About Me

My name is Clara McGrew, and I am an expert-level chess player with a peak rating of 2143. In 2020, I won the Michigan Online Quickplay championships, and in 2021, I tied for second in the Michigan Open. I am also a seven-time state champion, having won the Michigan Women's chess championship in 2017, 2018, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026.

I have been coaching chess for the past several years. I have worked with people of all ages on lichess.org and chess.com. Most notably, one of my former students was Kazuma David, who won the Michigan Junior in 2024.

In addition to private lessons, I have also partnered with companies like Rookly and the Regal Chess School to deliver high-quality instruction to kids of all levels.

I am currently working towards the national master title, but competitive chess comes with many expenses, such as hotel fees, travel, and much more. So, if you want to support my chess journey, you can “buy me a coffee” here.

Chess Coaching Philosophy

My goal as a chess coach is to help students become stronger players and enjoy chess in the process. I work best with students who are self-motivated, doing work on their own time. When I teach chess, I focus on going over the games they play, openings, calculation, endgames, and more. However, I also expect my students to practice on their own. This means playing practice games, solving tactics problems, reviewing material, and other things as well.

Chess coaching is a collaborative process between the coach and the student. I understand that progress isn’t always linear, and some students are busier than others. I do not expect practice to be perfect, but I do expect consistency and a willingness to learn.

Ideas

I am open to hearing your ideas for a future class! If you have an idea you want to send me, fill out the form here or contact me at clamcgrew98@gmail.com.

Group Classes

I have a new group class coming up on Attacking Ideas for Beginners this November. Check it out below!