Find a Private Coach

The following is a list of private chess coaches in our area (or serving our area via Zoom).  HRCA offers this list as a community benefit but does not get involved in private contracts between coaches and students.  We provide this free locator service to help you find a coach to improve your chess.  Feel free to contact them directly to arrange lessons!

***Hampton Roads Chess Association (HRCA) does not accept responsibility, financial or otherwise, for any events or services hosted by individuals or other groups. Listings of events and services does not imply endorsement of any individual, group, or organization.***

Justin Armstrong: Justin is a class B (~1750) chess player who has been playing competitive chess for over 27 years. He has been a chess player in the Hampton Roads area for 25 years. Justin has experience teaching chess in online environments (zoom, discord, etc), classroom environments, and in-person tutoring. Justin is able to help players ranging from beginners to 1500 improve their chess skills. He focuses on game analysis, openings, and chess essentials.  Justin is a US Chess certified District Chess Coach (Level II renewal pending).  He has passed a background check run by HRCA (renewal pending).  His rate is $25/hr. Contact Justin at vindir@gmail.com or (text only) 757-646-9397.   ***Proficient in Zoom for online training*** Based in Franklin.

Jack Bustillos:  Jack is a Class C (around 1475) rated player who has been playing competitive chess for over 7 years.  Jack has 6 kids of his own, 5 of whom play chess.  Jack has coached at multiple schools and at Hampton Roads Scholastic Chess Club.  He is available afternoons and evenings for private lessons.  Jack is a US Chess certified District Chess Coach.  He has passed a background check run by HRCA.  His rate is $35/hour.  Contact Jack at bustamovejjb@gmail.com or 757-339-4869. ***Proficient in Zoom for online training*** Based in Norfolk.

Christian Carrasco:  Christian is a class A player (~1900) who started playing chess when he was seven years old.  Christian has a lot of experience with adult chess tournaments, as he normally plays in them; he is in grade 10 and loves to teach.  One of his bigger accomplishments recently has been 4th place in the Washington Chess Congress annual tournament for under 1900. He has two year of experience coaching for a school and community chess programs.  Christian would focus on whatever your child would like to learn. He will be in the King’s Grant area on Little Neck Road and his rate is $20/hour.  Christian can be reached at revcarrasco@hotmail.com.   Christian’s US Chess Local Coach Certification is pending.  HRCA does not background check minors. ***Proficient in Zoom for online training*** Based in Virginia Beach.

Igor Chouzhyk:  Igor is a Class B (1600+, peak 1892 in blitz) active club player who has been playing in USCF rated tournaments for 10+ years. He has passed a background check run by HRCA and is in the process of obtaining US Chess coach certification.  He is currently coaching for HRCA school and community chess programs.  Igor is available in the evenings and weekends for in person or online coaching. His rate is $20/hr and can be reached via email at igorok1991@gmail.com. ***Proficient in Zoom for online training*** Based in Suffolk and Portsmouth.

Nate Edmonds:  Nate is a Class A Player (around 1800 USCF) player who has been playing competitive chess for over 40 years. He is retired Civil Service Worker from Norfolk Naval Station. Nate is former Virginia State Expert champion in the 1990’s. Nate has competed in USCF-rated events off and on for the last 40 years playing in the World Open and the New York Open. Nate played in Zofchak Memorial Tournament Open Section in (2019) tying for second place. Nate is a Chess coach of the Hampton Roads Chess Club and lives in Norfolk. He is single with one son Richard Edmonds. Nate is a US Chess certified District Chess Coach. He has passed a background check run by HRCA. His rate is $25/hour and he focuses on using proven pattern recognition training techniques, ChessBase computer-aided study tools, computer forensic game analysis, mastering endgame techniques. Contact Nate at nathanieledmonds186@gmail.com or at 757-490-6444. ***Proficient in Zoom for online training*** Based in Norfolk.

Bryan Flores:  Bryan is a Class B Player (around 1600) who has been playing competitive chess for about 30 years and just retired last year from the Norfolk Police Department. Bryan has three sons and is the coach at Kings Fork High School in Suffolk where his youngest son attends. He is new to coaching chess but has learned a lot in the past couple of months from coaching this large chess club. Bryan is a US Chess certified District Chess Coach (Level II renewal pending).  He has passed a background check run by HRCA (renewal pending).  His rate is $20/ hour.  He lives in Suffolk and his schedule rotates currently, so please email him at bkflores1@gmail.com or call 757-763-9991 for availability. Based in Suffolk.

Zac Howland:  Zac is a Class B (~1650 USCF) player who started playing competitive chess at the age of 35 with an initial rating of ~850.  Over the course of the last 6 years, he has gained an average of almost 200 rating points per year using a systematic approach to improving.  Zac is currently coaching HRCA school chess programs.  He has passed a background check and is undergoing Local coach certification.  His rate is $25/hour and he can be reached via email at smashingpawns@gmail.com or 757.453.5490. ***Proficient in Zoom for online training*** Based in Suffolk.

NM Nemanja Milanovic: Nemanja is originally from Serbia and has been a Candidate Master (FIDE) for the past 10 years.  Nemanja is a US Chess National Master player with a rating of 2259.  He was a Serbian state champion on a few occasions.  Nemanja has 12 months of experience as a coach at an elementary school in Serbia and upon catching the attention of HRCA in October 2017 was immediately snapped up as a private and school coach based on his gentle and patient nature with kids.  He has since been coaching HRCA school chess programs. Nemanja has passed a background check run by HRCA and is a US Chess certified District level coach (Level II renewal pending).  His rate is $40/hour and can be reached either by text or email (preferred). Contact Nemanja at nemanjamilanovic@yahoo.com or 757-927-9541. ***Proficient in Zoom for online training*** Based in Virginia Beach.

NM Daniel Miller: Daniel is reigning and 6-time Virginia Champion and select invitee to the American School of Chess limited to the 8 most promising juniors in the country in 1990.  He has 28 years chess coaching experience teaching all ages, from age 6 to 70. He is a National Master rated over 2300.  He excels at teaching at a student’s own pace, while focusing on detailed endgame study, planning individual training methods, and providing game analysis and opening review. He will also analyze games and direct study time in between lessons.   He can teach online on both Chess.com and ICC, as well as using Zoom to discuss positions with students in real time.  Daniel has passed a background check run by HRCA and currently coaches Masters classes for HRCA via Zoom. His rate is $40/hour for Zoom classes ($200 minimum).  $75 for live classes.  Contact Daniel at dmilleresq@live.com or 757-560-4984. ***Proficient in Zoom for online training *** Zoom only – not local to Hampton Roads.

Conrad Schesventer:  Conrad is a Class D (1200+) player who has been playing competitively for about 5 years.  He was a coach with the Hampton Roads Scholastic Chess Club and is qualified to work with beginners.  His rates are between $10-15/hour.  Contact Conrad for his availability (south side) at Conrad564@aol.com.  Based in Virginia Beach.

Henry Singletary: Henry is a Class B (USCF 1600+, peak 1800 +) chess player who has been playing chess for 40 years and coaching chess for 30 years. He has passed a background check run by HRCA. He is currently teaching chess classes at the YMCA in Suffolk. He would focus on whatever you want to learn about chess. He teaches online full-time so he has a flexible schedule. He is available on weekdays, afternoons, evenings and weekends. His rate is $25/hour. Henry can be reached at hlsjcpa@yahoo.com or his cellphone 240-481-9987. *** Proficient in Zoom for online training*** Based in Suffolk but willing to travel to Franklin and Chesapeake as well.

Matt Thomas:  Matt is currently a Class D (1200+) player.  He is an active tournament player and began coaching for HRCA school chess programs during the 2019-2020 season.  He is well suited to teach beginners.  Matt is currently undergoing Local Chess Coach certification with US Chess and has passed a background check run by HRCA.  Matt’s rate is $20/hour.  He is available for lessons on the Peninsula and is ***Proficient in Zoom for online training***.  Contact Matt at uglyography@gmail.com.  Based in Newport News.

Sorel Utsey:  Sorel is currently a Class C (1500+) player.  He currently coaches at an elementary school in Newport News and is an active and experienced Local Tournament Director.  Sorel has been a US Chess certified coach for almost 30 years, having coached very successful school chess programs in the 1990s.  He has passed a background check run by HRCA.  Sorel specializes in coaching beginners up to around 1350 rating.  He is available for lessons on the Peninsula.  Contact Sorel at jear7@aol.com. ***Proficient in Zoom for online training *** Based in Newport News.

Mike Williams: Coach Mike Williams, Fall 2012 Hampton Roads Chess Club Champion (amateur division)!! Has played in the World Open held in Philadelphia several times, as well as the U.S. Open Chess Championship.  Mike currently coaches multiple school chess programs in Virginia Beach.  Coach Mike desires to help his students grow. His Highest U.S.C.F. quick elo is 1729 and regular 1698… His focus for students is on the basics of chess and solid Openings. “If you can’t make it through the Opening correctly you will soon be mated!! It is always the basics that win… If one desires to be CHAMPION one must train 6 days a week correctly!! 20$ an hour and does not mind hanging around for a game or 2 from his students… 15$ each if you have 2 students… No more than 4 students at 10$ per. Let’s create some hungry National competitors!!  Mike is a US Chess certified Local Chess Coach.  He has completed a background check run by HRCA.  Contact Mike at mawilliams273@gmail.com. ***Proficient in Zoom for online training *** Based in Virginia Beach.