Before you judge a coach capability, ask yourself your maximum budget. If budget is not a problem, look for a coach with at least 10 years experience.
what to look for in a coach?
Sort:
Jun 13, 2021
0
#3
To be honest I’m not really sure what coaching for chess can even range? I would say I’d be willing to spend around 50 bucks a lesson.
Jun 13, 2021
0
#4
You mean 50 an hour? If there are chess clubs you can go to, it will give you more benefits than an Online Coach. Just look for coach with minimum 3 years experience. There are plenty of coached in chess.com.
Need a coach
Jun 13, 2021
0
#6
Stilldlust yeah I agree with that completely you can’t get better if people don’t point out you suck 😂
Jun 13, 2021
0
#7
Play4fun64 I think that might be the path I try to take right now as there seem to be several different clubs in my area with varying levels of competition.
Are you talking about me
I could not afford hiring a chess and music teacher. I learned playing chess by myself. Playing piano I could not. Yes I hope I can get into the path of chess mastery.
Jun 14, 2021
0
#10
One of my classmates become GM and another become NM. They studied Chess Informants seriously including Encyclopedia of Chess Combination. Computer Chess is still young that time.
Taiwan has no GM.
Jun 14, 2021
0
#12
I studied college at the Philippines. GM Andrew Vasquez is my classmate.in one.of the Engineering subjects.
play4fun64 wrote:
I studied college at the Philippines. GM Andrew Vasquez is my classmate.in one.of the Engineering subjects.
No such GM Vasquez in the Philippines neither.
Jun 17, 2021
0
#14
@viking6346,
Hey mate! To your questions, It’s preferable to find a coach who minimally speaks your native language fluently if are not native in it themselves. Time zone can be a factor, ensure you pick the times preferable to you and that the potential coach agrees to it- you’re the customer after all. Insist on either a free demonstration lesson or at least greatly reduced fee trial lesson, so you can check out several coaches before you settle on one- which could happen multiple times before you find the one for you. Don’t feel obligated to continue lessons with any coach you aren’t fully comfortable with, and if you ever feel like the coach isn’t a right fit for you later on, discontinue with them- a good coach will always make you feel like you’re spending your time and money well. It’s usually a bad sign if the potential coach seems to be regurgitating materials used before or says things like “I have a study plan I use with many/all my students to ensure all fundamental aspects are learned…” this usually is flowery verbose for “I’m not investing time to tailor your lessons and instead plan to teach you from premise materials” and should be a red flag to discontinue with them immediately.
Additionally, it’s not the most expensive or highest titled coach that will likely fit your needs best- don’t shun the lower titled, cheaper, possibly even untitled coaches out there. Gems aren’t always obviously visible after all. At your rating I strongly urge you NOT to pay expensive masters to coach you on elementary chess concepts that you can learn for free or relatively cheap elsewhere. If you’re just seeking general guidance in what to learn and how to learn it, there’s people who are likely willing to help out for little to no cost. Even if you’re wanting more hands on mentoring, you could probably spend a lot less and get similar benefits with a non titled player than a titled player for at least learning the concepts you ought to be right now, then transitioning to a titled coach as you advance later and need their experience and expertise to master advanced ideas.
Have an incredible chess journey. There’s so much potential for you to learn and grow in chess where you are now, it’ll be like watching fireworks go off with each day learning chess and gaining those “ah-ha!” moments. Enjoy them!
Hey mate! To your questions, It’s preferable to find a coach who minimally speaks your native language fluently if are not native in it themselves. Time zone can be a factor, ensure you pick the times preferable to you and that the potential coach agrees to it- you’re the customer after all. Insist on either a free demonstration lesson or at least greatly reduced fee trial lesson, so you can check out several coaches before you settle on one- which could happen multiple times before you find the one for you. Don’t feel obligated to continue lessons with any coach you aren’t fully comfortable with, and if you ever feel like the coach isn’t a right fit for you later on, discontinue with them- a good coach will always make you feel like you’re spending your time and money well. It’s usually a bad sign if the potential coach seems to be regurgitating materials used before or says things like “I have a study plan I use with many/all my students to ensure all fundamental aspects are learned…” this usually is flowery verbose for “I’m not investing time to tailor your lessons and instead plan to teach you from premise materials” and should be a red flag to discontinue with them immediately.
Additionally, it’s not the most expensive or highest titled coach that will likely fit your needs best- don’t shun the lower titled, cheaper, possibly even untitled coaches out there. Gems aren’t always obviously visible after all. At your rating I strongly urge you NOT to pay expensive masters to coach you on elementary chess concepts that you can learn for free or relatively cheap elsewhere. If you’re just seeking general guidance in what to learn and how to learn it, there’s people who are likely willing to help out for little to no cost. Even if you’re wanting more hands on mentoring, you could probably spend a lot less and get similar benefits with a non titled player than a titled player for at least learning the concepts you ought to be right now, then transitioning to a titled coach as you advance later and need their experience and expertise to master advanced ideas.
Have an incredible chess journey. There’s so much potential for you to learn and grow in chess where you are now, it’ll be like watching fireworks go off with each day learning chess and gaining those “ah-ha!” moments. Enjoy them!
I have been contemplating potentially investing into a chess coach to help guide me along the path to chess mastery. I don’t plan on becoming titled or anything just want some help focusing my studies. I have been playing chess on and off my whole life but other than my time in scholastic chess I have been entirely self taught. What should I look for when looking into coaches? Do I even really need a coach? Any suggestions out there for good coaches that people have used before?
Thanks everyone