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A complete chess education for your child — from first move to mastery
Book a Free Trial Lesson →Founded in 2012, Scholastic Chess is one of Hong Kong's leading chess education providers. Our programme is built around a professionally designed curriculum for children, with structured group lessons in small classes (max 4–6 students), guided by qualified coaches who follow a clear lesson format, a defined level system, and a research-backed teaching methodology created by our Head Coach, Dr. Pavel Martynov (PhD in Education, FIDE Master).
We don't just teach children how to move pieces. Our programme develops thinking skills through tactics and strategy, guided practice, and carefully selected classical games — progressing step by step from absolute beginner all the way to FIDE-rated tournament player.
Chess at our academy is taught as an active game: children learn to play with initiative, creativity, and confidence. Our science-based curriculum and small group format allow coaches to adapt their teaching style to each child's age and individual needs — ensuring every student receives the right approach at the right stage of development.
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Our curriculum combines Dr. Martynov's academic research in chess education with over a decade of hands-on coaching experience. Every lesson, every level, and every teaching method is grounded in evidence — not guesswork.
At Scholastic Chess Hong Kong, we don't just teach moves — we build thinkers.
We celebrate hard work, curiosity, and persistence. Mistakes made in the pursuit of active play are treated as learning opportunities — never punished. Your child develops confidence and resilience in a safe, supportive environment.
From the very beginning, we teach children to play with initiative and creativity. We encourage bold, active decisions rather than passive, fearful play — building a strong chess foundation and a sense of courage that extends beyond the board.
Our curriculum follows four carefully designed levels — each with clear goals, specific knowledge requirements, and measurable outcomes. Your child always knows where they are and where they're headed.
Whether your child plays for fun, cognitive development, or aspires to compete internationally — our programme supports every ambition. From the first lesson to FIDE-rated tournaments, we guide the entire journey.
Our programme consists of four core levels plus a dedicated onboarding stream for absolute beginners. Each level has a defined curriculum, clear promotion criteria, and its own set of goals.
A detailed breakdown of each level with knowledge targets and expected outcomes
A proven, step-by-step lesson format ensuring consistency and quality in every class
Comprehensive topic tables showing exactly what your child will learn at each stage
Our signature approach to building creative, active players
Our exclusive in-house teaching database, developed by our Head Coach and fully aligned with our curriculum
Specially designed for our youngest learners (ages 4–6), who need a unique pedagogical approach to discover chess. Through play-based methods, storytelling, and interactive exercises, children learn the rules, piece movement, and fundamentals at their own pace.
Master all chess rules, basic checkmates, opening principles, and core tactical ideas.
Deep dive into 25 key tactical patterns, attacking chess principles, and introduction to positional play.
Focus on positional play, planning, endgame fundamentals, and modern strategic concepts. Regular over-the-board tournament participation.
Advanced strategy and tactics, personalised opening repertoire, professional-level calculation training. Participation in official FIDE-rated events.
Each level has a formal Promotion Checklist — your child advances only when they've demonstrated mastery. No rushing, no skipping, no gaps.
Every group class follows a proven 60-minute lesson format designed by our Head Coach. Small groups of just 4–6 students ensure personalised attention for every child.
Friendly check-in, homework review, reward stamps for effort and consistency.
We call it "Share Your Chess Success Story" — students present their online games and achievements from the week, building confidence and developing reflective thinking.
One tactical idea + one model game + one brainy puzzle per lesson. Focused and structured learning.
Solve homework-related puzzles together, connecting theory to practice before independent work.
This is not free play — we call it Learning Through Play. Students play real games while the coach provides live guidance, real-time feedback, and purposeful direction. Every minute counts.
Printed homework distributed; stickers and merit points awarded for effort and focus.
Every element of our lesson format is designed, tested, and refined — so your child gets the most out of every session.
Strategic and critical thinking skills applicable far beyond chess
Pattern recognition and calculation ability
Emotional resilience, patience, and sportsmanship
A structured habit of independent study and self-improvement
Measurable progress through online ratings and promotion checklists
Confidence to compete in real tournaments — locally and internationally
| Aspect | Other Programmes | Scholastic Chess HK |
|---|---|---|
| Curriculum | Curriculum varies by provider | Research-backed, written by a PhD in chess education |
| Class Size | Often larger class sizes | Small groups (max 4–6 students) |
| Lesson Format | Format can vary session to session | Proven 60-min format: theory + puzzles + guided play |
| Progression | Progression often informal | 4 levels with formal promotion checklists |
| Homework | Homework often optional | Printed sheets every lesson, reviewed in class |
| Online Practice | Online play usually self-guided | Coach-monitored ChessKid / Chess.com goals |
| Philosophy | Often results-oriented | Effort-first: curiosity, growth, confidence |
| Tournament Path | Tournaments arranged as they arise | Monthly club events to FIDE-rated competitions |
| Parent Updates | Updates typically on request | Direct coach access, transparent curriculum, reports |
Regular in-house tournaments open to all ages and skill levels, so your child can practise competitive play in a familiar, supportive environment. These events build confidence, teach sportsmanship, and prepare students for official competitions.
First participation in club tournaments and regular online competitive play. Students develop competitive habits, learning to handle wins and losses with composure while tracking their rating progress.
Regular over-the-board (OTB) tournament participation, self-study habits, and chess composition solving. Students begin attending external events, developing independent analytical skills, and building the discipline required for higher-level competition.
Entry into official FIDE-rated events with a personalised opening repertoire. At this level, students also access our most advanced offerings: monthly masterclasses and workshops focused on specific skills, special holiday camps with intensive training sessions, and individual coaching tailored to their competitive goals.
For students who want to accelerate their progress or prepare for specific competitions, we offer one-on-one coaching sessions with our Head Coach — deeply personalised training tailored to each child's unique strengths, weaknesses, and goals.
We use world-class online chess platforms to extend learning beyond the classroom. Coaches monitor every student's online activity — games played, puzzles solved, rating progress — and use this data to personalise lessons.
Every student receives a printed homework sheet after each lesson, with puzzles directly connected to the topic covered in class. Homework is mandatory and reviewed at the start of each session. Sources include the best methodology books in chess education (the Steps Method, Ivashchenko puzzle collections, etc) complemented by our Head Coach's proprietary databases — carefully curated materials that ensure every puzzle serves a clear learning purpose.
Homework reinforces the lesson, builds independent thinking habits, and ensures steady progress between classes.
Our Merit Points System rewards effort, consistency, and engagement — not just results.
Students accumulate points towards tangible rewards — recognising their dedication and keeping motivation high. Bonus points for consecutive week streaks and, at advanced levels, for online rating milestones.
In addition to weekly group lessons and monthly tournaments, we offer:
Focused sessions for different levels to deepen specific skills
CNY, Easter, Summer & more — intensive training in a fun, immersive environment
Unique competitive experiences that bring our community together
Exclusive opportunities to learn from top-level chess professionals
Parents are our partners. We believe that a supportive home environment is essential to a child's chess development — and we make sure you always know how your child is progressing.
Full access to understand what your child is learning, what's coming next, and the goals for each level.
Open line with your child's coach for questions, feedback, or concerns at any time.
Printed puzzle sheets come home after every lesson — you see exactly what your child works on.
Regular updates on development — online rating tracking, lesson performance, promotion checklist progress, and merit points tracking.
Our son caught the chess bug last year and we looked around Hong Kong for a good chess class to further his new interest. After recommendations from friends and trying a few places, we decided to go with Scholastic Chess because of their passion to really fuel kids interest as well as to really help them understand the tactics and theories in chess. The classes are fun and it is our son's favorite extracurricular class. Highly recommend Scholastic Chess!
We lived in Hong Kong for a few years, and our kids attended group chess lessons at Scholastic Chess during that time. The coaching was excellent — not only did their chess skills improve significantly, but they also really enjoyed every class. The lessons were well-structured, engaging, and fun. Highly recommended for any family looking to introduce their children to chess in a positive and professional environment!
Great teachers, my kids enjoy chess tremendously.
我妹妹參加了 Scholastic Chess 的西洋棋課程，她真的很喜歡而且進步很多。對棋局的理解、應用能力以及自信都明顯提升。教練們的課程安排很有系統，講解清楚，會留意每位孩子的狀況，也很有耐心，讓她都很期待每次的上課。
I enjoyed playing a tournament once in this club! Nice atmosphere, very friendly team. Hope to get back to tournaments here since September.
很棒的西洋棋教室！孩子來這裡上課後，對棋局的理解、邏輯思考和穩定性都有明顯提升。
I love this club! Thanks to Coach Oliver for guidelines!
My child first participated in a Junior chess tournament and enjoyed it so much that we signed him up for Scholastic Chess!
Every great chess player started with a single move. Let your child take theirs.
+852 6629 5092
Send us a message with your child's name and age — we'll arrange everything.
Scholastic Chess Hong Kong — Where Every Move Counts