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There are summer camps, and then there’s a Chess summer camp where strategy meets sunlight, and minds grow stronger under the open sky. This year, we hosted an unforgettable chess experience in the beautiful town of Subotica, Serbia — a place where history, culture, and nature became the backdrop for deep thinking and joyful learning.

About Subotica – The Pearl of Northern Serbia

Before diving into the details of the camp, let’s take a moment to appreciate our host city — Subotica. Located in northern Serbia, near the Hungarian border, Subotica is known for its stunning Art Nouveau architecture, colorful facades, laid-back atmosphere, and rich multicultural heritage. It’s the perfect setting for a creative and educational adventure.

Our camp embraced that atmosphere completely — calm, focused, and inspiring.

What Is a Chess Summer Camp?

A Chess summer camp is not just about playing chess. It’s about learning to think critically, plan ahead, stay calm under pressure, and build confidence. And when you combine that with fresh air, team spirit, and healthy routines, something truly special happens.

This year, I had the pleasure of organizing and leading the camp alongside International Master Nadj Hedjesi Balind. Together, we worked with an amazing group of young chess players, helping them deepen their understanding of the game and, more importantly, enjoy the journey.

Camp Theme: Strategy in Nature – Chess Under the Sky

The 2025 theme was “Strategy in Nature – Chess Under the Sky.” And we meant it literally. Training sessions, practice games, and deep plan analysis were often held outdoors, in the shade of trees, surrounded by fresh air and peaceful sounds of nature. Our goal was to bring chess out of closed rooms and into the rhythm of nature — and the kids absolutely loved it.

What Children Learned

Strategic Thinking

Understanding not just individual moves, but the larger ideas behind them — how to evaluate positions, create long-term plans, and apply pressure in different phases of the game.

Planning and Game Analysis

Each student learned how to prepare for games and how to reflect on their performance. We taught them how to study their own games, find patterns, and improve their decision-making.

Discipline and Focus

Chess requires patience and consistency. Our training helped kids stay mentally engaged and build better habits of concentration.

Confidence Through Play

Winning and losing are both part of the process. Kids learned to embrace the journey, take responsibility for their decisions, and grow through every result.

Working in Groups

We organized students into smaller groups based on playing strength, ensuring that everyone had the right training partners and guidance at the right level.

Health and Well-Being at the Camp

Balanced Meals

Every day included freshly cooked meals designed to nourish growing minds and bodies.

Fresh Fruits and Natural Snacks

Healthy snacks and fruits were available throughout the day, giving kids sustained energy without processed sugars.

Digital Detox

Phones were used only in limited and supervised time blocks. The rest of the day was for real connection — with people, the game, and the environment.

Time Outdoors

Between sessions, children spent time playing sports, walking in nature, or just relaxing outside. This helped them stay refreshed and motivated.

Activities Outside the Chessboard

We made sure to balance training with fun. Every day included recreational activities — from team sports and board games to social time and creativity-building exercises. These activities built strong friendships and helped kids recharge between serious thinking.

The Result? A Summer to Remember

By the end of the camp, our students didn’t just leave with sharper chess skills — they left with unforgettable memories, new friends, and a renewed love for the game. Parents noticed it too: more focus, more joy, and more curiosity.

Looking Ahead – Chess Summer Camp 2026

Our Chess summer camp in Subotica is becoming a cherished yearly tradition. We’re already preparing for Chess Summer Camp 2026, and applications are now open.

Whether your child is a beginner or an experienced tournament player, our camp offers a supportive, fun, and structured environment to grow.

Apply Now

Spots are limited and fill up quickly each year. If you’d like your child to be part of our next adventure, feel free to get in touch and secure your place early.

Mastering the Queen’s Gambit Accepted: A Bold Opening for Black

The Queen’s Gambit Accepted (1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4) is one of the oldest and most respected defenses in chess. While many players shy away from capturing the c4 pawn, fearing they’ll fall behind in development or give White the center, modern understanding shows that the QGA is a sharp, dynamic, and fully sound response to 1.d4.

By accepting the gambit, Black temporarily gives up central presence — but in return, gains clear development goals, open lines, and counterplay opportunities. Rather than holding onto the extra pawn at all costs, Black aims to return it at the right moment in exchange for rapid piece activity and pressure on the center.

The QGA is especially effective at the club level, where many White players are unfamiliar with its subtleties. With accurate play, Black can equalize quickly — or even seize the initiative early.

Whether you’re a solid positional player or prefer sharp, tactical battles, the Queen’s Gambit Accepted offers rich possibilities and flexible plans that stand the test of time.

1.d4 d5 2.c4 — and the game is on.

Then Go! — you snap off the pawn with …dxc4!

But you’re not clinging to it like a novice.

You’re playing for fast development, seizing central control, and skipping the passive setups.

Here’s the reality: most club players have no idea how to handle the Queen’s Gambit Accepted. By move 15, their position is falling apart — and you’re already writing down “0-1” in your scoresheet.

Serbian FM Aleksa Alimpic has crushed both club-level opponents and titled players with this system. It’s his most reliable weapon with Black — and now it’s yours to master.

No endless memorization. Just 3 key systems that let you take control against 1.d4 — again and again.

What you’ll discover inside:

Aggressive …Bg4 Lines — While most White players expect passive moves like …Be7 or …e6, you hit them with …Bg4. It’s a sharp, proactive idea that instantly shifts the balance. FM Alimpic teaches you how to use it to fight for the initiative right from the start.

Crushing …e4 Breaks — More than just a pawn move, …e4 is your tactical hammer. When timed correctly, it cracks open the center and leads to a powerful isolated queen’s pawn (IQP) structure — full of attacking chances. Learn exactly when to strike.

The Quiet Killer: …Nf5 System — Simple, effective, and deadly. You don’t need to dive into heavy theory like the …b5 lines. This approach puts immediate pressure on White’s position, often catching them completely unprepared.

And yes — you’re also getting 3 awesome BONUSES:

A Model Game Library with 9 instructive wins in the QGA from top-level GMs — so you can see how the ideas work in action.

A Test Yourself Video — 28 minutes of interactive training where FM Alimpic challenges you to recall and apply the lines you’ve learned.

The PGN Vault — all lines, fully annotated and organized for easy study, review, and practice.

Everything you need to dominate with the Queen’s Gambit Accepted — starting today – find here.