The process generally goes like this….we talk on the phone about what your basic goals are. Then we figure out if you’d like to try one lesson or sign up for a series of 5 or 10 lessons (the series come with a nice discount). After that, we come up with a mutually agreeable day of the week and time of day for your lesson(s). I recommend at least one lesson a week. Then I’ll take your credit card payment over the phone (see the question, How is Payment Made). We talk about using Skype or Zoom, and I collect your email address to send the link for your lesson. If lessons will be in the San Francisco Bay Area, and lessons are to be in person, we’ll pick a mutually agreeable place to meet.

Know Your Goals; both your short- and long-term goals, to ensure you and Keaton are both aligned with what you want to get out of the lessons.
Also, it helps if you are familiar with using Zoom or Skype – neither are difficult and Keaton will show you how to do what’s needed once the lesson has started, but still helpful nonetheless! Click here for Technical Guidance.

When it comes time for your lesson, about 5 minutes beforehand, on a laptop screen-size, or larger, open your browser (Chrome, Firefox, MS Edge) and go to the email that displays the Zoom or Skype link provided to you. Click on the link. Click here for technical guidance.

I use Stripe as my merchant account processing gateway, one of the most secure in the business. I don’t accept PayPal, Zelle, Venmo, etc any longer. I’ll take your card information over the phone; it’s not stored anywhere. Payment must be made before lessons begin.

I don’t want unhappy students. If you change your mind before that first lesson even begins, I’ll refund the full amount. If you sign up for a lesson series but don’t complete them, the discount is not earned so I convert the lessons taken to regular price, and prorate the remainder.

You’ll need to make sure you’re familiar with the rules of playing in a tournament, as they are different than casual chess (ex: chess clock). I recommend watching some tournaments to see how it works (search online, there are many places to watch a video); even read some books. Also solve tactics each day for a week or two before the tournament; it’s better to solve 5 or 10 tactics that are difficult for you rather than a big handful of easy ones that teach you nothing. Be sure to enter the type of event that suits you.  

In general, beginners should pay attention to the endgame to learn basic techniques and get to know how the game ends. Intermediate players should focus on finding interesting strategy in their opening and middlegames. The goal is to be balanced in strength between the opening, the middlegame, and the endgame. For all levels, find weaknesses and work on those. A chess coach like me can help you locate your weaknesses!

There are not many studies conducted proving this one way or another. Having math skills to play chess is strongly exaggerated. However, people with ordinary IQs can learn and improve, playing chess on a high level. It doesn’t matter how old or young you are, everyone can learn, and everyone can improve, especially with coaching.

Click here for Tech Guidance.