Jay Harrison is a fun and dedicated instructor from Itasca, Illinois. Outside of chess Jay spends his time studying to be a high school science teacher, doing impressions, and playing Magic: The Gathering. We are so grateful to have such an engaging instructor on our team!

Check out this awesome event with the Beachwood Recreation Association in Troy, MI where they revealed a giant chess board just in time for summer fun!

Ray Bowens is a dedicated instructor from Boston MA. He has been teaching with Chess Wizards for 3 years, and we are so grateful for his ability to think outside the box and meet the needs of every one of his students. When he isn’t teaching, Ray spends his time chess boxing and working as a fashion designer. We would love for you to meet this fantastic Wizard!

One of the best ways to improve your chess game is to become familiar with the terminology used by chess players. This month you can learn a little more about the term bishop pair.

Whether your child is a beginner or seasoned player, being prepared and understanding the fundamentals of chess tournaments is essential for a successful and enjoyable experience.

David is a world-class Wizard from Long Island. He is highly requested by schools and his students love the excitement and fun he brings to all his classes! David is passionate about sharing his love of chess and we are so grateful to have him on our team.

One of the best ways to improve your chess game is to become familiar with the terminology used by chess players. This month you can learn a little more about the term novelty.

Another awesome tournament in the books! We had so much fun on April 13th, 2024 in Birmingham, MI. 

Cammy is a creative and passionate Wizard from Austin, Texas. Her enthusiasm for the game of chess led her to become a national champion in middle school, and she brings that passion and enthusiasm to every one of her classes. We would love for you to meet this fantastic Wizard!

We had an absolute blast at our spring scholastic chess tournament which took place on March 23^rd, 2024 in Waltham, MA.

As the school year comes to a close, parents may once again find themselves looking for ways to keep their kids engaged, active, and happy during the summer break. Summer camps help to improve social skills, encourage creativity, foster independence, build lasting friendships, and provide a break from technology. Let’s take a closer look at these 5 amazing benefits.

One of the best ways to improve your chess game is to become familiar with the terminology used by chess players. This month you can learn a little more about the term arbiter.

Kindergarten is a huge year for both academic and social development, and a perfect time to introduce your child to the game of chess.

Ryan is a dedicated instructor from San Jose, California. He truly cares about making his classes meaningful and brings to the classroom tons of creative ideas. Outside of Chess Wizards you can find Ryan running in an annual marathon! We would love for you to meet this fantastic Wizard.

One of the best ways to improve your chess game is to become familiar with the terminology used by chess players. This month you can learn a little more about the terms rank and file.

On Sunday, February 18^th, at just 8 years and six months old, Ashwath Kaushik set a record to become the youngest player to beat a grandmaster in a classical tournament game!

Ade is a rockstar Wizard from Canton, Michigan! His classes are engaging, entertaining, and a ton of fun for students. When he isn’t teaching chess Ade spends his time working as a Music Producer, Recording Engineer and Film Composer. Head to the blog to read more!

Hobbies play a crucial role in enhancing one’s overall quality of life. They provide an outlet for stress-relief, improve mental well-being, and encourage personal balance, creativity, and a sense of purpose. Maintaining a passion for a hobby over a long period of time requires commitment and a proactive approach.

One of the best ways to improve your chess game is to become familiar with the terminology used by chess players. This month you can learn a little more about the term Over The Board. 

Ramya is not only a member of our WITS team but is also an accomplished chess player - pictured when she won the US Women's Open in 2015! She is also a skilled blindfold chess player. When Ramya isn't playing chess she enjoys traveling and trying new things. We would love for you to meet this awesome Chess Wizard!

That's a wrap on our winter camp season! Check out a few highlights from our camp at Marathon Elementary School in Hopkinton, MA.

The game of chess has been represented throughout history in many movies, tv shows, and books.

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Arabic	Hebrew	Polish
Bulgarian	Hindi	Portuguese
Catalan	Hmong Daw	Romanian
Chinese Simplified	Hungarian	Russian
Chinese Traditional	Indonesian	Slovak
Czech	Italian	Slovenian
Danish	Japanese	Spanish
Dutch	Klingon	Swedish
English	Korean	Thai
Estonian	Latvian	Turkish
Finnish	Lithuanian	Ukrainian
French	Malay	Urdu
German	Maltese	Vietnamese
Greek	Norwegian	Welsh
Haitian Creole	Persian

 

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One of the best ways to improve your chess game is to become familiar with the terminology used by chess players. This month you can learn a little more about the middle game. 

Meet Timus Gareyev, chess Grandmaster, who played 48 opponents simultaneously while blindfolded – earning him a Guiness World Record and becoming the king of blindfold chess.

One of the best ways to improve your chess game is to become familiar with the terminology used by chess players. This month you can learn a little more about a Knockout Tournament, Swiss Tournament, and Round Robin Tournament.

If you are a chess enthusiast and find yourself in St. Louis, Missouri, you definitely won’t want to miss a stop at the Saint Louis Chess Club!

The holiday season is upon us, and if you find yourself shopping for someone who loves to play chess this gift list for you. 

Ryan is our amazing WITS team coordinator for our New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut area Wizards. Not only is he a fantastic chess player and instructor, but he is also a very talented musician and song writer. Head to the blog to meet Ryan!

Chess Wizards and Apollo After School and had a fantastic time at the 2023 New York State School Boards Association Annual Convention & Education Expo which was held on October 26th-28th.

Chess Wizards and Apollo After School were thrilled to be a part of the 2023 New Jersey School Boards Association’s Workshop that was held October 23rd – 26th.

Introducing your daughter to chess isn't just a move; it's a gambit towards a future of boundless opportunities, where she can confidently excel in diverse fields and master the challenges that come her way.

While the history of chess is often associated with notable male figures, the landscape now gleams with remarkable women who have forged their own paths.

Having a growth mindset can have some serious benefits. This type of mindset helps people stay motivated, recover quicker from failures and setbacks, and helps individuals dedicate their time to personal growth – turning “I can’t do this” into “I can’t do this YET.”

Jacob is our amazing WITS team coordinator for our Colorado and Utah Wizards, and has been teaching with Chess Wizards for over 5 years. When he isn’t teaching or playing chess Jacob spends his time working on his tech and AI companies and teaching music. Come meet this rockstar Wizard!

Effective teachers are passionate about teaching. They’re happy to be at school, have built solid relationships with their students, know the content they are teaching extremely well, and are the ones that are able to make the greatest impact on the lives of their students.

One of the best ways to improve your chess game is to become familiar with the terminology used by chess players. This month you can learn a little more about what ‘centralization’ means in our favorite game.

Regularly playing chess during summer benefits children academically and can help keep young minds challenged while school isn’t in session.

Gavin is an amazing instructor in Connecticut, who has taught with us for almost 6 years! He excels in the classroom and truly understands what his students need to succeed and grow. When he isn’t playing chess, Gavin also happens to be an amazing singer, and is involved in his own mentoring company LLC called Illuminating Futures. 

One of the best ways to improve your chess game is to become familiar with the terminology used by chess players. This month you can learn a little more about what ‘chess engine’ means in our favorite game.

Edgar is one of our fantastic wizards from Austin, Texas! He is a great leader who truly enjoys working with students and seeing them learn and grow. Edgard is passionate about the game of chess and one of his most exciting experiences while playing was a time when he checkmated with the knight with 0.1 seconds on the clock!

One of the best ways to improve your chess game is to become familiar with the terminology used by chess players. This month you can learn a little more about what ‘backward pawn’ means in our favorite game.

Building up your child’s self-confidence is absolutely essential. Here are 7 small ways you can help build big confidence in your child.

One of the best ways to improve your chess game is to become familiar with the terminology used by chess players. This month you can learn a little more about what ‘blunder’ means in our favorite game.

Blitz is a fantastic way to train your brain to think under pressure, and it’s certainly a fun way to spice things up when you don’t have lots of free time available. Check out some of the advantages and disadvantages of playing speed chess.

Logan is an outstanding instructor in Colorado and has been teaching with us for 7 years! He truly knows how to engage his students and bring the game of chess to life. Outside of teaching Logan spends his time as a lighting designer, director, and playing D&D with friends.

Reading is always a good idea! Check out these 6 novels that combine the thrill of fiction with the thrill of chess, and are perfect for chess players or anyone who loves a good story.

One of the best ways to improve your chess game is to become familiar with the terminology used by chess players. This month you can learn a little more about what ‘rating’ means in our favorite game.

Keep your brain turned on… with chess, fun and games all summer long. Summer 2023 here we go!

Kirby is one of our amazing instructors in Chicago, Il. He goes the extra mile to make his classes fun, and truly cares about the success of each and every one of his students. Kirby is an absolute rockstar and we are so grateful to have him on the Chess Wizards team!

These online sites make it easy for kids to play some of their favorite classic interactive games together even when they can’t be in the same place.

Kenny joined Chess Wizards seven years ago, and has taught in-person classes, online classes, and lots of camps. Kenny plays the harmonica, is a fire performer, and has amazing nunchuck skills. He is a super creative individual who really knows how to bring the magic to class! 

The next time your child does something that makes you feel proud, which is undeniably one of the best feelings in the world – try one of these 9 variations to saying “I’m proud of you!”

One of the best ways to improve your chess game is to become familiar with the terminology used by chess players. This month you can learn a little more about what ‘connected pressed pawns’ means in our favorite game.

Karen is an outstanding teacher and Instructor Coordinator in Michigan. She is able to make her classes a ton of fun while meeting the individual needs of each of her students. While Karen spends a lot of time playing chess, she is also an active marathon runner and hopes to be a published author one day.

If you’re looking for chess themed gifts this holiday season you’ve come to the right place.

One of the best ways to improve your chess game is to become familiar with the terminology used by chess players. This month you can learn a little more about what a ‘cramped position’ means in our favorite game.

Teaching your child chess is a gift you give them for life. Chess brings out the imagination, improves critical thinking skills, helps children to recognize patterns – and best of all any child can learn to play! 

Jacob Stoner is one of our super talented instructors from Maryland. He started teaching with Chess Wizards in the spring of 2022, and on top of being a skilled chess instructor, Jacob has spent time as a competitive sailor, and is also involved in beekeeping. 

One of the best ways to improve your chess game is to become familiar with the terminology used by chess players. This month you can learn a little more about what an ‘open file’ means in our favorite game.

While chess games are typically played at home, online, in school, or in public parks – some players definitely like to take the game to the extreme.

Check out our list of some exciting upcoming fall tournaments. Which ones are you most looking forward to tuning into?

"I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." - Thomas Edison

Check out our list of 10 of the coolest chess sets for kids that are just as much fun as they are educational.

Justin Stewart is one of our amazing instructors from Dallas, Texas. Justin loves helping others and learning alongside his students. Between going to school to become a music teacher and teaching with Chess Wizards, he enjoys spending time with his family and regularly competing in Frisbee golf competitions.

If you have a child new to playing chess there are some simple things you can do to help boost their confidence, while teaching them valuable skills that will help them both on and away from the board.

Get in on the fun, and celebrate the game of chess all month long!

Check out this list of kid-approved strategy games that you whole family will love!

There’s nothing better than spending a summer at camp filled with fun, friends, and memories that last a lifetime. 

“It is your response to winning and losing that make you a winner or loser.” - Harry Sheehy

Who doesn’t love fun trivia? Fun facts are great for breaking the ice, or impressing your friends or chess teacher!

Check out our April 2022 instructor of the month - Rachel Groome from Seattle, WA.

Podcasts are all the rage right now – and new ones are being created all the time. Fortunately for chess enthusiasts, there are some highly rated podcasts dedicated solely to chess content.

When it comes to sports and activities, we live in a world that loves to see their favorite players or teams win. And while players work hard with the hopes of winning - is that all that these activities and sports are about?

Our Employee of the Month is David Vienick from New Jersey.

In a physical sense, chess is just a board with 64 squares and a bunch of pieces, but with creativity and imagination, the game is brought to life!

Before the invention of the chess clock, a game of chess was a serious time commitment. Check out a little history of one of the most essential parts of the game.

Chess is one of the most popular games in the world. And for good reason - it’s so much fun! Here’s a look at 7 reasons who chess is such a fun game to play.

We couldn't stop with just one, so we would like to introduce you to our second February Employee of the Month. Aidan Casey of Alhambra, CA.

Our Employee of the Month is Jacob Hollis from Boston, MA. He is an amazing and dependable teacher who goes above and beyond for his students.

Did you know there’s a sport that combines physical strength with chess? Chess boxing combines these two extremes – both physical and intellectual stamina.

What do humor and chess have in common? They both require a high level of intelligence! 

We hope you enjoy these chess puns and jokes, and have some fun reading these together with your child.

The Polgar sisters from Hungary, are possibly the most amazing chess playing siblings in the world!

The new year is a time when many people are making resolutions. If you or your child is a chess player, why not make some chess related resolutions for the new year! We have some great ideas for goals that are attainable and will help you improve your game.

Check out these simple things you can do to create a classroom environment where students look at “failure” as a learning opportunity.

Grab a blanket, and get cozy with these awesome chess themed movies you and your child are sure to enjoy over winter break!

Creating art that can be hung on the Christmas tree is a wonderful way to spend time together and create treasured memories during the holiday season. What's even better is that all these ornament craft ideas are made out of chess pieces! Perfect for your young player. 

Chess has always been popular – but in the past two years its popularity has grown like never before!

Let's look at three major contributing factors that brought people to the game over the last two years.

If you are new to chess, you may find yourself looking at a board and feeling like learning the game will be a daunting task. Truth is, there is a lot to learn, but once you get the hang of it you may end up wondering why you hadn’t started earlier.

Whether you are looking for inspiration, or for a push to continue challenging yourself in the game – we think these words of advice from Grandmasters and seasoned chess players will leave you feeling inspired and eager improve your game.

While we don’t want to rush through Thanksgiving, Christmas is right around the corner. It can be tough to find the right gifts for the people around you, however if you have a chess enthusiast in your life, we think these unique gifts will take the stress out of your holiday shopping.

 “Always assume that your opponent is going to be bigger, stronger and faster than you; so that you learn to rely on technique, timing and leverage rather than brute strength.” -Helio Gracie 

Chess is a game full of emotions. We try our best to play well and win, but games don’t always go according to plan. 

Here are some tips to deal with frustration the next time you lose in chess.

There’s a whole world of cool and unique chess sets just waiting to be added to your collection!

There are millions of chess players in the world, but only a little over 1,900 chess players have earned the title of Grandmaster.

Some of the most important lessons in life can be learned through the game of chess!

It's never too late to learn how to play chess—the most popular game in the world!

Whether you are new to the game or looking to impress your friends with some cool facts – we can help you learn a little more about chess with part 1 of this beginners guide.

Want to know what it's like to be a teacher with Chess Wizards? Read on!

Grandmaster Alexandra Kosteniuk won the 2021 Women's FIDE World Cup after drawing her second game with Grandmaster Aleksandra Goryachkina on Monday. 

Amanda is an amazing teacher, who really knows how to make her classroom fun!

She teaches chess classes both in-person and online, and still makes time to help train new staff members.

Thank you Amanda for your hard work and dedication to Chess Wizards!

When children go to school they’re taught reading, writing, and math, but what about life skills? Luckily, your kids can easily learn and thing or two about real life and the real world through fun, educational board games. 

Since people develop the majority of their skills during their childhood years, it only makes sense to have your child take chess classes at a young age. 

Being a good sport means being able to win without bragging, respecting your opponents, and losing gracefully. Playing chess is an excellent way to learn and practice this important life skill.

With these tips, and a little practice, your child can become the definition of good sportsmanship!

While learning how to play chess can be easy, improving your chess game can be hard. Everyone learns at different speeds, and it can take years of practice to get to where you want to be.

by Rachel Wells

Looking to nurture your child’s interest in the game of chess?

A great chess book is a great way to start! 

by Rachel Wells

Summer camps offer a unique structured opportunity for children to grow and learn new skills while becoming more independent, self-confident, and social. It is critical that children continue to learn and grow during the summer months – and children who attend summer camps reap tons of benefits.

At just 12 years old, Abhimanyu Mishra has become the youngest Grandmaster in the world.

by Rachel Wells

If you are looking for ways to grab and KEEP your students’ attention during your lessons, it’s time to get creative and try some of these fun ideas that can be used right away.

by Rachel Wells

Chess is a game often synonymous with intelligence, and has been proven in many studies to be an excellent exercise for the brain. While chess may not help your biceps, your mental health can greatly benefit from playing. Chess has been proven to increase your IQ, improve memory function, help develop higher levels of creativity, simultaneously exercise both sides of the brain, help prevent Alzheimer’s and dementia, and increase a child’s problem solving skills. 

by Rachel Wells

One of our own, Artem Ishchenko, teamed up with Girls on the Run, to run the Chicago Marathon, and raise money for this amazing program. Girls on the Run is an activity based youth development program for girls ages 8 – 14. The organization was created to inspire girls to be healthy and confident, and inspire every girl to believe in their limitless potential. Their curriculum integrates running and physical activities into all their lessons. More than 85% of the girls that participate in the Girls on the Run program receive some sort of financial assistance.

by Rob Brose

A stalemate is a tie game. In a chess tournament, it is worth a half point, so it is a much more preferable outcome than a big fat zero when you lose.

Sheoli has been an instructor with Chess Wizards for 3 years in the DC area. Sheoli is a great instructor and we really value her at Chess Wizards. She really enjoys working with kids and the schools love her. Sheoli has a very kind way about her and is able to make kids excited about chess. Thank you Sheoli for being an amazing chess instructor!

The FIDE Women’s Grand Prix 2019-2020, is a series of four chess tournaments exclusively for women. The results of this tournament will qualify two players who will play in the Women’s Candidates Chess Championship in 2021.

The winner of the Candidate’s tournament will play a 12-game match against the world champion. Koneru Humpy from India, won the Sklolkovo FIDE Women’s Grand Prix, by making a draw in the final round against the reigning Women’s Champion Ju Wenjun from China. The “Indian Ace” won her first major championship after returning to competitive chess since the Batumi Olympiad in 2018.

Promotion in chess is a rule that requires a pawn that reaches its eighth rank to be immediately replaced by the player’s choice of a queen, knight, rook, or bishop. The new piece replaces the pawn as part of the same move. The choice of new piece is not limited to pieces previously captured, therefor promotion can result in a player owning two or more queens.

One of the most important things you can do in your class is to create a safe place for your students to learn. I always want my students to feel comfortable enough to be able to be themselves, which includes being able to ask questions confidently, and without feeling intimidated. From the very first day, in my introductory talk, I always tell my students that I love questions, and that there is no such thing as a silly question.

by Rob Brose

How many times have you moved a piece, maybe your Queen, to a square you thought was safe, maybe were even thinking, “Muahahahahaha! On my next move I’m going to checkmate their King, and win the game! This is going to be epic!

by Rob Brose and Tim Dobbs

This variation game was first introduced to me by the great Wizard extraordinaire, Tim Dobbs, who is one of our Program Directors here at Chess Wizards. I don’t claim he’s the one who invented it, but he gets the credit for bringing this fun, challenging chess game to our classrooms.

by Rob Brose

Pawntastic is the game we play with new students on their first day of chess class. It is a simple game that can be challenging in its own right, and is also great for practicing all of the other chess pieces. 

by Rob Brose

Today, Kids, Wizards and Readers, we are embarking upon our first journey to Kepler-438b, a planet orbiting in the ‘goldilocks zone’ of its red dwarf star, 470 light-years from our planet Terra. We have located an area that is ideal for human habitation which you should see on screen momentarily (it looks strikingly similar to an empty chess board).

Do you think you have what it takes to be a Wizard? Chess Wizards is always looking for qualified, enthusiastic individuals who can make education fun. Our instructors...

With a high-pitched scream loud enough to cut through the clash and clang of the battlefield, the mighty war horse blocks the sun from your view as it rears on powerful hindquarters, pumping its sharp hooves as if swimming in air.  You need to dodge before you’re sliced and crushed, but where?  A horse on two legs can easily pivot left or right from its original direction… just like it does in chess, and the consequences on the board can be as devastating as they are in any battlefield! So, what can we do with this horsey on the board? Quite a bit, actually!

by Rob Brose

To try and help you visualize and define En Passant (Meaning: "in passing"), this strange, esoteric rule of chess, you’re going to need a 50 lb bucket of live octopus (slime would be a cheaper, more humane, but less interesting alternative), an extra bucket of seawater, chalk, a blanket, a bowl of homemade soup, $50, and a volunteer. Preferably a gullible one.

Desperado is a Spanish word meaning ‘Out of Hope, or Desperate’.

In chess, a desperado is a piece that is en prise or trapped, but captures an enemy piece before it is captured itself.

Sandra Gibbons, OR

Sandra has been at Chess Wizards since August, 2019 and is an enthusiastic and dedicated instructor. Sandra is well organized, creative, and always wants to make sure her students have a great experience. 

The bishop piece may be the most challenging one on the board to truly master, but it is also one of the most important. Continue reading to learn about the history, uses, and role of the bishop. 

Wil Coloma, WA

Wil is a lead instructor in WA who has been teaching with Chess Wizards for almost a year and a half. He has a great attitude, a wonderful sense of humor, and is always a big hit with both the schools and the students. He is extremely reliable and subs whenever he can. Wil also helps to train new instructors and he always gets great feedback from them, saying that he runs an awesome class! I’ve done a few classes with Wil and he makes sure his students have fun while learning at the same time. One of Wil’s greatest assets is his sense of humor that he uses in the classroom. His dedication to Chess Wizards is something to be admired. 

Robin McQuinn, WA

Robin is a lead instructor in WA who has been teaching with Chess Wizards for over a year. Her sense of humor and work ethic are two of the things that schools and students both love about Robin. She puts her heart and soul into each class, and will always help out whenever she can, be it subbing for other instructors, training new instructors, or teaching classes that we really need her to teach. She does everything with a great sense of humor and a wonderful attitude.

You don’t have to be a chess expert to enjoy a game of chess. In fact, you might be surprised to know that there are chess games you can play without fully knowing all the rules! Although I love the standard game, all of these ‘chess variation games’

Amy has been with Chess Wizards for over two years and is one of the best instructors in IL. She has a great knowledge of chess, and the schools love her! Amy is very responsible and is always willing to go the extra mile, help out, and to sub. She pays attention to detail, has a great attitude, and is very passionate about teaching!

Former U.S. President Gerald Ford announced the first National Chess Day on October 9^th, 1976. Ever since, National Chess Day has been celebrated on the second Saturday in October. President Ford’s purpose in recognizing a National Chess Day, was to encourage individuals to engage in a game of chess and enhance their critical thinking skills.

by Rob Brose

This isn’t the only place on the internet you can find the rules of chess, but it is by far the best. Why? We have a sense of humor, for starters.

We’ve spent the entire year working on an easier-to-use, more informative and interactive website. Registration is easier than it’s ever been. And once...