My philosophy on chess instruction draws heavily on my personal experiences and accepted best practices.  These experiences include almost 4 decades of tournament participation, 20 years in the computer industry, 10 years experience in clinical psychology, and a few years as a college instructor.  Of course, I should not leave out having raised two children.  The lessons learned from these experiences, combined with a thorough review of the literature on youth chess, form the basis of my approach.

Individual chess lessons are not “cook booked”.  Factors such as age, attention span, learning style, and personality are used to determine the best methodology.  The use of computer technology is part of the instructional process.  Emphasis is placed on making chess a fun and stimulating experience.

Two common threads in chess instruction are the development of chess knowledge and the development of pattern recognition.  Chess knowledge is obtained through the systematic study of the theory of openings, middle games, and endgames.  Pattern recognition is developed through the study of practical chess problems.   The recognition of chess patterns allows for the efficient use of time when analyzing positions.  It also makes it easier to incorporate complex plans in new and creative ways.

I realize that we are all busy and if you desire, I will finish a lesson in 1 hour.  My preference would be to end the lesson at the most natural point after an hour.  When I have someone’s focus and we are making good strides, I prefer to continue.  If an hour strains the student’s attention span, I will take a break in the middle of a session.  My goal is to maximize enjoyment and learning.  I will strive to develop the learning environment that is best suited for each student. Great players drive themselves and love what they do. We will always try to foster this attitude.

There will be some differences in the teaching philosophies across coaches. However, we all share our ideas and fully subscribe to the CCL motto, "The kids always come first".