I was born on October 28th, 1981 (25 years old), in Brasilia, the capitol of Brazil. I learned to move the chess pieces on January 1st 1997, at the age of 15, when my father gave me a chess set and a beginner's book as the best New Year's gift ever. It was pure love at first sight, I ate up my first book and a few months later started competing in local tournaments. Partially through the influence of chess books and articles I was able to learn English and Spanish languages, self-taught. As an intermediate-to-advanced player I participated in two courses given by Swedish GM Ulf Andersson, but I was mostly taught by local FM Adriano Valle. This training lasted 1 year and a half and, after I reached his level, I started training on my own, obtaining the IM title in 2003.

As an IM I've defeated quite a few GMs up to this point, like Gilberto Milos (3 times), Rafael Leitao and Darcy Lima from Brazil, Walter Arencibia from Cuba and Andres Rodriguez from Uruguay. In two opportunities I almost reached my first GM norm (in both cases losing the decisive game to my nemesis and good friend GM Oswaldo Zambrana from Bolivia), but I've not been competing much since the beginning of 2005, when I took up coaching. The latter has become my main activity since then, as I identified myself greatly with the task of helping people improve.

I'm also an active chess writer and a columnist in a Brazilian chess magazine. Due to professional reasons I left my hometown of Brasilia and since November 2006 I live in Santos, a beautiful beach city in the state of Sao Paulo, where the chess activity is much higher. Recently I've also been dedicating myself to my website, which is due for launching in Portuguese in October and in English in December/07.

I'm currently #1 on ICC's list of Most Active Teachers and I give audio-based lessons in Portuguese, English and Spanish languages for very reasonable fees. All my students get constant e-mail consultation and homework assignments on a weekly basis. I have worked with students from 9 to 65 years old, from beginner to advanced level and from all the five continents. Quite a few of them have been winning important tournaments and money prizes up to US$3.000, mostly in the well-paid U-sections of U.S. Open tournaments. However, my main accomplishment as a coach is the fact that every student who committed to a long-term training with me has improved his/her playing level substantially, even those who have very little time for studying chess due to their demanding professional activities.

FIDE Rating Card

Hello cousin, how do you do ?
I'm very proud to be your cousin, i've been folowing for ages at your chess carrer and i think you'll tread very far, because you have an internal shine that makes you get all you wanna do. Go on pursuing your dream cause on day it comes true.
Bye. Your cousin from Arapiraca.

Luis,
You are a natural born teacher! As a long-time professor (history, not chess), I am in a position to recognize this. Your videos of the Alekhine, Capablanca, and your own games are superb. Especially for a player on the 1700 USCF level like me. You explain all the pertinent ideas and variations clearly. And like great teachers you are especially good at breaking down more advanced ideas into simpler understandable concepts which less advanced players can easily grasp. Also appreciated are your own personal insights.
Please keep up the good work. I hope you continue to post instructive games on this site. Thanks so much for your efforts. Take care.
Max

Happy belated birthday Luis!!

Thank you, Luis-
Your teaching style, voice, and English are way beyond excellent. I very much enjoy your videos, and I'm learning a lot from them--even at age 62.

nimbleswitch
Jack Clark
Idyllwild, California

I miss Luis's Videos

They are unrivaled on all of This website.

Except for maybe Curtain's entertaining blitz videos

Hi Luis,

im an Austrian chessfan. Steadily improving since two years i feel i could need the help of a teacher to get to the next levels. by now im rated 1680, so there might be lot of space to gain, a lot to improve and learn. Im wonderin how i could become your student.

kr
Benedikt

Hi! I've just discovered your videos and they are so amazing that I revive this topic just for encourage you to record some more!

Cheers!