Looking for chess lessons? The coaches below have asked to be listed by Hammersmith Chess Club. Between them they teach everyone from complete beginners to strong tournament players, adults and juniors, online and face to face.
Finding a coach. Use the filters to narrow the list by student, level and type of lesson. Each entry shows the coach’s own playing rating and the student levels they are happy to teach. Read their introduction, then email them about what you’d like to work on, when you’re free and what they charge.
Please note. This list is a service to members, to help you get in touch with fellow members who offer private coaching. Any lessons are a private arrangement between you and the coach. The club does not employ, recommend or vet the coaches listed, and takes no responsibility for them or for the coaching they provide. It is up to you to satisfy yourself that a coach is suitable. If you are arranging lessons for a child, that includes asking about safeguarding, such as whether the coach holds a current DBS check.
Student
Student’s level (ECF)
Lessons
Tom Villiers
ECF 2320 · FIDE 2234
Coaches: Adults and juniors
Levels: Beginners (under 900), Advanced beginners (900 to 1,300), Intermediate (1,300 to 1,700), Advanced (1,700 to 2,100), Super advanced (over 2,100)
Format: Online or face-to-face
Where: At the student’s home
Fees: £70–90, depending on location
I’ve been coaching for over 10 years all levels of players, bringing my attacking style of chess together with solid general principles to help improve all aspects of a student’s game.
Tony Niccoli
ECF 2230 · FIDE 2031
Coaches: Adults and juniors
Levels: Beginners (under 900), Advanced beginners (900 to 1,300), Intermediate (1,300 to 1,700), Advanced (1,700 to 2,100)
Format: Online or face-to-face
Where: Flexible
Fees: Contact to discuss
I have been a full time chess coach for over 20 years and have worked with all levels of players.Read more
I have been a full time chess coach for over 20 years and have worked with all levels of players. I have taught many children that have played for England, with several of my former students having now become titled players.
Luke Lau
ECF 2201 · FIDE 2229
Coaches: Adults and juniors
Levels: Beginners (under 900), Advanced beginners (900 to 1,300), Intermediate (1,300 to 1,700), Advanced (1,700 to 2,100)
Format: Online or face-to-face
Where: At the student’s home, if the commute is reasonable
Fees: £60–80 an hour, depending on travel, format, level and preparation
I am a FIDE Candidate Master with a 2200+ FIDE rating, and a 2800+ blitz rating on chess.com. I actively compete in over-the-board rated tournaments across all time controls.Read more
I am a FIDE Candidate Master with a 2200+ FIDE rating, and a 2800+ blitz rating on chess.com. I actively compete in over-the-board rated tournaments across all time controls. Having been the Hong Kong Champion in 2022 and the federation’s No.1 rated player for several years, I have represented Hong Kong in several continental- and world-level events, including the 2016 and the 2022 World Chess Olympiads. In terms of education, I have an undergraduate degree in psychology and a master’s degree in cognitive neuroscience.
While in Hong Kong, before I moved to London in early 2023, I worked for a few chess academies teaching individual and group classes. After I moved to London, I have also worked as a private coach, and as a junior coach at the Hammersmith Chess Club during the 2023-24 season.
My background in psychology and cognitive neuroscience has strongly influenced my approach to coaching. I am interested not only in what a student needs to know, but also in how they think, learn and make decisions during a game. My main emphasis is on helping students understand the ideas behind the theories and concepts they are learning and recognise and apply those ideas in different positions. I believe this is of paramount importance to students becoming independent players who are aware of their own strengths and weaknesses, and therefore they can do their own independent studies and practices for their own improvement. For this reason, I place particular emphasis on analysing students’ games, as this allows me to understand the reasoning behind their decisions and help them make better decisions in their future games.
Gastón Franco
ECF 2195 · FIDE 2106
Coaches: Adults
Levels: Beginners (under 900), Advanced beginners (900 to 1,300), Intermediate (1,300 to 1,700), Advanced (1,700 to 2,100)
Format: Face-to-face
Where: The student’s home, or a pub or coffee shop
Fees: £60–80, depending on location
As an active player and current Club Captain, my coaching would be focused on improving practical decisions through a mix of analysis of the student’s games and…Read more
As an active player and current Club Captain, my coaching would be focused on improving practical decisions through a mix of analysis of the student’s games and my own collection of thematic training materials (some of which I’ve occasionally used in lectures at the club!)
Alejandro Gonzalez Vega
FIDE 2092 (no ECF rating)
Coaches: Adults and juniors
Levels: Advanced beginners (900 to 1,300), Intermediate (1,300 to 1,700), Advanced (1,700 to 2,100), Super advanced (over 2,100)
Format: Online
Where: Online only
Fees: £20 for a 55-minute session
Chess has been my passion since I was a little boy. I never had a coach, so I strive to be the best coach I can to help those who, like me, love this beautiful sport…Read more
Chess has been my passion since I was a little boy. I never had a coach, so I strive to be the best coach I can to help those who, like me, love this beautiful sport and aspire to achieve mastery. It is my pleasure to offer my chess and methodological knowledge to anyone who seeks a committed coach with their athletes.
Adam Cranston
ECF 1838 · FIDE 1821
Coaches: Adults and juniors
Levels: Beginners (under 900), Advanced beginners (900 to 1,300), Intermediate (1,300 to 1,700)
Format: Face-to-face
Where: The coach’s home or the student’s home
Fees: From £60 an hour
I have been involved with chess for many years, and have previously run beginners’ courses at Hammersmith Chess Club and at my own academy.Read more
I have been involved with chess for many years, and have previously run beginners’ courses at Hammersmith Chess Club and at my own academy. I am also an experienced mathematics tutor.
I try to teach chess through guiding principles, with a focus on recognising common patterns and prioritising active play.
Kishan Pattni
ECF 1741 · FIDE 1732
Coaches: Adults and juniors
Levels: Beginners (under 900), Advanced beginners (900 to 1,300)
Format: Face-to-face
Where: Privately or at the MindSports Centre
Fees: No private availability at present. Happy to volunteer at non-profit club nights, or to negotiate paid sessions
Hi, I’m Kishan. Chess has been a lifelong passion of mine, and I have been teaching professionally for over 15 years across several London schools, in private lessons,…Read more
Hi, I’m Kishan. Chess has been a lifelong passion of mine, and I have been teaching professionally for over 15 years across several London schools, in private lessons, and through voluntary coaching for children from underprivileged backgrounds.
As an active ECF arbiter and event organiser, my primary focus and time are dedicated to coaching and supporting the chess community. I specialise in working with players under 1300 ECF/FIDE, helping them build solid foundations and lasting confidence, though I also enjoy guiding stronger players looking to refine their game.
Jenny Mulholland
ECF 1274 · FIDE 1437
Coaches: Adults
Levels: Beginners (under 900)
Format: Online or face-to-face
Where: Student’s home or a café, depending on location (based in NW3)
Fees: From £50 an hour, depending on travel time
I coach adult beginners in chess, particularly women.Having been an adult beginner myself, and now an experienced club and tournament player, having also co-founded…Read more
I coach adult beginners in chess, particularly women.
Having been an adult beginner myself, and now an experienced club and tournament player, having also co-founded my own chess club, I understand both the joys and challenges of taking up chess as an adult.
Working with a chess coach can make the learning easier, more fun, and more personal. I would describe myself as a patient and passionate coach, who is keen to help students progress at their own pace.
Elias Lageder
Chess.com rapid ~2000 · Chess.com blitz ~1550 (no ECF or FIDE rating)
Coaches: Adults and juniors
Levels: Beginners (under 900), Advanced beginners (900 to 1,300)
Format: Online or face-to-face
Where: Student’s home or a hired room, depending on location
Fees: £20–30 an hour
Hey, I’m Elias, 27, and very interested in chess. My only coaching experience comes from teaching some of my beginner friends.Read more
Hey, I’m Elias, 27, and very interested in chess. My only coaching experience comes from teaching some of my beginner friends. My coaching style will be focused on games you play which we would analyse together and depending on where we find critical mistakes, we can then review openings, tactics or endgame theory.
Personally, I think my strengths at my current level are in the opening and middle game.