CM Michal Bodický

Hi there! My name is Michal, and I spend a lot of time with chess :D

I’m 28 years old, originally from Czechia. I hold an MSc in Human Decision Science — a field that connects cognitive psychology with game theory. Currently I’m finishing a PhD, where I focus mostly on game theory. This backgroung gives me another view to the game and scrutiny to the training/coaching process.

Outside of chess, I’m passionate about endurance sports, especially running and road cycling.

I’ve been playing leagues and classical tournaments for over 15 years, recently averaging around 100 classical games per season (though not all FIDE-rated). Along the way, I’ve gained valuable experience competing in the Czech, German, Dutch, and Belgian leagues.

My long-term goal is to achieve the IM title — with a peak FIDE rating of 2236 so far, I know there’s still a journey ahead.

One of my fondest memories is winning the Czech U16 Rapid Chess Championship in 2013!

My strong teaching background from the university has trained me to explain complex concepts in a clear, engaging way and to adapt to each learner’s needs. I believe that this perspective helps me to connect well with students and keep the game both challenging and enjoyable.

I actively coach for half a year, though I occasionaly lead chess lectures at Maastricht's chess club for the last 3 years. For the last 4 years I tutor at Maastricht University.

I have some understanding of academic literature related to chess — particularly studies exploring how players think and make decisions at the board. This helps me to see the game not only as a sport, but also as a fascinating window into human reasoning. In addition, I maintain a solid overview of the existing chess literature (excluding opening theory), which allows me to connect students with useful resources tailored to their needs.

Drawing on my background in psychology and game theory, I focus on uncovering the reasoning behind a student’s decisions. Chess is built on countless subtle details, and my strength lies in identifying thought patterns and guiding students to make them more accurate, structured, and strategically sound.

I can assist you either as an active coach or as a sparring partner.

As a coach, I’ll help you choose openings that fit your playing style, review your past games to highlight strengths and weaknesses, and provide material and explanations to support your growth.

As a sparring partner, I’d be happy to play games at rapid time control (or another tempo of your choice) and analyze them together afterward.

During analysis, I’ll focus not only on what happened in the game but also on what you were thinking when making key decisions. These sessions are efficient—about 15 minutes per game—and emphasize the main patterns and choices.

If I notice gaps in your understanding, I can explain them clearly, point you to useful resources, or suggest tailored exercises, depending on what works best for you. By tackling the recurring questions that many players face, we can quickly raise your game to the next level.

If you like that, let’s have a call and discuss the details!