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Danial A.

Danial A.

4.9 (50)
At age 11 I achieved the title of Master, and since then have become an International Master (with 1 Grandmaster norm), 5-time National Champion and am currently the #1 18-year-old on the west coast of the United States. Without chess instruction from the most patient, inspiring, and hardworking chess coaches none of this would have been possible. I began to play chess at 7 years old and after my coach ended our first class by saying, "Every champion was once a beginner" my youthful imagination ran wild and I was hooked. My early development in chess proved to be nontraditional where my structured classes provided by my school were supplemented by the aggressive, unconventional playing styles I learned from spending my weekends sneaking games in with hustlers at my local chess park. Yet learning these vastly different approaches to the game allowed me to become a more complete player, and after 6 weeks of practice, I could beat every kid in my class and almost defeated my coach. Fast forward to my first competition I lost every game and finished in last place, but I loved every second of it and quickly learned from those mistakes. Now, I have defeated numerous world-renowned Grandmasters and played some of the best in the world including world champion Magnus Carlsen and Hikaru Nakamura. My peak United States Chess Federation and International Chess Federation ratings are 2425 and 2340 respectively, awarding me the titles of International Master and FIDE Master (top 0.43% in the world). I founded a School of Chess and have taught for 4 years in chess camps across the state with 100's of students ranging from 5-85 years old. One of my biggest teaching accomplishments is assisting one of my students to go from #117 in the country to #13 in the country (gained 500 rating points) for their age group in a matter of 5 months! In addition, two of my students went from 1500-2000+ achieving the master title in less than a year! After receiving many hours of coaching myself (even from Former World Champion Viswanathan Anand) and improving to where I am today, I can guarantee I can help you get to the next level. My personalized approach, creating lessons tailored to each individual, dramatically improves players' weaknesses at an accelerated pace. I specialize in thinking through problems along with my students, and fostering understanding rather than memorization. If you are ready to improve your Chess don’t hesitate to shoot me a message! * Currently I am teaching a free chess camp for 160 kids from across the country as well as a group of refugees who recently immigrated to Northern California with the goal of motivating communities to come together through education and to inspire hope during the COVID time period. *
$100
/30 mins
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Great instructor! Very knowledgeable and patient. He expands on any question you might have so you walk away from the lesson with a true understanding of the exercises.

Dominique (Chess lessons with Lawrence B.)

Great Instructor, very knowledgeable, very positive experience as my chess teacher, extremely patient.

Andre Kirkendoll (Chess lessons with Lawrence B.)

Very knowledgeable. Great Style

Steve Kaufman (Chess lessons with Lawrence B.)

Lawrence is the best and passionate chess teacher. He finds articles and other things that really help my son chess skills. I can contact him and schedule lesson as needed. My son loves and eagerly w

Subbu Posa (Chess lessons with Lawrence B.)

Trending Chess Articles

Chess Lessons

The game of chess is based on an Indian game called chaturanga, which was played more than 1,500 years ago! The game evolved over the years as it passed through Asia and Europe.

Today, we’re still infatuated with this game of strategy as students—both young and old—are eager to learn to play chess. If you fall into that category, then check out our chess lessons. We offer in-person sessions, along with virtual classes, which some consider the best online chess lessons around! Sign up with us today to learn with a certified teacher.

Certified Chess Teachers

Here at TakeLessons, we know how important it is to study with a tutor who understands your needs and learning style, and that’s why we invite you to choose your preferred chess teacher.

We feature an assortment of chess teachers who are all certified and have undergone background checks. To find your ideal match, explore their profiles. You can see everything from their qualifications and expertise to their availability and rates.

It’s our goal to offer affordable sessions, so our lessons vary between $15 and $210. On average, the cost of a 60-minute session is $72, while a half-hour class is $41.

Chess Online Lessons for All Ages

While chess is fun for students of all ages, studies have found that when children learn this game, it can help improve their attention span, enhance their visual memory, and increase their spatial-awareness abilities. As for adults, it can boost their problem-solving skills and potentially decrease their risk of Alzheimer’s disease.

Because there are so many mental benefits to learning this game, we offer chess lessons for kids and adults. Our tutors gear their sessions to the student’s age group, ensuring they get the most out of each personalized lesson.

Chess Lessons for All Levels

The beauty of chess is that there’s always something new you can learn about the game, no matter how familiar you are with it. Even if you’ve played for years, you might not know about a certain trap or strategy. Since there are so many different levels when it comes to this game, we teach students of all skill sets.

New to the game? Sign up for our chess lessons for beginners to learn the basics. Already have a few years under your belt? Check out our more advanced classes. We’ll help you find a suitable course for you and your needs!

Sample Curriculum for Beginner Chess Lessons

Your chess teacher might cover the following subjects in your chess lessons for beginners:

  • Learn the rules of the game
  • Study opening strategies
  • Learn how to apply opening strategies to play
  • Understand counting
  • Open vs. closed positions

Sample Curriculum for Intermediate Chess Lessons

Your intermediate chess tutor might cover the following topics:

  • The Petroff Defense
  • Playing fluid positions
  • Learn to develop pieces
  • Understand the concept of delayed attacks
  • Finding your opponent's weak spots

Sample Curriculum for Advanced Chess Lessons

The subjects studied in advanced lessons depend greatly on each student's goals and interests, but your teacher might choose to cover the following topics:

  • Recognize and avoid traps or poised pawns
  • Study the game's dynamics and tension
  • Learn to make highly strategic exchanges
  • Use computer chess to explore strategies
  • Competition and tournament preparation

Sign up Today

Chess is a wonderful game, and it’s high time you signed up for our in-person or online chess lessons to learn all the ins and outs of it. Doing so is easy: Select your tutor, pick your class time, choose your package, and know that you can take advantage of our 100% Satisfaction Guarantee.

FAQ

What are the best chess lessons?

We might be biased, but we think we offer the best chess lessons around right here at TakeLessons. That’s because we only work with certified and background-checked tutors who have the qualifications to teach you this strategic game. When you take our private lessons, you’ll receive your tutor’s undivided attention, which means you can ask all your questions and focus on whatever areas of this game interest or challenge you the most. But don’t just take our word for it—check out our reviews to see what past students are saying about our instructors.

How can I teach myself to play chess?

If you want to teach yourself to play chess, we suggest signing up for private chess lessons. During your private session, your teacher will determine what you already know about this game and what you’d like to know in order to create a personalized lesson plan for you. Never played before? No problem. Your private tutor will start with the basics, informing you of all the rules and opening strategies. No matter where you are in your journey, our tutors take the stress out of learning this game.

Are there free chess courses?

While you might come across free courses, paying for chess lessons is a wise investment. You’ll receive a lot more value out of these lessons than free courses because you get the opportunity to work one-on-one with a private tutor who is dedicated to helping you succeed.

At TakeLessons, we don’t offer free courses, but it’s our mission to keep our lessons affordable for all our students, no matter their budget. Our lessons range from $15 to $210 an hour, depending on your specific needs, the teacher, location, and lesson type.

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