Monday
6:30–7:30 PM
Eastern Time
A convenient weeknight option for beginning the week with structured instruction and practice.
New Course Beginning August 2026
Online Chess Classes for Beginners
Help your child build strong chess fundamentals, gain confidence, and prepare for tournament play in a welcoming live online course.
✓
Designed for developing tournament players (i.e. those who have
never played a tournament or have played some tournaments but are
rated below 400 USCF)
✓
Four live online class options every week
✓
No US Chess membership required
Enroll by July 17 and use promo code LIFETIME50.
Beginner Friendly
No tournament experience needed
Live Online Classes
Learn directly from experienced instructors
Four Weekly Options
Attend one, two, three, or all four sessions
No US Chess Membership
Students can begin immediately
Four Weekly Class Options
Attend the Schedule That Works for Your Family
Chess Foundations includes access to four live, one-hour classes every week. Families may choose whichever sessions work best from week to week.
Students are welcome to attend one, two, three, or all four classes. However, there is absolutely no expectation that a student attend every session. Most families will likely attend one or two classes per week.
The additional sessions are included as an added benefit. They give students more opportunities for instruction, guided practice, game review, and reinforcement whenever their schedules permit—without requiring families to pay anything extra.
Wednesday
6:30–7:30 PM
Eastern Time
A midweek opportunity to learn new concepts, practice, and reinforce important chess skills.
Thursday
6:30–7:30 PM
Eastern Time
An additional evening option for families whose schedules make other weekdays difficult.
Sunday
4:00–5:00 PM
Eastern Time
A weekend option for students who prefer Sunday instruction or want an additional opportunity to practice.
✓
Flexible Access Without Attendance Pressure
The four-class schedule is meant to provide flexibility and value—not to create an obligation to attend four times every week. A student can select one preferred weekly class and still participate fully in the program.
When a student has extra time, wants additional practice, misses a preferred session, or simply feels especially motivated, the other classes remain available at no additional charge.
Chess Foundations
A Strong Beginning Makes Future Improvement Easier
Chess Foundations is DMV Chess’s new course for students who are beginning their chess journey or preparing to enter tournament chess. The program is designed to help students understand the game, recognize important patterns, make better decisions, and become more confident players.
01
Learn the Fundamentals
Students develop a reliable foundation in tactics, strategy, opening principles, checkmates, calculation, and good chess habits.
02
Practice What You Learn
Guided games give students the opportunity to apply new concepts instead of only listening to lectures.
03
Learn From Games
Instructors help students understand their decisions, recognize mistakes, and identify practical ways to improve.
04
Build Confidence
The course provides a supportive environment in which newer players can learn without feeling overwhelmed by experienced competitors.
Who Should Enroll?
Made for Students New to Competitive Chess
Chess Foundations is appropriate for students who know the basic rules but still need help turning that knowledge into confident, thoughtful play.
✓
Students who recently learned how the pieces move
✓
Players preparing for their first tournament
✓
Unrated students and players rated below approximately 400
✓
Students who want structured instruction and practice
✓
Families seeking a welcoming introduction to tournament chess
Course at a Glance
Course begins
August 2026
Format
Live online
Skill level
Unrated–400
Monday
6:30–7:30 PM ET
Wednesday
6:30–7:30 PM ET
Thursday
6:30–7:30 PM ET
Sunday
4:00–5:00 PM ET
Weekly access
All four classes included
Expected attendance
Usually one or two classes
US Chess membership
Not required
Standard tuition
$165/month
Why Are We Offering Such a Large Discount?
A Special Reward for Our Founding Course Members
Chess Foundations is a brand-new DMV Chess course beginning in August. We want the program to launch with an enthusiastic group of students who can begin learning and growing together from the very first month.
To create a meaningful incentive for families to enroll early, we are offering founding course members a $50-per-month lifetime discount.
Families who enroll by July 17 and enter promo code LIFETIME50 will pay $115 per month instead of $165 per month while continuously enrolled.
Founding Member Savings
$600
saved per year
The discount is not limited to the first month. It continues every month while the student remains continuously enrolled.
Why Only This Course?
Our Established Courses Already Have Full Class Sizes
DMV Chess also offers Climb the Rating Ladder courses for intermediate, advanced, and elite players. Those programs are already established and have full class sizes, so they do not currently include enrollment discounts.
This founding member offer is available specifically because Chess Foundations is a new course. It allows early students to receive a substantial long-term benefit for joining the program from its beginning.
Chess Foundations
New course launching in August
Discount Available
Intermediate Courses
Established classes with full class sizes
No Discount
Advanced Courses
Established classes with full class sizes
No Discount
Elite Courses
Established classes with full class sizes
No Discount
How to Enroll
Lock In Your Founding Member Rate
1
Open the Registration Page
Click the enrollment button to proceed to DMV Chess’s secure Stripe checkout page.
2
Enter the Promo Code
Select the promotion-code option and enter LIFETIME50.
3
Enroll by July 17
Complete registration by the deadline to reduce tuition from $165 to $115 per month.
Billing
Monthly Enrollment and Cancellation
The cost of enrollment is $165/month (or $115/month for those who receive the founding member discount). Fees are assessed regardless of attendance. After registering online, you will be set up for automatic monthly payments. These payments can be cancelled prior to the start of the upcoming month. Email courses@dmvchess.com with any questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions About Chess Foundations
Does my child need a US Chess membership?
No. A US Chess membership is not required to participate in Chess Foundations or its practice games.
When does the course begin?
Chess Foundations is a new course beginning in August 2026.
Does my child need to attend all four classes?
No. The four weekly sessions are included to give families flexibility and additional value. Most students will likely attend one or two sessions per week. Students may attend whichever classes work best for their schedules.
Can my child attend different days from week to week?
Yes. Students may attend whichever available sessions are most convenient. A student can have a preferred weekly class but attend a different session when a scheduling conflict arises.
Can my child attend more than one class per week?
Yes. All four weekly classes are included in the membership. Students may attend additional sessions when they want more instruction, practice, or reinforcement.
How much does the course cost?
Standard tuition is $165 per month. Students who enroll by July 17 and enter promo code LIFETIME50 will pay $115 per month while continuously enrolled.
Is the discount only for the first month?
No. The $50 discount applies every month while the student remains continuously enrolled in the course.
Who is the course designed for?
The course is intended for beginners, unrated players, and students rated below approximately 400 who want to develop the skills needed for confident tournament play.
What happens if my child improves beyond this level?
DMV Chess offers additional Climb the Rating Ladder courses for intermediate, advanced, and elite students, giving players a clear path to continue progressing.
Offer Ends July 17
Join the First Chess Foundations Class
Enroll today, enter LIFETIME50, and save $50 every month while your student remains continuously enrolled.
$165
$115/month
Enroll and Save $50/Month
Promo code: LIFETIME50