Our coaching is open to students of all levels and ages — complete beginners are welcome. Some familiarity with the basic rules is helpful but not required. Players from absolute beginner up to around 2100 US Chess rating can benefit from our training. We work best with motivated students who are willing to put in consistent effort between lessons.
Our 12 concepts were developed through years of personal tournament experience, training, analysis, and studying high-level chess. Together, they form a structured framework that covers all major areas of improvement. Some concepts are tactical, some are strategic, but the majority focus on mindset and practical decision-making. We believe building a strong foundation in these areas is critical for long-term chess improvement.
Lessons are typically conducted online via Microsoft Teams, using voice or video calls depending on your preference. We use the Lichess Study feature, which creates a live, interactive chessboard where we can analyze games, solve puzzles, and move pieces together in real time. All materials are saved directly to your study, so you can review them at any time. If you are located in the greater Seattle area and prefer in-person lessons, please inquire about making an arrangement.
Most students take one-hour lessons weekly or every other week. Lessons typically involve reviewing the students' recent games and incorporating model master games and exercises to reinforce concepts and identify recurring weaknesses. At the end of each lesson, students receive an email summary of the session along with assigned homework and feedback.
We strongly encourage students to regularly play longer time-control games online and participate in over-the-board tournaments whenever possible. Playing serious games and analyzing with the coach are essential parts of the improvement process. Students are also assigned puzzles to solve, model games to review, and book recommendations tailored to their currently weaker areas. We maintain a large database of instructive exercises for each concept. Homework is reviewed the following lesson to ensure students fully understand the exercises.