Skimmed through what the site offers. For what they charge (24.00 USD) a month, I don't see a few things that YOU REALLY should be getting:
- NO Analysis of your own games by stronger players
This is as informative to a coach as a blood test is to your doctor.
- NO Customized lesson plan that caters to your own strengths and 's weaknesses
Something about their teaching method appears to be a unidirectional broadcast of the same drills with maybe some customized responses to your answer. Chess Mentor already does that and offers a whole lot more via chess.com's practice/training features. Would you play 12 x 24.00 to chess.com for drills + customized answers ? I guess not ... but I'm afraid that's pretty much all you are getting.
- NO SOCRATIC interaction
My own coach shows me positions and asks me to evaluate + analyze them vocally. He then rips apart holes in my thinking and shows me where I'm going wrong. He doesn't just tell me stuff and expect 100% absorption ... he asks questions, figures out where the holes in my reasoning are and pushes me to the boundaries of my knowledge ... any good coach will do that (the socratic way of learning by asking questions) for you. Many coaches who are not IM/GMs but perhaps experts or National Masters will charge you a little more per hour (25-40.00) but you get a ton more value for your money's worth.
- REALLY SHADY description of why a real coach is bad
Would you buy a Chevy JUST because they spin you an ad about how a toyota cannot match up to new MPG estimates that the hummer-maker GM suddenly invested in? Nope ... notice how this site lampoons the value of a coach:
TABLE | a teacher | ||
---|---|---|---|
Quantity of Information | LOW | ||
The Quality of Information Responsible for your success |
It varies a lot and it may not be consistent. | ||
Structured Plan of Improvement and Study | It depends, but it is rarely met. | ||
Interaction | High | ||
Shipping/delivery | At his discretion, pace and time | ||
COST | 200 - 300 USD ( a month???) |
||
Money Back guarantee | NO |
So essentially, he waves a magic wand and generalizes coaches as moody over-priced people who don't give you enough both in terms of quantity and quality.
Can you smell the snake oil?
So my two cents is ... be a smart shopper and get a real coach.
I'm thinking of joining up for the program at www.chessmasterschool.com to try and improve my chess I have been out for about 12 yrs or so. Has any body ever joined that program? can anybody tell me anything about the program