Var is an exceptional coach and it has truly been a pleasure to be his student for the past 7 years. At the beginning of each lesson, we play two games, and believe me, he never makes it easy for me. This forces me to play with accuracy if I want to stay in the game, and forces me to fight even harder to obtain any kind of edge. He has also helped me build a solid repertoire and has sharpened my positional play, endgames, and tactics. When I play in tournaments, this all translates into real results. Var pushed me to the next level: when I began studying with him, I was an 1800, but in a couple years I surpassed 2200 FIDE. Working with a coach who is rapidly ascending the ranks of professional chess is a true inspiration. And, even though he is very highly ranked, he is able to understand the unique needs of his students, regardless of their level of play.