Jeffrey Ashton

 I just did the math, and I can't believe I did over 2100+ lessons on Zoom since March 2020. I like it just as much as ever. I really enjoy teaching chess 7 days a week 2-3 times a day. On my weekends I do a lot more lessons, and I enjoy it, but it also tires me out a little. 

We are approaching the anniversary of when I started teaching online because of Covid. People are getting a little burned out on chess, but those who hung in there for a year will be great chess players.  It's only fair. I do indoor rowing, not because I like it, but mainly just because I have one. And I did a LOT of indoor rowing. I recently looked at the stats, and I got a LOT better. It's interesting, because I didn't even want to get better, and I didn't really like indoor rowing that much. I'm naturally kind of unskilled at rowing and swimming. But the lesson I learned is that even practicing something I don't like, regularly, makes me a LOT better. Most importantly, I will probably see the results when things get to normal, and I'm only indoor rowing like once or twice a week.  For the kids playing chess and studying regular, they will see a huge bonus. They probably see the improvement now already, but they will see it in the following years (especial...

I find myself using openingtree.com about once a day now. Kids seem to like it. If you are smart enough to figure out how to use it, you should use it regularly. It should be pretty easy to use for a middle schooler or older, or advanced chess players in general.  The only excuse for not using it, is you are good with ChessBase and you use it regularly (and this is like .01% of chess players that I know).  Also Puzzle Storm on lichess.org is kind of fun for a few days, but I don't think I would recommend it as part of your routine. 

 I look forward to sharing instructive things here. I like the word "blog" so I will continue to update this website.

 TOM: The only move. Or only move. ATOM: Absolutely the only move.  Backronym:  noun an acronym deliberately formed from a phrase whose initial letters spell out a particular word or words, either to create a memorable name or as a fanciful explanation of a word's origin.

Hi! I've been teaching every day since March 19 (I didn't lecture on July 4, but we had tournaments). It's still a lot of fun. Been spending a lot of time with my wife and son. My son is 2.5 years old, and it's great to see him every day and watch him learn. 

I don't really talk about how I'm a National Master in chess.  I'm not sure why not.  Maybe it's modesty... but I don't think I'm that modest.  When people ask me about my chess level, I tell them I'm 2265. I am very careful, because I don't like it when people round up.  Recently I've noticed that people who come to Panda Chess Academy are surprised to know that I'm good at chess. And when I say recently, it's probably more like "within the last 6 years."  I realize that kids see me as like one of those dads who volunteer to coach an elementary school soccer team. I used to play elementary soccer and baseball, and it never occurred to me until now that those dad-coaches probably weren't athletes.  But yes, I'm a National Master. And I do remember being a kid, I really wanted to be a master. I got that goal in 70 tournaments (pretty sure it's like 60's, but again, I don't want to exaggerate). The number of tourna...