Private Lessons

Private (1:1) Chess Lessons
by
Life Senior Master Mick Bighamian
&
Other club instructors

The Los Angeles Chess Club, as the premier Chess Club Southern California, provides instructors offering “Private Lessons” to individuals and groups interested in improving their knowledge of the Royal Game at an accelerated pace.

Private Lesson is an excellent way to learn, implement, and achieve desired results for ambitious players who believe they need a fast approach to unleash their inner talents using the best available methodology.

Of course, one’s interest – as the most important factor in achieving this goal - must be accommodating as well.

12-Hour Package

(The Premium package)

(This 6-session package fully provides all the necessary tools in order to gain a respectable understanding of the game – up to around 2000/2200 USCF rating – Expert/ Master strength)

1. OPENING                                               (2 hours)

• Gaining and maintaining the initiative (momentum) as White
• Equalizing as Black and gaining the initiative
• Coherency of your Opening and defenses
• Top 10 Openings for White and Black

2. MIDDLE GAME                                      (2 hours)

• Discussion on 4 stages of the Middle game as well as
• 5 types of Central Pawn Formations and
• Applicable middle game principles (i.e. Mobility, Harmony, Force, Space, etc.)

3. ENDGANE                                              (2 hours)

• Reviewing all types of end-games with their underlying principles (e.g. Accuracy, Time, Efficiency)
• Covering various endgame themes with game examples

 4. POSITION EVALUATION                     (1 hour)

• Analyzing a position in depth
• Discussing permanent and temporary advantages, as well as 
• 5 factors of assessing a position

 5. TACTICS                                                (1 hour)

• Covering various tactical and combinational patterns
• Discussing their recognition and tactical implementations
• Qualitative and Quantitative advantages
• Tactical examples to review 

 6. PLANNING                                              (2 hours)

• Factors in a through position evaluation
• Conceiving a plan
• Executing it step by step

7. DIET/ PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS, DRAWS      (1 hour) 

• 12 Brain boosters
• Role of psychology in improving your game 
• When and how to offer/accept/reject a draw and why

8. PRACTICE GAME                                     (1 hour)

• Utilizing reviewed principles in a practice game

6-Hour Package

(The Basic package)

(This package covers all the basics on various areas of chess to prepare one in reaching around 1600 USCF rating*- Category ‘C’ strength)

1. OPENING                                                    (1 hour)

• 10 commandments of the Opening!
• Opening principles and their underlying ideas

2. MIDDLE GAME                                           (1 hour)

• Various Middle-game Motifs and their application

3. ENDGAME                                                  (1 hour)

• Discussing basic end-games and their principles

4. TACTICS                                                     (1 hour)

• Discussing Major and Minor tactical themes
• Covering various tactical patterns with examples

5. POSITION EVALUATION                           (1 hour)

• 5 factors of assessing a position properly

6. PRACTICE GAME                                       (1 hour)

• Applying reviewed principles in a practical game with the instructor

Topic-Specific Sessions

This is ideal for players interested in strengthening specific area(s) of their game in a few sessions only.

Topics discussed may include:

• Playing practice games; in order to accentuate your strengths and pinpoint your weaknesses 
• Game Analysis (analysis of your played games and specifying weak areas)
• Opening principles and underlying concepts (best Opening for YOUR style!)
• Middle game (various pawn formations [5 types] and/or stages [4])
• End game (various end games and related principles)
• Tactical Patterns (23 major and minor tactical themes in chess with multiple examples)
• Positional Themes (breaking down the elements
• Psychological Factors (factors affecting your game on and off the board!)
• Draw Offers (when to offer/accept/reject draws; and WHY?)
• Position Evaluation (5 factors in assessing a position systematically and scientifically)
• Planning (single and multi-phase planning in ANY position; based on a thorough evaluation)
• Others (certain Openings, Middle games, End games, Tactical patters, Plans, etc.

 RATES

• 12- Hour package:            $650 at the club/ $750 offsite
• 6- Hour package:              $350 at the club/ $400 offsite
• Hourly rate:                        $65 at the club/ $75 offsite

Additional goodies:

• Each package includes 1 free session
• You receive a binder of covering materials to keep – presented in the 1st session
• You receive a free 1-day tournament at the club on any Saturday or Sunday afternoon tournament
• Prepaid on the 1st session

Note:

• As these sessions provide the student with the ‘theoretical knowledge’ – enabling one with a well-structures approach - another package of ‘Practice’ sessions (e.g. playing against the instructor, analyzing games, reviewing great games in history, etc.) is the most ideal complement to this package - in order to apply acquired knowledge to practical games.
• There is a 10% discount for additional packages.

CONTACTS

• email                                                      Mick@LAChessClub.com
• cell & messages                                 (310) 795-5710
• Free consultation -                               by phone or in person at the club