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, Michael, Jordan, Shon and Joel.
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. He also leads Academy classes in Oakville.
FIDE Master Instructor
Michael Humphries
Michael is a seasoned chess coach with more than 15 years of experience. His students are often among the top contenders at junior events, including the Canadian Youth Chess Championship. As a player, he earned the FIDE Master title for his performance at the 2012 Canadian Closed Championship, competed in prestigious invitational events including the Quebec Invitational and Calgary International, and is a six-time Annex Chess Club champion. Outside chess, Michael is an avid distance runner who has completed six marathons.
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 Toronto Chess Club’s Chess Steps teaching materials and has worked as an assistant arbiter at the club’s Markham CYCC qualifiers. He leads Academy classes in Markham West.
National Master Instructor
Shon Lazarev
Shon has played competitive chess since he was 11, stemming from playing constantly with his grandfather, father and brothers in his youth. He achieved his National Master title in July 2026 and has won classical, rapid and blitz tournaments. He has taught students one-on-one and in class settings with Yalla Chess Club, Markham Chess Club and Chess Institute of Canada. Fluent in English and Hebrew, with working fluency in French and Russian, Shon also founded and manages the online Thornhill Chess Club, where he has organized more than 70 CFC-rated tournaments since 2020.
Instructor
Joel Robertson
Joel first discovered chess in the sixth grade and quickly became fascinated, spending evenings, weekends and summers playing online and learning everything he could about the game. In high school, he co-founded the Mount Allison University Chess Club in Sackville, New Brunswick; in 2015, he helped found a chess club at Bishop McAllister College in Kyogera, Uganda. Since relocating to Toronto in 2022, he has taught weekly classes at dozens of schools. He makes chess fun, engaging and memorable through stories and metaphors young students can relate to, hoping to create lifelong players who appreciate the beauty of the game. He leads Academy classes in Markham East.
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.