FM Xiao Cheng

I have played chess for over 30 years, and have been teaching chess since 2015.

My goal is to help new players climb the chess 1000 rating ladder: chess1000.com/rating/

Individual Lesson: chess1000.com/lessons/
Group Class: chess1000.com/class

FIDE Master (FM)
U.S. Chess Life Master
First in the 2001 K-6 Grade Level Tournament
Tied for first in the 2002 K-6 Section of National Elementary School Tournament
Tied for first in the 2002 K-7 Grade Level Tournament
First in the 2005 SuperNationals K-12 section on tie-break
First in the 2006 GA State Championship
Tied for first in 2006 GA Class Premier Section

I've been teaching players of all experience and background.
Whether it's 5 years old just learning how the knight moves or adult players coming back to chess after a 20 years break, I always enjoy the teaching process.
#1 - Know My Student: Make sure I know who I'm teaching and why they're there. This helps me communicate with them in their language.
#2 - Actively listening to what my students are saying and responding to their questions in a meaningful way. This will help them feel engaged.
#3 - Encourage Participation: When teaching, it's important to get students involved. I guide students to answer questions based on their knowledge

Many of my students started as a new chess player and have improved their chess rating (US Chess Federation) from 0 to 1000 and 1500. Other than chess improvements, I also help students to gain more self-confidence, build patience, and improve critical thinking through chess.

chess1000.com

Youtube Videos
www.youtube.com/channel/UCZUVYvi8QEmPBXHAWGKag-A/videos
Many video are based on game analysis of students aiming to reach USCF 1000

chess1000.com/faq

Help students find short- and medium-term finish lines

Many students start playing chess with excitements. But after period of limited progress at different stages, they lose interests, and start to enjoy the game less.

My best skill is to help students define a short term goal and the necessary steps to reach that goal. Then we can build momentum on top of the previous goal.

Imagine being stuck in a race track. My goal is to help students unstuck and speed up the drive.

1. Game Analysis
2. Training Routine
3. Opening Preparation
Bonus: Confidence Building

I’ve tried a few different teaching methodologies with my students, and I’ve found that the best way to teach chess is with a combination of theory and practice.
First, I like to teach the fundamental of the game, how to NOT make simple mistakes. This is important for students to understand, so they can win games by not making unforced errors.
Next, I like to give my students plenty of practice. I’ll set up a miniature chessboard, with just two or three pieces, have them drill-in the basics of tactic patterns until it becomes second nature to see during games.
Once they’ve gotten comfortable with the patterns, I’ll expand their practice to a full board and have them work through puzzles and game situations with more complex set ups.
This allows them to put their theoretical knowledge into practice and learn how to effectively apply it in a real game.
Finally, I like to have my students play real games against each other, so they can learn more about their playstyle and hone their skills.
This is the best way for them to put everything they’ve learned into practice and get a feel for the game.
This teaching methodology has been effective for me, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking to learn and improve their chess playing skills.