Chess is one of the oldest games known to man, with a history tracing back over 1500 years. The game has always been seen as one of the biggest intellectual challenges and a battle between some of society's most elite strategic thinkers.
Despite its long history, you might be surprised to learn that there has never been a better time to be a chess student now than at any moment in history. There has been a surge in the chess-playing population in recent years in light of the Netflix series ‘The Queen's Gambit’, the growth of online chess platforms, streaming channels such as ‘Twitch’ and most recently, a scandalous cheating allegation made by the best player of all time.
- For beginners or lower-rated players, group lessons generally cost around $10-$60 per lesson.
- Private lessons cost approximately $15-$35 per hour, with online lessons typically being cheaper.
- Private lessons can range from $50- $200 per hour for more experienced coaches or higher-rated players, depending on the coach's qualifications.
Regardless of what reason brought you into the world of chess, you likely have ambitions of outsmarting your friends on the checkered board. In this article, our aim is to inform you about the costs and effectiveness of taking chess lessons so that you can take the necessary steps to make your dream a reality.
Average Cost of Private Chess Lessons
Since the board game emerged out of India way back when, it has evolved substantially with many historic games and players impacting how the game is played and studied over time.
Many of these principles have been studied and analyzed over the years by both man and computer, contributing to the best practice moves and responses that are known as ‘chess theory’.
Going about learning the initial steps, such as how the pieces move all the way to gaining an edge by studying advanced chess theory, can seem just as overwhelming if you have to figure things out by yourself.
Let’s take a look at the cost of private chess lessons so that you can accelerate the learning process as well as the learning options that are available to you.
Online Lessons
In contrast to how the game was played years ago, many players who are new to the game have a preference for playing online, so naturally, this is where they turn to when seeking lessons.
The cost for this medium of private lessons usually costs between $15 and $150 per hour, with an average rate of $25.
Now, bear in mind that if you have aspirations of competing in over-the-board tournaments down the line, you will need to practice with the physical pieces, as pattern recognition between the two differs quite a bit.
The price is typically lower for online lessons given that there is no need for it to take less time out of the tutor's day, the absence of travel expenses, and a greater pool of tutors offering their expertise, driving down the price.
In-Person Lessons
As we mentioned, while more and more online tournaments continue to emerge each year, they are most commonly played over-the-board, meaning in-person.
If you spend hundreds of hours playing on your computer, you will be stronger using a screen than a physical board. Players who are preparing for tournaments tend to opt for in-person lessons, which does impact the price, making it more costly than the online alternative.
If you opt for in-person teaching, the price typically ranges from $30 to $250 per hour for lessons, with an average rate of approximately $60 per hour.
Don’t worry if this sounds a little out of your budget; there are plenty of cheaper alternatives at the beginner level. You would be surprised at the number of factors that can influence this rate. We will touch on that in the next section.
Group lessons
One budget-friendly alternative that many chess players opt for when looking to squeeze more value out of their hard-earned money is group lessons.
Taking group classes, whether in-person or online, can be a budget choice since the expense of the teacher’s time will be pooled between a number of students. However, it is also important to note that this does come at the expense of the personalized learning experience that can be so valuable when learning the game of chess.
You can expect your group chess lessons to set you back somewhere in the region of $10 to $60 per lesson.
For those looking to devote more time to the game and master it, two private chess lessons in a week are a pretty good option.
Factors Affecting the Cost of Chess Lessons
Now that you have a benchmark on the sorts of expenses you can expect to part with when learning chess through the various mediums, let’s take a look at the different factors that can influence the rate that a teacher charges.
This will help you arrive at a suitable price for your level and realize good or bad value when you see it. Once you get the hang of it and begin recognizing these variables, you will make more informed choices and find tutors who align with your goals and budget.
As with any subject or skill, a seasoned teacher will be able to charge more due to less competition at higher levels, the increased preparation that goes into lessons, and the willingness of high-level students to pay for a premium service.
Your level also plays a role in the cost, as teachers may have to prepare more for the lessons depending on how skilled you are at the game.
The next thing that you will want to consider when you are browsing potential options in your area is your own learning needs. Consider the number of lessons you need to take in order to improve. If you are a beginner then you don’t need to spend money taking multiple classes a week, while if you are preparing for a tournament this might be necessary.
The price of chess lessons can also vary quite significantly depending on where your coach is located. If you are taking online lessons, then the relative cost of living of your mentor may influence the rate that they charge for their lessons.
If you are taking in-person lessons then the time and expenses that are associated with commuting to the lessons can also drive up the cost.
Practicing Chess with a Coach
Chess is not a popular spectator sport. Therefore, it’s easy to think you don’t need to train with anyone to gain mastery over it. This summation couldn’t be further from the truth.
Just like a student needs a tutor to improve in subjects like art or science, it’s imperative to hire a tutor when learning chess for beginners.
A good mentor can provide you with tailored guidance that will immediately improve your understanding of the game as well as save you countless hours trying to figure things out on your own.
With a chess tutor, you can raise your game to a new level. While most people can achieve a decent skill level in chess, they seem to decline after a certain point. Your talent and passion can get you to an intermediate level, but if you wish to play with the big-wigs, you will need the help of a professional coach.
Most people who train for chess are amateur players, juggling full-time jobs, and do not have the time to devote themselves to the sport entirely.
Therefore, to truly master the sport, you need to spend a reasonable amount of time perfecting your technique every day. In order for you to start seeing that Elo rating climb, you'll need to find a chess tutor in your area!
What Does a Chess Coach Do?
Generally, most chess instructors like to schedule one or two chess lessons per week, each around one to two hours long. During this time, the instructor will include some theoretical training about the techniques and follow that up with practice exercises.
While many people underestimate these lectures, it is crucial to focus on both the theoretical and practical parts.
The video above gives you an insight as to the kind of lessons you could employ alongside a chess coach. They will be able to analyze your past games and help you craft an effective strategy for success.
One popular system that you will likely learn from your Supeprof tutor is the checks, captures, and threats process, which will teach you the order of how to analyse any given position throughout the game.
Your instructor will also make you practice some supplementary chess exercises, like tactical puzzles and strategy games, to improve your technique.
While watching live tournaments and scouring books for the best opening can be helpful, nothing beats actual live training and playing chess on your own.
Keep in mind that you will only improve at chess when you push yourself out of your comfort zone. Training exercises attune your brain to strategize and pick up on possible moves better.
While such exercises might give your brain a real workout, they’re much more helpful at improving your game than passively watching tournaments.
Try out the exercises that your coach introduced you to on your own during the week. Remember to practice regularly, and you will start noticing improvements. And the best part about practice exercises is that they’re free!
Can I Train for Chess on My Own?
While learning chess by oneself might have been deemed impossible a couple of decades ago, with the emergence of online resources, it is now becoming more and more common. With the internet, you’re just one click away from finding a chess tutor near you. There are several forums where you can ask around for a qualified instructor.
While it is possible to study alone, it often results in players developing bad habits and blind spots. Think about it: if you beat your 7-year-old nephew with a certain strategy, you might perceive it as a winning one, but the same tactic wouldn’t hold up at the intermediate level.
However, a number of YouTube channels have contributed to the game's growth over the years, providing content tailored to all levels.
Gotham Chess is perhaps the best resource from which beginners can learn chess. The New Yorker presents chess concepts in a manner that is both digestible and hilarious. By adding the channel to your list of subscriptions, you should start to see your rating climb.
While it is certainly possible to learn chess by yourself, learning alongside an experienced mentor is, without question, the most effective way to improve.
They will be able to provide an analysis of your games, identifying areas you need to focus on throughout your sessions. This personalized attention is something that no mix of online or physical resources can match when learning the game of chess.
Learning to play chess by yourself is, of course, entirely free. However, if you want to eliminate some of the trial and error that comes with learning to play the game, you can accelerate your learning with some supplementary resources.
One of the resources that are most commonly opted for is paying for a paid subscription to an online chess platform. While these platforms are free to play, paying a monthly fee will unlock a range of lessons, puzzles and an analysis of each of your games to learn from.
Despite the inspirational stories in chess history about people learning in solitude in their basements, it just isn’t possible past the intermediate stage!
Learn Chess with the Help of Superprof
An experienced chess tutor will understand the game in great detail, but more importantly, they will know how to coach players in your very position, helping them to achieve their goals in the game. There is no better platform to turn to when you are looking for an experienced chess tutor than Superprof!
You can also incorporate online learning resources that are available across the web in your training. Don’t be afraid to mix it up in order to avoid your learning ever becoming stale. If you are still on the fence about learning alongside a tutor, the chess mentors who list their services on Superprof are considerably cheaper than some of the prices we have looked at throughout this article.
You have over 2,650 online tutors to choose from on the platform and an average hourly rate of just $26, considerably lower than the national average. Make sure to refine the lens in which you view potential options by considering the factors we have discussed throughout this article, and you’ll be on your way to becoming a grandmaster!
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