"Chess is the gymnasium of the mind." (Blaise Pascal, mathematician)
About Us
The Way of the Board chess club has club meetings every Saturday morning for young beginner, beginner and intermediate players to learn chess and play the game, and is a program offered by the Way of the Sword Fencing, Archery, and Chess Club.
The club usually has a tournament once a month on Sunday afternoons for beginner and intermediate scholastic players. Private lessons available on weekends and weekday afternoons to help players elevate their gameplay.
For all classes, players are required to solve at least 2-3 chess puzzles daily. Workbooks are suggested for each class and are available for purchase online or at the club.
5/5 Ridgefield Sunday Swiss
Rated tournament for scholastic and adult players. Estimated event time is 2:00 - 6:00 PM.
Thursday evening beginner class
Registration open for chess beginner classes, starting Thursday March 21st (5:30 - 6:20 PM). Club meetings in downtown Ridgefield, first visit is free!
PTA Sponsored Chess Tournament
"A playful learning event the whole family can enjoy and participate in."
FAQs
- chess teaches children how to win and lose.
- chess helps children realize the consequences of their actions.
- chess helps children focus.
- chess helps develop creativity.
- chess builds confidence.
- chess helps develop problem-solving skills.
- chess exercises both sides of the brain.
- chess helps children learn how to be calm under pressure.
Last but certainly not least, once you know how to play, chess is a lot of fun!
Club dues are $80/month for young beginner, beginner and intermediate programs, and ensure the ongoing development and operations of the club. First visit to our club is free!
Currently we have intermediate players (Rooks) in grades 1 to 7 who are actively learning and participating in our weekly club meetings. Beginner and Post-Beginner players (Bishops, Knights) range from grades 2 to 5. Young beginners (Passed Pawns) range from grades Kindergarten to 2nd grade. Age is just one of many factors to be considered when deciding when is the right time to begin learning the game; others include a kid's interest, whether there are other chess players in the family, etc. Kids should be able to write in their workbooks, and are expected to spend some time every week independently solving chess puzzles/reading as self-learning is an important component of the game.
If a club player is having difficulty participating in group discussions and lessons, private lessons are recommended. Private lessons are also helpful for a player to receive feedback on their game play and explore intermediate tactics and strategies, as most young chess players (and adult beginners) cannot self-analyze their games effectively.
Send an email to hello[at]wayoftheboard.org, and include mention of the age of your child/children, and level of familiarity with the game. He will get back to you within one business day.
Currently, an adult program is not offered.
Visit calendar.wayoftheboard.org.
The beginner Bishops class begins March 21st, on Thursdays 5:30 - 6:30 PM. All other classes take place on Saturday mornings between 10:10 - 1:15 PM.
Drop-in day passes are not offered, but for families who will be missing 2+ club meetings in a month (not just one) and send 2 days advance notice to hello[at]wayoftheboard.org, fees will be refunded on a prorated basis. However players who do not attend regularly may have difficulty staying with the group, so registering for a program for infrequent play is not recommended.
Visit our club Facebook page and like the page to be notified. Updates are posted regularly, and should give parents a better sense of what happens at our meetings.
Subscribe to our newsletter to find out more about upcoming tournaments, the club chess classes, and other activities. Also, see the mailing list archives.
Location
Address
21 Governor Street, Ridgefield CT, 06877
Program Times
Young Beginner - Saturdays 10:10 - 10:50 AM
Beginner - Saturdays 11:00 - 11:50 AM
Intermediate - Saturdays 12:00 - 1:15 PM
Contact info