What to Expect at a Chess Club

Higher Level of Play

Chess players who attend chess clubs are typically stronger players.

Depth of Knowledge

Chess players who attend chess clubs expect a leader with more knowledge.

Cleanliness

Don’t accept a club that doesn’t care enough to keep the place clean.

Camaraderie

Players build up each other’s skills. We are in this together!

Visit Us

Message us to set up a time to visit our Chess Club in Hopkins/Minnetonka or to help you find a club near you.

The first thing to expect at a chess club: Higher level of play

Chess Clubs are a great place to take your chess playing to a higher level. There are a lot of components that go into a quality chess club.

We’ll list those below, but the first thing most players notice is that the players who take the time to attend a chess club on a regular basis are higher-level players. They probably enjoy the game of chess already; their level of proficiency is well beyond the basics, and they want to hang out with other players who will make them better and create even more enjoyment of the game.

At the YEL CC (Youth Enrichment League Chess Club), our focus is on young players, ages 7-18, who already have experience in Youth Enrichment League (YEL) classes that take place after school at local schools, who have experience at {YEL!} Chess Tournaments or other tournaments, and who have a desire to learn from a coach with a deeper knowledge base.

YEL CC players tend to be above a USCF Rating of 600, especially the younger players, and we have a few players who are above 1200.

Not sure what your chess level is? Check out this blog post, What Chess Level is my Child.

The second thing to expect at a chess club: Depth of Knowledge

The second thing a paying parent should expect at a chess club is a lead coach with more depth of knowledge. Ask the chess club the level of their lead coach. You would like a coach who is a National Master, Grand Master, Expert, or at least above a USCF Rating of 1800.

Coaches at these levels can analyze a chess position much more quickly and deeply than players at lower levels. These coaches have also studied openings thoroughly and can walk through the tricks and traps of many chess openings. They’ve also worked through end-game theory and can translate that so less experienced players can quickly increase their end-game understanding.

Finally, chess coaches who are higher-level players have more tournament experience than

less experienced players. Because of that experience, these higher-level coaches can guide their students through the vagaries of chess tournament enrollment, tournament style, game-clock management, keeping a game score, and much more.

At YEL CC in Hopkins, we are blessed to have National Master Nathan Hoover leading our club. NM Nathan Hoover has 12+ years of experience coaching players from beginners to advanced. He is a former Minnesota State Open Chess Champion and often qualifies for the MN State Championship Invitational, where only the top six players of the state compete. Nathan has directed hundreds of chess tournaments and is one of the most sought-after coaches in the state of Minnesota.

Click here to enroll in the YEL CC, or email us at info@yelkids.com for more information.

The third thing to expect at a chess club: Cleanliness

Full disclosure: this is a pet peeve of mine. I like to see chess clubs, fencing clubs, fitness clubs, any club, looking clean. If the trash cans are overflowing, the toilet hasn’t been cleaned in months, the paper towels are always empty, or the floor needs cleaning, I feel like the management of the chess club is going to be disorderly as well.

As a player and participant, I want locations to be taken care of. Too often, we, as parents, make concessions on cleanliness because it is an activity our children love. I’ve learned over the years of raising three children that a dirty club might lead to poor organization, poor language, and a poor learning environment for my child.

By the way, if you attend the YEL CC, YEL Fencing Club, or a YEL Chess Tournament and you see something out of place, please email us at info@yelkids.com, and we will attend to it quickly.

The fourth thing to expect at a chess club: Camaraderie

I listed this fourth, but it is the most important expectation for chess clubs on my list. At YEL CC, we feel players should feel welcome; they should feel like they are part of a group, and they should create relationships with the coaches and other players.

This fellowship of chess should resonate in a club. Chess players helping each other get introduced and helping each other get better. After all, they may be playing against each other at the Chess Club, but those games are designed for the learning process, rather than for prizes and ratings.

Our coaches and our administration stress friendliness and a welcoming atmosphere for all players who enter our chess club in Hopkins.

Visit Us

Do you want to learn more about the YEL Chess Club or visit our Hopkins location. Either email us at info@yelkids.com or fill out the form below to learn more.