Alisdair McLeod
Quick facts
Started playing chess at age: 5
Experience with: coaching beginner, intermediate, and advanced players
Chess rating: 1801 FIDE
Fun facts: My wife and I went round the world in 82 days. We set off from Stirling in Scotland, and made it as far as San Francisco before boarding the first flight of the trip.
Hobbies: Aside from other board games, and mind sports such as Bridge, my main hobby is writing. I hope to be a published author in the not-too-distant future.
QA with me
Q: What inspired you to start coaching chess and how long have you been doing it?
Q: What is your proudest chess achievement or moment?
Q: How would you describe your coaching philosophy or teaching style?
Q: How do you tailor your coaching to fit the needs of different students?
Q: Can you share an example of how you've helped a student improve their game?
Q: Who is your favourite chess player and why?
Q: If you had one piece of advice for either new players or students wanting to progress what would it be?
Q: What is the most valuable lesson chess has taught you in life?
Q: What are your favourite chess openings or strategies to teach?
A: I have always had an enthusiasm for Mind Sports and a proficiency at teaching them. I have been coaching for about 20 years, and when I scaled back my involvement in other roles just over a year ago, getting into chess coaching seemed like a natural progression.
A: A few spring to mind, but I'll have to go with the Award for Special Services to the School I won as a teenager, because that wasn't just about personal success. My Secondary School had zero chess presence or interest when I first attended. By my Second Year, we had a Chess Club, as well as Individual and Inter-House competitions. We were one of the founder members of the city's inter-school league, and in my final year, I won the inaugural Lord Provost's Cup, beating off competition from representatives of many other schools. It was humbling to receive the aforementioned award in recognition of my efforts.
A: I like to find a student's wavelength, and use a style that suits them best. It is important that everyone is at ease, and the best way to achieve that is to understand how the message will be received. I have a good temperament, as it is important that lessons are enjoyable as well as educational. I encourage input from the students - while I have an idea of what they should be working on, if there is any area that they particularly want to focus on, that's important for me to know. I have a "there are no stupid questions, only stupid answers!" policy. Although in all seriousness, the way I answer is key - a particular strength of mine is taking would-be "complex" subjects, and breaking them down into something easily digestible.
A: I start by absorbing as many games that my student has played as I can, looking for themes and areas we can work on. This goes a long way towards building bespoke lessons that each student needs. Not least because it is often their games that we'll be looking at. I am also constantly building an expansive library of games and positions that I can use to demonstrate ideas that come up all the time. We've all been inspired by once-in-a-lifetime positions that a famous player had, which will never crop up in our own games, and I certainly have many Master games available to demonstrate themes, but I also use "real-life" examples from my own games, that show things that crop up all the time.
A: I don't know if there is a more cathartic feeling for a coach than seeing their student pull off a technique you've taught them (or covered with them). Rook endgames are notoriously difficult to understand (some parts I struggle with myself!), and I was recently reviewing a case where a student managed to win such an ending. He was actually a couple of pawns down, and probably not the favourite, but he used the techniques we'd worked on to maximise the strong points in his position, and in the end he delivered checkmate.
A: You're probably expecting a GM, but I'll be sentimental and say my first chess coach (though I won't name him). I will share something he once told his class, that I have adopted in my own philosophy: "One day, you will beat me. And if you can't, then I haven't done my job properly." I firmly believe I can get my students to a higher standard than I am.
A: You get out what you put in - usually with interest. I have always said: "Give me an enthusiastic student over raw talent any day." We all know hard work is the surest path to improvement, but in my experience, it's those who couple this with a genuine enjoyment of learning that realise their potential.
A: That life is more fun when you collaborate. There is always somebody who knows more than you. My wife gave up chess as a child, because she was exposed to the pressure of school tournaments with parents helicoptering around the board hoping their offspring would "kill". Had she had my experience, which was somewhat more wholesome (largely the analysing of games with opponents, or at least the mutual respect) and making friends with other players, she might have stuck at the game. I'm not sure the game has taught me this per se, but it certainly reflects my values of humility.
A: I'll teach you any opening you like, but what are my favourites to play? I know so many lines against the Caro Kann it's unreal (although, just to balance that out, I was recently surprised on Move 2 in the Caro Kann in my most recent game at time of writing - I won though). For Black, probably the Noteboom. I do have a forced Mate in 18 position in my repertoire!
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