Dhruva Hegde

I am a dedicated chess tutor with over 10 years of experience playing chess competitively and a FIDE rating of 1556. Over the years, I have developed a deep understanding of the game through tournament play, self-study, and continuous analysis, which allows me to guide students with both theoretical knowledge and practical insight.

My teaching approach focuses on building a strong foundation in chess. I believe that long-term improvement comes from understanding core principles rather than memorizing moves. I help students develop skills in opening concepts, middlegame planning, tactical awareness, positional understanding, and endgame techniques. I place special emphasis on decision-making, calculation, and recognizing common patterns that appear frequently in real games.

I work with students of various skill levels, from beginners who are just learning the rules to intermediate players aiming to improve consistency and tournament performance. Lessons are tailored to each student’s level, goals, and learning pace. Whether the objective is casual improvement, school competitions, or competitive play, I design structured lesson plans that encourage steady progress.

A key part of my coaching involves game analysis, where we review the student’s games to identify strengths, weaknesses, and recurring mistakes. This practical method helps students understand how to apply concepts during actual games and builds confidence at the board. I also encourage independent thinking and curiosity, helping students develop a disciplined yet creative approach to chess.

Above all, I aim to make chess engaging, enjoyable, and intellectually rewarding. My goal as a tutor is not only to help students improve their ratings, but also to develop a lasting appreciation for the game and the thinking skills it teaches—such as patience, focus, and problem-solving.