Program Overview
MarinChess Foundation offers free after-school chess programs at over 20 schools across the Bay Area.
Why MarinChess Foundation?
Our after-school programs are carefully tailored to meet the specific needs of each school, offering a high degree of flexibility to accommodate various schedules and requirements. We understand that every school has unique demands, which is why we are able to provide programs that can range anywhere from 6 to 12 weeks in duration.
Any Age
Any School
No Experience Required
Our Curriculum
MarinChess Foundation has its own custom curriculum, adaptable to each student, and has been in practice with 1000+ students over the past 5 years.
Beginner Level
Students new to chess learn the rules, piece movement, and basic strategy through hands-on lessons and guided play. Our instructors meet each student where they are and build confidence from the very first class.
What students learn
- Board setup and how the pieces move
- Special moves: castling, en passant, and pawn promotion
- Check, checkmate, and stalemate
- Basic opening principles and piece development
- Simple tactical patterns and one-move checkmates
- Sportsmanship and how to play a full game
Intermediate Level
Students with a solid foundation sharpen their tactical vision, opening knowledge, and endgame technique. Lessons combine structured instruction with practice games and puzzles tailored to each student's level.
What students learn
- Forks, pins, skewers, and discovered attacks
- Opening repertoire and common opening traps
- King and pawn endgames
- Planning and evaluating positions
- Time management and tournament etiquette
- Analyzing games to learn from mistakes
Advanced Level
Experienced players dive into complex strategy, deep calculation, and competitive preparation. Our curriculum challenges strong students to think several moves ahead and perform at their best in tournaments.
What students learn
- Advanced tactics and multi-move combinations
- Positional play, pawn structures, and prophylaxis
- Complex endgames and conversion technique
- Opening theory and preparation for opponents
- Game analysis and study of master games
- Tournament strategy, rating improvement, and competitive mindset