Chess coaching for adults who are stuck
You know the rules, you have watched the videos, and your rating has flatlined. Coaching with National Master James Dinham finds the specific leaks in your play and fixes the thinking behind them — so you stop repeating the same mistakes.
Why adult improvers plateau
Most adults stall not from a lack of knowledge but from a handful of blind spots that repeat every game. A blunder is only a symptom. We work on the decision that led to it, so the same mistake stops happening rather than getting patched over.
- Honest reviews of your real games
- An opening repertoire you actually understand
- Endgame technique that wins close games
A method, not a magic bullet
We assess your genuine games, rebuild the habits quietly costing you points, and then train the way you compete — tactics under a clock and positions from your own openings. It is structured, honest, and built entirely around you.
- Clear priorities between lessons
- Openings suited to how you like to play
- Practical middlegame plans, not memorised lines
Fits a working life
Lessons are online and flexible, so they slot around a job and a family. Book a time that suits you, and reschedule up to 24 hours before if life gets in the way.
What it costs, and whether it is worth it for you
A single 60-minute lesson is $100 (R1,800). The 5-lesson pack is $350, which is $70 a lesson, and the 10-lesson pack is $600, or $60 a lesson. Unused lessons stay valid for a year. Coaching is worth it when you are already putting in the time and not improving. It is poor value if you have not yet played enough games to have habits worth diagnosing.
- Single 60-minute lesson: $100
- 5-lesson pack: $350 ($70 each)
- 10-lesson pack: $600 ($60 each)
Common questions
- Is it too late to get good at chess as an adult?
- Not at all. Adults improve fast with the right feedback because they can absorb ideas and apply them deliberately. The ceiling is far higher than most people assume.
- I only play online blitz — can you still help?
- Yes. We can use your online games directly. Often the quickest gains come from fixing the recurring patterns that show up in your blitz.
- How much does a good chess coach cost?
- Titled coaches typically charge between $50 and $150 an hour depending on title and experience. Lessons here are $100 for a single 60-minute session, falling to $70 or $60 a lesson in the packs.
- Is there a free chess coach?
- Not a real one, but a lot of free material is genuinely good. Lichess study tools, free tactics trainers and analysis engines will take a beginner a long way. What free tools cannot do is tell you which of your recurring mistakes to fix first, which is the specific thing you are paying a coach for.
- Is it possible to learn chess as an adult?
- Yes, and adults often improve quickly in the early stages because they can apply an idea deliberately as soon as they understand it. Reaching master level starting late is rare, but going from casual player to a strong club player is very achievable.
Your next rating starts with one lesson
Book a slot that suits you. If it is not the right fit, the first lesson tells you fast, and there is no obligation to continue.