Alright chess.com community I have a request for a few brave souls. I would like a few of our higher rated players to help me start a new group. I want to make it a mentor type of group, You would be asked to take 1-2 players under your wing. And then set up a mentoring schedule you both be comfortable with. I think this is a good idea simply because, at least for me, I can't afford a formal coach. Plus I think for some people, myself included a coach is intimidating. This group wou;d be operated free of charge on all levels. And please only inquire if you are serious, I would like ideas on how to set it up. Formats,forums, puzzles, etc. I hope this idea gets some support, because I think that there are some of us who would like the interaction of a mentor more than a coach. Some training under a less formal umbrella, where no question or thought is beneath answering. Thanks in advance for any assistance.

This sounds like a fantastic idea - hope it will take off!

Thanks for proposing it,

Andrea

I would be happy to help! Though I must say that my play today has been a bit shaky. Let me know what you need

marcus

Thats a very cool idea!  What would u call this group exactly?

I've had some players kindly offer to do this for me and it's been great, so I highly recommend this. Remember any standard of player can help a worse player.

I'm game - I need a good mentor...and would be happy to share my knowledge with anyone who wants to learn how to hang pieces, convert a winning position into a dog and miss obvious winning moves...

LOL! I felt like this myself! I think I hung my queen twice today. However it looks like you play pretty well though.

Yeah ok im in just let me know whats happening and how to go about this ok. Im not sure how good a coach i am but i can do my best....

I'm in. let me know if I can help chessdadx2

Would this work? 2 groups: Mentors Wanted and Mentors Offered. Someone joins one or the other group (or both). Links up with someone in the opposite group. Once linked with a Mentor, a Mentee leaves Mentors Wanted group. the Mentor [optionally] leaves Mentors Offered group if he/she has sufficient Mentees.

could there be multiple groups - say a person at 1200 mentors a person at 900, while the same person at 1200 is being mentored by a person at 1500?

Now thats an idea indeed joly. Isnt there a way to label the coach's from the learners or something?

C = coach, S= student ( in chess of course ) or to keep it in the lines above,

M= mentor, S= student.

L= level   , for example :

0 = 0 to 400

1 = 400 to 800

2 = 800 to 1200

3 = 1200  to 1600

4 = 1600 to 2000

Bernie, my friend, I have been playing chess off and on for more than 30 years, and in all of that time I've never had any formal training.  The vast majority of people of chess sites like Chess.com have similar stories. How many times do you see on member's profile something like "I used to play in high school, and I'm just getting back into it..." or something close to that? I would love to get some training, but money is not my issue. It's time. I know that I do not have time that I know I will need to master chess. I have resigned to not try to master everything, but just focus on one or two aspects at a time. This has been my mindset for the past 6 months, and I'm happy with my results. Do I win every game I play now? Absolutely not! But I look at my games and can see that I'm practicing what I'm learning.

I say all of that to say this.  I'd like to propose a format for mentors that may give a little structure. The mentors should specify what area(s) they will be teaching. And be more specific than just openings, middle games, and endgames. I envision two or three mentors who deal with maintaining a good pawn structure, and two or three who deal with finishing won positions, and so on.  This way the mentors can be mentored. Tactical mentors should be specific, too. I am pretty good at tactics that involve fast movers like bishops and rooks, but I would love for someone to work with me on knight tactics.

How does this sound? 

I like this idea a lot. I am only 1500ish but I would know my stuff about endgames and identifying mistakes. I usually help a few people rated below me. And would love help in turn from players rated higher than me.

Also the teacher could learn from the person being taught.

I foresee a number of challenges.

• Unrealistic expectations - on both sides.
  
• Conflicting ideologies. Suppose a mentor recommends using the Analysis Board (or Game Explorer) to a mentee who is opposed to the use of Correspondence Chess facilities - or vice versa. (This discussion  http://www.chess.com/forum/view/general/a-tally-of-database-users--non-users  illustrates how polarised views can be). Suppose also a mentor recommends resigning at a certain point to a mentee opposed to resigning (or vice versa).

hi artfizz, i agree unrealistic expectations will be a problem for almost anything.

re the other factors - ppl could be matched around these issues in advance, and even then both parties can discuss how and if they should proceed.

still, factors like use (or non use) of reference materials may not matter as much in a learning and unrated environment. for example, u might not want to use anything yourself, but still be happy for the mentor (or whatever) to even plug your moves into a computer for feedback (since i understand these can be used by agreement if games are unrated), providing both people are aware this is the process adopted and that it is simply for the purposes of analysis and discussion to assist the learning process. i understand, and stop me if i'm wrong, most ppl who like to rely on raw wits during a game, have no problem with using books, etc to review for learning purposes after the fact - unless the sheer nerdishness of the endeavour is objected to.

best still, this could allow me to hook up with somebody with an analysis program which they could plug my ratty games into and tell me what it says, letting me effectively use their software for free!

Guys, Gals,

  Okay, I am not a smart fellow.  I was not able to avoid the draft and find myself on yet another deployment...only to find out there is no draft.  But even a slow guy like me sees that we are all in agreement...maybe differ on some details.  We just need to take the dive.

   I think we just need to start a group and laydown a few simple rules/concepts.  I'd be happy to start the group, but will defer to Chessdad, as this was his idea.

  As for rules and concepts, here is what I think we are in agreement on...

  The purpose of the group is to link mentors and mentees so they can help each other.

  Mentors should identify themselves and what areas they will help in and any particualr ideologies (good description)...we can probably do this in a simple forum

  Mentees (how did we all start saying that?) put the same information - where do you want help...probably another simple forum

  Everyone looks for who they can help/get help from and adds content of interest (I have a library of games converting great leads into stunning losses...)

  Everyone keeps their sense of humor - none of us are going to cause Kasperov to wet himself just yet.  If two folks are mistmatched, they thank each other, find other mentors and play a rated game to see which ideology rules.

  Our fearless leader, Chessdad, and others, will help recruit mentors for particular areas...

  Chessdad and I have been doing this and I have learned much more from trying to teach than to play.

  So I think we need a snappy name (Chessdaddies jumps to mind, but probably fails the marketing test) and someone to pull the trigger on starting the group.  Again, I am happy to do the later one we have the former...

  And now to qoute that military intellectual and little known Chess Grand Master, Connan the Barbarian, "Enough talk..."  Are we in or out?

Inability to afford a normal coach is understandable, as a lot of coaches nowadays charge a lot of money, and that can be tricky to work with when you have other things you need money for.

I know we started analyzing your game with BigJimmy and I plan to finish it when I have time, but if you ever need help or guidance again, I offer it gladly free of charge.  My teacher and I have lessons and he doesn't charge me a cent, and his teacher didn't charge him either.  So if you need any more help from me, it won't cost you anything. :)

I'm down for this.  I'm a patzer myself, but willing to help anyone in the 1200-1400 range that may need it.  Also, I want a mentor.

Edit: also, I'm of the opinion that most if not all players seeking guidance should offer it as well.  To teach is to learn twice and all that.