the billing period, you’ll retain access until that period is over.
If you’re interested in joining The Chess Vibes Academy, then you MUST join during this special “Founding Members” launch.
After the timer hits 00:00:00, I’m planning to close down access for a few months to focus on the members who join. I do plan to re-open The Academy in the future, but it will be at least 3 months from now after we go through the first set of LIVE Bootcamps.
So if you want to participate in the first 3 trainings: The Blunder-Proof Protocol, The 50 Tactics You MUST Know, and The Middlegame Masterplan. now is the time to join.
Of course! If for any reason you’re not completely satisfied, I’ll issue a full refund.
Just shoot my team an email and we’ll send you a prompt and courteous refund. And you can cancel at any time, so you really have nothing to lose.
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