Chess Pilot Program

AEF and Alameda Chess Castle (ACC) are exploring a Friday evening scholastic chess program in Alameda that would combine:

  1. Chess instruction and supervised play

  2. USCF-rated tournament

AEF Chess Pilot Program

The Basics

  • WHEN: Fridays - from 5:30 – 8:00 PM
  • FIRST PILOT PROGRAM DATES: Oct. 9, 16, 23, 30, Nov. 6, 13
  • COST: $310.00
  • PARTICIPANTS: 1st–12th grade students. Experienced Kindergarten students will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
  • LOCATION: We are hoping to find a suitable location in an Alameda school.
  • ENROLLMENT: Minimum 20 students, Maximum 40 students for this pilot program.

Frequently Asked Questions

What will the Friday evening look like?

For students participating in the rated program, the evening would generally be:

5:00 PM: Participant arrival and check in
5:30–7:00 PM: Chess instruction, practice, and supervised play
7:00–8:00 PM: USCF-rated tournament round

The goal is to provide students with both instruction and meaningful tournament experience while giving parents a little time to themselves.

Does my child need to be an advanced chess player?

No, but for the initial pilot program, students should already have a good understanding of the rules of chess and be able to complete a full game.

Students would be placed into different levels based on their chess experience, age, rating, and instructor discretion.

What about beginners?

If the program continues into 2027 and there is sufficient interest, ACC/AEF may add a Novice/Beginner level.

This class would likely meet for approximately 1.5 hours, without participating in the rated tournament initially. As students become ready, they could move into the tournament portion of the program.

The cost for a Novice/Beginner class would be lower.

AEF and ACC already offer “Learn to Play Chess” and “Beginner & Intermediate Chess” after-school classes at various Alameda schools, which are intended to provide opportunities for students who are just learning the game.

Does my child need a USCF membership?

Students participating in USCF-rated tournament games will need a current United States Chess Federation (USCF) membership.

Youth U19 memberships are currently approximately $24 per year and can be purchased directly through USCF. We may also offer an option to purchase or renew memberships through ACC/AEF.

How long is the program?

The initial pilot would be approximately six weeks, running during October and November 2026.

If the pilot is successful and there is enough interest, the goal would be to continue the program beginning in January 2027, with multiple terms throughout the school year.

Will there be a tournament every Friday?

For students enrolled in the rated program, the plan is for the 7:00–8:00 PM portion to be a USCF-rated tournament round.

Chess clocks will be used to help manage games that are approaching the 8:00 PM ending time. Games will not be informally adjudicated as they sometimes are in non-rated after-school chess programs.

What information should I provide about my child?

If your child is interested, please provide as much of the following information as you know:

  • Student's name
  • Grade/age
  • Chess experience
  • USCF rating, if applicableAny other information that may help us understand your child's level

Will there be opportunities for parents to volunteer?

Yes! We expect to need parent volunteers for roles such as:

  • Check-in/check-out desk
  • Supervising a waiting or post-tournament “hang out” room
  • Other occasional program support
  • Parents who volunteer may be eligible for a discount on enrollment for their child(ren).

What are you asking families to do right now?

At this stage, only completing the survey; we are only trying to determine the level of interest.