Hi, I'm Ivo Dias, a 28-year-old National Master from Portugal. I work in banking/finance and coach chess in my spare time — a combination that shapes how I teach: structured, results-driven, and focused on what actually moves the needle for your rating.
I've been playing since I was 6 and teaching for over 10 years, working with everyone from complete beginners to adults. My goal in chess is to eventually earn the FIDE Master title — and I bring that same competitive drive to helping my students reach their own goals, whatever level they're at.
If you're serious about improving — not just playing more, but actually getting better — let's talk.
NM Ivo Dias
Structured chess coaching from a National Master
| Location | Portugal Portugal |
|---|---|
| Languages | English (US), Português (BR), Galego |
| Rating | 249322872400 |
| Hourly rate | 1h/week: 20€/h · 2h+/week: 16€/h · group rates on request |
| Availability | Accepting students |
| Active |
About me
Playing experience
I've competed across Europe, with most of my tournament experience in Portugal and Spain.
My proudest result so far was winning the "II Torneio Internacional Cidade de Famalicão" with 6/7 — a performance that gained me over 100 ELO points in a single event.
This competitive experience directly shapes how I teach: I know what it takes to prepare for a tournament, handle pressure over the board, and turn theoretical knowledge into practical results.
My proudest result so far was winning the "II Torneio Internacional Cidade de Famalicão" with 6/7 — a performance that gained me over 100 ELO points in a single event.
This competitive experience directly shapes how I teach: I know what it takes to prepare for a tournament, handle pressure over the board, and turn theoretical knowledge into practical results.
Teaching experience
I've been teaching chess for over 10 years, working with students of all levels — from complete beginners to adults who've been stuck at the same rating for 20+ years and are finally ready to break through. I currently teach both privately and through school programs.
My students range from casual players who just want to enjoy the game more, to competitive players preparing for tournaments and rating milestones. Whatever your goal, I adapt my approach to get you there faster.
My students range from casual players who just want to enjoy the game more, to competitive players preparing for tournaments and rating milestones. Whatever your goal, I adapt my approach to get you there faster.
Best skills
My strongest skill is opening play. I have deep opening knowledge and I explain ideas in simple, practical terms — so you don't just memorize lines, you actually understand the ideas behind them and can adapt when your opponent goes off-script.
Teaching methodology
My approach starts with understanding you: your weaknesses, your goals, and how you learn best. Usually the first step is analyzing a few of your recent games together — this tells us exactly where to focus instead of guessing.
From there, I set a clear, personalized plan: a weekly target for games played (online or over the board), specific tactics training, and opening ideas that fit your style. I believe progress comes from consistency, not just talent — so every lesson builds on the last one with a concrete next step.
From there, I set a clear, personalized plan: a weekly target for games played (online or over the board), specific tactics training, and opening ideas that fit your style. I believe progress comes from consistency, not just talent — so every lesson builds on the last one with a concrete next step.