GM Ulvi Bajarani

I am GM Ulvi Bajarani, the 2014 Azerbaijan Champion and Founder & Head Coach of Azeri Chess Academy in Houston. I offer personalized chess coaching for children and adults, from newcomers learning the fundamentals to experienced tournament players.

My aim is to help you understand positions, calculate more accurately, and make better decisions in your own games. Lessons are tailored to your experience and goals, combining explanations with exercises, game analysis, and practical play.

You can choose from the following options:

15-minute GM Evaluation & Improvement Roadmap — $40:
calendly.com/ulvibajarani/15minutes

One-hour private lesson — $150:
calendly.com/ulvibajarani/1hour

Ten-session package — $1,200:
calendly.com/ulvibajarani/10lessonpackage

You are welcome to message me on Lichess with your current level or rating, your goals, and your preferred lesson times.

For information about our coaches and chess programs, visit Azeri Chess Academy:
azerichessacademy.com

I became a FIDE Master at age 10, an International Master at age 15, and a Grandmaster at age 18.

Selected tournament results:
- Joint winner with the UTRGV II team, Final Four tournament, Lubbock, USA, October 2021.
- Prize-winner, Charlotte Open, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA, January 2020.
- Winner of the Fischer Random section, Peterburgskaya Leto tournament, Russia, August 2018.
- Winner, Solidarity Day – Vugar Gashimov Chess Academy Classic, Baku, Azerbaijan, December 2016.
- Winner, Brasschaat Open, Brasschaat, Belgium, August 2015.
- Prize-winner, Arad Open, Arad, Romania, August 2015.
- Under-20 category winner, Najdorf Memorial Open A, Warsaw, Poland, July 2015.
- Winner of the playoff section, Fuad Djafarov Memorial, Baku, Azerbaijan, November 2014.
- Azerbaijan Champion, Baku, June 2014.
- Winner, Independence Day Open, Baku, Azerbaijan, October 2013.
- Under-18 champion, Azerbaijan Junior Championship, March 2013.
- Winner, Azerbaijan First League, Baku, November–December 2012.
- Winner, Solidarity Day Closed Tournament, Baku, Azerbaijan, December 2011.
- Under-18 category winner, Baku Open, Azerbaijan, August 2011.
- Second place, Petrovskaya Ladya, Peterhof, Russia, July 2010.
- Under-20 category winner in Group A2, Aeroflot Open, Moscow, Russia, February 2010.
- Winner, Dubai Open Under-14 tournament, Dubai, UAE, July 2009.
- Under-20 champion, Azerbaijan Youth Championship, April 2009.
- Under-14 champion, Azerbaijan Youth Championship, March 2009.
- Under-14 category winner, Cappelle-la-Grande tournament, France, March 2009.
- Fourth place in the Under-14 category, World Youth Championship, Vung Tau, Vietnam, 2008.
- Under-20 category winner, Ramadan Cup, Abu Dhabi, UAE, September 2008.
- Silver medal, European Under-12 Championship, Rijeka, Croatia, 2007.
- Bronze medal, European Under-12 Championship, Herceg Novi, Montenegro, 2006.
- Prize-winner, Abu Dhabi Open, UAE, August 2006.
- Under-14 category winner, President Cup, Baku, Azerbaijan, May 2006.
- Silver medal, European Under-10 Championship, Herceg Novi, Serbia and Montenegro, 2005.
- Bronze medal, World Under-10 Championship, Belfort, France, 2005.

I have been coaching since 2016, working with students ranging from beginners to Grandmasters, including GM Nijat Abasov and GM Vasif Durarbayli. My experience includes individual lessons and group instruction.

Among my students’ achievements, Can Isik tied for first place in a city championship, and Nathan Sun won an interschool tournament in New Zealand. Each student has different goals, and I tailor my instruction to their experience, strengths, and areas for improvement.

I also write chess books and develop teaching materials. My publications include Stalemate!, Underpromotion, and the Defeat World Champions! series.

You can explore my books here:
www.amazon.com/stores/Ulvi-Bajarani/author/B093X5KQCM

Best skills in chess and teaching
- Game analysis and identifying areas for improvement
- Calculation and tactical vision
- Positional understanding and strategic planning
- Opening principles and repertoire development
- Typical middlegame structures and plans
- Theoretical and practical endgames
- Learning from classical games
- Effective use of chess engines in analysis
- Chess psychology and practical decision-making

In our first full lesson, I analyze your games to understand how you think, identify your strengths, and determine which areas need the most attention. This helps me plan subsequent lessons around your needs rather than follow the same program for every student.

Depending on your level and goals, our work may include:
1. Reviewing your games to understand mistakes and examine alternatives.
2. Developing tactical vision and calculation through carefully selected exercises.
3. Studying essential endgame positions and practical techniques.
4. Building an opening repertoire around ideas, plans, and typical positions.
5. Improving positional understanding and strategic decision-making.
Lessons may be explanation-based, where I introduce a concept and illustrate it with examples, or interactive, where you solve positions, explain your reasoning, and practice what you have learned. I can also address specific questions or topics you would like to study.

Lessons booked through Calendly take place on Google Meet. Zoom and Chess.com Classrooms are also options by arrangement. I use ChessBase to present and analyze games and positions.

To discuss lessons, please send me a message on Lichess.