Learn to Play Chess and Love It
Little Chess Club takes kids ages 5–11 from "which piece is which?" to playing a full, confident game — one fun adventure at a time, no experience needed.
Every child who learns a single chess move has already started thinking like a champion — my job is just to make sure they're having fun the whole way there.— Jonathon Kendall
What you'll learn
What you'll be able to do
- Name every chess piece, explain its role, and move it correctly on the board
- Set up a full chessboard independently from memory
- Use core tactics like forks and pins to win pieces in real games
- Execute a checkmate using classic beginner patterns like Scholar's Mate and back-rank mates
- Think one or two moves ahead by spotting threats before they happen
- Play a complete game confidently against a friend, sibling, or beginner opponent
How it works
A school that adapts to you
This isn't a set of static videos. Every lesson is generated live and tuned to where you actually are.
We learn your level
A quick placement check tailors your starting point so you're never bored or lost.
Lessons adapt as you go
Each lesson is written for your pace and your goal, adjusting as your skills grow.
Your AI coach keeps you moving
Checkpoints, feedback, and gentle nudges turn progress into a real result.
The curriculum
What's inside your school
6 modules · 23 lessons
Welcome to the Chessboard
Introduces the board, its layout, and every chess piece so kids can set up and identify the game from day one.
- 1.1What is Chess?Included
- 1.2Meet the PiecesIncluded
- 1.3Setting Up the BoardIncluded
- 1.4Who Goes First? Game Rules 101Included
How Every Piece Moves
Teaches the unique movement rules of each piece through fun exercises and mini-challenges.
- 2.1The King and QueenIncluded
- 2.2Rooks and BishopsIncluded
- 2.3The Tricky KnightIncluded
- 2.4Pawn PowerIncluded
- 2.5Special Moves: Castling and En PassantIncluded
Check, Checkmate, and Staying Safe
Teaches kids to recognize when the king is in danger, how to respond, and how to deliver checkmate.
- 3.1What Is Check?Included
- 3.2Checkmate vs. StalemateIncluded
- 3.3Back-Rank CheckmateIncluded
- 3.4Scholar's MateIncluded
Smart Openings and Early Game Ideas
Introduces beginner-friendly opening principles so kids start every game with a strong, confident plan.
- 4.1Control the CenterIncluded
- 4.2Develop Your PiecesIncluded
- 4.3Keep Your King SafeIncluded
Tactics: Winning Pieces and Making Plans
Builds core tactical thinking by teaching forks, pins, and how to spot threats before they happen.
- 5.1Thinking AheadIncluded
- 5.2The ForkIncluded
- 5.3The PinIncluded
- 5.4Winning MaterialIncluded
Play a Full Game!
Puts all skills together so kids can confidently play, enjoy, and reflect on a complete chess game.
- 6.1Putting It All TogetherIncluded
- 6.2Your First Full GameIncluded
- 6.3Learning from Your GameIncluded
Who it's for
Is this you?
Curious Beginners
Kids who've never touched a chess set and want to learn the whole game from the very first piece.
School Chess Club Kids
Young players who just joined their school's chess club and want to show up ready to play with confidence.
Supportive Parents
Moms and dads who want to share chess with their child but need a structured, kid-friendly guide to follow together.
Primary School Teachers
Educators looking for a classroom-ready chess curriculum that keeps young students engaged and learning step by step.
Sibling Rivals
Younger kids who want to finally beat their older brother or sister at the chessboard — for real this time.
After-School Explorers
Children searching for a fun, screen-friendly activity that actually builds focus, patience, and thinking skills.
Questions
Frequently asked
Your teacher
A note from your teacher
Jonathon Kendall
Hey there, chess adventurer — and hello to the grown-up reading this too! 👋
I know what it feels like to look at a chessboard and think, "There are SO many pieces. How does anyone know what to do?" Maybe your child picked up a chess set and asked you how to play, and you weren't quite sure where to start. Or maybe they saw older kids playing at school and wanted in — but needed a guide who speaks their language, not a rulebook written for adults. That's exactly why I created Little Chess Club.
This school is built from the ground up for young learners — kids who need short, fun, encouraging lessons that make them feel like champions from the very first move. We start with the very basics: the board, the pieces, and the rules. We take it one piece at a time, one idea at a time, so nothing ever feels overwhelming. By the time we get to the exciting stuff — tactics, checkmates, full games — your child is ready for it, and they know it.
Here's what I really believe: chess isn't about being the smartest kid in the room. It's about learning to think. To make a plan. To spot a problem before it happens. To bounce back when something doesn't go your way. Those skills live way beyond the chessboard — and they start right here, with lessons that feel more like a game than a class.
I've seen kids who thought chess was "too hard" light up the moment a tactic clicks. I've seen kids set up a board from memory for the first time and beam with pride. That moment — that "I did it!" — is what Little Chess Club is all about.
So whether your child wants to beat their big sibling, join the school chess club, or just discover something new and wonderful — you're in the right place. Grab a seat, set up the pieces, and let's play. Your move! ♟️
— Jonathon Kendall
Start your journey today
Join get instant access — learn at your own pace with an AI coach in your corner.
$19 · 30 days access
Recurring billing · cancel anytime
You'll add your student right after signing up.
Secure checkout · Instant access
- 6 modules, 23 lessons
- AI-adaptive lessons tuned to your level
- Quizzes & checkpoints to lock in progress
- Your own AI learning coach
- Learn on any device, at your pace
- Full access for as long as you're subscribed