How to choose a chess coach
In short, the right chess coach is the one who can find what is holding your game back and show you how to fix it, not simply the highest rated player you can find. What matters most is real playing strength, training in how to teach, a clear method, and a coach who fits how you like to learn. This page walks through what to look for, the questions worth asking, and how to tell a good fit from a famous name.
What kind of chess coach do you actually need?
The right chess coach is the one who fits your goal, not the one with the highest rating. A child taking their first steps needs patience and structure. A complete beginner needs the moves and ideas taught in the right order. An adult who has hit a wall needs someone who can find the habit that keeps costing them games. A competitive player needs sharper opening preparation and cleaner endgames. So before you compare coaches, get clear on what you want from the lessons, and the right kind of coach becomes much easier to recognise.
This sounds obvious, but it is the step most people skip. They look for the strongest or most famous coach they can find, when the better question is which coach is the strongest fit for where you are now and where you want to go.
What to look for in a chess coach
Once you know your goal, four things matter more than anything else when you weigh up a coach.
- Real playing strength. A coach should be clearly stronger than you, with results that show they understand the game at a high level.
- The ability to explain it. Playing well and teaching well are separate skills, and the best coaches make a hard idea feel simple.
- A clear method. Look for someone who works from a plan built around your games, not a coach who just turns up and plays a few moves.
- A fit with how you learn. You will spend many hours with this person, so patience, clear communication and a style you click with count for a lot.
When a coach has all four, the number on their profile becomes the least interesting thing about them.
Does a chess coach need a title?
Not necessarily, but a title tells you something worth knowing. A FIDE title, whether FIDE Master, International Master or Grandmaster, is earned over years of play at a high level, so it is solid proof that a coach understands the game deeply.
What a title does not prove is that someone can teach. Playing strength and teaching skill are not the same thing. A strong player who cannot explain why your rook belongs on the open file, or talk a nervous beginner calmly through their first game, will not help you as much as a slightly lower rated coach who can. That is why the coaches worth your time have usually trained to teach as well as to play, through a trainer title or a recognised coaching certification, and not a playing rating alone.
Is an online chess coach as good as in person?
For almost everyone, yes. Online coaching is now the normal way to learn chess, and for going over your own games it often works better than sitting across a real board. Everything happens on a shared screen, so any position can be set up, rewound and replayed in seconds, and you finish each lesson with the analysis saved to come back to. Learning online also means you are not limited to coaches near you, so you can choose the right person instead of the closest one. Here is how online lessons actually work if you want to see the setup.
Questions to ask a chess coach before you start
Before you commit to regular lessons, a short conversation tells you most of what you need to know. These are the questions worth asking.
- Will you review my own games? A good coach builds lessons around your play, not a fixed syllabus.
- What does a typical lesson look like? You are listening for a clear structure, not improvisation on the day.
- How will I know I am improving? Look for honest, specific answers about goals, not a vague promise of a quick rating jump.
- Do you give me something to work on between lessons? Most of the progress happens in the days between sessions, not only in the hour itself.
- Can we start with a short call first? A coach who is confident in their teaching is happy to talk before you pay for anything.
A coach who answers these clearly, and without overselling, is usually a coach worth learning from. Be wary of anyone who guarantees a fast rating jump or cannot describe how they actually teach.
How Slaven coaches
If you are weighing this up, here is how Slaven works, so you can judge the fit for yourself. He is a FIDE Instructor and an International Master who still competes, and he took part in the Kasparov Chess Foundation European Trainers Conference, so the coaching comes from real playing strength and from training in how to teach it. You can read more about his background here.
Every 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. He coaches all levels and ages, from a child's first lesson to players rated over 2000, online and worldwide.
If cost is on your mind, here is a full look at what online chess lessons cost. And the easiest way to see whether coaching with Slaven is a good fit is a free 15-minute intro call, with no obligation.
Common questions about choosing a chess coach
How do I know if a chess coach is good?
The clearest signs are practical. A good chess coach reviews your own games rather than teaching from a fixed script, explains ideas in a way that finally makes sense to you, gives you specific things to work on between lessons, and is honest about your progress instead of promising a quick rating jump. Strength matters, but the ability to explain that strength matters more.
Do I need a titled chess coach to improve?
No. Many players improve a great deal with a strong, untitled coach. A FIDE title (FM, IM or GM) is good proof that a coach understands the game at a high level, but it does not prove they can teach. What helps you most is a coach who has both real playing strength and training in how to teach, so look for teaching ability alongside the rating, not the rating on its own.
How do I choose a chess coach for my child?
For a child, look for patience and structure above all, a coach who keeps lessons fun while still building real skill, and one who is happy for a parent to sit in. Pace matters more than raw strength at this stage, because a young player needs ideas introduced gently and in short bursts of focus. A short trial lesson is the best way to see whether your child responds well to the coach.
How often should chess lessons be?
For most students one lesson a week works well. It leaves enough time to play games and work on what you covered before the next session, which is where the improvement actually sticks. You can go more or less often depending on your goals, and a good coach will help you settle on a rhythm that fits your time.
Should I have a trial lesson before choosing a coach?
Yes. A short trial or intro call is the best way to judge a coach, because it shows you how they explain things and whether their style suits you, which a profile or rating cannot. Many coaches, including Slaven, offer a free intro call with no obligation, so it costs nothing to find out whether it is a good fit.
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.