Chess Lessons &
Coaches in New York City
Find experienced chess teachers across NYC — from Grandmaster coaches for serious competitors to beginner-friendly classes for kids, adults, and scholastic players.
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Featured Coaches
Kasparov's principal coach (1991–1994) and leader of Soviet/Russian teams to 5 Chess Olympiad gold medals. FIDE Senior Trainer — the highest coaching title awarded by FIDE. Now teaching in NYC through Chess Max Academy.
Former World Junior Champion and one-time world No. 1 blitz player. Founder of Chess Max Academy with 40+ national champions trained. Coaches at every level from beginners to titled players.
8-time US Women's Chess Champion and the first American woman to earn the Grandmaster title (2013). Coaches through GM Chess Inc., the school she co-founded. Focus on positional depth and competitive performance.
US Co-Champion 2005, former coach of the US Women's Olympiad Team. Universally regarded as one of America's top chess coaches. Co-founded Master Chess for structured in-person and online coaching. Students coached to IM level and beyond.
2-time Georgian National Champion, World Open winner (2004, 2008, 2012), peak FIDE 2612. 20+ years coaching in the US — students include multiple National Youth Champions. Resident coach at the Marshall Chess Club and co-founder of GM Chess Inc.
3-time Uzbek National Champion, 2019 Marshall Club Champion, current NYS Champion. Primary resident GM coach at the Marshall Chess Club and lead instructor of the Marshall Chess Academy summer camps 2026.
International Master and active NYC scholastic coach. Known for structured, patient lessons that build solid fundamentals. Among the most accessible titled coaches in NYC — ideal for beginners, kids, and returning adult players.
Founder of Chessability NYC and the only coach in NYC with verified, long-standing expertise in chess for students with learning disabilities. Active programs at The Parkside School, Windward School, and Poly Prep. Private lessons since 2005.
Classes & Academies
Founded by GM Dlugy. Semester classes, private lessons, camps, and weekly USCF-rated tournaments. 40+ national champions trained.
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Sunday Junior Chess, Adult Classes, summer camps (GM-led, 1000+ USCF) and private instruction with resident GMs. 2026 camps: June 4 – Sep 9.
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Coaching school co-founded by GMs Krush, Kacheishvili, and Gelashvili. Private lessons and workshops spanning scholastic players through grandmaster level.
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NYC's largest chess instruction network. 60+ coaches matched to students. Free one-time evaluation. 17+ years operating. All levels from age 4.
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Community games café offering chess classes, private lessons, and workshops in a relaxed environment. Popular with kids, families, and adult beginners.
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Tiered private lessons matched to level: Standard (unrated–600), Plus (intermediate), Pro (advanced/master). 24-hour coach matching. Also supports USCF membership.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Private lessons typically range from $60–100/hour with an International Master, $80–180/hour with a Grandmaster, and up to $250+/hour for the most sought-after coaches. Group classes at academies like Chess Max Academy cost significantly less — often $30–60 per session. ChessNYC offers a free initial evaluation for all new students.
Not necessarily at first. For absolute beginners, group classes are often more cost-effective and equally effective. Private coaching becomes most valuable once a player understands the basics — typically around USCF 600–800. At that point, a coach can identify and fix specific weaknesses far faster than self-study.
Children can begin learning chess from age 4–5 with basic piece movements and simple tactics. Most NYC programs accept students from age 5 upward. ChessNYC, Chess Max Academy, and Little House of Chess all run programs for K–12 players across every level.
For most players, yes. Online lessons allow coaches to use screen-sharing, live databases, and engine analysis in real time — often more efficiently than over-the-board. Many of NYC's strongest coaches offer online sessions. The main advantage of in-person lessons is social engagement and, for younger children, the focus a physical presence provides.
No. Most coaches and programs here accept completely unrated students. A USCF rating is only required to play in official USCF-rated tournaments. If you plan to compete, your coach can guide you through getting membership and your first rated games. USCF membership starts at approximately $24/year for players under 19.
After-School & Scholastic Programs
Many NYC schools and organizations offer chess as part of after-school activities — ideal for K–12 students at beginner to intermediate levels.
Weekly Friday tournaments during the school year (CGPS, 26 W 94th St) and Bryant Park summer series. Most comprehensive scholastic calendar in NYC. K–12, all levels.
Visit Website →Weekly Saturday Grand Prix tournaments and after-school instruction at PS 230, PS 282, PS 33, PS 111, Trevor Day UES. Summer camps across NYC boroughs (June–August 2026).
Visit Website →Summer semester June 22 – September 6, 2026. Half-day and full-day options. Ages 5–18. Beginner to Advanced. Same coaching staff as regular academy programs.
Visit Website →Weekly sessions June 4 – September 9, 2026. Mon–Fri 9 AM – 4 PM. Led by GM Khamrakulov + additional GMs most weeks. Rating required: 1000+ USCF.
Visit Website →Weekly Friday USCF-rated events, G/25+5, 3-Round Robin. $25–$30 per event. Max 28 players — advance registration required. All levels welcome.
Find Events →Learn Online
Not in NYC, or prefer to learn from home? These platforms offer structured instruction from NYC-based coaches and creators.
IM Levy Rozman (Brooklyn-born, GothamChess — 7.6M YouTube subscribers) offers structured video courses from beginner to intermediate. Best self-study content available for new players.
Self-Study Visit Website →Co-founded by GM Alex Stripunsky and NM Matan Prilleltensky. Structured 10-week courses for kids and adults, beginner through master level. Highest quality curriculum designed for online delivery.
Online Program Visit Website →The full Chess Max Academy coaching roster available online. Students matched to a coach and given access to the Chess Max mobile app with assigned problem sets between sessions.
Private Lessons Visit Website →New to Chess? Start Here
Affordable options and group programs perfect for beginners and adult improvers.
Patient, encouraging titled coach for all ratings. Most accessible IM pricing in NYC.
All LevelsAffordable group classes across NYC. Free one-time evaluation — they match you to the right coach.
Group ClassesIndividual and group lessons in Brooklyn. Relaxed café atmosphere for all levels.
All LevelsGroup instruction by level and age at Chess Max Academy. Significantly cheaper than private lessons.
Group ClassesAre you a chess coach in NYC?
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