jeremy ratner - chess

Mr. Jeremy Ratner is a dedicated chess educator with years of experience guiding students to success in competitive play. He emphasizes understanding the purpose behind tactics and strategies rather than memorization, helping students build confidence through deeper connections. Specializing in middlegame strategies and complex positional play, Jeremy teaches the skills used by top-level players. He also created a Bilingual Chess Program that has taught over fifty students in both English and Spanish, reflecting his commitment to inclusive, impactful chess education.

Jeremy brings more than a decade of competitive chess experience to his teaching. He began playing chess at age four and won his first tournament a year later with a perfect score. Over the past eleven years, Jeremy has succeeded in scholastic, regional, and national tournaments. He is a US Chess Federation Expert, has been named to the Top 100 US Chess Players for his age group 28 times, and played Board One for his school team for six years.

Jeremy’s chess development was shaped by studying the games of legendary players such as Alekhine, Karpov, Capablanca, Carlsen, and Kasparov, which deepened his endgame knowledge and positional understanding. His passion for chess is matched by his passion for education—he believes that chess teaches life skills such as patience, critical thinking, and pattern recognition, which are instrumental in academic and personal growth.

Accepted to Williams College with plans to study psychology, mathematics, and neuroscience, Jeremy connects chess with broader learning principles, helping students understand how they learn as well as what they learn.

Outside of chess, Jeremy is an accomplished squash player and former captain of his Varsity team. He has won regional math competitions and published a neuroscience paper in a peer-reviewed journal. In his free time, he enjoys baseball (a loyal Dodgers fan), music, travel, and time with family and friends.

Selected Accolades:

• US Chess Federation Expert

• Named to US Chess Top 100 for age group 28 times

• Board One of Portledge School Chess Team (6 years)

• Multiple regional tournament championships

• Featured in local press for chess success and educational initiatives