Online chess coach with an International Master

What does an online chess coach do?

A coach does the part of improving that is hard to do alone: finding what is costing you games and keeping the work regular. In practice that means:

• Reviewing your games with you to find the mistakes that repeat.
• Explaining the idea behind a position, not only the best move.
• Setting homework sized to your week and looking at it before the next lesson.
• Keeping a plan, so each lesson builds on the last one.

How does coaching with George Li start?

Coaching follows one path, so you know what comes next at every step.

• First lesson: A 60-minute one-on-one lesson online. You and George go through a game and some positions, and he gets a clear read on your level.
• Plan: Within 3 business days you get a written study plan by email: what to work on, in what order and how to practice it.
• Sessions: Weekly one-on-one lessons with game review and homework, online, at times you agree with George.

What does a lesson include?

Each lesson is 60 minutes, one-on-one, by video. The video link comes by email. A lesson includes:

• 60 minutes one-on-one with George by video, at a time you agree.
• A review of your own games and key positions, move by move.
• The ideas behind your mistakes explained, with practice to fix each one.
• Homework sized for your week, and a plan for what the next lesson covers.

What does the International Master title tell you about a coach?

International Master is a FIDE title earned through rated play and norms; the page on [how FIDE titles are earned](/titles/international-master) gives the Handbook clauses. George Li holds it.

A title shows how well a coach plays. How well a coach explains is something you check in the first lesson: whether the reasons make sense, whether the homework fits your week and whether you leave knowing what to work on next.

Who is an online chess coach for?

Players of different ages and levels take lessons. Pick the starting point closest to yours:

• A parent with a first-time tournament player
• An adult coming back after years away
• A club player stuck near the same rating
• A junior preparing for a national scholastic event
• A college student who wants weekly structure
• A player rebuilding an opening repertoire

What does an online chess coach cost here?

The first step is a single lesson. After that, lessons are sold singly or as prepaid packages with no subscription.

How do you compare coaches before you pay?

Ask each coach the same questions: who teaches the lesson, whether it starts from your games, what the first lesson produces, what it costs per lesson and what the cancellation terms are. The [guide to choosing a chess coach](/how-to-choose-a-chess-coach) has the full checklist and the [cost guide](/chess-coaching-cost) lists published rates.