Looking for a Coach...

I'll be straight with you. I don't study. I've tried, it doesn't really happen. I've been playing chess for a few years now, started on lichess back in March 2023 and recently made the switch to Chess.com. Pretty much all of my improvement has come from just playing games. No structured study, no puzzle grind routines, no opening prep. Just playing.

And it's worked to a point. My OTB classical is 1660, rapid is 1750, and I play in league games regularly. But I've hit a ceiling and more games alone aren't going to fix it. I know exactly what the problem is.

I don't use my clock. I get into positions and just move. It feels right in the moment and then a move later I see what I missed. The time was there, I just didn't use it. A big part of that is intuition. I'll get a feel for something and go with it instead of actually checking whether it's right. That instinct isn't always wrong but it's not a substitute for actually sitting in the position. I also have a tendency to lock onto one idea and run with it without stepping back to look at the full picture. It's something I haven't been able to fix on my own.

As White I play 1.c3, the Saragossa. That's not changing. As Black I don't really have a repertoire. Against 1.d4 I'll usually go d5 or Nf6 but honestly I'm just playing what feels familiar. Building something solid as Black is something I'd want to work on with a coach.

I've had a coach before. About a year ago, four months, once a week. They were a titled player and the knowledge was there, I'm not questioning that. The issue was that sessions felt like a checklist. I'd explain how I was thinking, they'd tell me to think differently, and we'd move on before I'd actually figured out how to do that. If something didn't click first time it didn't get another pass. I don't want that again.

What I need is someone who checks for understanding. Not someone who just repeats themselves, but someone who will come at something from a different angle if the first explanation didn't land. I think in my own particular way and I need a coach who is willing to work with that rather than just telling me I'm wrong and moving on.

Once a week, consistent sessions with a clear purpose. Someone who has genuinely been at a serious level themselves. Direct and honest with feedback. And patient enough to make sure something actually lands before moving on to the next thing.

If that sounds like you, drop a comment or send me a message. Tell me a bit about your background and how you run sessions. I'm serious about improving, I just need the right person to help me do it.

Hi! I’ll send you a PM.
Ariel (maafernan) — Chess.com‑verified coach