Chess Tutor – 99th Percentile Player | Patient, Reliable and Fun!

Jake A.

Hi, I'm Jake! I offer private chess lessons for children and adults, with a focus on building confidence, clear thinking, and steady improvement.

I’m a competitive chess player rated 1800 rapid on Chess.com and Lichess, placing me in the 99th percentile of online players. More importantly, I specialize in explaining concepts in a way that students actually understand and enjoy.

Who I Work With:
- Beginners learning the game for the first time
- Elementary & middle school students building fundamentals
- Intermediate players (up to ~1400) who feel stuck and want structure
- Adults returning to chess or learning as a hobby

What Students Can Expect
- Clear, age-appropriate explanations
- A calm, patient teaching style
- Structured lessons with a purpose
- On-time, reliable sessions and prompt communication

I know that every student learns differently. Lessons are tailored to the student's level and pace so they stay engaged without feeling overwhelmed.

What We Focus On
- Tactical pattern recognition (forks, pins, simple combinations)
- Opening principles and basic plans (not memorization)
- Middlegame decision-making
- Endgame fundamentals
- Reviewing the student’s own games to identify recurring mistakes

My goal is for students to leave each lesson with 1–2 concrete ideas they can apply immediately.

I’m not a titled master, but I’m very familiar with the common mistakes and plateaus students face because I've worked through them myself. This helps me explain concepts in a practical, relatable way.

Available for online lessons and in-person sessions on the Upper East Side (NYC)
; 60-minute lessons | Packages available
; Trial lessons available upon request