PRIVATE CHESS LESSONS
Lessons shaped around the player.
Private lessons welcome students at every stage—from beginners learning the fundamentals to tournament competitors refining their game. Each lesson adapts to the player’s age, experience and goals.
- Standard lesson
- 60 minutes
- Price
- $50 + HST
- Format
- Online or in person
- Schedule
- By arrangement
HOW LESSONS WORK
A clear plan, adjusted as you improve.
Each lesson is shaped around the student, from the material and pace to the balance of instruction and play. For younger players, that means balancing structured learning with guided play, exploration and varied activities that keep them engaged.
Learn
Follow a lesson tailored to the student’s goals and needs, using Chess Steps where useful while making room for questions, productive tangents, breaks, chess history, tournament notation and whatever else supports their progress.
Apply
Work through positions, exercises and guided play instead of stopping at explanation.
Review
Review the student’s games with the Lichess analysis suite, learning how to use state-of-the-art tools and infer the chess logic behind engine suggestions.
Lessons may focus on
- Fundamentals
- Calculation
- Strategy
- Game analysis
- Lichess tools
- Tournament preparation
YOUR INSTRUCTORS
Meet the instructors.
Private lessons are currently offered through Toronto Chess Club by Peter and Jordan.
Founder, instructor & National Arbiter
Peter Lambert
Peter founded Toronto Chess Club in 2019, beginning with private lessons. A titled National Arbiter, experienced instructor and curriculum writer, he has taught in schools, organized rated tournaments and led a volunteer team at the 2024 FIDE Candidates Tournament. His lessons combine structured study with practical play and game analysis.
Instructor & educator
Jordan Burge
A longtime York Region DSB teacher and active rated chess player, Jordan brings extensive classroom and coaching experience to chess instruction. Warm, encouraging and creative in his approach, he is especially effective with elementary-aged youth. He also contributes to TCC’s Chess Steps teaching materials and has worked as an assistant arbiter at Toronto Chess Club’s Markham CYCC qualifiers.
START WITH A FREE INTRO
Meet first. Decide what comes next.
The free intro gives the student a chance to meet an instructor, try a few activities and get a sense of how we teach. It also helps us understand their current level and goals before recommending the next steps.
- 01
Tell us about the playerShare experience, goals and any scheduling needs.
- 02
Meet an instructorTry a short skill check and sample of the curriculum.
- 03
Arrange the next lessonIf it is a good fit, the instructor will arrange ongoing lessons directly.
Can lesson length change?
The standard lesson is 60 minutes. A different length may be arranged when it better suits the student.
How is travel billed for in-person lessons?
In-person lessons are available by arrangement. When an instructor travels to you, travel time is billed at the same hourly rate as the lesson. We’ll always confirm the travel time and total cost with you before arranging an in-person lesson. For example, if travel takes approximately 15 minutes each way, 30 minutes of travel time is added to the lesson fee. Travel time is calculated based on the instructor’s expected round-trip travel time from their starting location, using Google Maps or another standard mapping service. Travel is billed only for the time required for the instructor to travel to and from the lesson.
What if we need to reschedule?
Give the instructor as much notice as possible. We will try to find another time when notice allows; missed lessons and late cancellations are not refundable.