Roosevelt Island Chess Club
Book a trial

Roosevelt Island · New York

Roosevelt Island Chess Club

Chess classes for kids on Roosevelt Island.

Scroll to watch a famous game from 1858

Part 1 of 5

New to chess? Start here.

Beginner groups start with how each piece moves. No experience needed.

Part 2 of 5

Classes every day of the week.

Students are grouped by age and level, so every child is challenged.

Part 3 of 5

Taught by titled players.

Our coaches include a Grandmaster, a FIDE Master, a National Master and a FIDE Arbiter.

Part 4 of 5

Tournaments, meetups and more.

Fast-paced blitz tournaments, workshops during school breaks, and a chess robot to play against.

Part 5 of 5

Try a class for $30.

Your child joins a class, and a coach recommends the right group.

Book a $30 trial class

The game on the board is real. Paul Morphy played it in Paris in 1858 against the Duke of Brunswick and Count Isouard.

Our mission

To build strategic minds through the game of chess.

  • Focus

    Each class asks for a full hour of attention on one board.

  • Patience

    Players learn to slow down and think before they move.

  • Decisions

    Every move is a choice, and reviewing games shows what worked.

  • Confidence

    Every game ends with a handshake, win or lose.

Classes

Classes and prices.

Every class is 60 minutes with an experienced coach. Students are grouped by age, experience and level, so everyone is challenged.

Every day of the week

Weekly classes

$175 per month

Weekday afternoons, Saturday and Sunday mornings

  • How the pieces move, and good playing habits
  • Spotting tricks and traps on the board
  • How to start a game, make a plan and finish it
  • Puzzles, practice games and reviewing games together
  • Getting ready for tournaments, for kids who want to compete
See the schedule

For beginners

Sunday semester

$350 for 10 weekly classes

Sundays, 10:30 to 11:30 AM or 1:00 to 2:00 PM

  • A curriculum built for your child's level
  • Chess homework between classes
  • A practice tournament
  • Progress tracking and feedback

Ask us for the next start date.

Coming soon

Online group classes

Tell us you're interested and we'll let you know when the first online group opens.

Get in touch

Not sure which class fits?

Start with a $30 trial class. A coach meets your child, checks their level and recommends the right group.

Book a $30 trial class

Schedule

Weekly schedule.

All classes run 60 minutes at 524 Main St on Roosevelt Island.

Weekly class · $175 a month Sunday semester, beginners · $350 for 10 classes

Monday

  • PM
  • PM

Tuesday

  • PM
  • PM

Wednesday

  • PM
  • PM

Thursday

  • PM
  • PM

Friday

  • PM
  • PM

Saturday

  • AM
  • AM
  • PM

Sunday

  • AM
  • AM
  • AM
  • PM

Coaches

Meet the coaches.

Titles like Grandmaster and FIDE Master are awarded by FIDE, the world chess federation. All four coaches teach kids.

Grandmaster Kazybek Nogerbek, chin resting on his hands at a tournament board

Grandmaster

Kazybek Nogerbek

Grandmaster since 2024 and the 2024 World Junior Champion (Under 20), scoring 8.5 out of 11. He was also the 2022 World Youth Under 18 Rapid Champion, and started playing at six.

FIDE Master Ellan Asuela seated behind a set-up chessboard

FIDE Master

Ellan Asuela

FIDE Master from the Philippines with a peak rating of 2312. He won the Kasparov Chess Foundation Asia-Pacific Absolute Challenge in Singapore, finishing ahead of several International Masters and Grandmasters.

National Master Michael Ocido smiling and holding up a white king

National Master

Michael Ocido

US National Master and coach based in New York City. He teaches clear, step-by-step lessons for kids and beginners.

Leo Romitman playing a tournament game

FIDE Arbiter

Leo Romitman

FIDE National Arbiter (a certified tournament referee), trainer and organizer from the Philippines. He helps kids and beginners learn the basics and play with confidence.

Try a puzzle

Can you find checkmate?

White plays next. One move wins the game right away. Tap a white piece, then tap the square where it should go.

Pick a white piece to start.

Setting up the board

Club life

Tournaments, meetups and a chess robot.

Photos from our blitz tournaments, club meetups and classes. Players of every age are welcome.

Kids playing on wooden boards at a crowded blitz tournament
Blitz tournament
A boy studies the board while a robot arm plays against him
Beat the robot
A boy and an older player bump fists across the board after their game
Good game
A young player faces an adult in a suit across the board
All ages
Several games underway at a club meetup in a café full of flowers
Club meetup
A coach leans over a student's game in a bright classroom
Class in session
Players gather around the chess robot at a club table
Playing the robot
Children concentrating over their boards on tournament day
Tournament day

Workshops and camps

Workshops during school breaks.

Half-day and full-day workshops with lessons, puzzles, practice games and a small tournament.

Hear about the next one on Facebook

Most recent Monday, October 12, 2026

Columbus Day Workshop

Half day
9:00 AM to 12:00 PM, or 1:00 to 4:00 PM
Full day
9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, lunch included
Price
Half day from $90, full day from $110
For
Beginner and competitive players

Questions

What parents ask us.

My child has never played. Is that OK?

Yes. Many students start by learning how the pieces move, and our beginner groups start from the very first move.

How do you choose my child's group?

Coaches group students by age, experience and chess level whenever possible, so every child is challenged. The trial class is where we work this out together.

What happens in the $30 trial class?

Your child joins a class. A coach gets to know them, checks their current level and recommends the best group. Then you decide.

What do the classes cover?

Everything from how the pieces move to how to win a game. That includes tricks and traps, planning, checkmates, endgames, puzzles and practice games. Coaches also go over students' games with them and help kids who want to compete get ready for tournaments.

Are there tournaments?

Yes. The Sunday semester includes a practice tournament, the club runs fast-paced blitz tournaments and workshops, and coaches can point families to outside tournaments that suit their child's level.

How long is a class, and what does it cost?

Every class is 60 minutes. Weekly classes are $175 a month. The Sunday beginners semester is $350 for 10 classes. The trial class is $30.

Visit

Come play with us.

Book a $30 trial class
Follow
Facebook