Jerry Casteel

Hello, my name is Jerry Casteel also known as Chessjunkie137 (USCF 2033) this has earned me the title of USCF Chess Expert. I’m a 26-year-old born and raised in Rapid City, SD just outside of the Black Hills. I moved to Tulsa, OK in 2017 where I currently live with my wife and daughter. I was introduced to chess by my school counselor as a way to help me get connected when switching from a private to public school. This led to me playing tournament chess when I was 8. In my high school years, I discovered that there was a want and a need for a local chess coach. I started helping in the school district which then led to private lessons which caused me to open my own store front business. With this business I taught many from age 4-88 how to play chess.

Sadly, due to unforeseen circumstances I had to close the store front. I have continued to do lessons in person and in the last couple of years started online. During that time, I learned so much as in you are never too old to grow your knowledge about chess. It has helped me in more ways than most people see, and it has become something I want to share with everyone. So, all in all I have been teaching for about 11 years. In addition to teaching chess, I have also ran tournaments for almost 10 years, which has its exhausting days but is such a joy. I also became the South Dakota State Chess champion in 2013 through all my hard work. In 2016, I married my wonderful wife who has encouraged me to keep pursuing my dreams. Then in 2020, we welcomed our beautiful daughter who is already trying to play chess every chance she sees a board and pieces. This last year my wife and I started our own online reselling business called Penniless Family Pickers to help support us which has allowed me to join A Step Ahead Chess which has just been a dream. I love watching the kids get excited about the very thing I get excited about. When I am not working on our business and teaching chess, I love playing chess and completing tactics, playing video games with my friends, and enjoying our family time.