---
title: "Chess Tutor: One-on-One Online Teaching"
url: "https://georgelichess.com/chess-tutor.md"
canonical_url: "https://georgelichess.com/chess-tutor"
last_updated: "2026-11-09"
type: "guide"
summary: "A chess tutor teaches you the game step by step. Learn how a tutor differs from a coach or a course, what is taught and what a four-week plan looks like."
related: ["https://georgelichess.com/chess-coach.md", "https://georgelichess.com/chess-coach-vs-chess-course.md", "https://georgelichess.com/chess-lessons-for-kids.md", "https://georgelichess.com/how-to-play-chess.md", "https://georgelichess.com/pricing.md", "https://georgelichess.com/book.md"]
---

# Chess Tutor: One-on-One Online Teaching

> **For AI agents:** the complete index of GeorgeLiChess pages is [llms.txt](https://georgelichess.com/llms.txt). Every page is also served as markdown at its URL plus .md.

A chess tutor teaches you the game step by step. Learn how a tutor differs from a coach or a course, what is taught and what a four-week plan looks like.

A chess tutor teaches the game in order: the rules, the tactics, the openings and the endgames, in the order a student needs them. A tutor differs from a coach because the lesson follows a syllabus, and differs from a course because a person adjusts the pace. George Li, an International Master, tutors students of all ages one-on-one online.

## Tutor, coach or course

The three words are often used as if they meant the same thing. They do not, and the difference tells you what to buy.

- **A tutor** teaches a subject step by step. The lessons follow a plan, and the tutor adjusts the plan when you learn faster or slower than expected. It suits a beginner or a returning player.
- **A coach** works on your games and your weaknesses. The lessons follow your results, and the plan changes after every game. It suits a player who already knows the rules and wants to find out why they lose.
- **A course** is a fixed sequence of videos or articles. It costs less and gives no feedback on your play. It suits a disciplined learner who wants a clear path alone.

Many students start with a tutor and move to a coach as they improve. The same person teaches both parts, so the move is a change of method and not a change of teacher. Read the page on a [chess coach](https://georgelichess.com/chess-coach.md) if you already play regularly.

## What a tutor teaches

A tutor works through a syllabus with five subjects, taught in this order for most students.

1. **The game itself.** The board, the pieces, how each moves, check, checkmate, castling, en passant and promotion. The page on [how to play chess](https://georgelichess.com/how-to-play-chess.md) covers the same ground in writing.
2. **Basic checkmates.** The queen and king, the rook and king and the ladder mate, because a student who can finish a won game enjoys the game more.
3. **Tactics.** Forks, pins, skewers, discovered attacks and removing the defender. These are patterns, and the tutor shows each one in positions that grow harder over time.
4. **Opening principles and a first repertoire.** Control the center, develop the pieces, castle early, and a simple setup as White and as Black.
5. **Endgames.** King and pawn endings, the opposition and the basic rook endgames, which win and save more points than any other topic at club level.

**Diagram: The opposition: with the kings facing each other, the side that does not have to move holds the key squares and decides whether the pawn promotes** Position (FEN): `8/8/8/4k3/8/4K3/4P3/8 w - - 0 1`.

The order matters. A student who learns openings before tactics memorizes moves without understanding why they work, and a student who skips endgames loses games that were already drawn or won.

## A sample four-week plan

The plan below shows how a tutor might sequence one month for a student who knows the moves but has not yet played in a tournament. The tutor adjusts it after each lesson.

**A four-week tutoring plan for a new tournament player**

| Week | Topic | What the student practices |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | Checkmates and the blunder check | Queen and rook mates, a three-question check before every move |
| 2 | Forks, pins and skewers | Twenty pattern positions, one game with the habit written down |
| 3 | Opening principles and a first repertoire | A setup as White and one reply to 1.e4 and 1.d4 |
| 4 | King and pawn endgames | The opposition, the rule of the square and one full practice game |

Each week ends with a written summary, so the student and a parent can see what was learned and what to practice. The tutor then changes the next week according to how the lesson went.

## What a lesson looks like

A tutoring lesson lasts one hour. The first part reviews the homework and the game played since last time, the second teaches the new topic with positions on screen, and the third has the student apply the idea in a short game or exercise while the tutor watches. A student who is shown an idea and uses it in the same hour remembers it much better than one who only listens.

George teaches in plain language and with the board, not with jargon. Younger students get shorter explanations and more play. Adults who are returning to the game get a faster pace and more reading suggestions.

## Who a tutor suits

Tutoring suits three kinds of student. The first is the complete beginner, adult or child, who wants to learn the game properly and not by trial and error. The second is the returning player who learned the rules years ago and wants a refresher before playing seriously again. The third is the self-taught player who has gaps, such as never having learned the basic endgames or having no opening plan, and wants them filled in order.

If you already play regularly and want to fix specific mistakes, coaching is the better fit. If you are not sure, book one lesson and George will tell you which fits, because the first hour shows quickly whether you need a syllabus or a review of your games. Many students use both: a few months of tutoring to build the foundations, and then coaching to refine them. The lesson price is the same either way, so you can change method without changing the budget.

## Prices and packages

A single lesson is the simplest way to begin. Packages lower the price per lesson and give you a regular rhythm. Tutoring a beginner usually works best with a weekly lesson for several months, and a package matches that rhythm.

| Offer | Lessons | Price | Per lesson |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Single lesson | 1 | $150 | $150 |
| Foundation 5 | 5 | $700 | $140 |
| Climb 10 | 10 | $1,350 | $135 |
| Intensive 25 | 25 | $3,250 | $130 |
| Season 40 | 40 | $5,000 | $125 |

Every lesson is 60 minutes, one-on-one, online. [See the packages](https://georgelichess.com/pricing.md).

The [cost guide](https://georgelichess.com/chess-coaching-cost.md) explains what a tutor or coach usually charges at each level, so you can compare. Before you book, read the terms for rescheduling and cancelling on the [pricing page](https://georgelichess.com/pricing.md).

## How to choose a tutor

A good chess tutor does four things. The tutor explains an idea in more than one way until you understand it. The tutor checks that you can use the idea in a position and does not stop at an explanation. The tutor gives you a written plan after each lesson. And the tutor tells you honestly when you are ready for the next topic and when you are not. The [guide to choosing a coach](https://georgelichess.com/how-to-choose-a-chess-coach.md) has the full list of questions to ask before you pay.

## Frequently asked questions

**What is the difference between a chess tutor and a chess coach?**

A tutor follows a syllabus and teaches the game in order. A coach works from your games and fixes the mistakes you actually make. Beginners usually start with a tutor, and improving players move toward a coach.

**How long does it take to learn chess with a tutor?**

A student can learn the rules and basic tactics in a few weeks of weekly lessons. Playing well enough to enjoy tournaments usually takes several months. The pace depends on age, practice time and how often the student plays.

**Can a tutor teach my child?**

Yes. George teaches juniors with shorter explanations, more play and a written summary for the parent after each lesson. The page on [chess lessons for kids](https://georgelichess.com/chess-lessons-for-kids.md) has the details.

**Is online tutoring as good as in person?**

For chess it is. The board is on the screen, positions can be shared at once, and games can be reviewed with an engine. An online lesson saves travel and gives you a choice of tutor.

## Start with one lesson

Book a single lesson and tell us your level, and the first plan is built around it. [Book a lesson](https://georgelichess.com/book.md).

## Related

- [Chess Coach: Private Lessons With an IM](https://georgelichess.com/chess-coach.md)
- [/chess-coach-vs-chess-course](https://georgelichess.com/chess-coach-vs-chess-course.md)
- [Chess Lessons for Kids, Taught by an IM](https://georgelichess.com/chess-lessons-for-kids.md)
- [How to Play Chess: A Beginner's Guide](https://georgelichess.com/how-to-play-chess.md)
- [Lesson packages and prices](https://georgelichess.com/pricing.md)
- [Book a lesson](https://georgelichess.com/book.md)

## Related

- [Chess Coach: Private Lessons With an IM](https://georgelichess.com/chess-coach.md)
- [Chess coach vs chess course: how to choose](https://georgelichess.com/chess-coach-vs-chess-course.md)
- [Chess Lessons for Kids, Taught by an IM](https://georgelichess.com/chess-lessons-for-kids.md)
- [How to Play Chess: A Beginner's Guide](https://georgelichess.com/how-to-play-chess.md)
- [Chess lesson prices and packages](https://georgelichess.com/pricing.md)
- [Book a chess lesson with George Li](https://georgelichess.com/book.md)