What is Guppy Chess? A few years before COVID changed our world, younger siblings were running amok at Hampton Roads Scholastic Chess Club, so we decided to create another “fish group” for them to learn chess in their own way and at their own pace. Led by a chess-loving parent who used a lot of patience, repetition, and mini-games (using one or more pieces to play a fun game to help solidify how the pieces move), the original crew of Guppies thrived, and several of them currently reside on the US Chess “Top 100” lists for being among the best in the country for their age. During COVID, Zoom was extremely difficult for this age group, and our beloved Guppy coach was unavailable, so we diverted for two years and used the award-winning Story Time Chess program with our youngest students. While we are big fans of that program, we ultimately decided it wasn’t the best fit for our pre-competitive Guppies with aspirations of becoming Masters one day, so we decided to bottle the original Guppy magic, and now it’s back!
Who can take this class? This class is specifically designed for total beginners ages 4-6 (Pre-K through 1st grade). Younger students may be admitted by exception. If students show mastery of the basic rules of the game before they turn 7, they are welcome and encouraged to move on to Hampton Roads Scholastic Chess Club and continue honing their skills in our “Minnow” and “Rockfish” pre-competition groups. We even have players as young as 5 or 6 who are well into playing rated chess. Age will not hold your child back, but start with Guppies if your child is under the age of 7. You do NOT have to have an older sibling in our programs to be a Guppy!
When does this class meet? This class meets on Tuesdays evenings between 5:15 and 7:00 PM (a 45-minute class – times tailored to the group). Spring session begins March 28th and runs for 10 weeks. Class on April 11th will be virtual. Spring registration is OPEN (click the “Return to Registration Page” link at the bottom of this page). Price is reduced for the shorter session.
Where does this class meet? This class meets at King’s Grant Presbyterian Church, 745 Little Neck Road in Virginia Beach.
Who will coach my child? HRCA will hand pick a coach that specializes in working with young beginners. All of our coaches are certified by US Chess and background checked through HRCA.
Will my child compete on Tuesday nights? NO, not yet. While Guppy Chess meets alongside Hampton Roads Scholastic Chess Club, it is a separate program.
Do I have to stay with my child? YES. Guppy class requires a parent, guardian, or other responsible adult to be in the classroom with their children. This approach ensures not only classroom management and active engagement for our youngest children with their short attention spans, but it has proven critical to the success of the program, as families can review and practice what they learned at home. Repetition is key at this age.
How much does this class cost? This class is $150 for the 12-week session. For spring session, the price is $125 for 10 weeks. You may pay in full up front or request three monthly payments. There is a $35 annual registration fee due upon initial enrollment, which includes HRCA membership and ChessKid Gold.
What if I can’t afford to pay? Go ahead and register! When you fill out the registration form, you will be given the option to check “Apply for Needs Based Scholarship.” The Joan H. Schlich Memorial Scholarship is available to help give children opportunities they otherwise could not afford. We strive to turn no child away for inability to pay.