
How much do online chess lessons cost?
In short: online chess lessons usually cost between 20 and 100 dollars an hour, depending on the coach's strength, their teaching, and where they are based. Slaven charges $45 an hour, and what you really pay for is a coach who finds what is holding your game back and shows you how to fix it.
What online chess lessons typically cost
Most online chess lessons cost between 20 and 100 dollars an hour. The range is wide because price depends on a few things: how strong the coach is, whether they are actually trained to teach, and where in the world they are based.
- Coaches without a formal title usually sit toward the lower end.
- Titled coaches (FIDE Master, International Master, Grandmaster) generally charge more for the years of play behind the title.
- A coach teaching online from a lower cost of living country will price below one in an expensive city, for the same lesson.
- Group lessons cost less per person than one-on-one, because the time is shared.
Price alone does not tell you much about a lesson. What you are really paying for is whether the coach can find the one thing holding your game back and show you how to fix it.
What changes the price
A few things move the number more than anything else.
- A FIDE title (FM, IM, GM) reflects years of play at a high level, and titled coaches generally charge more for it.
- A title proves someone can play. It does not prove they can teach. Coaches who trained to teach, not only to compete, price that in.
- Online coaching is priced to the coach's local market. The same lesson from a coach in a lower cost of living country costs less than one in an expensive city, with no difference in quality.
- A private lesson costs more per hour than a group session, because the whole hour is about you.
- A regular weekly lesson adds up differently than the occasional session, and many coaches offer a better rate over a block of lessons.
- Some coaches turn up and play. Others review your games before the lesson and send you work afterward, which is part of what the hour pays for.
What you are paying for
An hour with a coach is not really an hour of talk. You are paying for someone who can look at your games, find the one habit that keeps costing you, and give you a clear way to fix it. A strong player who cannot explain that is worth less than a coach who can.
This is where a title and teaching training both matter. Slaven is a FIDE Instructor and an International Master who still competes, and a participant in the Kasparov Chess Foundation European Trainers Conference. So the lessons come from real playing strength and from training in how to teach it, not one without the other.
In practice that means each lesson is built around your own games. Slaven reviews them before you meet, brings a plan for what to work on, and sends you something specific to play and study afterward. That preparation and structure, not just the time in the call, is what the rate pays for.
Slaven's rates
Lessons and training games are priced per hour. Here is what Slaven charges.
- One-on-one lesson$45 an hour
A personalised lesson built around your own games, with a clear plan and homework before the next session.
- Training game$30 an hour
A full-length game against Slaven at your level, then a deep analysis together afterward.
- PackagesOn enquiry
Coaching over a block of lessons at a tailored rate, with real continuity from one session to the next. Ask about packages on your free intro call.
You do not pay for the first conversation. A free 15-minute intro call is the easiest way to talk through your goals and what would actually help, with no obligation.
Common questions about cost
How much do online chess lessons cost?
Most online chess lessons cost between 20 and 100 dollars an hour. Coaches without a title tend to sit at the lower end, titled coaches (FM, IM, GM) at the higher end. Slaven charges $45 an hour for one-on-one lessons and $30 an hour for training games.
Are chess lessons worth the money?
It depends on what you want. If you play for fun, free resources may be enough. If you keep hitting the same wall and want to move past it, a coach who reviews your games and gives you a clear plan can save you months of guessing.
Do you offer packages for several lessons?
Yes. Packages are available on enquiry, at a tailored rate over a block of lessons, with continuity from one session to the next. The easiest way to arrange one is on a free intro call.
Is the intro call really free?
Yes. The 15-minute intro call is free, with no obligation. It is a chance to talk through your goals and see whether the coaching is a good fit before you book anything.
Ready to improve your chess?
Book a free 15-minute intro call. Tell Slaven your goals, ask anything, and see if it's a good fit, no obligation.