Most UNDERRATED attribute you need to be a scholastic chess coach: the ability to analyze hundreds and hundreds of games in this position without falling asleep

Ten years ago, I started a career in professionally teaching chess. I had no idea where this journey would take me. I spent days trying to figure out how to express how lucky I am and I just couldn't. The highlights alone are too much. Glad to be where I am and grateful. 🫡

USATE wasn’t great but I did overhear some random dude declare after his game “His king was off in Narnia, bro!” and I dunno what that means but I thought it was very amusing

Me: If white had played 2. c4 here, what would you have done? Student: I used to take the pawn, but recently I've really been getting into the *Queen's Gambit DENIED* (needs to be a thing btw)

There’s just no way I would make all these hideous blunders Nepo and Fabi are making. No way I’d do such a thing I would make much simpler blunders way earlier and lose before getting the position!

I find that the stronger you are at chess, the less likely you are to care about: - Online ratings - Obscure/precise opening nomenclature - How many people in the online blitz database fell for a trap - Accuracy scores - Whether the computer called your move “brilliant” or not

🚨 Chess Coaching Hot Take 🚨 Teaching all young/new players to play 1. e4 e5 with both colors is fine, but doesn’t have any special benefits that couldn’t be achieved otherwise. If they learn and apply the opening principles, whether 1. e4 e5 or not, that’s good enough for me!

Time passes and life gets tough sometimes, but I try never to forget the greatest moments. Ten years ago today, I had one of the greatest tournaments of my young chess "career" and won the greater Baltimore HS championship with a perfect score. I still have the trophy today!

I wrote this tournament recap, go read it if you want to :)

Most important rule in chess: NEVER put pressure on someone else (other than perhaps yourself) to achieve results. Never send anything other than support and understanding about their chess journey I’m talking not only about coaching but also (especially) chess parenting

“One more win and I’ll be done for the evening” is a 100% guarantee of at least 2 losses in a row. Usually more like 6