GambitFind the right chess teacher for your child.
Patient, rated instructors who teach through stories, puzzles, and the quiet thrill of a first discovered check.
We'll surface only 3–5 instructors matched to your child
Let's find your perfect instructor
Three questions. Takes sixty seconds. We'll surface only the instructors who fit.
How old is your child?
We match instructors who specialize in that age group.
Your matched teachers
Each instructor below was selected for patience, proven results with children, and a teaching style that makes chess feel like play.
Margaret Osei
USCF-Rated Instructor & Storyteller
Seattle, WA (also online)
"Every piece has a name and a personality. Once a child knows the knight wants to jump, the game becomes a story they can tell."
Margaret spent seven years as an elementary school librarian before becoming a full-time chess instructor. She weaves folktales into every lesson — the rook is a castle guardian, the bishop a traveling monk. Her students routinely say chess class is the highlight of their week.
David Lim
FIDE-Rated Coach & Tournament Mentor
Chicago, IL (also online)
"I played in college and wasted years learning bad habits. My job is to give kids the foundation I didn't have — so they can go further, faster."
David holds a FIDE rating of 2,180 and coached three students to state scholastic championships in 2024. A former finance analyst, he brings structured thinking to the board without losing the joy of the game. Parents describe him as "a dad who happens to be an expert."
Priya Nair
Certified Chess Educator & Game Designer
Austin, TX (also online)
"Puzzles are the best teacher. One good puzzle solved independently does more for a child's chess brain than ten lectures."
Priya studied game design at UT Austin before founding a chess enrichment program that now runs in fourteen Austin-area schools. Her lessons are built around handcrafted puzzle sets that gradually increase in difficulty. Parents love that their kids beg to do "homework" between lessons.
James Kowalski
USCF Master & Youth Development Coach
Brooklyn, NY (also online)
"I never rush a child. The moment they feel safe to make a mistake is the moment they start learning. Chess is patient — so am I."
James is a USCF Master (2,320) who spent a decade coaching in Brooklyn public schools before joining Gambit. His reputation for calm, unhurried teaching has made him one of the most requested instructors on the platform. Families with anxious or neurodivergent children particularly seek him out.
What families are saying
Real parents. Real outcomes. No incentivized reviews.
“My daughter used to cry when we mentioned anything structured. Margaret had her giggling about 'the bishop who traveled the world' within ten minutes. She now asks to practice on weekends.”
✓ Went from refusing to try → asking to play every day
Sarah Chen
Homeschool parent · daughter, age 7
with Margaret Osei
“I played in college and tried to teach him myself. It became a battle of wills. David came in and within three weeks my son was teaching ME things I'd forgotten. The patience David has is extraordinary.”
✓ Won his first scholastic tournament 4 months in
Marcus Williams
Chess-playing dad · son, age 10
with David Lim
“We needed something for Tuesday afternoons that wasn't another screen. Priya's puzzle-based lessons are so engaging that the kids actually compete to get there first. I've booked her for the whole school year.”
✓ Renewed program for second consecutive year
Angela Torres
After-school coordinator · group of 8 students, ages 8–11
with Priya Nair
“My son has ADHD and we've tried every enrichment activity. James somehow makes chess work for his brain — lots of movement, tactile pieces, no pressure. He's been going for eight months and never once complained.”
✓ Longest-running enrichment activity he's ever stuck with
Rachel Kim
Parent of neurodivergent child · son, age 9
with James Kowalski
“The quiz was the thing that got me. I've tried other directories and just felt overwhelmed. Here I answered three questions and saw four names. It felt like the site already knew my kid.”
✓ Booked a trial lesson within 15 minutes of landing on the page
Tom Okafor
Dad, first-time chess parent · daughter, age 8
with Margaret Osei
Scroll to read more stories
From quiz to first lesson
in under ten minutes
We built Gambit because other directories felt like phone books. This one feels like a recommendation from a friend.
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We surface 3–5 instructors who specialize in exactly your child's profile. Every profile includes ratings, a teaching philosophy quote, and real parent reviews.
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