Do you have questions?

Ideally, Russians suggest starting at 4 years. As per RB Ramesh sir’s opinion, 5 to 6 years is a better range. More than the age, however, a child’s interest is the key factor to focus on in the early stages.

Coaching is important if the child is passionate about chess, willing to work hard, and eager to learn. However, they should not become overly dependent on a coach. Self-study is extremely important. Parents should encourage children to work independently using books, databases, and other learning resources.

When a child is ambitious and hardworking, professional training can complement their efforts. However, learning should not be completely outsourced to the coach.

Ambition at a young age helps children focus their mind and work hard to improve at the game. However, care must be taken to ensure that expectations do not turn into excessive pressure on the child.

Different children have different potential, so it is difficult to set a single rating goal that works for everyone.

Not much. Talent is like hardware, but qualities such as hard work, interest in learning, strong nerves, and determination act as the software—which is even more important. Good software can make even average hardware perform efficiently.

Extremely important. Hard work matters not only in chess but also in shaping one’s personality. Along with chess skills, we should also focus on developing a strong character.

A minimum of 3 hours on school days and 4 to 6 hours on holidays is required if the child aspires to become a professional.

Failure is a natural part of learning. Parents and children should treat losses as lessons, analyzing mistakes and moving forward. Emotional resilience is as important as chess skill.

To be independent, self-sufficient, hard-working, and a good learner—developing such qualities is also part of ambition. Ambition can be defined in terms of ratings or titles, but a long-term aim is more important than short-term gain.

At the beginner level – the Steps Method is highly recommended. At the intermediate level – theYusupov series (Build Up Your Chess, Boost Your Chess) is very effective.

For self-preparation, essential resources include ChessBase, Mega Database, quality chess books (in PDF or print format), and reliable chess websites.

Give children the space to make mistakes and learn from them. Encourage creativity and risk-taking early on, as these are difficult qualities to develop later, but invaluable throughout their career. A long-term aim is more important than short-term gain. Cultivating champion-like qualities at a young age is just as important as mastering the technical aspects of the game.

We can inspire children with stories that carry strong morals. Inspiration is the key. Stories that highlight the importance of hard work, resilience, handling temporary setbacks, self-belief, and a love for learning should be shared with them.

Books, databases (like ChessBase), puzzle apps, and online platforms such as Lichess/Chess.com are excellent resources. Children should also analyze their own games regularly.

Learning opening principles is more important than memorizing concrete opening lines until a player reaches around 1800 level. The focus should be on solving puzzles (preferably without moving the pieces on the board) and building a solid understanding of general middle game concepts.

Teach children that achieving anything worthwhile requires effort, struggle, and short-term sacrifices. The journey is more important than the destination.

• Instill responsibility by helping them understand that their actions have consequences. No pain, no gain.
• Encourage consistent daily practice at home, learning from books, and self-study. Focus less on blitz games and more on meaningful learning.
• Teach them to handle temporary losses without losing confidence and to fight back after setbacks. Emphasize that effort is more important than immediate results.
• Ensure healthy routines—at least 8 hours of sleep each night, preferably by going to bed early. Avoid judging children on a daily basis based on results. Remember: our reactions as parents are more influential than the actual outcomes of games.
• Pampering prevents children from developing responsibility. If they grow up thinking wishes alone bring results, they may lose confidence when reality proves otherwise.
• Don’t focus on rating changes game by game. Obsessing over ratings will only push the child farther from becoming a strong player.

Recognize that parental insecurities, impatience, and immaturity are often the biggest obstacles to children reaching their full potential. Money cannot make them great players. What truly matters is the child’s self-belief, confidence, hard work, fighting spirit, and ability to handle tough situations—these are the qualities that will determine their success.

Keep your expectations and disappointments to yourself. Don’t burden young shoulders with adult pressures.

• A player should aim to compete with higher-rated opponents in tournaments, as this promotes long-term growth.
• Short-term losses are acceptable if they lead to valuable lessons—learning is more important than temporary success.
• When confidence is low, it is better to avoid tournaments for a couple of weeks, take a break, and regain form.
• When in good form, players can participate in more events to maximize improvement.

Chess improves memory, concentration, and logical thinking, which positively impacts academics. However, balance is important so academics are not neglected due to excessive chess focus.

Be there for your child regardless of the result of an individual game.

• Do not judge them on a day-to-day basis—mistakes and weaknesses take time and patience to overcome.
• Avoid being overly critical of small issues and never use negative language in front of the child.
• Do not overreact to negative results.
• Refrain from constantly giving unsolicited advice in the form of pointing out mistakes and how to fix them. The more we highlight their negatives, the more negative they will become.
• During tournaments, it is crucial to protect the child from developing negative impressions about themselves. Parents should not add to their loss of confidence.

Inspire children with stories of people who achieved success through hard work and perseverance—not through blaming or complaining.

• Teach responsibility by assigning small household tasks, such as:
• Washing their own plates before and after meals .
• Making their own bed.
• Polishing their shoes.
• Helping with general cleaning around the house.

Until around 15 or 16 years of age, playing with other kids is sufficient for physical activity. After that, joining a gym, practicing yoga, and meditation can be very beneficial for overall fitness and mental focus.

There is no single “perfect” number of tournaments. Generally, the more games a child plays, the more experience they gain, and the faster they are likely to improve compared to someone who plays infrequently. A reasonable target could be around 100 to 150 rated games per year.

Finance is often the main consideration. If international travel is affordable, playing abroad can be valuable. If not, focus on participating in all major open tournaments within India.

• Teach children the importance of time management at home. Let them create a plan for their home preparation and encourage them to follow it consistently.
• Minimize distractions such as TV, gadgets, and social media in the evenings as much as possible, to allow focused practice and study.

• Avoid comparing your child with others—each child has their own unique characteristics. What works for one may not work for another.
• You can, however, learn positive strategies from parents of children who are performing well.
• Avoid negative chatter about your child with other parents or coaches. Complaining such as “my child is not serious, not working hard, not mentally tough, or cannot prepare independently” is unhelpful.
• Instead of complaining, focus on teaching these qualities to your own child.
• Use resources like sports psychology books or advice from strong players to guide your child’s development and in still these important traits.

• Encourage children to create a plan for their home preparation and, if possible, stay nearby while they are practicing.
• At least one parent should take an active interest in the child’s chess development.
• Once they have completed sufficient structured practice, they can enjoy playing online blitz games as a reward.

• Teach children not to worry about critical opinions meant to hurt or demean them..
• They are not playing chess to please others, gain approval, or seek fame.
• They play chess because they enjoy it, and that should be their primary focus.

• Some children play fast, while others play slowly. Don’t stress over this too much.
• Even Anand played extremely fast when he was young.
• Playing fast is neither a weakness nor a strength—it is simply a style.
• As children mature, they will naturally learn when it is important to slow down and think carefully.
• Coaches can help by giving them complex positions where careful thought is necessary to make the correct decision.

We should support our child in chess for only two reasons: love and duty.

• They are not wasting time on TV, video games, or harmful activities. Instead, they are pursuing something beneficial for their mental health.
• Our support comes because they enjoy chess and it makes them happy.
• Do not view the money, time, energy, or effort spent on your child as an “investment” expecting a return. Success or titles are not the main purpose.
• Chess teaches children invaluable life skills, such as:
  • Hard work and perseverance
  • Handling difficult situations
  • Improving memory and concentration
  • Coping with disappointments maturely
  • Giving their best in every situation
• No amount of money can buy these qualities, and they are far more valuable than trophies or ratings.