My journey: A beginner gets Chess coaching. - Chess Forums - Page 4

11PopPop

Oct 13, 2020

0

#61

Fun read! Especially since I look UP to those at 1000.

Long way to go....

Marie-AnneLiz

Oct 13, 2020

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#62

kindaspongey a écrit :

"... Sure, fast games are fine for practicing openings (not the most important part of the game for most players) and possibly developing decent board vision and tactical 'shots', but the kind of thinking it takes to plan, evaluate, play long endgames, and find deep combinations is just not possible in quick chess. … for serious improvement ... consistently play many slow games to practice good thinking habits. ..." - NM Dan Heisman (2002)

https://web.archive.org/web/20140627052239/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/heisman16.pdf

Marie-AnneLiz

Oct 13, 2020

0

#63

corum a écrit :

AndrewsCampbell wrote:

corum wrote:

Thanks for sharing this. It is really interesting and it sounds like you have a good coach. But one thing that I am curious about is why you seem to be only playing rapid games. I would have thought playing some longer time-control games and really thinking about your moves would be a good idea.

Hi Corum,

A very valid point. The main reason I play a lot of 15/10 Rapid is simply the time constraints of work and family. I start my day at 5am and teach music starting before school at 7:30am through till 6:00pm by the time I get home, dinner, ironing kids uniforms, washing up, lesson prep for my students, etc, there's barely enough time to get my chess homework done.

I think it was John Bartholomew that suggested 15/10 as being the minimum time control for those serious about Chess improvement. I try to play in the Rapid Swiss 15/10 tournaments here on weekends and fit in Blitz games whilst waiting for lessons to start etc throughout the day.

I agree with all those who'll tell me to play longer time control but it is what it is. For better or worse, I think the shorter time controls are becoming increasingly popular anyway. Pace of life and all that.

15/10 is not a bad time control I agree. Maybe a good compromise. I thought you were playing much faster games - my mistake.

One thing I might suggest is daily games - used to be called correspondence chess in the old days. I agree that playing long time controls live requires one to dedicate a lot of times and it might not be possible to that. But I play a lot of daily games where there is 1-3 days max to make each move. When I have a bit of spare time (maybe just 30 mins or so) I log on to chess.com and make moves in the games where it is my move. That works well for me and you might consider it. I typically have about 10 games on the go at any one time so when I log on there are normally a few games where it is my move.

He played 1337 blitz games and 336 rapid!

Rook_Handler

Oct 13, 2020

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#64

Hi!

I would like to play a few games with you.

efficient_gap

Oct 10, 2021

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#65

I recently started getting into chess after watching the Queen’s Gambit on Netflix. As an adult learner completely new to this game, it can be hard to digest the abundance of free resources available on the internet. After some struggles with self-teaching I decided to work with a coach to better my game. I decided to work with Coach Kestony after reading the positive experiences here and I am glad that I did! A good coach can help accelerate your learning by pointing out deficiencies in your games that otherwise may take you a long time to discover on your own. The lessons he provides are very insightful, structured, and engaging.

When analyzing my games, he identifies weak areas where my playing can improve and provides useful exercises to work on. For example, we had a training game with pawns only that drove home the importance of centralizing your king during endgames which allows you to infiltrate and undermine the opposing pawn structure and the concept of king opposition. One of many insightful lessons that I’ve had. Over the past few months he has helped me reach my goal of a 1000 Elo rating, and more importantly expanded my knowledge and love for the game. I can’t say enough good things about his coaching! Highly recommended.

EdwinMathewSunu

Apr 15, 2022

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#66

Hello

DarkChessProbelm

May 25, 2023

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#67

Hey mr Andrew I known u. Its 3 years ago that I was met u. Please respond if u alive. :.(

RustyFork226

May 29, 2023

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#68

I've worked with Coach Kestony for several weeks now and I can already sense a dramatic shift in the way I play and see the game. I've enjoyed our lessons tremendously and am challenged in a new way each time we meet. I'm not a super highly rated player but I've been winning the vast majority of my games in the rating range I play against and have been moving steadily upward. I can tell that my understanding of chess principles and ability to visualize tactical manuevers has increased in just a short time. This is more than enough to convince me I am on the right track. I do not consider myself a true student of chess, I probably never will be, but I am a student of life and have dedicated myself to learning and coming as close as I can to mastering a variety of new things in different areas. Chess has been a fun but extremely challenging endeavor. I feel like I am in very good hands with Coach Kestony. For anybody looking for a chess coach, I highly recommend this man. He's also a very engaging person and my lessons are always immensely entertaining. Really, really glad I met this guy.

ChessMasteryOfficial

Jun 1, 2023

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#69

Great!

7oms22

Jun 1, 2023

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#70

Good

7oms22

Jun 1, 2023

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#71

:)

madman1029

Jun 6, 2023

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#72

Inspirational. Thanks

french

Sep 30, 2023

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#73

This is so cool!!
Have you thought about putting this on a blog?

Kestony

Oct 9, 2023

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#74

Dear Chess Enthusiasts,

I would like to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude for the kind words and support that have been shared about me in the forum thread. Your encouragement means the world to me, and I am truly honored to be a part of this wonderful community.

As a chess coach, my ultimate goal is to help students unlock their full potential and achieve their personal aspirations in the game. I strongly believe in the power of empathy and adaptability when it comes to teaching. Each student is unique, with their own set of strengths and weaknesses. By understanding and appreciating these individual differences, I can tailor my teaching style to best suit each student's needs.

My coaching approach is dynamic and flexible, ensuring that I can adjust and adapt to the specific requirements of each student. I work closely with my students to identify their strengths and weaknesses, helping them to gain a deep understanding of their playing style. By recognizing these aspects, we can then develop a personalized plan to reach their goals, whether it's improving tactical skills, enhancing strategic thinking, or honing endgame techniques.

I am passionate about fostering growth and development in chess, and I am always thrilled to work with students who share the same enthusiasm for the game. If you are looking for a dedicated and empathic coach who will guide you on your chess journey, I encourage you to reach out to me. You can send me an email at kestonychess@gmail.com, and I will be more than happy to discuss how I can assist you in reaching your goals.

Once again, thank you for your kind words and support. Let's continue to learn, grow, and enjoy the beautiful game of chess together!

Warm regards,

Kestony