U.S. Chess Center: 2022-2023 Online & In-Person Chess Classes REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!

Our online classes are live and interactive with a nationally certified chess coach; we do not use videos. We stratify the lesson groups by ability so that everyone is challenged but nobody is overwhelmed.

Lessons are designed to help students develop confidence without boring them, and students are encouraged to share their ideas and questions with the class. Our teachers listen to each student to ensure that nobody is left behind, and we observe the games the students play with one another to determine points to emphasize in future lessons.

Online classes are 60 minutes, once each week from 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm ET (UTC -5). Each class has 20-30 minutes of instruction and 30-40 minutes of supervised play. Space is limited.

The Center’s students have won more than 50 state and national chess championships (individual and team) and several hundred of our long-time students have gone on to attend highly selective universities, many on scholarship.

Register for Online Classes at:

https://chessctr.org/online

SATURDAY CHESS KIDS for Students in Grades K-6 (in-person)

Chess Kids, which has been operating since the U.S. Chess Center’s founding, is an individualized, highly structured program for students in Grades K – 6 that meets on Saturdays from 10:00 am – 11:30 am over four-weeks per session.

It is designed to foster an interest in chess among those who may be too young to be able to handle the complex abstract concepts involved with serious chess, and to generate enthusiasm for those who are ready for the full game.

We want kids to grow with others of the same age and have them form friendships as they improve their skills. They learn that improving at the game is the fun part, not winning. So long as they are trying to do their best they will improve (win or lose).

Chess Kids students are placed in groups based on their ability and everyone plays games each week and receives lessons. Students are welcome to register for multiple sessions as lessons for each group build from the previous lessons. Through Chess Kids, we make learning chess fun!

Register for Saturday Chess Kids at:

https://chessctr.org/chesskids

SUNDAY CHESS for Students in Grades 7-12

The Theophilus Thompson Chess Club (previously Sunday Chess) is a weekly class on Sunday from 1:30pm – 5:00pm ET. The class meets in-person in the basement of 1340 Old Chain Bridge Rd, McLean, VA 22101 (Map).

Our teachers provide instruction to beginners and help more advanced players improve their strategy. Lessons are challenging and informative for all students. Sometimes we play with other students from across the country and around the world.

We have had online matches with students from China, Czech Republic, Iceland, Montenegro, Norway, Spain, Ukraine, and Zambia. We have hosted teams visiting Washington from a variety of states.

Some of our students have played in the World Amateur Team Championships (winning prizes for three years in a row) and we took several students on a great chess trip to Cuba. The Club is named after Theophilus Thompson, a trailblazing chess player and problemist: learn more about him

Register for Sunday Chess (Theophilus Thompson Chess Club) at:

https://chessctr.org/sundaychess