Most of my customers are adults - but I have many top juniors and welcome students of all ages!

Main chess page

Lesson page --- Email to prospective student
Fee page

Quick link to ICC students who will play slow

The Lesson page is the basics: Where, When, How, etc.

This page overviews Adult Lessons. There are two more pages to be browser-friendly:

Adult Guide Page 2:

Why Lessons? How is Chess Helpful for Adults?

Adult Lesson Guide Page 3:

Getting Ready for Lessons

   Probably Won't Click with Me If You:
   1) Are looking primarily for a cheerleader (but positive feedback when you do something right is very important!)
   2) Dislike the Socratic method (I usually ask leading questions instead of just telling you information)
   3) Dislike playing any slow games and dislike taking your time on each move (playing fast games also is OK)
   4) Are looking for an big improvement in a very short time - would you play violin well in 2-3 violin lessons? If you are looking for a quick fix, ask for a few lessons with tips; I will be glad to do as best possible!
   5) Know exactly what you need and the instructor is just there to supply it to you (but of course your insight is welcome). For example, if you primarily want to study opening lines.
   6) You take constructive criticism of your chess play personally. As IM Jeremy Silman once wrote in Chess Life - "If you want to take chess lessons and can't take criticism, perhaps you should take up something like solitaire or tiddly-winks."(!)

    7) If you prefer doing everything by e-mail and don't like to discuss questions and ideas on the phone. I much prefer the friendlier and direct phone conversation to long e-mail exchanges. Sure, for requests for written information, etc. e-mail is preferred.

   Probably Will Click with Me If You:
   1) Understand that improvement takes time and work (both off the board and during your move). As your guide, when I discover a lack of knowledge which is generally available, usually I will not initially dictate the information you need. Instead I will suggest a way for you to obtain it. After you attempt to learn the material yourself, if you still have questions or do not understand, I will be more than happy to review anything. I want you to learn how to help yourself. Give a man a fish and he eats one meal; teach a man to fish and he eats forever.
   2) Are willing to balance theory and practice (practice = taking your time during slow games; augment practice with some fast games).
   3) Can take constructive criticism and understand I am doing what you paid me for - to point out your weaknesses or ideas you did not know. If I say that you did something incorrectly, you should not feel bad! Everyone makes many "bad" moves. Hopefully you will feel good that you learned something. At the end of a lesson I want you to think "Wow, I learned a lot new things and are aware of others I was doing incorrectly - that is great, because now I am more aware of them and will be a better player - I feel terrific!"
    4) Want to work with me to push yourself and learn (goes along with Socratic method). But if my Socratic method sometimes frustrates you, let me know immediately.
   5) Can have a little fun once in a while and get off the subject, or do a fun chess puzzle.
   6) Communicate concerns and problems (such as homework) openly; tell me what you like and don't. We won't always agree, but I am always interested in your concerns. You are the one student, so please feedback immediately anything you don't understand, agree with, etc.
   7) Keep in good communication about goals and how you feel about ways to achieve them.
   8) Like an enthusiastic instructor - I often show my emotions when I teach and really enjoy my job. So if I exclaim ironically "Oh No, Mr. Bill! Not doubled pawns!" (when a student overestimates the impact doubled pawns) please don't take it personally - I am reacting to your move (or answer), not yourself! I want you to feel good about learning and don't often use a monotone.

   9) You are willing to play slow (and some additional fast) games against humans, whether in person or over the internet. In the long run, playing a real opponent is necessary if becoming good against humans is your goal!

Mentoring

I guess it is in vogue these days for some instructors to call themselves "Mentors" instead of instructors. If that is so, then I certainly would consider myself a mentor! Why?:

• If possible, I like to also be friends with my students. After students stop taking lessons from me (no one takes lessons forever!) I still like to keep in touch, whether it be saying "Hi!" and chatting on the ICC or in-person at a tournament.

• I like to think of myself as a guide - I don't just tell you what to do; I show you what needs to be done and try to help you find different ways you can best get them accomplished.

• I don't just communicate during lesson time. If someone has a question, they can call or e-mail at any time and I will try to respond as soon as possible and as best I can. I also often log onto the ICC just to hang out and, if I am not busy, will be glad to chat.

If this is not mentoring, then I am not sure what is...! 

Occasionally I get asked which adults gained the most from your lessons. This is a tricky subject since I do not track the metrics and some are playing USCF, some ICC standard, some on other servers, etc. Several of my adult students have gained over 500 rating points within a year or two, but more likely is 200-300 in a year for low rated students and 100+ for ones already higher rated, assuming regular lessons during that time. Most notably Kevin "Scott" Kerns, a mid-1600 player, won the 2002 New Mexico State Championship (!) ahead of several masters and experts after only a few lessons, scoring 4.5-0.5 against 5 much higher rated players, but Scott and I agree that was a kind of minor miracle! Craig Klein went from about 900 to 1660 in a little over a year! So here is a list of adults who have done very well in a short period of time. Use the link to look up ratings. For USCF, type in the last name first; click on the name again for the entire history. On the ICC, type "finger NAME" and look under standard ratings. USCF: Neil Brennen, Edward L. Daley, Kevin S. Kerns, James Joseph Reilly, Craig C. Klein. ICC: bmw2002, zyme, perdix, softpawn, jimul, darrenr, goirish, thefisherking, danj, petros-son, craigcklein, tryin, wtm, bkeel, grenadier.  

Here are some e-mails from adults: 

"Hello Dan:
I just wanted to up date you on the tournament results. I played in the U1400 (Reserved) section, and I won all 4 of my games!! A perfect 4.0 score. This tournament was the Tarrant County Chess Championship so I won the Reserved Championship Trophy. I am very pleased with the results. The last game my opponent and I both had 3.0 points that made the game even more fun.

I told myself before the tournament that I would simply follow the opening guidelines (move every piece once before you move any piece twice, castle early!!, knights before bishops etc.) and not try any "fancy" tactics that weren't clear to me and of course play real chess as much as possible; although the short time controls (rnds 1&2 G/45 rnds 3&4 G/60) made it tough and I made my share of mistakes. 

Thank you for the great lessons and I'll be talking to you soon."

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"Hi Dan, 

Broke 1600 on ICC standard play. Thanks, Fred

PS. I think I've gained about 300 points since starting with you 5 weeks ago. Thank you!" 

[Note from Dan: If I could do this for everyone just think what I could charge!]

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"Dan,

I won my simul game against Hikaru Nakamura.  I am very excited about this and had to tell you.  It is in my library if you want to look at it. "

Adult Guide Page 2

Adult Lesson Guide Page 3
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