Hello everyone. I am a fairly new chess player: I have been playing for three years, USCF-rated tournament chess for two, and reasonably well for one. I am not yet a highly-rated player, but with every tournament I become much stronger and am developing a good work ethic in terms of studying chess and becoming a competitive chess player. I would like to play professionally, but there are two problems which come to mind. First and foremost, I may need a trainer, and my knowledge of chess resources is limited. I have read an online version of "The Middlegame" and I have a copy of "My System", but that's just about it, and I know next to nothing about chess software. Secondly, I am wondering about the possibility of sponsorship. If anyone has had a coach, or knows a lot about studying chess, or has any information of that sort to share, I would appreciate your comments concerning those topics or any you feel could be useful to an aspiring player such as me. I am also interested to hear what people have to say about being sponsored--is there such a thing as chess sponsorship, if so, how does one come to be sponsored? Please reply, one and all!

Oh, I was unaware that the setting was on Chess Openings. Perhaps it's accidentally symbolic? =P I wonder if I can change that... Well thank you, I will try to explore what you've mentioned. And no, Gambitking, you haven't steered me wrong, I adore the insane openings and they serve me well, and I am not without solid style because of it ;D.

So I am guessing, ajedrecito, that you think that chess sponsorship is inadequate, since you say that it is limited. Do you think it would be worth pursuing despite its limitations? And does it exist more in some geographic regions or is it more or less random, where it might be found?

Thank you, I will look into finding those free books. I already have read "The Middlegame" online.