Learn from a coach who has done it.
One-on-one chess lessons with Coach Matt Shirvell: a peak US Chess rating of 1940, more than ten years teaching in Connecticut, and a tournament director who has run some of the largest events in the state. $100 for sixty minutes, any age, any level, anywhere.
- 1940
- Peak US Chess rating
- 10+
- Years teaching in Connecticut
- TD
- US Chess tournament director
- 60 min
- On Zoom, one-on-one
Matthew Shirvell, Coach Matt.
Coach Matt is an avid chess player who has been teaching chess in Connecticut for more than ten years, with a peak US Chess rating of 1940. He has competed in US Chess tournaments across the country and worked as a tournament director running some of the largest events in the state.
His students set a goal and get a plan to reach it. In January 2023 one of them took sole first place in a US Chess event with a perfect score.
Lessons are on Zoom, so a student in Milford and a student three time zones away get the same hour of attention. Most families book a weekly slot and keep it.
- Peak US Chess rating 1940
- Ten years teaching, ages six to adult
- US Chess tournament director
- Students from first game to tournament wins
Immortal Game. A position Coach Matt uses in the first lesson on calculation.
Built around your games.
- Your games, first
- Send games from club night, a tournament, or online. The lesson starts with what actually happened on your board.
- Openings you can keep
- A repertoire sized to your level and the time you have to study, with the ideas behind the moves, not just the moves.
- Tactics and calculation
- Pattern work and a method for calculating, so the combination is seen before it is on the board.
- Endgames that win
- The handful of endings that decide most amateur games, drilled until they are automatic.
- Tournament preparation
- Clock management, opening choices for the event, and how to handle a bad round.
- For younger players
- Notation, good habits at the board, sportsmanship, and the patience to look for a better move.
Three steps to the first lesson.
- 01Request a time
Tell us who the lesson is for, their level, and the days and times that work. Any time zone.
- 02Confirm and pay
Coach Matt replies within one business day with available times and a secure card link. Nothing is charged until a time is confirmed.
- 03Meet on Zoom
A link arrives by email. Most students continue weekly on a set day, with homework between lessons.
Before you book.
- Who are lessons for?
- Anyone from a first game to about 1800. Children from around six with a parent nearby for the first sessions, teenagers, adults picking the game back up, and tournament players who want a plan.
- Do I need a Zoom account?
- No. The invitation link opens in a browser. A laptop or tablet with a camera is enough. A free chess.com or lichess account helps for analysis and homework.
- How much is a lesson?
- $100 for a 60-minute one-on-one lesson on Zoom. Weekly lessons follow a structured curriculum; single lessons for a game review or tournament prep are welcome too.
- Can we meet in person?
- Lessons are on Zoom so students anywhere can book them. In Milford, Connecticut, Coach Matt is also at club nights and tournaments, where members play free.
- What if we need to reschedule?
- Give 24 hours' notice and the lesson moves to another time at no charge. Inside 24 hours a $25 fee applies to a cancellation.
- Who teaches?
- Coach Matt teaches every lesson. As the academy adds instructors, they appear on this page with their own availability.
Request a lesson
Coach Matt replies within one business day with times that work and a secure payment link. A copy goes to your inbox.