Wednesday, January 27, 2021 - 4:00pm to 5:30pm
Enrichment Classes
During our interactive online classes coaches are sharing their computer screen and use a chess program to demonstrate positions, puzzles and go over games. Occasionally short and fun videos will be used to introduce new topics and paused intermittently to reassure understanding of the material.
All kids will join chesskid.com - a safe and secure platform for kids - to play games against each other and will have the ability to participate in scholastic online tournaments organized by the Mechanics' Institute through chesskid.com. Classes are coached by a live lead coach and monitored by additional staff, so students are never alone in a meeting. Classes are also recorded so if any child misses a class, the recording can be shared. Classes are safe, interactive, and convenient alternative way without sacrificing quality in chess instruction.
1. After School Enrichment Virtual Classes
Virtual classes are 60 minutes long and have no more than 10 student per coach, and all student are from the same school.
Do you have a group of kids from the same school or organizaiton, we can work with you to develop a class just for you.
Class will include: warm-up with chess puzzles & composition, mastering new materials, excercises to deepen the understanding of the new material, summarize and transition to chesskid.com to participate in an optional 30 mins online tournament.
2. Free Youth Outreach Programs
Mechanics' Chess offeres free chess education for selected schools in the San Francisco city area. These classes were made possibly by our generous donors & benefactors.
Please, reach out to us if you need more information, or if you have a school that would be a good candidate.
3. Mechanics' Chess Classes
Class | Class Time with new session dates & registration! |
All Girls Class with Coach Colin and Coach Abel |
Mondays 4-5PM Register HERE |
Intermediate Class with Coach Andy |
Tuesdays 3-4PM Register HERE |
Absolute Beginner Class with Coach Colin using physical chess boards |
Tuesdays 4-5PM Register HERE |
Intermediate Class with Coach Andy | Thursdays 4-5PM Register HERE |
Advanced Class with Coach Andy | Thursdays 5-6PM Register HERE |
Tactics, Tactics, Tactics with Coach Andy for players rated 1000+ (ChessKid rating) |
Friday 3-4PM Register HERE |
Note: minimum 5 students to start the class, maximum 10 student in each class.
Information with link to join the class will be sent via email after your registration.
Classes are online: student must have laptop, with mic and webcam, and good internet connection in order to participate in classes!
Refund policy: Full refund minus a $5 administration fee if cancelled more than 24 hours before the start of class. No refunds within 24 hours of the start of class.
Weekend Clubs
Restarting Feb 7 -- Sundays 4:00 - 6:00PM
2-hour fun and dynamic weekend clubs: learn from the best instructors and play against your peers.
Mechanics' Scholastic Chess Club is a place where youngsters can freely learn and share their ideas with other like-minded students where they can learn, discuss, and play chess. Each week will include working all facets of their game and expanding their critical thinking skills through puzzles, lectures, additional content, time to play, and discuss openly their thoughts and ideas with others.
We also teach students the importance of sportsmanship and friendships through chess, and our ladder system is meant to encourage camaraderie and student interaction in a positive and supportive environment.
Our Mechanics' Sunday Chess Club combines fun with learning in a casual virtual class that is built around the Mechanics' Power Ladder. This creates a fun way for participants to challenge and play other class members.
Register: https://mechanics-institute.jumbula.com/2021OnlineClasses/VirtualWeekendChessClub
Registration fee: $40 for a single club class
Monthly passes offer 20% discount: $128/months for 4 club classes
Mechanics' Institute offers financial support for any student who might be in need!
Seasonal Camps
Winter - Spring Schedule:
- Jan 18, Monday - Martin Luther King's Day Camp - Register: https://mechanics-institute.jumbula.com/2021OnlineClasses/MLKDayChessCamp
Theme of the Camp - Celebrate our African American Players
In the spirit of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day come celebrate the history of African American players such as Grandmaster Maurice Ashley and legend Emory Tate. In addition to seeing some amazing moves we will also view clips from Brooklyn Castle discussing how chess enriched the lives of several students in New York City. This of course with all the puzzles and playing you've come to love from our camps. We may even have a special guest appearance!
- Feb 15, Monday - Presidents Day Camp - Register: https://mechanics-institute.jumbula.com/2021OnlineClasses/PresidentsDayChessCamp
- Mar 29 - Apr 2 - Spring Break Camp - Register: https://mechanics-institute.jumbula.com/2021OnlineClasses/SpringBreakChessCamp
Tentative Schedule
9-9:15 warmup puzzle or games on chesskid.com while wait for everyone to show up on zoom.
9:15-10: first lecture
10-10:30 in-camp tournament
10:30-10:45 break (bathroom, snacktime)
10:45-11:00 warmup puzzle or games while wait for everyone to get back to computer
11-11:30 second lecture
11:30-12:00 tournaments/games/puzzle competition
Register Online for the regular virtual chess camps:
Camp Registraiton Fee: 3 hours for $45/daily fee up to $225/full week camp.
Refund policy: Full refund minus a $5 administration fee if cancelled more than 24 hours before the start of class. No refunds within 24 hours of the start of class.
Online Tournaments via chesskid.com
We offer two types of online touranments:
- Daily FREE tournaments: open to any scholastic players, non-rated, no pre-registraiton neccessary.
More information here.
- Weekly USCF Online rated tournaments: open to any scholastic players. Special trophies or medals are awarded to the Top 5 overall players and Top 3 in the under800 and under400 category. Players must have USCF membership and register through jumbula prior to the event. Welcome email is sent to those who regsitered for the event.
More information here.
Chesskid.com is a safe, secure and fun platform for kids to learn and play chess, and participate in a wide variety of activities, including listening to lectures, doing puzzles, play with their friends, and participate in online tournaments.
If you are interested in getting emails about our online scholastic tournaments, please fill the following form: https://forms.gle/kwpGSNfa2BV6zGah7
Tournament Schedule and more information, please visit:
https://www.milibrary.org/chess-tournaments/scholastic-online-tournaments-chesskidcom
Classes

Future Classes
Jan 25 - 4:00pm
Various Chess Classes & Tournaments for Adults
Check out the Chess Department offerings
Feb 1 - 4:00pm
Various Chess Classes & Tournaments for Adults
Check out the Chess Department offerings