Online chess coaching that actually moves your rating
Private, one-to-one lessons over video with National Master James Dinham. No fixed syllabus and no filler — every session is built around the games you are actually playing, so the improvement shows up on the board.
Why coaching beats another chess app
Apps and puzzle streaks plateau because they never tell you why you lost. Real coaching finds the two or three recurring habits quietly costing you games and rebuilds the decision behind them. That is the difference between grinding puzzles and genuinely getting stronger.
- Lessons based on your real games, not a generic course
- Direct feedback from a titled player
- A clear plan between lessons so progress compounds
How online lessons work
You book a slot and pay in one place. Lessons run on a shared board over video, so wherever you are in the world you get the same face-to-face teaching without leaving home. Bring a recent game and we go straight to what matters.
- Shared analysis board built into the lesson
- Local and international cards accepted
- Reschedule up to 24 hours before at no cost
Who it is for
Complete beginners through to rated tournament players. Juniors from age six, teenagers, and adults returning to the game. If you know the rules and have hit a wall, this is where the wall comes down.
What it costs, and what you are actually buying
No packages to decode. A single 60-minute lesson is $100 (R1,800). Most people take the 5-lesson pack at $350, which works out to $70 a lesson, and serious improvers take 10 for $600, or $60 a lesson. Unused lessons in a pack stay valid for a full year, so a busy month never costs you anything.
- Single 60-minute lesson: $100
- 5-lesson pack: $350 ($70 each)
- 10-lesson pack: $600 ($60 each)
How to judge any chess coach before you pay
The honest answer to the question of who is best is that there is no single best coach, only the right fit for your level and goals. Ask three things of anyone you are considering: do they hold a real title, do they teach from your own games rather than a stock syllabus, and can they tell you what you are working on next. If a coach cannot answer the third question after a lesson, keep looking.
Common questions
- Are online chess lessons as good as in person?
- For almost everyone, yes. A shared board on screen shows exactly the same positions, and you keep a record of every lesson. It also removes travel, so you can learn from a National Master no matter where you live.
- How often should I have lessons?
- Most improvers do best with a weekly lesson plus a little focused work in between. We set the pace to your goals and your schedule, not a fixed package.
- Is online chess coaching worth it?
- It is if you have plateaued despite putting in the hours. Videos and puzzles add knowledge but never tell you which of your own habits is costing you games. A coach watching your real play finds that in one session. If you are still learning how the pieces move, free resources will take you a long way first.
- How much does a chess coach cost?
- Rates vary widely by title and country. Here a single 60-minute lesson is $100 (R1,800), dropping to $70 a lesson in the 5-lesson pack and $60 in the 10-lesson pack. Titled coaches generally sit in this range, and anyone charging far less is usually untitled or teaching in groups.
- What is the 80/20 rule in chess?
- The idea that a small share of the work produces most of the improvement. In practice that means tactics, basic endgames and not hanging pieces, rather than deep opening theory. Club players routinely memorise twenty moves of an opening and then lose the game to a two-move tactic. Coaching is largely about keeping you on the 20 percent that matters at your level.
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.