About

Coach Klay

Hey, I’m Klay. I learned how the pieces moved when I was 17. Since then, I’ve played in several over-the-board (OTB) tournaments, competed for the University of Houston, hit 2100+ on Chess.com (99.9th percentile), and taught chess for 2+ years at the Annunciation Orthodox School and the Awty International School. I’ve held summer camps, privately coached 10+ students, and am now forced to teach all of my little cousins.

I’m a lifelong student of the game with a white belt mentality, an active player in the Houston chess community, and a disciple of the Hellfire Chess Club who lives to spread the flames.

Mission

Coaching

I accelerate my students’ progress and help them reach a proficient level (~1200 USCF). “Good” is subjective. But being “competent” while also reaping all the benefits is just a winning endgame.

Chess augments a child’s cognition, analytical thinking skills, critical thinking skills, and so much more¹. I use the game as a medium to teach discipline, emotional control, sportsmanship, and self-accountability. My students understand that chess is hard. But chess is also fun.

Whether my students want to continue to learn after me, or if they want to focus on other things, their foundation will remain strong. They’ll carry the knowledge and use it to their advantage (mentality, education, business², adversity, etc.)

¹ Costello, P. J. M. (2013). The gymnasium of the mind: teaching chess in early childhood. Early Child Development and Care, 183(8), 1133–1146. https://doi.org/10.1080/03004430.2012.759568

² Graber, R.S. (2009). Business Lessons from Chess: A Discussion of Parallels between Chess Strategy and Business Strategy, and How Chess Can Have Applications for Business Education. The Academy of Educational Leadership Journal, 13, 79.

Philosophy