Chess coaching

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philthom

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Since the topic of chess was mentioned in the 'Declining Intelligence' thread, I'm wondering:

How much are you willing to pay a chess coach, either for you or your child, if chess could be shown to improve mental functions?
 
I would teach him myself instead :D At least until he or she is able to beat me consistently.
 
I am coaching chess after work. I charge R100 to R150 an hour depending on whether I need to travel etc.

I would suggest anything between R100 to R250.
 
Sorry, don't think there's a market for this.
So many sources to learn from...
 
I had coaching when I was a kid, not entirely sure how much it really helped. What helped more was the weekly tournaments I rate (yes yes as nerdy as that sounds, I was in Primary School)
 
I would simply join a club if I wanted to get better. As is, I'm good enough to beat the majority of my friends, and prove a challenge to someone who occasionally play casually. If someone plays regularly, I don't have much of a chance.
 
I played for WP chess on a junior level, and one of my biggest regrets is not attaining SA colours. I also was self-coached, or without a coach, as I figured I didn't need one. I attribute that arrogance as one of the reasons for not reaching the highest levels of play.

Those who say you don't need a coach in chess neither understands chess nor coaching. And their ignorance is magnified when you understand that even World Champions like Garri Kasparov had coaches even while holding the World Championship title!

You might as well say boxers don't need coaches or rugby players don't need to be coach. And I think it is precisely that attitude in South Africa which causes us to lag way behind other countries in chess.

Btw: I'm talking about people who take chess seriously, not just as a past-time.
 
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You could coach at a school or something, I know my primary school was pretty heavy on the chess, we had a dutch coach and everything.
 
philthom said:
Those who say you don't need a coach in chess neither understands chess nor coaching. And their ignorance is magnified when you understand that even World Champions like Garri Kasparov had coaches even while holding the World Championship title!

You might as well say boxers don't need coaches or rugby players don't need to be coach. And I think it is precisely that attitude in South Africa which causes us to lag way behind other countries in chess.

Btw: I'm talking about people who take chess seriously, not just as a past-time.
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Getting to a provincial Level isn't difficult without a coach (I played for the Gauteng team), even making the national team isn't dependant on if you've had coaching. It's not a game where it relies on technique to move a piece (like tennis to get the ball in so you need to practice and be taught), some people are just more inclined to see moves that others don't. I had a friend who hadn't played before start in the beginning of the year and just constantly get better each game where by the end he was in the A team at a Provincial level (without coaching)
 
chess is a mental sport. In most sports one needs a coach. you can learn the basics yourself but to be competitive you'd do well to get a coach. I personally wouldnt need to pay since my father's has coached chess in the past.
 
Just join one of the online chess sites and play. If you really need to you can probably find youtube videos about chess tactics, or books if you are more inclined to read about it.
 
I have no plans to teach my child chess. If he asks I'll show him, but I have numerous strategy games I can teach him that I will enjoy playing with him. If nothing else I'd rather play Go.
 
Wyzak said:
I would teach him myself instead :D At least until he or she is able to beat me consistently.
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That^^^

Don't see why you would need a coach for the mental stimulation advantage unless your child shows great potential and wants to take it beyond social/school level.
 
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