Should I get a coach?

I am curious about my strengths and weaknesses in my chess games. I am sure I am weak at everything because of my low rating. I Have never played in a tournament or had a lesson before. I have children so I can only dedicate 5 hours per week to chess study and another 5 hours for online play. If I had to guess I think I am around 1200 rating. Not sure because I am new on chess.com and I seem to have a few different ratings for different time controls.

My goal is to learn and be able to understand more. Not trying to go pro at chess or anything like that. Long term 100-200 rating point increase would be nice long term.

Am I a good candidate for someone to coach me from time to time?

Also what is a typical lesson price?

I guess if you have the extra cash, and it's something you like, then that's fine, but in general I wouldn't recommend getting a coach. You can collect the basics yourself faster and for less money.

The basic areas (IMO) are: openings, tactics, strategy, endgames, and annotated game collection.

IMO until you've seriously studied one good book in each of those 5 areas a coach is unnecessary.

A good one to start with is annotated game collection, tactics or endgames. A bad one to start with is openings.

An example of a good annotated game collection book to start with:

https://www.amazon.com/Masters-Chessboard-21st-Century-Richard/dp/1936490218

 

And an endgame book:
https://www.amazon.com/Winning-Chess-Endings-Everyman/dp/1857443489

 

And a tactics book:
https://www.amazon.com/Back-Basics-Tactics-ChessCafe-Chess/dp/1888690348

 

Just get 1 and study it thoroughly is my advice. Set up a board and play over all the analysis in the book, and take notes in a notebook.

Any beginner who reads those books (or similar) and plays a little every day (even if it's just blitz) should gain a few 100 rating points within a year. Of course you're a family man, so maybe only 100-200 points in a year, but considering 5 hours a week that is respectable IMO.

Hi! 5hrs coaching session and 5 hrs login/playing chess is more than enough to get you setup and greatly improve your chess.....and with that same program, i can get you so much further than 100-200 rating....anyway since you simply love chess.... for two sessions a week....at 2 hrs per session and a a real-time review of all your login games in-between our weekly sessions....i charge $50 per session....if interested pls message me! Good luck and cheers!

Hi MychaIR I can help you find your strenghts and weakness in your game, and will create training plan to improve. I charge 10$/hr, we can do trial lesson to decide if we are a good fit.

I agree with @llamonade. 

Books can explain things VERY well and give you massive practice. That's the first part.

The second part for me is to join a club here on chess.com (and if possible in real life).

Start playing daily matches for your club (games with 3 days/move). These are not just fun and important for your club, there are GREAT occasions for you to learn.

There are literally thousands of clubs here, some big with tonnes of resources, others smaller and tighter where you know a lot of people who can help you. I'm not going to pimp any clubs here, but message me if you want some advice about finding a good club.

Also...I imagine that your post is a sign that you feel some frustration..you may as well especially try to find ways of playing chess that give you the most satisfaction/fun. I guarantee that if you gain a couple of hundred points, you'll still feel that you should improve...we're ALL in that boat regardless of our levels 😀

Welcome and good luck to you!

 

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