Andrea Romero
Chess teacher, working with students from complete beginner through intermediate level.
I started playing chess at 8 years old. I was a very shy kid, so chess suited me perfectly: a game of strategy that didn't require much talking, but still let me meet new people. I learned fast, started competing and traveling around Venezuela, and eventually ranked among the top three junior players in the country.
Why the emotional side of chess is part of the lesson
But I had a pattern that kept repeating: I'd be winning, get excited, and in that moment of euphoria I'd make a mistake that cost me the game. Emotionally, it was devastating. I kept competing anyway — until a tournament where I was playing for second place and lost that decisive game. That blow, combined with the fact that neither my parents nor my coach (excellent at teaching chess, but without the tools to support the emotional side) knew how to help me process it, made me quit chess completely. I didn't play again for 15 years.
I want to be clear about what this is and isn't. I'm a chess teacher, not a therapist, and I don't try to be one. What I do is pay attention to the fact that a player's mind is part of the position — fear changes what you're willing to calculate, frustration changes what you notice, and confidence (or the loss of it) changes what you're willing to attempt. Teaching chess without acknowledging that leaves out something real.
How I teach
In between, I studied coaching and personal development. When I came back to chess, this time as a teacher, I started recognizing in my students exactly what I had lived through: fear of losing, fear of disappointing their parents, refusing to play unfamiliar openings, avoiding White out of fear of "taking a risk," or avoiding Black out of feeling at a disadvantage.
That's when I started weaving what I knew about personal development into my lessons. And I noticed something: when a child learns to regulate their emotions after a mistake on the board, that skill carries over into other areas of their life. Mental clarity doesn't come only from calculating better — it comes from being able to think with a clear head after messing up.
Today, with more than 8 years of teaching chess, I combine technique (openings, middlegame, endgames, tactics, and strategy) with this emotional lens, which to me is just as important as knowing how to move the pieces.
Background
- Former regional junior champion of Venezuela (national top 3)
- 8+ years teaching chess to children, teens, and adults
Real lessons. Real progress.
"Andrea is not only a high level chess teacher with a wealth of expertise, she also pushes me to do my best. She does this with kindness and helps me understand how to regulate my emotions as well — if the chess problem is really difficult and I am getting frustrated, she helps me process that and transform it into something positive."
"Andrea is really patient with my kid, but also really observant with what my child is missing or showing signs of understanding early. She balances guidance with letting my kid take the time needed to figure things out. They are progressing really quickly as a result."
"Andrea is the tutor I selected for my 6 & 8 year old daughters. I was blown away not only by her patience and warmth, but how she maintained their engagement through her methodical lesson. Andrea speaks clear English and is easy to understand for my girls."
"Andrea is a strong player who is able to thoroughly explain concepts and strategies. I've played for around 10 years and she created an extremely suitable plan that challenges me and helps improve my game. Very patient and an excellent communicator."
"Andrea helped me to see the game from different perspectives while keeping it fun and challenging. She also gave me ideas on how I can improve on my own, which I really appreciated. I would highly recommend her for any player looking to up their game."
"Andrea taught me how to visualize the next moves and ask 'why', 'what if' — I really love this style of teaching."
"Andrea did a great job with my nine-year-old. She was patient, engaging, and asked great questions to get my daughter thinking!"
"Andrea is an excellent teacher who in just our introductory lesson already taught me a lot about the game of chess. She is very friendly and professional, speaks fluent English, and I am looking forward to many lessons with her."
Want to see how this works in practice?
Read about the method in more detail, or book a first lesson directly.