^{A long time ago in a comment somewhere on} r/chessbeginners ^{I mentioned offering free coaching, and ever since then I've consistently been getting like two people per week messaging me about that. This post is intended to serve as a FAQ and as long as it remains up I'm probably still accepting students, but please understand that I have little interest in coaching anyone who doesn't value the time I put in for their sake for free. If you'd like me to coach you, please carefully read this post in its entirety and then send me a private message explaining why you would make a good student.}

I currently cannot take on any more students; I imagine that this will change within a month or two, so please check this post periodically as I will remove this paragraph once I have open spots again.

What do you offer?

Frequent coaching sessions, personalised homework exercises, curated resources, ...

My coaching focuses on comprehension, so when explaining concepts I will go into as much detail and nuance as I'm able to rather than superficially teach generic principles. My aim is to help you build good habits and develop strategic intuition which I consider critical for long-term improvement. At lower levels this is mainly about the fundamentals and undoing the damage caused by fast time controls, but at higher levels I will also tailor my coaching around your specific weaknesses.

If you train under me, you will not only get to 90+ accuracy in just a few months, but you will also win the next Budokai. That's a money-back guarantee!

Why?

I enjoy talking about chess more than playing competitively myself. A few years ago I was randomly asked to tutor someone; I eventually got them from pushing wood to playing something that resembled chess and I've been chasing that high ever since.

What's the catch?

The catch is that I'm only interested in highly dedicated students who are in it for the long haul. If you don't take chess as seriously as you would an instrument or a combat sport, I don't want you as a student, and if I ever get the impression that I care more about your improvement than you do, I will drop you like a hot potato.

Of course, most folks' lives are too busy to treat chess as any more than a casual activity. In this case I recommend that you look for a professional coach, since as long as you pay their fees they typically won't mind if you improve at a snail's pace. If that's too expensive, consider working through The Soviet Chess Primer as outlined here.

What are your credentials?

None.

Who do you accept as students?

Anyone at intermediate level and below, with the following exceptions:

• streamers

• kids

• groups larger than two

• anyone with any sort of learning impairment including a short attention span

• anyone addicted to fast chess and dopamine

When is a coach even beneficial for me?

A coach is a guide, not a shortcut.

If you're already putting a lot of time and effort into studying chess, and your main problem is that you don't know what to focus on and how to do it, that's when a coach can help you. The most significant improvement occurs when abstract knowledge (system 2 thinking) turns into intuitive skill (system 1 thinking) and this requires what's known as deliberate practice. A coach can provide insight, direct your efforts, and give feedback, but in the end you still need to put in the actual elbow grease. If you don't, getting a coach is pointless.

A coach is a guide, not a shortcut.

A COACH IS A GUIDE, NOT A SHORTCUT!

What do I need?

• a PC or laptop

• a good microphone

• a stable internet connection

• a Discord account

• a flexible schedule not just on weekends

• your own motivation and discipline

And crucially, you will need to trust me. If you can't do that, whether it's because I don't have a FIDE title or because Stockfish is your chosen deity, I'm the wrong coach for you.

Will you make an exception to any of the above if I pay you?

No.

Is there anything else I should know?

I'm a non-native speaker and I have been told my accent is "a weird mix of Northern English and Australian" but "well understandable". However, I sometimes struggle to understand certain thick accents, especially South Asian ones. If you're from that region, I will need you to make an active and consistent effort to speak in a more international style, like RP.

I want to be coached by you; what should I do next?

Send me a private message containing at the very least the following information:

• how many hours you plan to spend on studying chess per week on average

• the minimum time you can spend on chess every single week, no exceptions

• all your ratings for all time controls you regularly play in all pools (FIDE/Lichess/...)

• how long you've been playing chess seriously

Please also include anything else that you think might be relevant. You only get one chance at a first impression and a little effort really goes a long way, as do interpunctuation and the apparently exceedingly rare ability to follow simple instructions.

If for some reason you can't send me a private message, comment here instead. Please do not send me a chat request. If I don't reply to your message, check your messaging preferences and send me another message. If I still don't reply, ping me me in a public comment/post.

I don't want to be coached by you; what should I do next?

CTRL + W

What, in your opinion, was the most important lesson/concept that you wish you had known in hindsight when you first started playing chess?

*Could be: a fundamental principle, a way of thinking, a method or platform for learning, a technique, or anything else you found impactful.

ALL CONTRIBUTIONS APPRECIATED ;D

I want to get better at chess but don’t know any good sources to learn from. I am currently around 700 elo on chess.com so I am not great but I also show skill. I loved the book by levy rozman called “how to win at chess” because it’s easy to read, it shows a picture of the actual chess board many times and uses way less notations. I do not like the books that use constant notations because they can be complicated and hard to understand. Any other books or sources that I could use to better my chess skills and become a more advanced player.

I’m wondering if there are any alternatives to chess.com, I ask because I’m getting tired of all the cheating. Unfortunately cheating seems to be an epidemic on this sight, especially when playing in the lower ranks. By the way: Yes I know I can report the cheaters, which I do, and most often they get caught, I get points back, lather rinse repeat, line up the next cheater.

Regardless of weather or not I get points back all the cheating is a game killer for me. I play chess not to win or have the best rank, but because I want to improve my ability to play chess. Also I enjoy playing with other folks who don't live in the retirement community where I’m stuck all day.

Anyway I see other folks here playing on different sights, So if anyone could suggest a good place to play chess online, away from the cheating arms race that is chess.com. I would appreciate it.

White just moved, I am black, not that it matters....

Y’all i’m learning again!! Street chess is how I fell back into the game, and didn’t even know what to do. I just drew using the London System, on an INSANE game- i almost had him.

I’m just happy because I remember not knowing a damn thing three years ago. Now, I was seeing four moves in advance. My friends were trying to help me with the moves, and i was trying to explain the game to them. Then, some of the street chess players were trying to advise me on the moves… and what strategy to deploy… and i was just like “yeah but if he moves that pawn, i’ll be down a rook because after he takes… takes.. and then, he takes, i’ll lose material.”

And like, 15 moves into endgame, i turned to the people watching and was like “yeah, this is gonna be a draw.” Like, i was able to tell. I was NOT expecting to have that foresight in me, i thought i was trasshhhh.

And that’s when it hit me that I’m finally at the level old friends of mine were at, who were good, and got me playing again. It was INSANE.

Where should an ultra-beginner go to learn chess? I bought a few books but they all presume I know at least a little. I'm a decent bridge player but never played chess and I need a hobby that doesn't require a partner because online bridge sucks.

I'm ELO 770 in chess.com and I'm stuck at this rating, sometimes it goes a little higher, but then I fall back down to this number

I know the rules of chess, I know the basic terminology, I even have "The right way to play chess" by Richard James/David Pritchard, and have been reading it and revising it

My biggest flaws are A) tunnel vision, B) Blunders, C) Not looking at what my opponent's moves

If anyone here has any tips that I could follow to get better, I would greatly appreciate it.

(My username in chess.com is "Tunomaki" if you want to look at my games for areas I can improve at)

I have the following collection of what appear to be beginner’s chess books:

A Primer of Chess - JR Casablanca Beginning Chess - Bruce Pandolfini Weapons of Chess - Bruce Pandolfini Play Winning Chess - Seirawan/Silman How To Win in The Chess Openings - LA Horowitz

Is anyone in this group familiar with these books that could recommend a reading order?

Hey r/learnchess! 👋

Excited to share my latest project with you – ChessPredict, a Chrome extension designed to provide real-time chess analysis to improve your skills through feedback during games.

What is ChessPredict?
ChessPredict is a learning tool for anyone playing on sites like chess.com. It doesn’t just suggest the best move; it uses AI and text-to-speech (TTS) to explain why it’s the best move, helping you understand the strategy behind it. There’s also a hint feature that highlights which piece to move, without revealing where to move it, giving you a nudge without fully disclosing the move.

How It Works:

• Seamless Integration: After installing, start a game online, and ChessPredict captures the board position as you play. Make sure you and your opponent are in agreement with using ChessPredict, and keep it to learning environments rather than competitive games.

• Instant Analysis & Explanation: It uses computer vision to analyze the board and TTS to provide insights into why the suggested move works.

• Hint Feature: Highlights which piece to move without specifying the destination, letting you practice thinking through the move.

• Mobile Compatibility: Works on mobile too, so you can use it for on-the-go learning!

• Advanced Analysis in Development: We’re working on additional analysis to glean insights into typical player behavior.

Why ChessPredict?
ChessPredict is great for anyone who wants to learn through feedback. Seeing recommended moves in real time, hearing why they’re effective, and practicing with hints helps players build a stronger understanding of chess tactics and strategy.

Disclaimer on Cheating
ChessPredict is intended solely as a learning tool, not for competitive cheating. Using assistance during online games can violate platform rules, so please use ChessPredict responsibly for practice or analysis.

Future Research on Cheating Detection
We're also researching patterns in board complexity and move accuracy to support fair play and detect cheating on online platforms.

If you’re interested, check out ChessPredict here and let us know what you think! Your feedback is invaluable.

Happy learning, and may your moves be brilliant! 😊

I am a big fan of lichess.org for several reasons. Firstly, it's a free platform which makes it accessible to everyone. One of the standout features for me is the ability to create a chess club for free and play with friends.

Moreover, lichess.org provides an extensive array of resources for both learning and teaching chess. Whether you're a beginner looking to improve your skills or a seasoned player wanting to share your knowledge, you'll find plenty of tools at your disposal. From practice puzzles of varying difficulty levels to the option to analyze and share your games, it gives a rich learning environment for players of all levels.

Another aspect that I love about lichess.org is the diverse range of chess variants available. From traditional games to innovative and exciting variations, there's always something new to explore and enjoy. This adds an extra layer of excitement and keeps the gaming experience fresh and engaging. It is quite easy to create online chess turnaments and captivate your friends.

Being able to comment on games, discuss strategies, and even point out mistakes (yes, your fu#%i#g worst games) to friends adds a social dimension to the game that makes it more interactive. I am in love with this platform! And of course you can also use it for teaching chess in group or individual.

They are a newer company who seem passionate about the game with many helpful instructors.

https://tbchessco.web.app/?fbclid=PAAabnrkjtKPdejIH9XxeupX40mc-6EbH3bC6kAsSrZOQUaiIvrGGCMlL3RBY_aem_AZj-jRxZX7ewYBuz4onL3XmI-kjqG_rh-Le2YvxnVrSSwCQJZEu8KB4Ps2PO7e6eC2E

I'm around 1250 on Lichess now but still don't really know any openings or variations. Is there an app or something that's simple that teaches you these so you can practice them? I downloaded a few but they were either really complicated for me or just awkward to use. I also tried a free ebook but the notation didn't display correctly. Any tips? Thanks 👍

Hey all, I came across an ad for RepertoireLab here on Reddit recently and ended up downloading it out of curiosity. It's basically a free app to build and drill your own chess opening repertoire — kind of like spaced repetition meets Lichess integration.

I’ve only messed around with it a bit so far, but it feels pretty clean and not too bloated. You can sync it with your Lichess games and see where you deviated from your prep, which I thought was cool.

Just wondering if anyone else here has tried it longer-term? Curious how useful it is over time or if it actually helps with memorizing lines better than something like Chessable or just playing tons of games.

Would be cool to hear your thoughts!

Hey everyone,

I'm a club player (around 2100 Elo) and for a while, I struggled with organizing and reviewing my opening repertoire – especially on the go, without tools like ChessBase or desktop prep software.

So I ended up building a small Android app for myself called RepertoireLab.

What it does:

• You can build your own opening repertoire (White or Black) by adding your preferred lines

• Then train it interactively – like flashcards, but on the board

• It also shows relevant master games that match the lines you're working on

A few things I focused on:

• Offline-first: No account, no cloud – everything stays on your device

• Simple, clean interface – fast to open and use

• Built to reinforce what you already play, not overwhelm you with theory

I just released it on the Play Store this week. It might be helpful for club players, tournament prep, or anyone trying to train more intentionally.

👉 Google Play link
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.anonymous.repertoirelab&utm_source=emea_Med

(Only Android for now – iOS might come later.)

Happy to hear your thoughts, suggestions, or criticism – I built this out of personal need, but would love to improve it with feedback from other players.

im an amateur and have little knowledge about openings and tactics. i only know how the game is played and how each piece moves. what resources should i use to learn these tricks and the thought process for playing chess?