If you have $0, free content is fine. If you have $200 and genuinely want to reach 2000 ELO, Smirnov’s courses are a steal compared to coaching ($50/hr).
These courses are part of his foundational system, often sold as a "Super Pack" or in bundles: The Grandmaster's Secrets : Explains the universal system of thinking used by GMs Remote Chess Academy The Grandmaster's Positional Understanding
Let us answer the search query directly:
Free vs. paid access The phrase includes “free,” implying all nine courses are available at no cost. In reality, many comprehensive chess courses—especially structured multi-course programs—are commercial products. Some educators provide free samples, introductory lessons, or selected exercises, while full curricula typically cost money. Free alternatives exist (YouTube lessons, blogs, open-source courses, lichess studies, and community coaches), but they vary in coherence and pedagogical design.