Chess club is a casual gaming club for ages 8 (or grade 3) and up. Our primary focus is chess. Beginner, intermediate and advanced players are welcome to join. We will study various chess concepts, such as: chessboard setup, how the pieces move, opening sequences, tactics (double attacks, forks, pins, skewers), check mating patterns, special rules, and strategy.

For those interested in competition, we will assemble a chess team to compete in the GAPPS chess tournament, which Eagle’s Nest won in 2024 and 2026. Chess club meetings between September-December will be used as tryouts and team practice sessions. During this time, the coaching staff will decide who “makes” the team and the squads to which they are assigned, based on club members’ interest in competing & skill level during in-person practice games. In January, we will accelerate our tournament preparation by doing a mock tournament, wherein we simulate as closely as possible the rules and conditions of the GAPPS tournament. The tournament is typically held in late January/early February.

The secondary focus of chess club, though, is having fun. We often play a variety of other classic card & board games, such as Battleship, Uno, Jenga, Pictionary, Scrabble, Guess Who, Clue, etc. We have a selection of games available for members to play and learn when they’re not playing chess.

Whether you are interested in chess, or just playing board games with your friends, please consider joining the chess club!

Note regarding fees: most chess club fees are returned to members in the way of perks and benefits, such as a one year “gold” membership on chesskid.com, a chess club tee shirt, tournament entry fees, etc. However, due to GAPPS AES eligibility requirements, there will be additional administrative fees for chess team members competing in the tournament. In 2026, this fee was $60 per child, which parents paid directly to GAPPS. Please be aware of this additional cost.

Important!! Chess Club needs at least 2 adult assistants, taking an active role in the class, so I can focus on chess with the chess team members. Assistants can focus on keeping order in the classroom and leading other members in their games. If you are interested in being an assistant, please email me to discuss. Thank you for considering!