New to Chess? A Parent’s Guide to Getting Started

Does your child love chess, and you don’t know where to start? You’ve come to the right place! In this blog, I’ll provide you with a comprehensive guide and resources on how to help your child thrive in chess and advance their skills. Learn about online platforms worldwide, and social clubs, private coaching, and tournaments in Toronto. And about the key ingredient to success: enjoyment through engagement!

Enjoyment Through Engagement

What do I mean by that: We all thrive in activities we genuinely enjoy. When it comes to chess, your role as a parent is to experiment with various tools and approaches to see what brings your child the most joy. Whether it’s playing chess with a friend, attending a club or a tournament, taking lessons, or simply playing online without further instruction, don’t worry, every path is valuable! When kids are hooked on chess, their desire to progress and learn will naturally follow. Just give it time.   

A moment I learned from: I made a mistake coaching my then 8-year-old daughter, who loved chess and had been successfully competing in online tournaments during the pandemic, when we hit the wall. The wall was: suddenly, all my daughter wanted to do was to only play online chess, neglecting the lessons I’ve built for her; and even then, her enthusiasm for chess started to dwindle. And I didn’t give her enough of that space. I kept (gently) pushing for lessons and training, and the more I pushed, the more she started to lose interest. In retrospect, I should have just let her be and play online all she wanted.

Learn more about the challenges of our family chess tradition here and where we are at now.

So, dear parents, keep it fun and in perspective! And now let’s explore the resources.

Online Resources

For Kids 9 and Under (Beginner level)

Lessons and practice: I highly recommend chesskid.com for its kid-friendly interface, safety, and absolutely awesome, kid-oriented lessons with coach FunMasterMike. Kids can learn at their own pace, in their own time!

For Kids 10+ (Beginner to Early intermediate)

Lessons: I still recommend chesskid.com for its awesome, learn-at-your-own pace lessons with coach FunMasterMike.

Practice: However, I think that at this age, kids can transition to playing on chess.com or lichess.org because they will have better chances of being paired up with someone at their level. While the Chesskid algorithm does its best to pair up players who are in the same level, often it’s not possible because there are fewer players than on chess.com or lichess.org.

For Kids 11 (Intermediate to Advanced)

If your child is in this category, congrats! You’ve done something right!

Online Lessons

• Chess.com offers a nice, comprehensive course library. You’ll need to know what to look for and buy a membership. But start with a 7-day FREE trial. Each (or most) lessons have a skill test at the end, which is great for reinforcement of new material.
• Chessmood also offers high-quality lessons for various skill levels. Last time I checked, the lessons also had a skill test at the end to reinforce new material.
• Chessable is another great resource to dive into deep concepts, specializing in interactive learning through spaced repetition to master complex openings and endgames. It might be a little challenging for younger kids, but a great resource for older teenagers.

Chess Clubs: Building Skills Through the Toronto Community

If possible, absolutely enroll your child in a chess club. I cannot over-emphasize the importance of the social aspect of chess that will keep them going!

If you live in Toronto, here are some clubs/group lessons I recommend:

Kids:

1. Chess & Math
2. Seneca Hill Chess Club 
3. Canada Chess Youth Club

Older kids, Teens – Adults:

• Heart House Chess club (UfT) Mostly adults; some kids.
• Annex Chess Club The Annex area. A mix of adults and some kids
• Willowdale chess club; Bathurst and Sheppard, Tuesday nights. Mostly adults
• Chess In the Park: Join the Facebook group run by our amazing Olga Mushtaler, the VP of CFC, and find out where the next weekend chess get-together will be held!

Private Lessons: Personalized Growth

I highly recommend private lessons, online or in-person, for fast progress.

Online, out-of-country coach

International coaches, outside of North America, can be a cost-effective and fantastic option. For example, I have a great coach in Brazil, Fanny Duarte, who charges $15 EU per hour. Lessons are on zoom and lichess. Excellent with kids.

Or, browse “online chess coaches,” and the options are limitless!

Local (Toronto) Online Coaches

For personal connection, consider these highly recommended Toronto-based coaches.

1. WCM Elena Kucherenko: Ukraine native, Elena brings a wealth of coaching expertise and passion for chess. Located near Bathurst and Finch, Elena does both online and in-person lessons. Excellent with children.
2. IM Mike Ivanov: super experienced, expert coach, specializing in stronger/ambitious players. Online instruction only.  Fantastic with kids. Located up north if needed.
3. CM Adam Siegel: National Candidate Master, with loads of experience with children. The author of the Chess Education Workbooks, which help students improve tactics step-by-step. Located downtown if needed.  
4. Peter Lambert: great for beginners – intermediate. Uses the methodical Chess Steps system. Competitive rate. Online instruction, but will join your child at a local tournament for support! Located midtown if needed.

Choosing a Coach: Contact multiple coaches to discuss their teaching style, availability, and rates. Arrange a trial lesson to find the best fit. Good luck!

Tournaments

When ready, tournaments offer an exciting way to apply chess skills and connect with other players. There is nothing like the thrill and adrenaline rush of competing!

To get started: Visit the above local club websites and see when they host the next tournament. Visit the Canadian Chess Federation (CFC) for more tournament updates and info.

If it’s a CFC-rated tournament, you will need to register your child with CFC and pay a yearly membership. Otherwise, if it’s casual, you can just show up and have fun, but check for details.

Final Tips For a Successful Chess Journey

Keep it Fun: Make this a priority.
Make it Social: Clubs, tournaments, local community or just one chess buddy, build lasting connections and motivation.
Encourage Growth: Explore online lessons and personal coaching, balancing the fun with the challenge
Embrace Losses as Learning: Your child will lose many games. It’s a natural and powerful opportunity for growth. Praise their effort and curiosity to foster a growth mindset. And of course, high-five the wins!
Make It a Family Game: If possible, take up the game yourself and have fun with your child! Check out this awesome article (I wrote) about Why More Moms Should Play Chess! But dads too!

Sending you my best chess wishes!

Olya Kaye