The Ultimate Guide to Find the Best Online Chess Coach

The hunt for an online chess coach is a journey filled with pitfalls and challenges. A good coach can undoubtedly transform your chess-playing skills, but finding the right one tests the proper judgment.

The crux of the matter is to find the best chess coach or one who offers the best online chess coaching. The following tips will help you in this task:

Judge coaching strength

• Consider the ELO of the coach:

ELO is a rating system used to calculate the skill levels of players in two-person games like chess. It is so-called after Arpad Elo, who derived this measure in the 1960s.

A high ELO rating is, without a doubt, an impressive distinction. However, though this rating might indicate the coach's playing ability, his teaching skill is another ball game. This is akin to a world-class athlete who might be a poor coach.

• The playing/ teaching mismatch

Teaching and playing chess are two different arenas. The intuitive grasp of a player's game may be confusing for a chess student because of the player's poor ability to articulate his skills.

• The dynamics of teaching

The crucial test of a chess coach is not his ELO rating but whether their students enjoy the chess lessons online and improve their game playing. The coach and the student must enjoy good chemistry.

Deliver customised lessons

• A personal touch

A good chess coach will not hand out the same lessons to all his students; he will make an effort to design sessions that match your individual needs on the basis of your weaknesses and strengths.

• Unravelling your game

A great coach will be able to judge whether you are struggling or if you are on the right track. They will appreciate your good moves and guide you through the tricky parts.

• Ask the right questions

The coach will help you dissect your moves in both good and bad games and ask the right questions to guide you in the right direction.

• No cookie-cutter approach 

Suitable chess lessons, in general, do not have a one-size-fits-all nature.  A good coach appreciates the unique qualities of each student and will adapt their teaching to help you attain your specific goals.

• Target on weaknesses

A good coach will pinpoint areas where you can improve the game, which is part of the chess training that you receive.

Have good communication

• The universal language of the game

Though chess has a standard, universal language, a chess coach needs to be an excellent communicator to help students worldwide understands the game's nuances.

• The question of comfort

Students should be comfortable discussing points and clarifying game strategies with their coach. A harsh, foreign accent must not deter them.

Weigh the issue of price versus quality

• Value versus cost

You must not stress over the price of a chess lesson without considering its quality. Just like choosing a high-end model of an electronic gadget for successful use in the long term, one must opt for a top-notch coach even if you have to shell out more money, especially if you are serious about your game.

• Strike a balance

You might also mistake a coach who charges exorbitantly as one who will deliver elite lessons. However, price tags are not accurate indicators of the calibre of teaching. One must find a balance between teaching experience, high-quality structured lessons, and the coach's genuine interest in helping you improve the game.

These are the main methods to get a good coach for online chess lessons. One must avoid common misunderstandings about chess coaching and balance price and quality.

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