Award
Junior club champion
Sofia chess club, 1981
Self-reported
All professionals
Board and card games in West Orange
Ivan Petrov
Board and card games: Chess partner and patient bridge teacher
Former club champion who plays chess and bridge at your pace
- 4.9 from 14 reviews
- Based in Bernardsville
- All five checks passed
Ask a question before you book. Contact details stay private.
BridgeChess
- Bridge: Learn the bidding or sharpen your play with a patient partner.
- Chess: Someone to play a real game with, every week.
Travels farther · +$25 for homes 20+ miles awayBased in Bernardsville
Credentials
Training or degree
Ph.D. in Chemistry
Stevens Institute of Technology, 1994
Self-reported
About me
I grew up in Sofia, where chess was what kids did in the park after school, and I was a junior club champion before I was fifteen. I came to New Jersey for graduate school, stayed for a job in pharmaceutical research, and picked up bridge from my colleagues at lunch.
Now I am semi retired and live in Bernardsville. I drive in to the Essex towns a few days a week because I like the games and the people. Chess with me is a real game. I adjust how hard I play, and if you want to learn, we go over the opening and one idea to try next time. For bridge I teach standard American bidding with lots of practice hands, and I can be your fourth.
Because I come from farther out, homes 20 miles or more from Bernardsville have a small travel fee added. I am quiet at the board and chatty afterward, and I always bring an interesting puzzle for the week.
What a first visit looks like
- 1
Minute 0 to 10
Talk about your game: how often you played and what you enjoy.
- 2
Minute 10 to 20
Go over one idea and leave a puzzle to try before next week.
What to have ready
Nothing to buy before the first visit
- A table and two chairs
- Your board or cards if you have favorites
Where Ivan goes
- West OrangeLives here
- Livingston
- Millburn
- Short Hills
- South Orange
Where in the home
Dining tableHome officePorch
Usual week
Mon
Off
Tue
9am
to 3pmWed
12pm
to 3pmThu
10am
to 4pmFri
Off
Sat
Off
Sun
Off
What families say
“Dad asked me twice when the next one was. That never happens.”
Andre W.
“Dad says it is the first real chess game he has had in years.”
James J.
“I live in Ohio and this gave me real peace of mind. Mom loves it.”
Gail A.
“Finally someone who would play Dad at chess and not let him win.”
Sofia J.
“Mom was nervous the first time. By the end she was laughing.”
Luis L.
“Canasta night is back at Grandma's. The noise is wonderful.”
Rachel M.
“My aunt is picky and she wants this every week now.”
Nancy T.
“Mom wore earrings for it. Enough said.”
Gail M.
“Mom actually set the table early for this.”
Chris F.
“Gentle pace, good humor. Exactly what we hoped for.”
David J.
“Patient with my dad, who can be a lot. Worth every penny.”
Ellen A.
“Kind, clear and never once talked down to my father.”
Kevin B.
“Patient with the slow players, which is all of us.”
Ellen M.
“Messages back fast and remembers the little things.”
Chris T.
Checked and vetted
- Online search
- A real conversation with our team
- Signed provider agreement
- Criminal background check
- National sex offender registry check
$60 per hour
Plus a $2.50 booking fee and 10% service fee.
Free cancellation up to 3 days before.