About

Abstract image of a rocket-shaped chess piece taking off from a chess board with power-up chess logo

Power-Up Chess is a chess coaching service run by chess player and coach Cameron Smith. It was set up in 2023 in order to offer simple and understandable chess lessons for people of all ages from beginner to intermediate

Lessons are offered to individuals for personalised one-to-one tuition as well as to schools for group sessions and clubs

We cover the central west of Scotland for in-person lessons

Photo of chess coach Cameron Smith with a chess set and chess book
Cameron Smith, 2023

About the coach

Cameron started learning chess from the age of six playing at Troon Junior Club in Barassie (South Ayrshire) then later joining Troon Chess Club

As a junior he represented Scotland at international matches against England and Wales playing for the Scottish Primary Team between the ages of nine and eleven

He is currently a member of Troon Chess Club and has a Chess Scotland grading of 1632 (published for the season 2024-2025)

Notable competition results at Troon Chess Club include:

2011Silver Championship Winner
2012Motwani Quaich Winner
2017Silver Championship Winner
2024Coronelli Trophy Winner

Offices held at Troon Chess Club include:

2017-2019Vice President
2019-2021President

More recently Cameron has been involved with junior chess coaching. He was the assistant junior chess coach at Dundonald Primary School (South Ayrshire) between 2017 and 2018 and is currently the head junior chess coach at Troon Library Junior Chess Club (South Ayrshire) where he has taught since 2017

Copy of post from Facebook showing the junior chess club playing games at Troon Library
Post published on 3 April 2023 on South Ayrshire Libraries’ Facebook page

At Power-Up Chess our lessons focus on teaching the basic skills of chess and encouraging students to use reasoning, creativity and critical thinking when playing this enjoyable and fascinating game