I have been a passionate chess player since I was 12, but many of my students are 5-6 years old.
For them, I am ‘Coach Oli’ – for the International Chess Federation (FIDE), I am a certified chess school instructor.

For several years, I have been teaching chess in international schools, sports centers, private schools and online to many young enthusiasts from all over the world, who are mostly between 5 and 12 years old.

Chess has a magical effect on children, even more than on adults. It is a perfect combination of role-playing with its fairy-tale characters, and more importantly, a mission where ‘we are the mindful, conscious, independent hero’. Surprising, but these are the words that best describe this unique game setting. And then there is the other aspect that the most matters to me: the cognitive and social development. This is where the idea of creating a course comes from, because I am a witness to it; I see it happening before my eyes – chess does a lot of good for children.

Mindful Moves Publications is there to present to you the courses that I put on sale for parents who wish to accompany their child in learning the game through my teaching method for beginners.

I was 12 years old and I repeatedly asked my parents and my sister to play with me. Exceptionally, my beloved mother did it. This desire I had to move the pieces on the chessboard and set a trap for my opponent’s king was unfortunately rare. This book is a message of love to that boy I once was, and it is my gift to all kids eager to learn the wonderful game of Chess.