The main advantage of coaching is that the coach can help you identify what is really important for your improvement and how to get rid of your weaknesses.
Second advantage is to be exposed to a better thought process than yours.
Textbook = how to play good chess, coach = how to improve YOUR chess 
Textbook = how to play good chess, coach = how to improve YOUR chess
Couldn't put it better myself.
A self-taught expert is about as rare as a Mozart rebirth these days.
Even Bobby Fischer hung around stronger players in his early days and sponged from them.
Two things I've learned about chess (and even work) all these years is:
- You are usually the worst judge of what your weaknesses and strengths really are.
- Immersing yourself around experts is the most time-efficient way to get better.
My favorite analogy is learning a tough foreign language. Would you rather be given 100s of books + audiotapes OR be thrown into a remote village where nobody can understand you and your only hope to survive is to speak what they are speaking?
Sure, we can't all walk into a local city club filled with Masters willing to talk/train you, but any strong mentor (online or otherwise) is the next best thing!
Thx for the replies so far. Not sure how it works. I play an hour game with a coach and he talks and instructs and shows me things along and during the game?
Kenpo, what was your before and after rating? Thx for the tip BTW.
I agree with kenpo hands on experiance is greater than reading about it
I had once free coaching (Alex Ding). I mean, Alex played with me an online game and we communicated on chat. He asked me what I want to improve. It was Ruy Lopez, Morphy defence. He told me some basics about Ruy and explained me why is it like that. And now I'm playing it without fear. ;)
Thx for the replies so far. Not sure how it works. I play an hour game with a coach and he talks and instructs and shows me things along and during the game?
Not necessarily. Most coaches would want to review your recent "losses" against competition that is as strong / or stronger than you and hear your "thoughts" on move selection; "why play this .. did you consider that?" and base their critique on those critical points in the game.
Thx for the replies so far. Not sure how it works. I play an hour game with a coach and he talks and instructs and shows me things along and during the game?
Kenpo, what was your before and after rating? Thx for the tip BTW.
That's something you'd want to discuss with your coach. But usually it's more interesting to analyze games you have played against players near your level. The coach can pinpoint the main mistakes and help you improve your thought process.
Thx for the replies so far. Not sure how it works. I play an hour game with a coach and he talks and instructs and shows me things along and during the game?
Kenpo, what was your before and after rating? Thx for the tip BTW.
That's something you'd want to discuss with your coach. But usually it's more interesting to analyze games you have played against players near your level. The coach can pinpoint the main mistakes and help you improve your thought process.
Do you have a coach hicetnunc?
Thx for the replies so far. Not sure how it works. I play an hour game with a coach and he talks and instructs and shows me things along and during the game?
Kenpo, what was your before and after rating? Thx for the tip BTW.
That's something you'd want to discuss with your coach. But usually it's more interesting to analyze games you have played against players near your level. The coach can pinpoint the main mistakes and help you improve your thought process.
But I can usually see where my main mistakes were after I go back and look, or let the computer analysis show me them. Course, you guys have already convinced me it's a good thing to get a coach, a LIVE one that is. . . seems all the typing time would eat up time online.
Thx for the replies so far. Not sure how it works. I play an hour game with a coach and he talks and instructs and shows me things along and during the game?
Kenpo, what was your before and after rating? Thx for the tip BTW.
That's something you'd want to discuss with your coach. But usually it's more interesting to analyze games you have played against players near your level. The coach can pinpoint the main mistakes and help you improve your thought process.
But I can usually see where my main mistakes were after I go back and look, or let the computer analysis show me them. Course, you guys have already convinced me it's a good thing to get a coach, a LIVE one that is. . . seems all the typing time would eat up time online.
Everybody can make a lot of progress by himself in chess. Most improvements come through personal work anyway. Just consider coaching as a way to facilitate and speed up the process.
Yep, merci Hicetnunc.
Chess coaching is most definitely worth it.
Chess books/videos give you a lot of knowledge and you can learn a lot from that. Chess coaching usually consists of a coach who looks at your games, helps you understand your weaknesses and helps you improve. Additionally a coach may choose to instruct on topics he feels would help you. A good chess coach also gives you homework and guides your study.
Books are not interactive and don't answer your questions or detect flaws in your thinking process.
Here is the "answer" to your question:
Anyone seriously wanting to improve their chess who CAN afford chess coaching should definitely do it.
Anyone seriously wanting to improve their chess who CANNOT afford chess coaching should stick to books and find a higher rated friend to give tips and advice.
Kairav
Best-selling chess coach on chess.com
Co-director of Chess.com University
If one is good at learning from a book, AND they read and study through a good chess book slowly, is that just as good as online coaching? (I'm sure if one is not good at studying or can discipline themself, that online coaching is a very good idea)