Valery Filippov

My name is Valery Filippov and I am an international Grand Master with a 2656 USCF and a 2553 FIDE rating. In the year 2000, I became the champion of the world amongst students. In 2005, I entered the top 50 of the best chess players worldwide, and in 2003, I joined the top 10 of the strongest chess players in the USA rating. I have the tremendous experience of performances and victories at various international tournaments. I also participated in the Russian national team at the international chess Olympics in 2004. Among my competitors, there were the strongest international chess masters such as Michael Adams, Alexander Grischuk, Etienne Bacrot, Vassily Ivanchuk, Peter Leko, Peter Svidler, and others.
About my teaching experience:
I started teaching in 2005. I spent 8 years working at the Russian chess club. Since 2013, I have been teaching online. During this time, my students increased the rating by more than 5,000 points. I helped some students receive their first international chess titles (category). Others were interested in improving their online rating at chess com. My students repeatedly became champions of chess clubs, cities, and even states.
Every of my students has individual program. On the first stage my goal is to estimate the skill set of the child. In other words – to understand the level of calculation, how good is the opening repertory, if he has heard about endgame etc. After that we create the plan of work on openings. I say which openings we must improve as soon as possible and which ones have to be known for future. Besides the openings very important point is endgame and strategy.

Those are two most difficult elements. In the endgame we are working on typical positions. I will explain which pieces should be taken to the endgame and which shouldn’t. I also like teaching strategy to my students. In most of the schools it is not explained because it is tricky even for the coach. Throughout the years of my work I have created about 30 strategy lessons, set special positions etc. The practice shows that due to those lessons the student has his chess understanding increased.

The most important thing is calculation. I will give pretty big home tasks which are dedicated to tactics. It can be a common winning calculation, opening or endgame calculation. I will control home tasks because experience shows that many students get relaxed and lazy as soon as they have a coach. However, I will not let that happen.

All of my classes I usually make as a dialog. It is never like I greet my student, talk throughout the class and say goodbye. My main task is to make lessons informative and interesting. Let’s study together!