ChessKid Coach Spotlight: FM Carlos Mena
At what age were you introduced to chess and who introduced you?
I started playing chess around 5 years old. Back in Cuba, my grandfather used to play very often at home, so one day I asked him to teach me how to move the pieces and played my first game against his friend.
I'm not sure if he let me win, but I was very happy to win my first match. Later when I was 7, I joined an after-school chess club where I really started my chess education.
What is your first vivid memory from chess?
Since chess was played at my house very regularly, I have very early memories about it. My grandfather had many sets and books which I recall seeing as early as 4 years old!
Later on, when I was 7 and joined the after-school chess club, it was also a great experience when we were travelling to other schools or to tournament venues.
Beating older kids was always a big achievement, and making close friends at the chess club was also a big thing for me.
Carlos shaking hands with legendary GM Garry Kasparov.
Which coaches were helpful to you in your chess career and what was the most useful knowledge they shared with you?
Throughout my chess journey I had three coaches: Adolfo Pernas from 7 to 10 years old, FM Pablo Guerra from 12 to 13, and FM Angel Perez from 13 to 24.
My early coach, Adolfo Pernas, was always stressing how important it is for kids to play exciting attacking chess in order to develop your calculation and imagination. All the games he showed were aggressive-style games with a lot of tactics.
When travelling to tournaments, he was also making sure that we were going to bed very early and stayed quiet and relaxed in between games. A common mistake is to do too much physical activity, and then when you get to the next game you are hyperactive!
FM Pablo Guerra started giving a taste of what more mature chess is. Which is that aside from being a good attacking player, you also need to know how to strategize and play defense as well. He introduced me to strategy and endgame books.
My third coach taught me how important it is to have an opening repertoire. High-level players spend a huge amount of time creating opening files to make sure they don't get surprised on the opening. If they do get surprised, they have a file to go back and check in order to improve.
The world champions keep on coming! Here's Carlos with GM Magnus Carlsen.
How would you describe your approach to chess coaching?
Teaching chess in New York for more than 10 years has shaped the way I approach chess coaching a lot.
When I first arrived to New York from a very homogeneous country like Cuba, I had a formula which I thought would work well everywhere... but then I was teaching kids from so many cultures with their own ways of learning, and that actually taught me that I shouldn't have a formula but I should adapt to the kids' needs.
This is impossible to do in group lessons but is good and necessary for private coaching. If a student likes attacking chess, we pick openings that are aggressive. If a student likes strategy and defense, we adjust to that.
Carlos has been truly brilliant and inspirational for my son on his chess journey. He got him engaged straight away and improved his level quickly and significantly.He also has been amazing with me, explaining my son's progress and kindly guided me each step of the way. I am very grateful for all his hard work and commitment and happy to recommend him to any parent wishing to take their child to the next level in chess.— A ChessKid parent sharing her feedback on Carlos.
Can you share some of your favorite chess puzzles?
Letting Him Promote:
Thanks to FM Carlos Mena for his great answers, and thanks to you for reading them! Do you have an amazing chess coach who deserves to be put in the spotlight? Get in touch and let us know!