How much does an International Master charge?

International Master rates, provider by provider

Each rate below was read on the page it came from on that day, and the table names the page. George Li is an International Master (FIDE profile).

Most International Masters who coach set their own price and do not publish it. The rows below are the rates that providers print.

The four single-hour rates (the three directory rates and the $145) give a lowest rate of $100, a median of $137.50 and a highest of $150. The plan prices are lower per hour because they ask you to prepay a block of hours, and the US Chess Academy page adds a $49 one-time setup fee to the monthly plan.

Read these as starting rates. A starting rate is the lowest rate a provider advertises.

What lessons with George cost

George Li is an International Master and teaches one-on-one, online, in 60-minute lessons. A single lesson is the simplest way to start, and prepaid packages lower the price of each lesson. Prices come straight from the price list.

A student who wants the lowest price per lesson buys the largest package, and a student who wants to try one lesson first buys a single lesson. The single lesson is also the first lesson, and it ends with a written study plan.

Why one International Master charges more than another

International Master rates vary for reasons that have nothing to do with the title.

• Format. In-person lessons add travel and room costs. Online lessons do not.
• Student level. Coaches charge more for advanced preparation than for a first teaching year.
• Demand. A coach with a full week can set a higher rate than one with open hours.
• What is included. A written plan, homework review between lessons and email questions are work outside the lesson hour, and some coaches include them in the rate while others bill them.
• Who sets the price. An academy adds its own costs. A coach working directly keeps all of the rate.

When two prices differ, ask what is inside each one before you choose by the number.

How International Masters compare with other titles

The same sources give a feel for how the title changes the price. Counts are small, so these are a guide.

A Grandmaster costs more at the median and a lot more at the top of the range, and the International Master range overlaps the Grandmaster range. The guide to titled coaches explains when the extra title is worth the extra money.

Who gets the most from an International Master

An International Master rate is worth the most to three kinds of student. The first is a tournament player who needs openings built and opponents scouted, since the coach has played those positions at a high level. The second is a player rated about 1400 and above whose mistakes are subtle and need a stronger eye to name. The third is a junior with a path to a national event, where the weeks before an event reward focused preparation. For a first-year student, the same money may go further on a lower rate and more lessons, and the page on whether a titled coach is worth it sets out that trade.

What a month costs at a lesson rate

A rate per hour matters less than the cost of the month you can keep up. At $150 an hour, a lesson a week is four lessons and $600 in a month, a lesson every second week is two lessons and $300, and one review lesson a month is $150. Inside the Climb 10 package, which a student at two lessons a month or more finishes in time, a lesson costs $135, so four lessons a month cost $540 and two cost $270. Most adults do not need weekly lessons all year, and a monthly review with an International Master can cost less than a weekly lesson with a coach who charges a third as much. The page on how often to take lessons matches the cadence to the goal.

What to ask before you pay any rate

Two International Masters at the same rate can give very different lessons. Before you pay, ask what the rate includes.

• Game review before the lesson. Does the coach look at your games before you meet, or during the hour? Preparation before the lesson leaves more of the hour for teaching.
• A written plan afterward. Some coaches send one, and some leave you with your own notes.
• Homework checks. Ask whether the coach looks at the homework before the next lesson.
• Changes and cancellations. Read the terms for missed and moved lessons before you prepay.
• Who teaches. An academy may assign a different coach later. A coach working directly teaches every lesson.

How to confirm that a coach is an International Master

Anyone can write a title in a profile, so check it. The FIDE rating list shows each player's titles, and a coach who gives a FIDE ID can be found in seconds. The page on verifying a coach's title has the steps. Pay after you have checked, not before.