Online chess lessons with Howard
Know exactly what to work on next.
Friendly, practical beginner chess lessons for new and improving players, built on the games you actually play. I teach simple beginner chess principles that help you learn chess fast and stop giving away pieces.
Chess.com Classroom, about 9am to 1pm Eastern, seven days a week.
The aim is simple: find the habits that cost you games, fix them one at a time, and leave every lesson with a clear next step.
How my beginner chess lessons work.
We start from your own games and look for habits that are costing you rating points.
Each lesson builds on the last one, so you always know what you're working on and why.
A focus on understanding basic chess principles, and deepening your understanding on the important ingredients of chess tactics.
Share a game
Send me a recent game through the Submit your game page, or bring one to the lesson.
Find the pattern
We go through it together and find the mistake that keeps showing up.
Train it
We work on that one thing with simple principles and basic tactics like forks and pins.
Play and repeat
Your next games show what's sticking and what to look at next.
Two parts to every hour.
Every lesson is 60 minutes, 1-on-1, on Chess.com Classroom.
Review
We review one of your games move by move, and I show you how to review your own games so you can keep improving on your own.
Practice
We play out positions from your game and practice the ideas until they feel natural.
A training path that fits you.
Openings
Opening principles: develop your pieces, control the center, and get your king safe, without memorizing long lines.
Tactics
Not hanging pieces, and spotting basic tactics like forks and pins, for you and for your opponent.
Finishing games
Turning a winning position into an actual win, calmly and without giving your opponent chances.
Start with one lesson.
Your first lesson is a regular 60-minute lesson. Here's what we do:
- Look at one of your recent games together
- Find the one habit that's costing you the most
- Leave with a clear thing to work on next
Book a lesson with meper 60-minute lesson, booked and paid right here
Chess.com Classroom · about 9am–1pm Eastern, daily
Hi, I'm Howard, your online chess coach.
I'm Howard Dixon, rated about 1950 USCF and FIDE (peak Chess.com rating 2150). I coach club players around 800–1400 using simple, practical principles you can actually remember.
I came back to chess in 2022 at 42, rated about 1690, and passed 1950 within two years.
- At 1600 I beat Charles Diebert (2203) and Paul Miller (1800)
- At 1700s I beat Thomas Britt (2210), Stephen Wygle (2200) and Daryl Skinner (1865)
- At 1800s I beat Amogh Tripathi (2255) and Abinav Dinesh (1982)
- At 1900s I beat Stephen Wygle (2200), Eric Korting (1827) and Josemari Abutal (1900, twice)
- Against 2200+: 5 wins, 1 draw, 4 losses. Peak 1972.
I teach friends at the Marysville Chess Club, now online too, and run Beginner-Chess-principles on YouTube.
Watch me explain the basics.
Beginner game reviews and basic principles Shorts on my YouTube channel, Beginner-Chess-principles.
Blunderer
One move is a blunder, one is brilliant. Pick the good move and build your rating.
Want free practice first?
Try the Knight Forker puzzle or send a game for feedback.
Common questions.
Where do lessons happen?
In the Chess.com Classroom.
What does a beginner chess coach do?
A beginner chess coach reviews your games with you and finds the mistakes that keep coming back. Then you get a focused plan built on simple principles, sound openings and basic tactics, so you always know what to work on next.
When are you available?
About 9am to 1pm Eastern, seven days a week.
What do I need?
Just a free Chess.com account.
What level are lessons for?
Club players rated roughly 800–1400, and anyone who wants to learn chess online with a clear plan.
How much does a lesson cost?
$40 for a 60-minute lesson, booked and paid on this site.
What if I need to cancel?
Reply to your booking confirmation and we'll find a new time.
Ready to know what to study next?
Book a 60-minute lesson and leave with a clear plan.
Book a lesson with me