Chess University (Kostya Kavutskiy) review: scores and evidence
Chess University LLC (Spokane, WA), led by Kairav Joshi; IM Kostya Kavutskiy is its "Video Author". 28 video products sold individually on Shopify, sorted by rating band (0-899 to 1750-1999), plus live classes and private lessons at $150/h; no software features (analysis, puzzles, repertoire), and sales are non-refundable.
Read on August 30, 2026 from the service’s public pages — every score cites the page read.
Overall score
2.0/ 10
Rank
94/ 128
Languages
1
Listed price
€138 (Mega Bundle 2025 at $150 = one-off purchase of every course; individual courses $9-85; no subscription; $1 ≈ €0.92)
What the service is
Chess University is a video-course store run by Chess University LLC, a company based in Spokane, Washington (United States) according to its privacy policy (chessuniversity.com/policies/privacy-policy), and led by Kairav Joshi, President and CEO. The "About" page states that the organisation was originally known as Chess.com University and that Kairav Joshi kept building it under this name from 2016 onward; no earlier founding date is published. The store, hosted on Shopify with a student portal on Teachable, sells 28 video products individually, sorted by rating band (Novice 0-899 up to Very Advanced 1750-1999) and authored notably by IM Kostya Kavutskiy, IM Nazi Paikidze and FMs Dalton Perrine, Arne Jochens and Elliott Liu. It also offers live classes and private lessons with Kairav Joshi at $150 per hour. The model is one-off purchase: courses from $9 to $85, a few free titles, and a "Mega Bundle 2025" at $150 covering every course; there is no subscription, and sales are non-refundable (chessuniversity.com/policies/refund-policy). The service includes no software tooling at all: no game import, no engine analysis, no puzzles, no repertoire; it is available in English only.
Activity history
- 2025-11On 22 November 2025, the site announces that Kairav Joshi has filed a lawsuit against Chess.com, LLC (breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, unjust enrichment); courses and lessons continue while the case proceeds.
- 2025The "Mega Bundle 2025" goes on sale at $150, bundling every course, featured on the homepage with a "Last chance" banner.
- 2023-02Privacy policy updated on 20 February 2023 in the name of Chess University LLC, 100 N Howard St, Spokane, WA.
- 2023-01"Some Recommendations" post of 26 January 2023 on the news blog: public-domain chess books available as free downloads.
- 2016According to the "About" page, Kairav Joshi, then President of Chess.com University, continues from 2016 to build the organisation under the Chess University name.
The scores, evidence by evidence
Every score points to the page read and the fact found there. A fact documented nowhere is not credited: document it, then write to us.
APersonalized diagnosis
0.0A1 :0Importing your games (Chess.com, Lichess, PGN files)
No import on https://chessuniversity.com.
A2 :0Automatic engine analysis of every game
No engine analysis on https://chessuniversity.com.
A3 :0Recurring mistakes identified across all your games
https://chessuniversity.com: no aggregation
A4 :0Types of mistakes covered (tactics, strategy, endgame, time…)
https://chessuniversity.com: no typology
A5 :0Written explanation of each mistake
https://chessuniversity.com: no automatic explanation
A6 :0Stated verification of the diagnoses (procedure, rates)
No mention on https://chessuniversity.com.
A7 :0Tracking each weakness over time
No history on https://chessuniversity.com.
A8 :0Comparison with players of the same rating
No comparison on https://chessuniversity.com.
BOpenings
2.8B1 :1Building a personal repertoire
https://chessuniversity.com/collections/all: fixed opening courses ("Opening Tactics For 1.e4 Players").
B2 :1Training the repertoire (drills, games)
https://chessuniversity.com: passive video replay.
B3 :0Spotting where you left your repertoire in your games
No deviation detection on https://chessuniversity.com.
B4 :1Verification of the lines taught (engine, practice)
https://chessuniversity.com/collections/all: titled authors (IM/FM) with no announced engine check.
B5 :0Opening explorer and statistics
No explorer on https://chessuniversity.com.
B6 :2Explanation of opening plans and ideas
https://chessuniversity.com/collections/all: plans explained on video; traps/model games not demonstrated.
CTargeted training
1.5C1 :0Exercises drawn from your own games
No exercises from the player’s own games on https://chessuniversity.com.
C2 :0Bank of tactical exercises (size, themes, rating)
No tactics bank on https://chessuniversity.com/collections/all.
C3 :1Endgame training
https://chessuniversity.com/collections/all: video courses including endgames, no interactive module.
C4 :1Strategic and positional training
https://chessuniversity.com/collections/all: "Chess Simplified: Master Fundamentals of Positional Play" on video, without exercises
C5 :0Training defense and alertness
https://chessuniversity.com: no defensive exercises
C6 :0Training calculation and visualization
No visualisation exercises on https://chessuniversity.com.
C7 :1Difficulty matched to your real level
https://chessuniversity.com/collections/all: courses labelled by ELO band (levels chosen by the player).
C8 :0Spaced repetition (named algorithm)
https://chessuniversity.com: no spaced repetition
C9 :1Personalized training plan
https://chessuniversity.com/collections/all: products sorted Novice → Very Advanced (advice by level)
DPrice and value
3.3D1 :1What the free plan actually lets you do
https://chessuniversity.com/collections/all: a few courses at $0; the rest paid.
D2 :1Annual price of the full plan
https://chessuniversity.com: Mega Bundle $150 ≈ EUR 138 one-off (EUR 76-150).
D3 :1Commercial transparency (price shown, trial, cancellation)
https://chessuniversity.com/policies/refund-policy: "all purchases are nonrefundable"; prices displayed.
D4 :1Number of paid tiers (how simple the offer is)
https://chessuniversity.com/collections/all: 28 products at separate prices ($9-150); no subscription
EEvidence and transparency
1.7E1 :1Published evidence of effectiveness
https://chessuniversity.com/pages/about-chess-university: "youngest chess master in American history" (testimonial without method).
E2 :0Chess verification of the content (positions, lines)
No verification information on https://chessuniversity.com.
E3 :0Transparency of the method (algorithms, code)
No method described on https://chessuniversity.com.
E4 :1Marketing claims that can be checked (no overselling)
https://chessuniversity.com/pages/about-chess-university: "Taught over 50,000 students live online" (unverifiable).
FContent and method
5.3F1 :2Courses organized by rating level
https://chessuniversity.com/collections/all: "Novice (0-899)" to "Very Advanced (1750-1999)"; the path does not reach 2000 → 2.
F2 :3Course authors named and titled
https://chessuniversity.com/collections/all: IM Kostya Kavutskiy, IM Nazi Paikidze, FM Dalton Perrine, FM Arne Jochens, FM Elliott Liu.
F3 :1Content formats (text, video, interactive)
https://chessuniversity.com/collections/all: video only (PGN/exercise formats not mentioned).
F4 :1Published method of progression
https://chessuniversity.com/pages/about-chess-university: "Prodigy Program" mentioned; no curriculum with milestones published.
F5 :1How often the content is updated
https://chessuniversity.com: "Mega Bundle 2025", copyright 2026; no recent publication date visible.
GPlaying and practice
0.0G1 :0Playing humans online (pool, anti-cheating)
No play on https://chessuniversity.com.
G2 :0Realistic artificial opponents
No artificial opponent on https://chessuniversity.com.
G3 :0Replaying one specific position against the machine
No practice on https://chessuniversity.com.
G4 :0Tournaments and organized competition
No tournaments on https://chessuniversity.com.
HExperience and accessibility
1.3H1 :1Platforms available (web, iOS, Android, desktop)
https://chessuniversity.com: web "Student Portal Login"; no app.
H2 :0User ratings and reviews (stores, press)
No store listing; no third-party reviews on https://chessuniversity.com.
H3 :0Interface languages available
a single language observed — https://chessuniversity.com: English only.
H4 :0Accessibility (keyboard, screen reader)
No accessibility mention on https://chessuniversity.com.
H5 :1Offline use and known incidents
https://chessuniversity.com: Shopify store; no incident reported.
IPreparation and study
0.0I1 :0Preparing for a named opponent
https://chessuniversity.com: video courses; no opponent preparation
I2 :0Annotating and sharing games (studies)
https://chessuniversity.com: no annotation tool
I3 :0Entering a game played at a club (photo, scoresheet)
https://chessuniversity.com: no game entry
I4 :0Searching your games (filters, position)
https://chessuniversity.com: none of the player’s games stored
JHuman coaching and community
5.8J1 :3Access to human coaches
https://chessuniversity.com/collections/all: "1 Hour Private Chess Lesson With Kairav Joshi" $150 + "Live Classes"; named titled instructors.
J2 :1Size and activity of the community
https://chessuniversity.com/pages/about-chess-university: "over 100,000 chess learners"; no forum/Discord and no visible activity.
J3 :0Tools for trainers, clubs and schools
No coach space on https://chessuniversity.com.
J4 :3Engagement mechanics (streaks, virtual currency, reminders)
https://chessuniversity.com: no leaderboard or streak (store).
KPersonal data and interoperability
2.2K1 :1Exporting your data (games, repertoire)
https://chessuniversity.com/policies/privacy-policy: access/erasure "please contact us".
K2 :1Protection of personal data (GDPR, hosting)
https://chessuniversity.com/policies/privacy-policy: Shopify, Facebook Pixel, Google Analytics; transfer to Canada/United States.
K3 :0Public API and source code
No PGN/API on https://chessuniversity.com.
Also, outside the grid
Features found that no criterion measures. They do not count towards the score.
- Prodigy Program for young players
- Gift cards
Sources consulted
- https://chessuniversity.com
- https://chessuniversity.com/pages/about-chess-university
- https://chessuniversity.com/policies/privacy-policy
- https://chessuniversity.com/policies/terms-of-service
- https://chessuniversity.com/policies/refund-policy
- https://chessuniversity.com/collections/all
- https://chessuniversity.com/blogs/chess-news/kairav-joshi-sues-chess-com
- https://chessuniversity.com/blogs/chess-news
Services with a similar profile
The three services whose category profile is closest — a distance over the eleven scores, computed, never chosen.