GM Valentin Baidetskyi

Hello! I’m Valentin Baidetskyi, a chess grandmaster and coach from Ukraine, based in Vienna and representing Austria since 2023.

I am a two-time Austrian Rapid Champion and represented Austria at the 2024 Chess Olympiad in Budapest.

I specialise in coaching ambitious young players rated 1900+ FIDE and adult club and tournament players rated 2000+ FIDE.

My lessons are particularly suited to players who want a structured approach to improvement and are ready to work independently between sessions. My aim is to help you understand your strengths, recognise what is holding you back and make better decisions at the board.

I am an active tournament player with experience in international open tournaments, grandmaster round-robin events and European team leagues.

Selected achievements:

• FIDE Grandmaster.
• Austrian Rapid Champion in 2023 and 2026.
• Represented Austria at the 2024 Chess Olympiad in Budapest.
• Bronze medallist at the Austrian Classical Championship in 2023 and 2026.
• Winner of the 2025 Chess Slovak Open in Skalica with 7½/9.

I draw on this experience to help students prepare for opponents, handle unfamiliar positions and make practical decisions under tournament conditions.

I have worked with juniors and adults from different countries, adapting my teaching to their playing strength, goals and time available for study.

My coaching focuses on the individual player. By examining your games and discussing your thought process, I look beyond individual mistakes to identify the habits and gaps in understanding behind them.

I encourage active participation during lessons: calculating variations, comparing candidate moves and explaining your decisions. This helps me understand how you think and tailor our work to your needs.

I am the author of two chess courses published by TheChessWorld:

• 1...d6 Flexible Repertoire — a repertoire for Black based on the Philidor Defence.

• Complete Repertoire for Black 1.e4 e5 — a complete repertoire covering White’s main options after 1.e4 e5.

Opening preparation
I help you build a repertoire that suits your style, level and available study time. We focus on the ideas, pawn structures and typical middlegame plans behind the moves, supported by personalised opening files.

Game analysis and decision-making
We examine both your moves and your reasoning to identify recurring mistakes and establish clear training priorities.

Calculation and positional understanding
We work on finding candidate moves, calculating critical variations, evaluating positions and choosing practical plans.

Practical endgames
We study essential theoretical positions and develop the technique needed to convert advantages and defend difficult endings.

Tournament preparation
I help players prepare for individual opponents and adapt their repertoire to specific events. Preparation and additional support during tournaments are arranged separately.

1. Analyse your games
Before our first lesson, I ask you to send a selection of recent games, ideally with your own comments. During the lesson, we review key moments and discuss your thought process, goals and training habits.

2. Build a training plan
We identify recurring mistakes and set priorities. I then develop an individual plan based on your needs and the time you can realistically devote to chess.

3. Work actively during lessons
Sessions combine explanations with exercises, calculation and discussion. The balance between openings, middlegames and endgames depends on what will benefit you most.

4. Continue independently
Independent study is an important part of improvement. I recommend suitable chess books and encourage students to work through them independently. I provide homework when I believe a specific task would help reinforce the lesson or address an identified weakness, or at the student’s request.

5. Review and adjust
We review your recent games and discuss your independent study to assess progress, clarify questions and adjust the training plan.

Lesson format and fees

• Online via Microsoft Teams or in person in Vienna.
• Sessions lasting between one and three hours.
• €60 per hour. Rates for longer sessions or multiple hours are agreed individually.
• Longer sessions include short breaks as needed.
• Initial game analysis and planning take place during the first paid lesson.
• Preparation for individual opponents and additional support during tournaments are not included in the lesson fee. The scope and price are agreed separately.

To enquire about lessons, send me a message on Lichess or email chesscoachbaidetskyi@gmail.com. Please include your current rating, your goals and your usual availability.