Mike Reynolds

Mike Reynolds is a USCF National Master rated 2200 who has been playing competitive chess for over 15 years. He earned his NM title in 2019 after a dedicated two-year push that saw him climb from 1850 to 2200, a journey that taught him firsthand which training methods actually work.

The turning point came when Mike discovered the Woodpecker Method in 2017. After years of solving random puzzles on various platforms with minimal rating improvement, he committed to cycle-based repetition training. Within 18 months, his tactical vision transformed. Patterns he used to calculate became instant recognitions. His blitz rating jumped 300 points.

Today, Mike coaches kids and adult improvers on weekends. His students range from complete beginners learning basic checkmates to ambitious club players pushing for expert ratings. He's particularly passionate about helping adults with limited study time find efficient training methods.

When he's not playing or coaching chess, Mike works as a senior accountant. The analytical mindset serves him well in both fields, though he'll admit chess is considerably more fun than spreadsheets.

Mike writes for Disco Chess because he believes the Woodpecker Method deserves more attention in the chess improvement community. Too many players grind thousands of random puzzles without seeing results. Structured, repetition-based training changed his chess career, and he wants to help others discover the same approach.