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Frequently Asked Questions
Do you offer scholarship opportunities?
There are a limited number of scholarship opportunities available. If you are interested in applying you can access our form here.
Do you offer classes for adults?
Currently we offer chess classes for ages 5-17.
How do the ratings work?
A “tournament chess rating” is a numerical ranking that chess players earn by competing in chess tournaments. The higher the number, the stronger the level of the chess player. U800 refers to any students that are ranked “below the tournament rating of 800 points” – this is a category in a tournament where less experienced players are usually competing. The OPEN categories, in contrast, often have experienced and very strong chess players. For more info, check out our blog post "Chess Rating - A Parent's Complete Rating Guide".
My child wants to play in a competition - what would you recommend?
Friday Night Quads are a great place for a student to practice what they’ve learned in a fun, competitive environment.
My child just started chess club and loves it, is he/she ready for a tournament?
We recommend that as soon as a child can do a couple of basic checkmates, such as using a Queen and Rook vs. a lone King, that he/she enters a tournament in one of the beginner sections. We find that players that compete in tournaments enjoy chess more, feel part of a team, and usually have a great time! One of the best ways to get started in competition is to join the Chess4Life Quads events. Just one of the many reasons is that new students all start out in the same section so that inexperienced players are paired with each other, and over time, move up the quads to more experienced opponents. To learn more, visit our Chess4Life Quads Page linked here.
How can I start a Chess4Life Chess Club at my school?
Chess4Life provides curriculum and training for you to run an organized, goal-oriented chess club at your school – to start a club at your school, simply contact Chess4Life for pricing and to get started. In addition, Chess4Life provides the tools & professional development necessary to successfully integrate chess into daily curriculum, mapping chess activities directly to educational outcomes. For more info & to schedule a free consultation, visit our Licensing Information for Preschool & K-12 page here.
What is a good age to begin chess lessons?
We currently offer group classes for students from 5 yrs old. At that age, there may be issues with the ability to focus and stay engaged in the class in which case your student’s coach will communicate with you about progress and alternatives should it become clear that other learning options are more appropriate.
Where are chess classes held?
Online programs are held via Zoom and Lichess.org