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John W. Collins (September 23, 1912 - December 2, 2001) was one of the most influential chess teachers in U.S. history.

Collins became a chess master in the 1930s. He was a major figure in the early days of modern organized chess, serving as the first postal chess editor of Chess Review; all USCF correspondence players thus owe him a debt. He was one of a very few who excelled nationally at both correspondence and OTB play, winning the U.S. correspondence championship and ranking as one of the top OTB players in the U.S. He remained an active tournament player through the 1960s. He represented the United States in the first World Correspondence Chess Championship but finished last.

A prolific author, he has taught thousands of players through his books and articles, and was co-editor of the ninth edition of Modern Chess Openings. Collins has been a major organizer and leader in New York City, with significant impact on the U.S. and world chess scenes, especially through his Collins Kids organization.

He suffered from a childhood illness and spent his life in a wheelchair, assisted by his sister Ethel, who was a registered nurse and brought him to chess events. He never allowed any publicity about his illness. Very few people were aware of his actual condition until they met him.

John Collins' 1975 book My Seven Chess Prodigies aroused some controversy. In this book, Collins claimed to have been the teacher of some of America's top players: Bobby Fischer, William Lombardy, Robert Byrne, Donald Byrne, Raymond Weinstein, Salvatore Matera and Lewis Cohen. No doubt, all of them were frequent guests in Collins' home in Stuyvesant Town in New York City, whether or not they would call themselves Collins' students.

Books

• My Seven Chess Prodigies ISBN 0671219413
• Maxims of Chess ISBN 067914403X