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CHESS PLAYING/AUTHOR CREDENTIALS:
- Rated Chess Master: National Master, US Chess Federation (member since 1966); FIDE Candidate Master (2285)
- Member: International Computer Game Association 1977-2009. Appeared on Good Morning America, CNN, Channels 3 & 6, NY Times, Phila Inquirer, etc. as ICCA's media liaison at the Kasparov - Deep Blue "IBM Chess Challenge", PA Convention Center, Feb 1996 & New York City, May 1997. Chess Journalists of America. Former PA Chess Federation Scholastic Coordinator
- Key Tournament Titles: US Team Champion (1972); Philadelphia Invitational (Closed) Champion (1973); Philadelphia Open Champion (1971 & 1976); Main Line CC Co-Champion (2003); Main Line CC Champion (2007)
- Author: 13 Chess Books: Elements of Positional Chess Evaluation (1990; 4th ed. 2010); The Improving Annotator (1995; 2nd ed.: Jan 2011); Everyone's Second Chess Book (Oct 2000; 2nd ed. 2017); The Traxler Counterattack (Sep 2000); The Computer Analyzes the Fried Liver/Lolli (2001); A Parent's Guide to Chess (2002); Looking for Trouble (2003, 2nd ed 2013), Back to Basics: Tactics (2007/2011), The Improving Chess Thinker (2009; 2nd ed 2014); A Guide to Chess Improvement: The Best of Novice Nook (2010), The World's Most Instructive Amateur Game Book (Dec 2012), Is Your Move Safe? (2016); Best Chess Tips (due 2024).
- Columnist: "Chess Journalist of the Year", 2010; Winner, Cramer Award for 2005 (& 2010, '12!) "Best Column, any Media" in North America for Novice Nook at Chess Cafe's Instructive Articles. First person to win three Chess Journalists of America First Place Awards in one year (2001-02)
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- Chess Journalist of America Awards:
1st: Best Instruction (2002): The Six Common Chess States (Novice Nook)
1st: Best Humorous Contribution (2002): The Cheating Chess Tournament
Honorable Mention: Best Column (2002): Novice Nook
1st: Best Web Instruction (2004): Learning From Dr. de Groot (Novice Nook)
Honorable Mention: Best Web Instruction (2005): A Guide to P-R3 (Novice Nook)
1st: Best Web Column, Any Media (2005): Novice Nook ***Cramer Award!***
1st: Best Web Instruction (2006): The Theory of Chess Improvement (Novice Nook)
Honorable Mention: Best Web Instruction (2006): Initial and Final Candidates (Novice Nook)
1st: Best Web Column, Any Media (tie; 2006): When Is a King Safe? (Novice Nook)
Honorable Mention (2008): four more Novice Nook's for "Best Instruction"
1st: Best Instruction and Best Analysis (2009): plus honorable mention "Best Column"
1st: Best Instruction (2010)
1st: Best Instruction (2012)
1st: Best Web Column, Any Media (2012): Novice Nook
1st: Best Twitter Feed ("Chess Tip of the Day"; 2021)
1st: Best Instructional Video (2021)
1st: Best Instructive Lesson (video; 2023) “Chess – a Thought Process Overview.“
Honorable Mention: Best Educational Lesson (video; 2023) “Improve by playing ‘What If?’ with a Chess Engine.“
1st: "Chess Tip of the Day" www.twitter.com/danheisman Best Twitter Feed (2023):
...and more!
- Dan has a YouTube Channel with over 350 instructional videos available to all. Subscription is free.
- Host, Radio "Ask the Renaissance Man" Show on Chess.FM on ICC (2002-'09) - 91+ radio shows are archived by the ICC (membership required)
- Host, chess.com TV: Q&A with Coach Heisman - 2012-2014
- Instructional Videos on the ICC - About 400 videos free to members of ICC and free preview to all.
- "Chess Tip of the Day" on Twitter (2009- ). Won "Best Twitter Feed" 2021 & 2023 from the Chess Journalists of America
- Charitable Donor: Co-Founder, Holly Heisman Memorial Fund and founder, Dan Heisman Chess Scholarship Fund at The Philadelphia Foundation. Helps coordinate the Holly Heisman Memorial Tournament Fundraiser Each Year. Twice appeared on Howard Stern show with charity donors.
- In 2021 Dan made an endowment to the US Chess Federation to create an annual "Dan Heisman Award for Excellence in Chess Instruction"
- Hundreds of Successful Students (see below for highlights of Champions of all ages); includes radio host Howard Stern and Sheik Mohammed of Abu Dhabi
- Full Time Instructor since 1996; "danheisman" on skype; Phillytutor on the Internet Chess Club - many adult and junior students
- Founder and Principal Instructor, Heisman's Chess Trophies Instructional Club (1997-2001; 2005)
- Chess Courses: Cheltenham Adult Evening School; Main Line Night School; Gimbels; NAWC; Friends School Haverford
- Chess Activities Coordinator: Huntingdon Valley Chess Society Juniors (1991 to 1997)
- Chess Instructor: Kaiserman Jewish Community Center (JCC; 1997- 2002)
- Chess Coach, Germantown Academy (1997 to 2001)
- Certified Senior Tournament Director by US Chess Federation
- Summer Chess Camp Instruction: Julian Krinsky Summer Camp (1997-1999); Camp America (1997)
Non-Chess Credentials: Master's in Engineering Science Penn State '83; Hatboro-Horsham HS Hall of Fame (2007); Quality Program Manager, Intermetrics, Inc.; Registered Investment Adviser (PA). Graduated first in HS and College classes, 4.0/4.0 in graduate school. Born in Willow Grove, PA
STUDENT HISTORY HIGHLIGHTS (Full list of Champions - - List of ICC members who play slow)
- NM Dan Benjamin
Master before age 14. Rival to Josh Waitzkin (of Searching for Bobby Fischer fame)
Multiple PA High School State Champion; US Cadet Championship Participant.
Was rated 2nd for his age in US; PhD from Harvard; Professor at Cornell and UCLA - Traldi Brothers (1994 to 1997)
2nd in the US among 5th Graders at 1995 US K-12 Championships
US Cadet co-Champion 2000; 1998 Laura Aspis Award (Top US Player Under Age 13) Yale graduate
NM Arthur Traldi: Beginning Rating ~1100 (age 13) 1997 Rating ~1950 (Age 15)
Holds the title of "Co-US 9th Grade Champion" at 1995 US K-12 Championships
Co-US Junior Champion 2000
- NM Michael Glick (1998 - 2001)
1999-2000 Philadelphia HS Champion
2001 PA State HS Champion
2004 Main Line CC Co-Champion
2005 PA State Co-10 Minute Champion
2005 PA Co-Collegiate Champion - Expert Rory Wasiolek (2001-2003) - 2001 rating 800+; 2003 rating: 1900+
- National Master Kurt Schneider (1998-2001) - the lyricist and composer of "College Musical"!
4th in US Cadet (U16) Championship 2004
2004 Philadelphia Junior Invitational Co-Champion - Scott Kerns
Adult - Was rated 1650 and won the 2002 New Mexico State Championship over several masters and experts!! - Frank Ungrady (MrBoeJangles on ICC)
Adult - went from 1450 to 2000+ ICC Standard rating in 1 year with 6 months of weekly lessons - Craig Klein
Adult- went from 880 to 1700 in 18 months, 2001-2003 - FM/SM Dan Yeager
2005 US Amateur East Champion
2008 US High School Champion
2008 Denker Champion of Champions - SM Will Fisher
2011 PA State HS Champion
2012 Pan-Am Boys U18 Champion!
National Master: Dan Benjamin, Matt Traldi, Arthur Traldi, Kurt Schneider, Chris Heung, Mike Glick, Josh Bowman
Expert: Rory Wasiolek, Alan Deckelbaum, Alex Graeffe, Dan Inghram, Ernest Cronin, Adam Serota, Cam Leslie
Dozens of Adult Students in person and online (via Skype, Zoom, and phone)
Recommendations available on request.