We recently had the chance to connect with Robert Ramirez and have shared our conversation below.
Robert, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What is a normal day like for you right now?
From Monday to Thursday, my days are mostly centered around teaching private chess lessons. In between lessons, I’m usually preparing content for my YouTube channel or working on a new course or book project. It’s a nice balance — intense focus during teaching hours, and then short breaks where I can spend time with my wife and our two little ones.
Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays are more relaxed. Of course, there are always errands and things to take care of at home, but we make sure to do something fun as a family — go out, explore, or just unwind together. Sundays are usually about recharging and getting ready for the week ahead.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Robert Ramirez, and I’m a National Master and full-time chess instructor based in South Florida. I’ve been teaching chess professionally since 2013, working with students from all over the world — from complete beginners to tournament players striving for national titles.
I was born in Cuba and first discovered chess there. Compared to most kids around me, I started taking the game seriously a bit late — around age 12 or 13 — and for a while, I felt like an outsider trying to catch up. But I stayed consistent, even through long breaks, and that persistence eventually turned chess into the center of my life.
Today, I run a YouTube channel called NM Robert Ramirez, where I teach chess through my Three Rooms Method — a structured way to understand the game by dividing it into the Opening, Middlegame, and Endgame. This approach helps players not just memorize moves, but truly understand what to do in each phase of the game.
I’m also the author of several popular chess courses on platforms like Chess.com and Chessable, where thousands of students have studied my step-by-step approach to improvement.
What makes my work unique is the combination of clarity, structure, and practicality — helping players build real understanding instead of relying on rote memorization.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
Traveling has definitely shaped how I see the world. As I started to visit different countries and experience other cultures, it really opened my eyes. You realize that no matter where people live or what their daily routines look like, we all share many of the same challenges, hopes, and goals. That perspective has made me more understanding and appreciative of different ways of life — and more aware of how much we all have in common.
When did you last change your mind about something important?
Honestly, I change my mind often — and I think that’s one of my strengths. I’ve always been an open-minded person, and I try not to speak or think in absolutes. Many times since I was a kid, I’ve formed an opinion about something, only to later learn new information that completely changed the way I saw it.
My mom actually helped shape that mindset early on. I’d come to her with strong opinions or worries, and she would gently say, “But did you consider this?” And that would completely shift my perspective.
Because of that, I’ve learned to move through life with a sense of humility — always aware that even when I’m sure about something, I could still be wrong. I truly believe that staying open to new information and new ways of thinking is one of the best habits you can have.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Is the public version of you the real you?
Absolutely. What you see is who I am. I try to live a very simple life and keep things straightforward. I don’t spend time worrying about what others think of me — it just doesn’t affect me. I’m not chasing approval or trying to project a certain image.
At this stage in my life, I’m focused on what truly matters: my family, my students, and the work I enjoy doing. That’s it. I do my own thing, and I’m very comfortable with that.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. If immortality were real, what would you build?
That’s a tough one — I think it could go in one of two directions. On one hand, I might just relax and do nothing for a while. If I knew I had all the time in the world, I’d finally let myself be lazy — something I haven’t really done in years.
On the other hand, I’d probably want to try everything. I’d love to experience all the different paths I’ll never have time for in one lifetime — maybe be an actor, a lawyer, a musician, who knows? There are so many things I’d like to explore. And of course, I’d travel the entire world. There’s just so much to see and learn.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.chesslessonswithrobert.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nmrobertramirez/
- Twitter: https://x.com/NMRobertRamirez
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/NMRobertRamirez
Image Credits
All mine
