Karthik Panjanatham - Chess tutor - Bengaluru

1^st lesson free

Karthik Panjanatham

5 (3 reviews)

Rate $32
Response 1h

5 (3 reviews)

$32/hr

1^st lesson free

Chess

Beginner-Friendly Chess Coaching by a FIDE-Rated Player & Experienced Tutor with 25 years of playing experience and 5 years of coaching experience

Chess

Lesson location

- online

About Karthik Panjanatham

Hello! I am Karthik — a passionate Chess coach and FIDE-rated player with an international rating of 1536 (Standard) and 1518 (Rapid). Having competed in district, divisional, state, national, and international tournaments over 25 years, I have developed a deep understanding of the game, its strategies, and what it truly takes to improve.

Chess has been a lifelong journey for me - from my earliest moves on the board to competing at the highest levels. That journey taught me not just how to play, but how to think, and that is exactly what I want to pass on to my students.

I share my knowledge because I believe Chess is one of the most powerful tools for developing the mind. It builds patience, sharpens focus, improves decision-making, and teaches you to stay calm under pressure - skills that go far beyond the 64 squares. Seeing a student grasp a new concept, solve a difficult puzzle, or win their first tournament game is what drives me to coach every single day.

With 5 years of coaching experience and 25+ students trained, I bring both competitive depth and teaching warmth to every session. My goal is simple: to make chess enjoyable, educational, and genuinely transformative for every student I work with.

About the lesson

My Teaching Approach

I am a passionate Chess coach and FIDE-rated player with an international rating of 1536 (Standard) and 1518 (Rapid). Having competed at district, divisional, state, national, and international levels, I bring real tournament experience into every lesson, not just textbook knowledge.

Teaching Techniques & Methods

My classes follow a simple but highly effective three-part learning cycle:
1. Learn: Every session introduces a new concept, whether it's a mating pattern, tactical theme, endgame technique, or strategic idea, explained clearly with examples.
2. Solve: Students then work through carefully chosen puzzles to reinforce the concept and sharpen tactical thinking.
3. Play & Reflect: We finish with a game, followed by a review of the key moments - identifying mistakes, understanding why they happened, and learning how to avoid them next time.

This cycle ensures that every concept learned is immediately applied and retained.

Usual Structure of a Class

A typical session is structured as follows:

1. Warm-up: A quick puzzle or recap of the previous lesson
2. New Concept: Introduction of the lesson topic with examples
3. Puzzle Training: Solving puzzles related to the topic
4. Game Play: A live game to apply what was learned
5. Review & Feedback: Analyzing the game and highlighting improvements

My Special Features as a Teacher

1. Patient and supportive: I adapt my pace to each student's comfort level, never rushing through concepts
2. Tournament-tested knowledge: My coaching is rooted in real competitive experience, giving students practical insights they won't find in books alone
3. Focus on fundamentals: I strongly believe that a solid foundation is the key to long-term improvement, so I never skip the basics
4. Making chess enjoyable: I believe chess should be educational AND fun. Engaged students learn faster, and I make sure every class is something to look forward to

Who Are the Classes Intended For?

My classes are open to anyone with a rating between 0 and 1500, which includes:

1. Complete beginners with zero chess knowledge
2. School children looking to develop logical thinking and concentration
3. College students and adults picking up chess as a hobby or competitive pursuit
4. Casual players wanting to move beyond just knowing the rules
5. Improving players looking to break through rating plateaus up to 1500

Recommendations

Recommendations come from relatives, friends and acquaintances of the teacher

M

Mariam

Karthik is a phenomenal teacher! He’s incredibly patient, kind, and encouraging, and he always makes the lessons engaging and genuinely fun. He has a great way of explaining things clearly and making the learning process feel enjoyable and I especially appreciate how he challenges you to think as much as possible instead of simply giving you answers. I would highly recommend Karthik for anyone looking to improve their chess skills.
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M
Mariam
Karthik is a phenomenal teacher! He’s incredibly patient, kind, and encouraging, and he always makes the lessons engaging and genuinely fun. He has a great way of explaining things clearly and making the learning process feel enjoyable and I especially appreciate how he challenges you to think as much as possible instead of simply giving you answers. I would highly recommend Karthik for anyone looking to improve their chess skills.
R

Riya

I came across Karthik while looking for a chess coach as a complete beginner. I barely knew how the pieces moved when we first started. Karthik is an incredibly patient and encouraging teacher. He never makes you feel rushed or embarrassed for not knowing something, which made a huge difference for me as someone starting from absolute zero. He has a wonderful way of breaking down complex ideas into simple, digestible steps. I was solving tactics and learning mating patterns that I never imagined I'd be able to spot on my own.

What makes Karthik stand out as a great tutor is his passion for chess and his genuine care for his students' progress. He doesn't just teach moves , he teaches you how to think. His lessons are engaging, well-organised, and always tailored to your level and pace.

I look forward to every class and plan to continue learning with him. If you're a beginner looking for a coach who will make chess both fun and educational, I wholeheartedly recommend Karthik.
Read more

R
Riya
I came across Karthik while looking for a chess coach as a complete beginner. I barely knew how the pieces moved when we first started. Karthik is an incredibly patient and encouraging teacher. He never makes you feel rushed or embarrassed for not knowing something, which made a huge difference for me as someone starting from absolute zero. He has a wonderful way of breaking down complex ideas into simple, digestible steps. I was solving tactics and learning mating patterns that I never imagined I'd be able to spot on my own.

What makes Karthik stand out as a great tutor is his passion for chess and his genuine care for his students' progress. He doesn't just teach moves , he teaches you how to think. His lessons are engaging, well-organised, and always tailored to your level and pace.

I look forward to every class and plan to continue learning with him. If you're a beginner looking for a coach who will make chess both fun and educational, I wholeheartedly recommend Karthik.
K

Kristine

I found Karthik about a year ago when I was a complete beginner with very little knowledge of chess. From our first session, he made learning fun and engaging.

What I appreciate most is his patience and structured teaching style. He takes the time to explain concepts clearly and analyzes each game with me, helping me understand my mistakes so I can avoid them in future games.

Over the past year, I've not only improved my chess skills but also learned to think ahead and stay calm under pressure.

If you're looking for a patient, knowledgeable coach who genuinely cares about your progress, I highly recommend Karthik.
Read more

K
Kristine
I found Karthik about a year ago when I was a complete beginner with very little knowledge of chess. From our first session, he made learning fun and engaging.

What I appreciate most is his patience and structured teaching style. He takes the time to explain concepts clearly and analyzes each game with me, helping me understand my mistakes so I can avoid them in future games.

Over the past year, I've not only improved my chess skills but also learned to think ahead and stay calm under pressure.

If you're looking for a patient, knowledgeable coach who genuinely cares about your progress, I highly recommend Karthik.
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Pack prices

5h: $160
10h: $320

free lessons

The first lesson with Karthik Panjanatham will allow you to get to know each other and discuss your needs for future lessons.

online

$32/h

Beginner-Friendly Chess Coaching by a FIDE-Rated Player & Experienced Tutor with 25 years of playing experience and 5 years of coaching experience

Lesson location

Recommended

About Karthik Panjanatham

About the lesson

Recommendations

Rates

Rate

Pack prices

free lessons

online

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Beginner-Friendly Chess Coaching by a FIDE-Rated Player & Experienced Tutor with 25 years of playing experience and 5 years of coaching experience

Lesson location

Recommended

About Karthik Panjanatham

About the lesson

Recommendations

Rates

Rate

Pack prices

free lessons

online

Similar Chess tutors in Bengaluru

Agil

Rogan-Joe

Chandrika

FI Ishan

Danuk

Ruchira

Zhora

Saptorshi

Xie

Thimali Waduge (TSHA Waduge)

John Ray

Zané

Lucas

Thomas

Vincent

Arun Kumar

Thomas

Arvin

Vladimir

Senuk

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