This section includes:
Note: Our site published THE INTERNATIONAL DIRECTORY OF CHESS TEACHERS from 1994 until 2005 as a memorial to IM Boris Kogan. Unfortunately Duif's increasing illness and the retirement of several volunteers made it impossible to keep up with the directory portion of the site, so it was discontinued. However, the directory will return at its new home at the Illinois Chess Association in early 2006.
Finding the right teacher can really help your game! Some teachers give lessons in person, by phone, by mail, or even online at FICS or Playchess the Internet Chess Club.
How do you know if a teacher's right for you?
Well, temperament matters a lot: you have to find someone that you respect and can work with. Next, there's a question of specialty: some teachers specialize in tournament preparation, or working with beginners or school-age students. Some specialize in particular lines or styles of play.
Of course finances are also a factor: like tennis or music lessons, chess lessons vary anywhere from $10/hour to over $200/hour! Sometimes you can get a group lesson (often for two or four students), or get a lesson by mail. Some teachers charge a lower fee for lessons given on the Internet because they don't have any travel time. In addition, many clubs sponsor courses of several lessons for larger groups.
Obviously the rating of the teacher makes a difference, but just as in any other subject, teaching is a separate skill, and there are some very good teachers who are rated 2200 - 2400. Beginners can get good lessons from anyone rated 1600 and above, although once you reach 1400 or so yourself you'll probably want to look for a higher-rated teacher.
There are also chess books, magazines, and videos available for students who want to improve on their own. Some websites also offer course material.
You can find local chess teachers through schools, recommendations, local chess clubs, online chess clubs like ICC and Playchess, or sometimes through national organizations like The US Chess Federation. We suggest you check several of these sources. If you are looking for a teacher for yourself, the online servers are probably the fastest, easiest place to start. Many of the online teachers also give in person lessons. If you are looking for a teacher for a child, you might also call your local high schools to see if they have a chess club--the club's advisor or parents of students can often direct you to local teachers or local clubs. Local clubs may keep a list of teachers, or local teachers will advertise there.
You can verify a teacher's rating by checking with the national organization (many have member databases available online). However, remember that rating isn't the only factor to consider. You will want to take into account teaching skills, temperment, and cost as well.
Online lessons don't work for everyone, but can be a wonderful convenience for both teacher and student, and greatly increase the number of teachers available to you. Many times these are combined with a phone lesson, so that the student and teacher are looking at the board online, but talking on the phone. If you are seeking lessons for an adult, or a child who is at least 10 and comfortable with computers, this is an option worth considering.
The excellent FAQ put out by Steve
Pribut for the newsgroup rec.games.chess.misc has a lot of
suggestions for how to set up your own course of study.
CHESS NEWSGROUP FAQ
Coaches: Don't miss Dr. Dave's
fine CHESS COACHING homepage from Exeter, England. On this site, we offer tips for coaches of school clubs, which includes information on starting a new club, distinctions between elementary and high school clubs, suggestions for equipment, and a discussion of working with ADHD kids. In addition, our Tips for Parents page has more ideas about encouraging young chess players and how to play fairly with a child who's just learning.
Also see our Scholastic Chess Page for more scholastic information.
Copyright 1996-2005 J. Duif Calvin, California.
All rights reserved.
Last updated on: October 15, 2005