Why the name Monki Moves?

Monki Moves was named after the rare chess opening 1. B4 (called the Orangutan) and the systems that it follows. 

This move has a very funny history to it. The opening got its namesake when the famous grandmaster Savielly Tartakower claimed he got inspiration for a chess tournament from an orangutan at the zoo! He played the move 1. b4 as white which was deemed crazy even for 1924 chess standards.

Chess has since evolved after nearly a century of theory and the rise of chess engine dominance. However, the peculiar move 1. b4 still sees occasional play from many grandmasters including Magnus Carlsen and Hikaru Nakamura.

I first learned the opening with the intention of having a secret weapon that most people didn’t know how to respond to in a chess game; as well as getting my opponents out of their extensive opening theory early on without dedicating a ton of time on my part to learn it.

Ironically enough, I ended up devoting a lot of time towards learning the opening including engine and book prep sources!

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How do I know that chess coaching is right for me?

There isn’t a player in the world that WOULDN’T benefit from coaching! Magnus Carlsen was once a student of the game and even today he has a lot of grandmasters and mentors on his team to excel his play.

The question that I prefer prospective students seek would be WHICH coach is best for fulfilling their needs. 

 

Why should I choose Monki Moves for my chess growth?

As stated in response to the previous question, not every coach is going to be the best coach for every student. 

My personal chess experience stems from my neverending interest in positional chess play and thirst for competition. 

This means that I tend to be a better fit for students who:

- Don’t understand why they lose games or commonly find themselves in losing positions.

- Have trouble finding moves when there are no tactics to sort out on the board.

- Get frustrated with their performance at times and let their emotions influence them.

- Would like every possible competitive edge that the world has to offer them in the world of chess.

- Are interested in learning 1. b4 as their main repertoire for white.

 

What if I can’t get over the mental hurdle of needing a ‘tutor’ to excel at chess?

This sentiment speaks to me personally as I was stubborn to no end when I attended school. I would rather take the hard approach and self teach even when free course tutoring/help was made available at university. I learned too late that it is quite simply more logical to have someone direct me in the right direction. 

For one, the peak of any individual in any endeavor is higher with aid from the right individual. You could very well be leaving rating points on the table that are otherwise easily obtainable.  

Secondly, self teaching could be very hit or miss as to the specifics of what you are able to learn. Coaching, and especially coaching with Monki Moves, is tailored to each individual player for their weaknesses. The particular lessons that you would learn in a coaching session could take dozens if not hundreds of hours to chance upon and replicate by spamming games or browsing educational content online.
 

I would like coaching but how expensive is it?

I understand that financial struggles exist and especially so in 2023. As a result, I’ve aimed to make my prices both competitive and reasonable. 

I also would like everyone to at least be able to try out a session to see the benefits that having a tutor would bring. Mention that you have seen this part of the FAQ and I will grant a one-time half-off discount for an in-person/online coaching session discount.