I’m an under 1200 player who is just getting back after a 10 year long break. I’ve purchased the Comprehensive Chess Course books but Pelts/Alburt and have been trying to spend about an hour each day going through it.
At what point will I need to start thinking about a coach to help me get better?
When it is time to find a coach, how do I find one that’s the “right fit” for me?
Do coaches always charge or are there ones out there that are willing to help for free (online for example)?
You don’t need a GM or IM at your level. An expert or master would do just fine, but preferably you want someone who is experienced. Consider asking for references.
I would ask, What are your goals in chess? Depending on your response my advice would vary. For now, I would suggest playing and trying to use the lessons that you are learning from your study in your play. When you feel that you have reached a plateau, or you are dissatisfied with your progress, a coach may be in order. Just beware the sort of teachers that were in “The Blind Fists of Bruce” and you should be fine. Best of luck and skill!
As someone roughly in your boat 2 years ago (I played scholastically but never rated), I can’t recommend enough fritz and the fritz dvds. if used correctly its probably worth 150-200 points with moderate effort.
Fritz is great, on game analysis mode for figuring out where you missed tactical shots, and if you’re playing 1200 people where your opponents missed them too.
Things like plan formulation, nuanced positions, general creation of candidate moves arent great with fritz alone, but with dvds it can be tremendously helpful. For what it’s worth there’s alot of great free stuff out there too, but the way the dvds interact with fritz makes it especially useful for me.
Deep fritz 14 is now out, which probably means you can soon get fritz 13 rather cheaply.
A friend and coach once noted to me that until one stops putting pieces en prise, or taking away a sole defender and leaving a piece for free (and not realizing one is doing it,) no amount of development of tactics/strategy/openings will help win games. I don’t think that’s where you are, but my friend routinely works with players who are still trying to understand those two basic concepts.
That isn’t to say a coach can’t help a player with those things, or one still shouldn’t get a teacher, but those conditions are also things which can be self-learned. A coach may help you clarify your weaknesses before you really understand what they are.
I might also add that if one single move puts oneself into an obvious tactical trap on a very consistent basis… some tactical study may help a player see what’s coming and a coach can help. But I personally feel one must play enough games to understand this is a fault first.
And I’ll second that Fritz can be very helpful to analyze your games in human language. Also that skill generally follows price - you most likely will get what you paid for.
One rule of thumb I’ve heard of, and maybe others can testify to, is that your coach should be a regular player him or herself and at least 400 points above your rating. (i.e. While there can be great teachers who don’t play regularly anymore, shouldn’t they be, as there certainly are teachers who get their rating to a peak and then don’t play again and rest on their laurels.)
But as a basic patzer and fish, under your rating, my advice may well be worth what you paid me for it, too.
One should get a coach when the cost of doing so is important to the benefit and enjoyment you receive from improving more rapidly. It is also important to get the RIGHT coach for you.
It may well be that you have some flaws that can be effectively addressed first without a coach. It may be that a coach could benefit you greatly.
Dan
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I would ask, What are your goals in chess? Depending on your response my advice would vary. For now, I would suggest playing and trying to use the lessons that you are learning from your study in your play. When you feel that you have reached a plateau, or you are dissatisfied with your progress, a coach may be in order. Just beware the sort of teachers that were in “The Blind Fists of Bruce” and you should be fine. Best of luck and skill!
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I would agree with the above statement. As an under 1200 player who last played tournament chess in 1997, I am also trying to rediscover and improve my game. I would include some really basic ideas. Play OTB. Play people, not just computers and online (don’t ignore these either). Record your games, especially the losses. Take advantage of all this great software for study and analysis that they didn’t have when I was a kid and learn from your mistakes.
If you still want a coach, choose someone you trust who is patient, a good communicator and is better than you. Finally, yes, be realistic about how far you can grow. Don’t invest in a GM when you are 1200. You and I are still learning the basics!
