George Li, chess coach

How lessons run

1. Step 1

   First lesson

   You start with one lesson where George goes through your recent games, your openings and your habits at the board.

2. Step 2

   A written plan

   You receive a written plan: the few areas worth your time, in the order to work on them, with a weekly routine you can keep.

3. Step 3

   Weekly lessons

   Lessons follow the plan. George teaches the ideas behind your mistakes, shows the key positions and sets homework between sessions.

4. Step 4

   Game review

   Lessons use your own games. George goes through them with you move by move, so each session is about your positions rather than a textbook.

Who lessons are for

• A parent with a first-time tournament player

  Starting point

  A young player who knows the rules and has a first tournament coming up, and a parent who wants the day to go smoothly.

  How lessons go

  A first lesson, a written plan for tournament habits, and weekly lessons that practice them.

  You receive

  A one-page tournament checklist and a simple opening setup the student can play without memorizing long lines.

• An adult coming back after years away

  Starting point

  Someone who played years ago and wants to enjoy the game again without starting from zero.

  How lessons go

  A first lesson, a written plan, and weekly lessons that review recent games.

  You receive

  A refreshed set of openings and a weekly routine that fits a working schedule.

• A club player stuck near the same rating

  Starting point

  A regular tournament or online player whose results have stopped moving.

  How lessons go

  A first lesson built on recent games, a written plan that names the recurring mistakes, then weekly lessons and homework.

  You receive

  A list of the patterns found in the player’s own games and a training routine aimed at them.

• A junior preparing for a national scholastic event

  Starting point

  A strong young player heading to a large national event, with a parent handling the schedule.

  How lessons go

  A first lesson, a plan with a preparation calendar, weekly lessons and game review in the weeks before the event.

  You receive

  An opening file for each color, a time-management routine and a preparation calendar for the event.

• A college student who wants weekly structure

  Starting point

  A student with limited time who wants regular lessons that fit around classes.

  How lessons go

  A first lesson, a short written plan, and lessons at the same time each week.

  You receive

  A weekly study block of a few focused tasks and one reviewed game every week.

• A player rebuilding an opening repertoire

  Starting point

  A player whose openings are a patchwork of lines picked up from many places.

  How lessons go

  A first lesson on the current openings, a written plan that chooses the systems, and lessons that walk through the key positions.

  You receive

  A written repertoire for White and Black and a weekly drill routine.