1800-2000 is a fine goal. I think of it as a strong club player, and certainly better than most who decide they want to learn about chess.
That said, it's also weak enough that there are many ways to get there... which is mostly to say, if you don't get along with your coach then dump him and look for someone better.
It doesn't sound like he's interested in being friendly either, so IMO he's a bad instructor. The up side is it only cost you a beer to discover this.
So the price of a lesson is only one beer? That sounds too cheap; It sounds like you're getting what you paid for. (One beer = One lesson from crazy chess coach)
"Finding a Good Instructor" -
His point seems to be that there are no shortcuts if you want to improve. I think you should keep going to that coach.
Considering the price, I think he is an ok coach, at least from a technical point of view.
If you don't like him, then it's a different problem.
What I really want to know is, does he plan on keeping all of your books? 
Well, here is what I would do being that chess coach.
1. Take your books
2. Ask for beer
3. Start with the basics and some nice excersises.(like not touching the board)
4. Read the books I took from the student.
5. Drink the beer to stay awake while reading the books at night.(huh?)
6. Teach the student the things I read in their books.(wich i took so they cant teach themselves)
7. Get paid and 'earn' fame.
What I really want to know is, does he plan on keeping all of your books?
No - and to be fair he did not just take them. He said "My System" was over my head and replaced it with a book from his liberary - "Pandofini's End Game Course."
And he too my book on the English Opening and replaced it with a colection of Grand Master Games: Some annotated by other big names - Paul Morphy for instance and some annotatied by him - then there are about 500 games from Grand Masters with no annotations:
He says play through the annotated game first (once per day) read the notes, and play the variations with out moving the peices, envision the board, then move the peices and see how close your vision is to realality.
Next play the 50 games under each annotated game at regular speed, don't think to much just move the peices to the correct square - it should only take about one minute per game.
I can have "My System" back when I reach 1600 (lol I am only high 1200's low 1300's here, that could be years)
I suppose it all depends on the beer. If you are in the Philipines, I guess it probably wasn't very good beer. So, you got your beer's worth out of it.
What I really want to know is, does he plan on keeping all of your books?
No - and to be fair he did not just take them. He said "My System" was over my head and replaced it with a book from his liberary - "Pandofini's End Game Course."
And he too my book on the English Opening and replaced it with a colection of Grand Master Games: Some annotated by other big names - Paul Morphy for instance and some annotatied by him - then there are about 500 games from Grand Masters with no annotations:
He says play through the annotated game first (once per day) read the notes, and play the variations with out moving the peices, envision the board, then move the peices and see how close your vision is to realality.
Next play the 50 games under each annotated game at regular speed, don't think to much just move the peices to the correct square - it should only take about one minute per game.
I can have "My System" back when I reach 1600 (lol I am only high 1200's low 1300's here, that could be years)
Sounds like he is really a good coach. I would go on with him.
What I really want to know is, does he plan on keeping all of your books?
No - and to be fair he did not just take them. He said "My System" was over my head and replaced it with a book from his liberary - "Pandofini's End Game Course."
And he too my book on the English Opening and replaced it with a colection of Grand Master Games: Some annotated by other big names - Paul Morphy for instance and some annotatied by him - then there are about 500 games from Grand Masters with no annotations:
He says play through the annotated game first (once per day) read the notes, and play the variations with out moving the peices, envision the board, then move the peices and see how close your vision is to realality.
Next play the 50 games under each annotated game at regular speed, don't think to much just move the peices to the correct square - it should only take about one minute per game.
I can have "My System" back when I reach 1600 (lol I am only high 1200's low 1300's here, that could be years)
Except for his comments about My System, everything else sounds appropriate.
Considering the price, I think he is an ok coach, at least from a technical point of view.
If you don't like him, then it's a different problem.
What do you mean from a technical point of view. I do not understand this kind of tought process at all.
From everything you've said, it sounds like the chess side of his coaching is good, it's just the personality side of his coaching might be a problem.
Your in your 40's and an IT consultant. How come you don't understand what hicetnunc said about a technical point of view???
The focus on endgames, visualization, and annotated games gives the best kind of foundation. The visualization exercises are quite good too.
Your in your 40's and an IT consultant. How come you don't understand what hicetnunc said about a technical point of view???
You're some kinda genius. YOu can make something sound 100% correct, yet, it's 100% wrong.
ChessAnalyst, in your profile you wrote 'taking on the most complex and challenging game known'. Chess is not the most complex and challenging game known. I believe that honor goes to Go or Shogi, I forget which one right now.
I see nothing wrong with your chess coach
I know, Its weird isn't it? My mind works better in reverse than foward
ChessAnalyst, in your profile you wrote 'taking on the most complex and challenging game known'. Chess is not the most complex and challenging game known. I believe that honor goes to Go or Shogi, I forget which one right now.
Isn't there some ancient 100x100 board game with 30 some starting pieces for each side? Surely that's even more complex.
So I finally got a chess coach, I think! But, really I think he is just crazy, here is why?
1. He took all my books from me and told me that 90% of books are written by authers and publishers who only want to keep you in the dark - so they can sell you more books.
2. He said I didn't know Sh!t about chess and had to start from the very beginning - how the peices move???
Why - because I could not tell him what colar the F7 square was in like half a second, with out looking at the board. And since I could not tell him the two disecting diaginals in like a second. I could have ansered but I need more than half a second - His comment, "If you don't know the battlefield you cann't see the armies." Ok General Patton.
But really, how the peices move -
Solve this:
Don't take a pawn or allow your Knight to be put in check - write down the path of your knight to so that it can touch each corner and how many moves it took to complete.
By the way DO NOT TOUCH the board - you haven't earned the right to touch a chess peice yet.
90 seconds latter - "Times Up, you will start by learning how the peices move"
My first lesson - how the queen moves - I kinda fell asleep - really? Then how to mate with just a Queen and a King. Ok, elemtry. So we go over it 4 times - I have to tell him the square to move the peices too, I am not aloud to touch a peice. Whatever, serious control issues.
Then I have to do it again - this time I have to face the wall and tell him the color of the square each time I make a move. And I have to Checkmate the King without a board or peices.
So when i get it wrong - "I thought you said you knew how to play this game." Smart @ss - I dont have a board or a peice!!!
When I get it right - the 7th try!!!
"Good - but it was not the most direct route, we will do it again tomarrow. Now go rest."
I think he watched Searching for Bobby Fisher once and fashions himself a chess coach! I do not want to play Blindfold chess, I just want to get better, maybe a Elo of 1800 - 2000 someday.
Ok this is crazy, meanwhile he is sitting there drinking the damm beer I had to buy him for this crazy lesson!!!
Yes I shouldn't complain - it only cost me one bottle of beer, but this guy is nuts!!!
Sorry - just venting, I really want to get better but can not find the perfect receipe, so frustrated!!!
TCA