Meet the Coach
With over 30 years of dedicated experience in the world of competitive chess, I bring a deep understanding of the game and effective teaching methods to every lesson. My professional credentials and years of experience ensure my students receive the highest level of coaching, whether through individualized lessons or group classes.
I've worked with thousands of students and adults in chess education. My experience includes Boy Scouts of America chess merit-badge counselor, 4-H programs, afterschool programs, private chess camps, and service as BYU's Chess President for multiple years. I'm an official tournament director for the United States Chess Federation. My peak rating online is about 2350, and as a child I reached 18th in the nation for my age bracket.
Most important of all, I'm passionate about chess and even more so about your success. If you want a patient, experienced, and battle-hardened coach to help you maximize your gains, sign up now!
- Michael Munafo
Real Reviews, Real Results
Michael is a gifted and patient instructor! I 100% recommend him to anyone wanting to give their kids at any level some guidance in the world of chess!
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- Vance
- Daphne
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Programs
Join the Virginia, United States, and World Chess Community!
Virginia Chess Federation: https://www.vachess.org/
United States Chess Federation:
Chess.com: https://www.chess.com/home
The Richmond Chess Club:
International Chess Federation: https://www.fide.com/
Lichess:
Claim Your Free Intro Lesson
Spark your curiosity with a complimentary 30-minute trial session. Kids4Chess will evaluate your games and give personally tailored advice to optimize progression! Click on the underlined links below.
NEW STUDENTS HERE
Schedule free 30 minute meeting:
FREE 30 minute game review & lesson
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CURRENT STUDENTS
Schedule standard lesson options here:
Standard Chess Lesson
REFERRAL REWARDS
Schedule your FREE full length lesson here, available once your referral schedules a standard lesson:
Referral reward lesson!
What to expect from lessons?
Free lessons are 30-minute trial lessons to review where a student is at, and to give useful guidance going forward. They are also meant to see if coach and student are a good fit!
Standard lessons are typically 50 minutes long, complete with post-lesson reports sent to the email of the family involved. These post reports will contain a lesson summary, how the student performed, and homework I expect them to complete in preparation for next lesson.
Frequency and goals
Students should schedule lessons at their own pace and aptitude! I will always try to keep lessons fun while focusing on the goal of success at tournament events. Typically, students schedule once per week.
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Success as a metric
ALL of my students experience tremendous strength increases. This is usually seen in online rating gain and then success in competitive tournaments. This is because I analyze every students play and learning style, thoughtfully plan on how best to train them, and then adapt lessons suited uniquely to their challenges to maximize gains.
More questions about my curriculum or pricing? Click here!
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