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1. Get Assessed
Complete the free chess assessment to confirm your current ELO level and the right course track for you.
Take the AssessmentChess Mastery Academy
Learn Chess at Your Level.
On Your Schedule.
Structured video courses, interactive lessons, and member-only content built around the same ELO-based curriculum used in our live coaching groups. Choose the membership that fits where you are.
🚀 Courses Launching Soon — The course library is being built right now. Join the waitlist or complete a free chess assessment and we'll notify you when your level goes live.
How It Works
Structure You Can Actually Follow
Every course is built around the same ELO-specific curriculum used in our live training groups — so online and in-person students learn the same material.
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2. Choose Your Tier
Pick the membership level that matches your commitment. Upgrade or downgrade at any time — no contracts.
See Plans📈
3. Train and Improve
Work through lessons, submit games for analysis, attend live group sessions, and track your ELO progress.
Browse CoursesMembership Plans
Choose Your Level of Access
Higher tiers unlock more courses, live session recordings, personal game analysis, and direct coaching time.
Free
Explorer
Free
Public resources and previews. No account required.
- Course previews (first lesson free)
- Coach Ford's YouTube content
- Free chess level assessment
- Program and curriculum overview
- Full course library
- Live session recordings
- Game analysis submissions
- Private coaching sessions
Bronze
Foundations
$19
/month
Full access to beginner and intermediate course tracks.
- All 100–800 Beginner courses
- All 800–1200 Foundations courses
- Tactic pattern libraries (beginner)
- Endgame fundamentals course
- Course progress tracking
- Live session recordings
- Game analysis submissions
- Private coaching sessions
Most Popular
Gold
Mastery
$39
/month
Full course library plus live session recordings for all levels.
- Everything in Bronze
- All 1200–1500 Improvement courses
- All 1500–1800 Competitive courses
- Live group session recordings
- Opening preparation modules
- Middlegame strategy series
- Tournament preparation content
- Private coaching sessions
VIP Elite
Elite
$99
/month
Everything plus personal coaching sessions and written game reports.
- Everything in Gold
- 1 private VIP session per month
- Personal game analysis submissions
- Written progress reports
- Opening repertoire work
- Tournament preparation coaching
- Priority scheduling
- Direct coach access via messaging
Note on pricing: Membership pricing is subject to change as the course library grows. Early members who enroll before full launch will have their rate locked in. All plans can be combined with live ELO Training Group enrollment for the full Chess Mastery Academy experience. Contact us with questions.
Course Catalog
What's Inside the Library
Courses are organized by ELO level and topic. Your membership tier determines which tracks you can access.
100–800 Beginner Bronze & above
Beginner
Endgame Fundamentals 101
The 100 most important endgame positions for players rated 100–800. King and pawn endings, basic rook technique, and winning vs. drawing recognition.
Beginner
Piece Safety & Tactics
Learn to keep your pieces safe and spot one-move tactics. Forks, hanging pieces, checkmate threats, and the basics of calculation.
Beginner
Opening Principles
Control the center, develop your pieces, castle early. The foundational principles that apply to every opening you'll ever play.
800–1200 Foundations Bronze & above
Intermediate
Tactical Patterns: Level 2
Pins, skewers, discovered attacks, and two-move combinations. Drill the patterns that appear most frequently at the 800–1200 level.
Intermediate
Rook Endgames
Lucena, Philidor, and the most common rook and pawn endings. Learn which positions are drawn and which are winning — and why.
Intermediate
Pawn Structure Mastery
Isolated pawns, doubled pawns, passed pawns — understand how pawn structure shapes the middlegame and late game plan.
1200–1500 Improvement Gold & above
Advanced
Calculation & Candidate Moves
Build a disciplined calculation process. Identify candidate moves, visualize lines, and avoid the blunders that cost games at your level.
Advanced
Middlegame Strategy
Piece coordination, outpost squares, the two bishops, and converting advantages in complex positions.
Advanced
Tournament Preparation
Time management, pre-game preparation, post-game review habits, and competitive mindset for serious improvement.
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VIP Elite: Personal Analysis Archive
VIP Elite members unlock a private archive of personalized game analysis videos, written progress reports, and recorded coaching sessions — content built specifically for each student.
Apply for VIP Elite AccessCourses vs. Live Groups
Online Learning and Live Coaching Work Together
Courses give you on-demand study. Live groups give you real-time instruction and feedback. They use the same curriculum, so they reinforce each other.
Self-Paced Courses
Live ELO Training Groups
FlexibleWatch anytime, on any device
LiveScheduled weekly sessions with Coach Ford
StructuredELO-specific curriculum, lesson by lesson
InteractiveAsk questions, get answers in real time
AsynchronousLearn at your own pace, pause and replay
AccountabilityHomework, game submissions, progress tracking
AccessibleIncluded with Bronze, Gold, and Elite memberships
PersonalizedGroups sized to your exact ELO band
Get Notified
Be First When Your Course Level Goes Live
The course library launches level by level. Complete your free chess assessment now — we'll reach out personally when the right track is ready for you.