Bacrot Academy (Alpha Échecs)

What it is

A paid monthly training program designed by GM Étienne Bacrot and distributed through Alpha Échecs. Members receive an opening repertoire tailored to their level, weekly tactical exercises, and monthly masterclasses run by Bacrot himself. French-language-first, with an affiliated Chess.com club for members.

Review

Bacrot Academy sits in a specific slot: a structured training subscription led by a top-tier GM, sold at a monthly subscription price that's closer to a gym membership than to one-off lessons. For a French-speaking adult improver who needs more than a course library but less than private coaching, this is one of the most credible options in Europe.

What members pay for is the program: a phased opening repertoire adapted to the rating band, weekly tactical work with feedback, and monthly live masterclasses where Bacrot explains middlegame plans or endgame techniques. The materials are original — not a repackaged Chessable course.

What members don't get is an active Discord-style community. The Chess.com club is where members play team matches, but the daily chat energy found at Chess Dojo or BlitzStream isn't the model here. For players who want the curriculum without the social layer, that's a feature, not a bug.