Hands up who loves chess?! Me too! Chess clubs in Brisbane have a lot to offer players and their families, so if you’re looking to be more involved in kids chess clubs for beginners near you, here’s where to start. We have found a list of chess clubs in Brisbane, where you can join and be a part of the fun.
Chess clubs in Brisbane
Chess clubs in Brisbane (and beyond) are often offered as part of the co-curricular activities in primary or secondary schools. Your FIRST port of call should probably be to check with your child’s librarian to see if they’re currently offering lunch time chess sessions or after school sessions.
Why play chess?
Chess can offer your child a wide range of skills and opportunities that can connect to their wider learning.
It promotes spatial awareness, hand eye coordination, planning and thinking and consideration of consequences and ‘next steps’. The slow pace of the game provides ample opportunity for contemplation as well as conversation.
Chess can be a great way for your child to connect to like-minded individuals either in after school classes or school holidays and find a real place for themselves, particularly if they often have difficulty aligning their interests with the mainstream.
If your child is looking to expand their playing outside of the school context, however, here are some links to get you started.
Brisbane Chess Club, Wooloongabba
Make this your first stop. Brisbane Chess Club are a premium chess club in the BNE area. They run tournaments and leagues and are widely acknowledged as an absolute authority on all things black and white checks.
Southside Junior Chess Club, Carindale
Southside Junior Chess Club is a club that meets at the Carindale Library (it’s on the bottom floor of the shopping centre) every Friday night during school terms from 7-9pm. All school ages and abilities are encouraged to participate. This can be a great place for your chess-loving child to make new friends and connections.
Logan City Chess Club | Rochedale
Logan City Chess Club meets every Friday for a mix of social and tournament games. They welcome all ability levels, from beginner to advanced. This is a great fun and friendly club to enjoy social and competitive games to test your chess skills.
The Gap Chess Club | The Gap
The Gap Chess Club has been on the scene since the late 1960’s. They offer tournament play and social chess for all age groups. This is a great chess club offering a social atmosphere for all levels of chess skills to attend too.
TopChess | Annerly
TopChess offer fun, education and engaging chess classes for children. Their purpose is to develop and grow the chess community. They do this by encouraging and teaching children chess skills from a young age. They run in schools across QLD.
Springfield Ipswich Chess Club | Springfield Lakes
Springfield Ipswich Chess Club runs a junior and adults tournament. It is run from the YMCA Springfield Lakes Community Centre. They offer a friendly environment and welcome players of all ability levels.
Gardiner Chess | Queensland Wide
Gardiner Chess is a chess organisation in Queensland. They provide chess coaching within schools and facilitate regular tournaments. They also provide a host of holiday programs. See their website to find out more.
Play with your child
If you’re having trouble finding chess clubs Brisbane (and admittedly, there aren’t many) then see if you can learn the game yourself and play with your child. You could even start your own mini league with friends from school!
