416 Chess Coach is based in Toronto, but our kids’ chess classes have been operating online/virtually since April 2020. We do; however, organize in-person events 2-3 times a year for students to meet up and play chess with each other in the GTA. You can look at our Instagram account for pictures from these in-person meetup events.

Our classes take place via Zoom where our coaches present their lessons by broadcasting their screens. We use the free chess platform Lichess (www.lichess.org) for students to play each other in class and participate amongst themselves in tournaments.

Students who are brand new to chess will automatically be assigned to one of our newbie classes. For students with previous chess experience, our knowledgeable instructors can help determine which class suits them best. In cases where we are unsure, we can conduct a short, free assessment via Zoom to determine which class is most suitable. For kids who play online or play in-person tournaments, we can place them based on their ratings or a quick review of their online games.

Students are expected to attend class at their scheduled class times. However, make-up classes will be accommodated where possible. We can offer make-up classes where we are provided advanced notice, and there is more than one offering of the same-level class per week. For example, if a student is in the beginner class cannot attend their scheduled class time, they can join another beginner class for that week instead. In some cases, students may be able to attend another class of a similar level to their class. Make-up classes must be arranged with the instructor ahead of time.

Our courses are 15-weeks long, and they occur once a week. You have the option of purchasing the full course at a reduced cost upfront, or you can pay for drop-in classes and attend one by one. Full details can be found on our pricing chart.