IM Karthik Rajaa

Hey chess folks!

This is Karthik Rajaa of Tamil Nadu, India. I achieved the title of International Master in 2024 and am thrilled to help people who have the passion to learn and improve their game.

Link to my FIDE profile : ratings.fide.com/profile/25035215
Contact : chesstraining888@gmail.com

I offer :
1. Personalized teaching
2. Group lectures
3. Training games / Sparring
4. Tournament preparation / Game analysis

𝘿𝙚𝙢𝙤 𝙘𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙨 ✅️

I have been playing chess from 8 years of age. In 2018, while joining college I was only a 1700+ rated player. But with dedication, hard work and tons of self preparation alongside with some guidance, I was able to cross the 2300 mark.

➤ Currently I hold 4 IM norms with a published IM title. (Peak live rating 2405)
➤ Multiple rapid tournament victories and runner ups.
➤ Winner and runner of several closed tournaments.
➤ Multiple times CBSE interzone team medalist and board prize winner.
➤ Most memorable victory was winning the gold in All India Inter Zone Inter University Men 2019 (Representing Anna University)
➤ Drew against my very first super GM encounter OTB in the first round of Abu Dhabi masters 2024
➤ Participated in the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Team Championships

✦ 𝙈𝙮 𝘾𝙤𝙖𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙅𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙚𝙮:

➜ I have over 3 years of teaching experience and have helped my students with tournament preparation.
➜ I am currently providing lessons for people between the FIDE ratings 1600 - 2200.
➜ Assisting friends with opening preparation.

✦ 𝙎𝙩𝙪𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨' 𝘼𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨:

➜ Crossing 2000 ELO in FIDE ratings
➜ Crossing 2200 ELO in FIDE ratings
➜ FM titles
➜ National Winners & Runners
➜ Commonwealth medalists
➜ Open tourneys runner-ups

I show great interest in science and technology and am also very good in problem solving.
Following are my academic achievements :
* Scored 94 percentile in CBSE 10th board examination.
* Scored 94.4% in my 12th CBSE board examination.
* BE. Mechanical engineer graduated from SSN college of engineering (2018-2022 batch with 8.5 CGPA)
Besides, sometimes I provide small engineering solutions for household purposes.

➜ I am a sportsperson & also love playing Badminton 🏸

* 𝙋𝙡𝙖𝙮𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩 :
➤ I embrace positional play and love grinding my opponents.
➤ My tactical awareness is also good.

* 𝙏𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩 :
➤ Structural opening preparation ── Sharing opening ideas & middlegame plans for the same, and helping students build a repertoire on their own.
➤ Middlegames ── Strategy, Positional play, Attacking plans & many more...
➤ Endgames ── Theoretical endgames, Endgame technique

If necessary I help my students with opening preparation for individual rounds as well.
Also, I do provide moral support during tournaments.

Before working on advanced concepts, I focus on building a strong foundation.
My coaching approach is centered on helping students develop a deeper understanding of the game through a structured learning process:

➤ Eliminating recurring mistakes: I first identify and correct habitual errors that may be limiting a student's progress.
➤ Developing the right thought process: I help students improve their decision-making and guide them toward a more effective way of thinking during the game.
➤ Strengthening key areas: I assess each student's strengths and weaknesses, then focus on improving the areas that need the most attention.

My overall goal is to enhance each student's game knowledge, calculation ability, visualization skills, and overall understanding, enabling them to play with greater confidence and consistency.

﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌
What I actually do during the sessions & after the sessions?

𝐃𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧;
➤ Puzzles to slove with time limit (tactical, positional, studies, practical decision making & several other concepts)
➤ Lectures (decoding top-level games) and impersonation
➤ Explaining openings (move-by-move) with middlegame pawn structures
➤ Blindfolded thinking
➤ Summarizing (depending on the topic taken)
➤ Middlegame themes (book based)
➤ Theoretical & Practical endgames
➤ Critical moments from my games
➤ Sharing my perspective, my tournament experiences & so on...

𝐀𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧;
➤ Weekly or regular interactive homeworks on a personalized lichess study (based on the topics taken during the session(s))
➤ Personalized lichess study where all the class material is uploaded so that students can access it anywhere & anytime