Phillip Yonekawa-Blest is a dedicated chess instructor with over 800 hours of in-person and online teaching experience in both group classes and one-on-one lessons. His teaching approach uses vivid visuals, catchy metaphors, acronyms, and mnemonics to help concepts stick.

Drawing on his Bachelor of Science degree in Economics, Phillip enriches his lessons with ideas from game theory and microeconomics, incorporating concepts such as first-mover advantage, decision trees, and opportunity cost to bring a unique strategic perspective to the chessboard.

As a Bishop-level coach, he specializes in teaching foundational and intermediate chess through targeted exercises and an enthusiastic demeanor, focusing on building strong skills with lessons that are engaging and tailored to each student’s needs.

Passionate about empowering young players, Phillip creates a supportive environment where learning chess feels like an exciting adventure.