Start small
Fewer pieces mean quicker games, clearer choices, and more room for beginners to think logically about the position in front of them.
Ongoing chess and strategy
Chess Studio
A Thursday afternoon chess and strategy studio where younger children can begin with parent-child mini-games, and older beginners build toward full chess through puzzles, coached play, and carefully chosen challenges.
What Happens Here
Chess as a playground for thinking.
Chess Studio uses a scaffolded curriculum of small chess worlds: pawn races, pawns against a queen, pawns against minor pieces, and other games that make strategic ideas visible before a full game becomes too much to hold at once.
Find the puzzle
Each mini-game invites a real question: would you rather play as White or Black, and what strategy could prove it?
Earn mastery
Students play in pairs, revise their ideas, and when they are ready, challenge the teacher to show what they have figured out.
Who It Is For
For beginners who want chess to feel welcoming.
This program is for newer players, including children who know how some pieces move and children who are still building their first relationship with the board. Younger children may begin through parent-child strategy play; older beginners can work more independently.
Beginner does not mean watered down. The mini-games offer an accessible entrance into real strategic thinking, with enough structure for confidence and enough depth for surprise.
What Students Practice
Habits that travel beyond the program.
Start with mini-games that make the board easier to think about
Ask real strategic questions: who would you rather play as, and why?
Build toward full chess through play, challenge, and reflection
Practical Questions
Practical details about Chess Studio.
These answers cover the most common questions before enrollment. The Policies & FAQ page has the shared studio terms.
Does my child need to know how the pieces move?
No. Chess Studio is designed for beginners, including children who are still learning the board and children who know the basic moves but are new to strategic play.
Is this individual, parent-child, or small-group?
Chess Studio is built as a small-group experience. Younger children may begin through parent-child mini-games, while older beginners can participate more independently. The intro visit helps identify the right starting format.
How long is each session?
Students attend weekly within the Thursday 2:00-5:00pm studio window. The specific time and session format are confirmed during the intro visit so they fit the child's age and the group that is forming.
How are different ages and experience levels handled?
Students work through carefully chosen mini-games and challenges rather than all playing the same full game at once. That makes it possible to adjust the board, problem, and level of independence while preserving a shared strategic culture.
Can my child join after the group has begun?
Yes, when there is space and a good-fit entry point. The mini-game curriculum gives new students a natural place to begin without requiring everyone to have started on the same date.
What if the initial group is still forming?
Start with an intro visit. Payment is not requested until there is enough enrollment for a lively small-group experience and a workable Thursday place has been confirmed.
Do parents need to know chess?
No. Parents are welcome to participate with younger children, and the mini-games are designed to make strategic questions accessible without requiring an experienced chess player at home.
How does cancellation work?
Membership renews monthly until cancelled. Cancel before the next billing date to avoid the next charge. Partial months and missed sessions are not refunded.
Enrollment
Start with a Chess Studio intro visit
Chess Studio meets Thursdays from 2:00-5:00pm. Students attend weekly focused sessions scheduled within that afternoon window, with parent-child options for younger children and more independent beginner chess for older students. Membership is $120 per month with rolling enrollment as space allows.
Start with a free 45-minute studio visit to see the studio and talk through fit, scheduling, and availability before any payment or commitment.
Please review the Policies & FAQ before enrolling.
Not ready to schedule a visit yet?
Get availability updates for schedule notes and openings.
Prefer to see the space first? Visit the studio.