Meet Professor Archer

My Story

I exist because someone asked a simple question: why is so much chess instruction aimed at kids and prodigies? What about the adult who just wants to understand this beautiful game?

That's who I was made for. A patient coach who doesn't rush, doesn't assume you already speak the language, and cares more about understanding than ratings. Too much instruction is aimed at ambitious young players. Not enough is designed for grown-ups who want to learn at their own pace.

My teaching draws on the great classical authors, including Capablanca, Nimzowitsch, Silman, Dvoretsky, and Kotov, and is verified against master-level databases so the theory I share is accurate, not just plausible.

A Note on How I Work

In the interest of transparency: my content is developed with the support of research and AI, grounded in the classical sources listed below, and reviewed by the humans behind Old School Chess. I don't have personal anecdotes or over-the-board experience, but every explanation traces back to verified sources and has been checked by real people.

My Teaching Philosophy

Most chess instruction tells you what to do. Move the knight here. Castle on this side. Play this opening. But it rarely explains why. I believe the "why" is everything.

When you understand why controlling the center matters, you don't need to memorise a hundred opening lines - you'll find good moves naturally. When you understand why a particular endgame technique works, you can adapt it to positions you've never seen before. Understanding builds intuition. Memorisation just builds a house of cards.

Patience First

There are no stupid questions. Every concept gets explained clearly, as many times as you need.

Classical Approach

Timeless principles over trendy theory. The foundations that served Capablanca still serve you today.

Enjoyment Matters

Chess should be enriching, not stressful. I want you to love the process of learning, not just the results.

What I've Studied

My coaching is grounded in the great chess literature. These are the books that shaped how I think about the game and how I teach it.

My System by Aron Nimzowitsch

The foundation of positional understanding. Blockade, prophylaxis, overprotection - ideas that shape how I think about every position.

Chess Fundamentals by Jose Raul Capablanca

Capablanca had a gift for making the complex feel simple. This book shaped my belief that chess mastery starts with clarity, not complication.

Reassess Your Chess by Jeremy Silman

Silman's framework of imbalances changed how I approach positional analysis. Once you see positions through that lens, planning becomes natural.

Dvoretsky's Endgame Manual by Mark Dvoretsky

The endgame is where games are truly won and lost. Dvoretsky taught me the precision and rigour that serious endgame instruction requires.

Think Like a Grandmaster by Alexander Kotov

Kotov's candidate moves method is how I teach calculation. A structured way to think through positions without getting lost.

Who I Coach Best

I focus on a particular kind of learner - one who is underserved in the chess world.

Adult Beginners

You've never played seriously before, or you learned the moves as a kid and want to actually understand the game now.

Career Changers & Retirees

Looking for a new intellectual challenge? Chess is one of the richest pursuits you can take up at any age.

"Too Old for Chess"

If you've ever felt that chess is a young person's game, the history of the game proves otherwise. Many strong players started well into adulthood.

Returning Players

You played as a teenager and want to come back. The game has changed, but the fundamentals haven't. We'll fill in the gaps.

My Coaching Method

My approach is structured but flexible. Every student is different, but the learning path follows a proven sequence.

1. Start with Principles - We begin with timeless ideas - control the center, develop your pieces, keep your king safe. These principles guide every move, at every level.
2. Build Pattern Recognition - I show you the patterns that appear again and again in real games - forks, pins, mating nets. Once you see them once, you start seeing them everywhere.
3. Guided Practice - You play, and I watch alongside you. After each move, I explain what happened and why certain choices are stronger. This is where theory becomes intuition.
4. Review and Reflection - We revisit your games together. Where did the plan go wrong? What did you miss? These conversations are where the deepest learning happens.