Whether you are eight or eighty, it is a great time to start. Kentucky's chess clubs and tournaments welcome players of every age and level, including people who are just learning the rules. Here is how to get started.
Learn the rules
Free online lessons from Lichess (non-profit) or Chess.com (commercial) will teach you how the pieces move and the basic rules. For children, ChessKid has a beginner's guide to chess (and another for parents).
Find people to play
Playing online on Lichess (free), Chess.com or, for children, ChessKid matches you with opponents at your level, so it is a low-pressure way to get some games in. Students can join the KY Chess's club on ChessKid, where we run regular online tournaments.
To play across the board, students can join their school's chess club, and anyone can visit one of the chess clubs around the state. Most welcome new players, and regulars are usually happy to play and go over games with you.
Your first tournament
Once you know the rules, the best way to improve is to play in tournaments. K-12 students can play in scholastic tournaments, which are only for students; find one on the scholastic tournament calendar, and see Students and Parents for more about scholastic chess. Tournaments for everyone, adults and students alike, are on the open tournament calendar. A one-day tournament with faster games is a good first step. Some things to know:
- You will play people near your level. Most tournaments split players into sections by rating (scholastic tournaments often by grade too), and players without a rating are welcome. You play a game every round, win or lose; nobody is knocked out.
- Most tournaments are US Chess rated, which means you need a US Chess membership. You can join online. Not every tournament is rated, so check the tournament's announcement. After your first tournament you will have a rating.
- Read the tournament's announcement. It gives the time control (for example, "G/60 d5" means 60 minutes for each player for the whole game, plus a 5-second delay on each move), the entry fee, and whether to bring a set and clock.
- In longer games you write down your moves on a scoresheet. It is easy to learn (see this guide to recording your games), and it lets you go over your games afterward. If you haven't learned yet, come anyway: just let the tournament director know, and they will help you.
- If you touch a piece, you must move it. If anything goes wrong during a game, stop the clock and raise your hand to ask the tournament director. They are there to help, and new players often have questions.
Keep improving
Playing regularly and going over your games afterward (with a stronger player or a computer) is a great way to get better. Solving tactical puzzles helps too: try Lichess puzzles or Puzzle Streak. Our learning resources list training tools, videos and other sites our members have found useful.
Stay in touch
Sign up for our newsletter to hear about tournaments and events around Kentucky, or follow KY Chess on Facebook. Questions? E-mail [email protected] (students: always cc a parent).