Premier Chess Lessons in McKinney & Online
1-on-1 coaching for kids, teens and adults, from first moves to tournament play, in person or online.
Every Great Game
Starts With a Plan.
Every strong chess player starts with a plan — and every FCA lesson starts the same way. Sessions are built entirely around you or your child, your goals, and your learning style. No cookie-cutter curriculum. Just focused, purposeful work with a clear direction, from an instructor based right here in McKinney.
"Every great game starts with a plan. My goal is to help students develop the confidence, discipline, and strategic thinking needed to succeed both on and off the board."
Daniel is a dedicated chess instructor and competitor who has spent years sharpening his game both online and over the board. He knows firsthand what real improvement takes — and he channels that experience into every lesson, teaching students to read the position, plan several moves ahead, and know when to press and when to wait. His approach is patient, structured, and built entirely around the player in front of him.
- Founder & Chess Instructor — Fine Chess Academy (2026)
- MCA Chess Club Founder & Coach
- Peak Rapid Rating: 2297 (Lichess) · View Profile ↗
- Peak Rapid Rating: 2287 (Chess.com)
- USCF Tournament-Rated Player · View USCF Rating ↗
- Also speaks Russian & Hebrew
The Road to 1000 Elo — and Beyond
Chess improvement follows a pattern, whether you're playing online or over the board. Here's what it actually takes to go from your first rated game to expert strength, and what FCA works on with you at every stage.
A solid grasp of the rules, the basic mating patterns, and the tactics that decide most games at this level — pins, forks, skewers. Opening principles: center, development, king safety. The goal is simple: stop giving pieces away for free.
Free practice: Square Trainer · Mating Patterns · Puzzles
Sharper tactical vision — spotting 2-3 move combinations. First real endgame technique: king & pawn endings, the opposition. A simple, reliable opening repertoire instead of memorized lines.
Free practice: Puzzles · Mating Patterns · Endgames · Openings
Positional understanding kicks in — pawn structure, piece activity, weak squares. Opening prep built on real plans, not just moves. Calculating several moves deep with real confidence, and thinking in terms of a whole game, not just the next tactic.
Deep calculation and endgame mastery — rook and minor-piece endings, converting small edges into full points. A real opening repertoire built from studying master games. Competing seriously at the tournament level, state and beyond.
National Master territory. A personal opening repertoire prepared against serious, titled opposition. Elite pattern recognition under pressure, precise technique in the most complex endgames, and tournament strategy at the highest levels.
These are broad FCA coaching bands, not official USCF rating classes. Ratings vary by platform and time control, so these ranges are approximate. Every lesson plan is calibrated to where you actually are, online or OTB.
A Consistent Rhythm Beats a One-Off Lesson
Every plan is private, 1-on-1 coaching matched to your student's level. Choose how often you'd like to train. Need an extra lesson before a tournament? Single lessons are available anytime.
Become an FCA Member Today
$25 per lesson
- 4 private lessons/month (30 min, OTB or online)
- Made for young beginners, about ages 4–7
- Rules, checkmates, tactics and good habits
- Younger children welcome. Contact us to see if short lessons are a good fit
$45 per lesson
- 4 private lessons/month (60 min, OTB or online)
- One full lesson every week for steady progress
- Tactics, calculation, planning and strategy
- Your own games reviewed together in lessons
$42.50 per lesson · best value
- 8 private lessons/month (60 min, OTB or online)
- Two lessons a week for faster progress
- Deeper analysis, opening repertoire and tournament prep
- Your own games reviewed together in lessons
Try a membership with confidence. Cancel or pause anytime. If you're not satisfied, we'll refund any lessons you haven't used during your current paid month. Refunds are issued to your original payment method.
Need to move a lesson? Please reschedule or cancel at least 24 hours ahead. With less notice, the lesson counts as used.
Prefer to pay as you go? Single lessons are $50 for 60 minutes or $30 for 30 minutes. Get in touch to book. Group chess classes ($120/month, one 60-minute class a week) are planned. Join the interest list through the contact form. And because coaching stays personal and hands-on, Middlegame and Endgame spots are limited each month to keep every lesson focused.
Bring the Right Equipment to the Board
FCA is a proud affiliate of The House of Staunton, the gold standard for tournament-quality chess sets, boards, and equipment — handcrafted for players at every level. Purchases made through the link below support FCA at no extra cost to you.
Shop The House of Staunton ↗Affiliate disclosure: FCA is a House of Staunton affiliate and may earn a commission on qualifying purchases made through links on this page — at no extra cost to you.
Ready to Make
Your Move?
Whether you're interested in private lessons, want to learn more about the MCA Chess Club, or want to be notified when the public chess meetups launch — we'd love to hear from you.
Thank you for reaching out. We'll be in touch within 24 hours — your next great move starts here.