Robert Ris has established himself as one of the sharper voices on opening theory. His FritzTrainer courses now span openings, calculation, and strategic thinking, giving players multiple angles to improve their game.
Ris brings real-world perspective to these courses. Rather than just cataloging variations, he explains why players choose certain openings at the elite level and what they're trying to accomplish. His regular ChessBase show tracking opening trends gives his courses credibility. You see what he's talking about on television, then you can dig deeper in the training material.
The opening-focused courses form his main strength. Ris dissects modern practice with the eye of someone who actually studies how top players are adapting to recent theory. He doesn't get lost in 25-move novelties. Instead, he connects position ideas to the openings that produce them.
The calculation and strategic thinking modules extend his teaching method beyond pure opening repertoire building. This matters because opening study means nothing if you can't execute the plans that flow from your chosen system.
Lukas Köpl's review breaks down which courses work best for which type of player. For anyone serious about understanding current opening trends rather than memorizing lines, Ris delivers something valuable. His material speaks to the modern player who wants context alongside preparation.