Parents
How to Choose an Online Chess Coach
A good online chess coach has a rating you can verify, real experience teaching children of your child's age and level, a clear plan for progress, and a trial lesson you can take before you commit. Playing strength matters, but being able to explain ideas and keep a child motivated matters just as much.
By the Notion Chess coaching team · · 7 min read
The 8-point checklist
- Can you verify their rating? Ask for a FIDE ID or a national federation profile. You can check a FIDE rating in seconds at ratings.fide.com.
- Have they taught children your child's age? Teaching a 6-year-old is very different from coaching a 16-year-old.
- Do they have a plan? Ask what the first month covers and how they measure progress.
- How do they keep lessons interactive? In a good online lesson your child moves pieces and solves positions instead of just watching.
- Is there practice between lessons? Homework or puzzles help lessons stick.
- Will you hear how it's going? Regular progress updates for parents are a good sign.
- Is the format right? 1:1, a small group, or both. See 1:1 vs group chess lessons.
- Is there a free trial? One lesson will tell you more than any website.
Rating vs teaching skill
A higher rating doesn't always mean a better teacher, especially for beginners. A 2300-rated player may struggle to explain to a 7-year-old why a knight move is strong. For beginners and young children, look for a solid rated player who is patient and explains things clearly. For advanced tournament players, playing strength matters more. See chess tournament preparation.
Red flags
- No verifiable rating, or vague claims like "expert player".
- Lessons that are mostly lecture, with little interaction.
- No structure, so every lesson is "let's just play".
- Pressure to pay for a long package before any trial.
- Big promises, such as a guaranteed rating jump in a fixed time.
Parents who ask for coach recommendations on Reddit often describe the same situation: an 8-year-old who has climbed from around 400 to 650–800 online and has outgrown free videos. Some ask specifically for a grandmaster. At that level, a patient coach who is good with children usually matters more than a title.
Questions to ask in a trial lesson
- What level do you think my child is at, and why?
- What would the first four weeks focus on?
- How will I know if they're improving?
- What should they practise between lessons, and for how long?
- Will you be my child's regular coach after this trial?
How we do it at Notion Chess
Every Notion Chess coach is FIDE-rated, and we link each coach's FIDE profile from our homepage so you can check it yourself. The coach who takes your free trial is the coach who teaches your child afterwards. Lessons are live, either 1:1 or in small groups of 4–5. Students get homework between classes, and parents get regular progress updates. Meet the coaches.