Well, they can show you what to study to make efficient use of your time, but in the end, you have to do the 99% of the work yourself. In chess, it's really not like someone teaches you things and you have learned it. You have to practice till your brain hurts for the simplest thing to sink in.
Coaches: Are They Needed?
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philidor_position wrote:
Well, they can show you what to study to make efficient use of your time, but in the end, you have to do the 99% of the work yourself. In chess, it's really not like someone teaches you things and you have learned it. You have to practice till your brain hurts for the simplest thing to sink in.
Good post. I agree
daud2012 wrote:
So they are needed if you want to become a GM or a serious player, for playing here in chess.com on the week end I don't think you need one.
I would tend to agree. The higher your aspirations, they greater your need for a coach.
David R.
Good Points!
Any others?
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Godspawn wrote:
I had the mother of a kid i work with ask me this question. "With all the chess software out there why does my son need a coach?"
I told her thats a perfectly legitimate question to ask. I then asked her what chess engine her son has? She said Fritz. I asked her if Fritz tells her son what moves were good, and what moves were bad, and she said of course. I then asked her if Fritz tells her son why a move was good or bad? She now understands why a chess coach is important.
That's a good point, today computers are confusing for alot of people. They think that if they buy one than they will improve X number of rating points, when that's just not the case.
Computers are good for checking tactics in your games and playing against but in the end they just can't replace a human teacher.
So I have had friends tell me: "Coaches are only for people who are too lazy to study chess by themselves so they hire someone else to do it."
I disagree with this entirely. Some people have trouble improving, or they just would like some help. Also I have found that the stronger you become, the harder it is to improve. For example: a 200 rated player can easily jump to 1000 within weeks. But a 2000 trying to get to 2200 can take months or more often years.
What do you think about this?
Are coaches needed?
Leave a comment below. :)