Bacrot Academy (Alpha Échecs)

What it is

A paid monthly training program designed by GM Étienne Bacrot and distributed through Alpha Échecs. Members pick one of three rating-banded tracks (Objectif 1600, 1900, or 2200), each with its own opening repertoire and a fixed set of tactical exercises calibrated to the chosen level. The program is anchored by six annual two-hour masterclasses streamed by Bacrot on Twitch / YouTube and replayable later. French-language-first.

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 chosen track (1600, 1900, or 2200), a calibrated tactical set, and six two-hour live masterclasses per year where Bacrot explains middlegame plans or endgame techniques. Sessions are replayable on Twitch and YouTube. The materials are original - not a repackaged Chessable course.

What members don't get is an active Discord-style community. Casual play happens on the Lichess team rather than the Chess.com club (which is currently inactive), and the daily chat energy found at Chess Dojo isn't the model here. For players who want the curriculum without the social layer, that's a feature, not a bug.