Private lessons
$60 per hour
- One student, one coach
- By appointment, Eastern Time (ET)
- Lessons shaped to your level
- Puzzles matched to your level, solved on the live board
20+ years playing · Lichess Rapid 1963 · Top 7% · Background-checked coach
Live chess lessons for all ages, with a real coach.
One-on-one or in small groups of up to 10, for kids, teens and adults. Learn on a shared live board from any device. For younger players, parents book, pay and stay in the loop. Deaf and hard-of-hearing students are welcome.
How it works
Pick a time
Choose a private lesson or a group class and book a slot that fits your week.
Join from any device
Join from your account (or your class link) on a tablet, laptop or phone. Nothing to install, no chess set needed.
Learn on a live board
Your coach moves pieces, draws arrows and hands you the board to try each idea.
Classes
Every class runs live with a real coach. Book a single class or lesson, or come every week with a weekly plan.
Launch offer: first group class $10 · ends Dec 31 Normally $20. One per family or adult learner, group classes only.
Try your first class for $10Group classes
$20 per student, per class
- 1 hour, up to 10 students per class
- Youth: after school on weekdays and weekend mornings. Adults: weekday evenings, some mornings and weekends (Eastern Time, ET)
- Separate youth (under 18) and adult groups
- Shared board lessons, with turns at the board
- Puzzle practice where each student solves on their own board
- Friendly games against classmates, refereed live by the coach
Outside Eastern Time? Times convert automatically when you book. Live chess classes for homeschool co-ops
Save with a weekly plan
Come every week at the same times, or book a single group class ($20) or private lesson ($60) whenever you like. Plans are paid weekly, and you can cancel anytime before the next week begins.
Group plan
$75 per week, per student
Save $25 a week
5 group classes a week, Monday to Friday.
Private plan
$150 per week
Save $30 a week
3 private lessons a week, 1 hour each.
Group classes, one hour each, Eastern Time (ET). Youth: Monday–Friday at 3:30 and 4:45 PM, Saturday at 9:00 AM, 10:15 AM and 12:45 PM, Sunday at 10:15 AM. Adults: Monday–Friday at 7:15 PM, Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 10:15 AM, Saturday at 2:00 PM, Sunday at 12:45 PM. Outside Eastern Time? Times convert automatically when you book.
Meet your coach
Coach Timothy Gene
I'm Coach Timothy Gene. I've played chess for over 20 years, and teaching it is what I love most. Chess builds problem solving, pattern recognition, focus and patience, and I teach it live, one move at a time, at your pace.
Safe for young players, simple for everyone
Parents stay in charge
For students under 18, parents book, pay and receive every message. The student just joins the lesson.
No private chat
There is no messaging between the coach and students in the app. Simple picture-and-word cards like “I’m ready” or “I need help” keep lessons moving instead.
Private, invite-only rooms
Each class has its own private link. Classmates never see each other's names, and youth and adult groups are always kept separate.
Watch anytime
Parents of younger students are always welcome to sit in on a lesson.
Background checked
Every coach completes a criminal background check and a sex offender registry check before teaching.
Made for deaf and hard-of-hearing students too
Every sound on the board also shows as a coloured flash round the board (and a buzz on phones), and the coach and students talk with big picture-and-word cards. Turn on live captions in your video call for the spoken part.
Common questions
What ages do you teach?
All ages, from kids to adults. Complete beginners are welcome.
What do we need at home?
A tablet, laptop or phone with a web browser and an internet connection. No chess set or downloads needed.
Is it suitable for deaf or hard-of-hearing students?
Yes. Everything happens on the board: moves, arrows, checks and checkmates are shown on screen, the coach can send big picture-and-word cards like “Your turn!” or “Great move!”, and students can answer with their own cards. A coloured frame flashes round the board for “your turn”, right or wrong answers and the end of a game, and phones that can will also buzz. Sound and cards can be switched on or off on each device. For the video call, turn on live captions in your video app.
Private or group lessons?
Private lessons move at your own pace. Group classes are a fun way to learn alongside other players at your level. Many families start with one group class and decide from there.
What time zone are the classes in?
Eastern Time (ET). Youth group classes run after school on weekdays (3:30 and 4:45 PM) and on weekend mornings; adult group classes run on weekday evenings (7:15 PM), some mornings and weekends; private lessons are by appointment. Outside Eastern Time? Times convert automatically when you book: you see your own local time, with the ET time in brackets.
Is there an app?
Yes: put ChessTeacher on your home screen straight from app.chessteacher.org, with no download needed. On Android, open it in Chrome and tap Install (or the menu, then Install app). Use Chrome: other browsers, such as Samsung Internet, make an older kind of app that Google Play Protect may block. On iPhone or iPad, open it in Safari, tap the Share button (the square with an arrow), then Add to Home Screen. Store apps for Google Play and the App Store are coming.
What if the first lesson isn't a good fit?
Email us within 48 hours after the first class or lesson you pay for, and we'll refund it in full (once per family or adult learner). Parents of younger students are also always welcome to sit in and watch.
What if we need to cancel?
Cancel at least 24 hours before a class starts for a full refund. Once your week's sessions have started, unused sessions are 50% refundable. You can cancel your weekly plan anytime before the next week begins.
Ready for a first lesson?
Book a group class for $20. Parents are always welcome to watch, and if the first class isn't a good fit, we'll refund it.