Train with a Grandmaster
Chess Coach
Improve your chess faster with personalized online coaching for all levels – from beginners to tournament players.
- ♟️ 1-on-1 lessons with a Grandmaster (Peak FIDE 2656)
- 📈 Structured training that improves your rating
- 🎯 Students improve 200-300 rating points
About me
My name is Valery Filippov. I am an international Grandmaster and professional chess coach with more than 19 years of teaching experience.
My current USCF rating is 2656 and FIDE rating is 2553. Throughout my career, I have competed at a high level and played against many of the world’s strongest grandmasters. In 1998, I won the Academic World Chess Championship, and in 2005 I was ranked among the top 50 players in the world.
Today, I focus on helping students improve through structured and practical chess training. I work with players of all levels, from beginners to advanced tournament competitors, and provide each student with clear guidance and a structured improvement plan.
My coaching is based on real tournament experience, deep positional understanding, and a focus on practical decision-making. I help students understand chess more deeply, make better decisions during games, and achieve measurable rating progress.
Two Ways to Learn Chess With Me:
ONLINE CHESS LESSONS
If you enjoy learning with regular one-on-one lessons, this option is probably the best fit. During our first session, I’ll evaluate your current level and create a training plan based on your goals. Lessons last around 60 minutes, include homework, and all study materials remain available after each session.
CHESS MENTORSHIP PROGRAM
The Chess Mentorship Program is designed for students who prefer studying independently or have a busy schedule that makes regular lessons difficult. Instead of weekly meetings, you’ll receive a personalized training plan based on your current level, goals, and the amount of time you can realistically dedicate to chess. You’ll always know what to study next, why you’re studying it, and how each part of your training fits into your long-term improvement. The program combines the flexibility of self-study with the guidance of an experienced Grandmaster.
To learn more about how the program works, visit the page: Chess Mentorship
WHO I WORK WITH
Adults
Adults with a wide range of objectives can benefit from my chess coaching expertise. You don’t have to be a professional or a tournament player – or even aspire to become one – to be my student! I’ll be happy to help whether your goal is to reach a 1500 rating on chess com, improve your tournament results, or simply enjoy chess more. Many adults think Grandmaster coaching is only for strong players. In my experience, that’s not true. My goal is to make every lesson clear and practical.
Young Players
I usually work with children from the age of 8. Some are complete beginners, while others already play tournaments or have an online rating. Every child starts from a different point, so I adjust the lessons to their level, personality, and goals. My aim is not only to help children become stronger chess players but also to keep them interested in the game. I try to make every lesson challenging enough to keep children improving, but never so difficult that they lose confidence.
Tournament Players
For players who regularly compete in tournaments, want to increase their USCF or FIDE rating, or are working toward official chess titles. Our lessons focus on the areas that matter most at a competitive level: opening preparation, strategic understanding, endgame technique, and detailed game analysis. Drawing on many years of tournament experience, I can help you identify weaknesses that are often difficult to notice without high-level guidance.
How Online Lessons Work
All you need is a computer, Teams, and a free Lichess account. During our lessons, we’ll use an interactive chessboard where we can move pieces, draw arrows, highlight key ideas, and analyze positions together. Every lesson is saved, so you can return to the material whenever you want.
MY CHESS COACHING APPROACH
Individual approach
No two students learn chess in exactly the same way. Some improve through game analysis, others respond better to tactical training or structured endgame study. That’s why I don’t follow the same program with everyone. Before we begin working together, I take the time to understand your current level, strengths, weaknesses, and goals. From there, I build a training plan that fits you, rather than asking you to fit a predefined system.
Structured Training Plan
Every student follows a structured training plan designed around their goals and current level. Rather than jumping from one topic to another, each lesson builds on the previous one, allowing you to make steady and measurable progress. Lessons typically include game analysis, opening preparation, middlegame strategy, endgames, practical exercises, and homework that reinforces what we’ve covered together. You’ll always know what we’re working on and why each lesson matters.
Learning Made Simple
One of my main goals is to explain difficult chess ideas in simple language. After many years of playing at the highest level, many positions feel natural to me, but I never expect my students to see them the same way. If something isn’t clear, we’ll simply look at it from a different angle until it makes sense. Understanding always comes before memorization.
Keeping Lessons Engaging
Doing the same type of training every week eventually becomes repetitive. That’s why I vary the format of my lessons depending on what a student needs at that stage of their development. Over the years, I’ve developed more than twenty different lesson formats, helping students stay motivated while continuing to make consistent progress. This variety keeps lessons fresh while making sure every activity has a clear purpose.
WHAT WE DO DURING OUR LESSONS
OPENING PREPARATION
A good opening isn’t about memorizing dozens of moves. It’s about understanding the ideas behind your position, avoiding common mistakes, and reaching the middlegame with confidence.
ANALYZE YOUR GAMES
The fastest way to improve is to understand your own mistakes. We’ll regularly analyze your games, identify recurring problems, and focus our training on the areas that need the most attention.
STRATEGY & PLANNING
Many players know tactical patterns but struggle to find a plan. I’ll help you improve your positional understanding so you can make better decisions, coordinate your pieces, and feel comfortable in unfamiliar positions.
ENDGAMES
Endgames often decide the result of close games, yet they’re one of the most overlooked parts of chess. We’ll study practical endgames that appear most often in real games and learn the key ideas behind them.
LEARN FROM GREAT PLAYERS
Studying the games of strong players is one of the best ways to develop your chess understanding. Together, we’ll explore their ideas, plans, and decision-making, not just memorize their moves.
PRACTICE GAMES
Learning doesn’t stop when the lesson ends. We’ll regularly play training games, discuss important moments, and apply the ideas we’ve worked on in real positions. Sometimes I’ll even give you an extra piece or more time, so every game remains both useful and enjoyable.
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