Breaking 1000: online chess course to get past a 1000 rating.
Finally climb past it.
A live online chess course for players who know the basics and keep hitting the same wall. Six weeks, ten players, a FIDE-rated coach, and real feedback on your own games.
Who this chess course is for: players stuck between 400 and 1000.
Ratings are a rough guide, not a gate. What matters is that you know the rules and want a real system for getting better.
This is for you if
- You know how the pieces move and can play a full game from start to finish
- You're rated roughly 400–1000 and your rating has stopped moving
- You lose games you were winning, or hang pieces you saw one move too late
- You want a clear order to learn things in, not another pile of random tips
- You'd like someone to look at your own games and tell you why they went wrong
Probably not the right fit if
- You're brand new and still learning how the pieces move. A single 1-on-1 session ($40) or a free 10-min chat is the right first step.
- You're rated 1000+ and want a plan built around your own games. 1-on-1 coaching is a better match.
What you'll learn: win the games you should already be winning.
You've done the puzzles. This is how the pieces finally fit together.
- Spot and land the tactics that win games at your level
- Convert winning positions instead of letting them slip away
- Open every game with a simple plan, not guesswork
- Punish the mistakes your opponents make again and again
- Understand your own losses in live game reviews — bring your games
The method: chess calculation, endgames, and structure.
The system that took me from frustrated to confident at the board, and the foundation of every week in this course.
Calculation
Clarity, calmness, and control at the board. Not twenty moves deep, just a thinking process you can trust under pressure. Stop playing on hope and start playing on sight.
Endgames
The knowledge that never goes out of date. Understanding, not memorizing, and it quietly improves every other phase of your game. Win positions you used to draw.
Structure
A clear, step-by-step path. No jumping between random topics. You always know what you're working on and why, so every week builds on the last.
Your chess coach: I've been stuck at your rating wall, too.
I'm Tom Dittrich, a FIDE-rated (1964) tournament player and the founder of The Chess Workshop. I started playing at seven, hit a wall at 1500, and ground my way to 1800 still feeling lost at the board.
What finally changed everything wasn't more knowledge. It was learning how to think: slowing down, checking variations, trusting a process. That's what this course teaches.
I'm also returning to tournament play myself after years of playing and training solo, so I know what it's like to restart and rebuild.
More about me →Course price, schedule, and what's included.
Most players stitch this together from scattered courses. Here it's one complete system, in the right order, in one program.
Risk-free first session
Come to your first live session. If it's not for you, email me within 48 hours and I'll refund you in full, no questions asked. See the full terms
Breaking 1000 chess course FAQ.
Who is Breaking 1000 for?
Players rated roughly 400–1000 who already know the rules and can play a full game, but keep losing games they should win. If you're brand new, start with a single 1-on-1 session or a free 10-min chat. If you're rated 1000+, 1-on-1 coaching is a better fit.
How does the course work?
Six weeks, one live session a week over Google Meet. You get weekly homework with personal feedback, a private Discord for questions and weekly puzzles, and live reviews of your own games.
What if I miss a session?
Every class is recorded and shared, so you can catch up and still do the week's homework.
How many people are in the group?
Ten at most, so everyone gets attention and everyone gets feedback.
What do I need to take part?
A computer or tablet that can run Google Meet, plus a free Chess.com or Lichess account. Bring a few of your own games for the live reviews.
What's the refund policy?
Come to your first live session. If it's not for you, email me within 48 hours and I'll refund you in full, no questions asked. After that, fees aren't refundable, since your seat is held for the full six weeks.
Can I talk to you before I enroll?
Yes. Book a free 10-min chat and we'll check the cohort is the right level for you before you reserve a seat.
Ten seats. That's it.
Small groups are the whole point: everyone gets attention, and everyone gets feedback. Enrollment closes Monday, November 2, or sooner if the ten seats fill. After that it's closed until the next round, and founding prices won't be back.