NJCC 2026 Winter Chess Programs

Location: Morristown Masonic Center 39 Maple Ave, Morristown, NJ, 07960
Classes are held Sundays and are separated by rating and age groups.
There will be two separate times only. USCF rated Tournaments are bi-weekly at 1PM. Learn more here.

Class A - 10am-12PM (First Floor)

Class B - 10am-12pm (Second Floor)


Complimentary Parking in Morristown on Sundays
Parent Lounge for socializing.
Tournament at 1PM - here
Syllabus - here

Morristown’s First Chess Academy

We offer a sophisticated learning experience designed to build confidence, sharpen critical thinking, and foster lifelong friendships. Our structured programs provide a refined, engaging environment where young players can thrive under expert instruction.

Morristown Chess Programs (10-Week Courses)

🔹 Beginner (Ages 13 & Under | 200–1000 Rating) Floor 2
🔹 Intermediate (Ages 13–18 | 1200–1600 Rating) Floor 1

Student Development Path

  • Beginner: Foundations of chess, legal moves, and essential checkmate techniques

  • Intermediate: Mastery of strategic gameplay and advanced checkmate patterns

  • Advanced: Competitive training for rated tournament play

Why NJCC?

  • World-Class Instruction from seasoned professionals & tournament players

  • Expert Curriculum featuring Scholastic Mastery Chess Courses

  • Exclusive Learning Environment with a 1:6 instructor-student ratio

  • Flexible Instruction: Virtual, Group, & 1-on-1 Coaching

Winter 2026 Registration

To secure your spot, please follow these steps:

  1. Complete the registration form below to provide us with the necessary information.

  2. Once you've submitted the registration form, proceed to the tuition fulfillment section underneath it to complete your payment.

Group of children gathered around a chessboard, observing a game in progress.
Two people playing chess at a table, one with short dark hair and glasses, the other with curly hair, wearing a pink shirt, with chess pieces in the middle of a game and electronic chess clocks on the table.
Six young boys gathered around a chessboard, watching a game being played. The setting appears to be a playing room with chairs and tables in the background.

Tuition Fulfilment

FAQ

*

FAQ *

  • Beginner 1 Objectives:

    • Learn how all of the pieces move and their point values

    • Understand the difference between check, checkmate, and stalemate

    • Know how to castle kingside and queenside, how to promote a pawn, and en-passant

    • Be able to comfortably solve checkmate in 1 puzzles

    • Learn the 3 basic defenses (move/block/protect)

    • Understand what is being attacked to avoid hanging pieces

    • Learn the three opening principles: control the center, develop minor pieces, castle early

    • Learn how to notate (on a basic level)

    Beginner 2 Objectives:

    • Know how to checkmate with ladder checkmate, queen and king, and rook and king

    • Be able to spot and avoid back rank checkmate

    • Be able to comfortably solve forced checkmate in two puzzles

    • Be able to comfortably play the first 10 moves of the opening while remembering the basic principles

    • Learn all tactical devices (fork, pin, skewer, discovered attack, and removal of defender) in one move

    • Be able to defend against all tactical devices

    • Understand all intricacies of notation

    • Understand all rules and etiquette of a chess match (no talking during a match, touch move, same hand hits the clock, shaking hands)

    • Know all methods of making a draw (repetition, 50 move rule, insufficient material)

    • Learn basic board terminology: rank, diagonal, file, square

    Advanced Beginner Objectives:

    • Be comfortable with all tactical devices from Beginner 2, but with a 2-3 move sequence

    • Understand basic positional concepts: backwards pawn, double pawns, isolated pawns, weak squares, space advantage, bishop pair, tempo

    • Be able to solve Mate in 2/Mate in 3 puzzles

    • Be able to checkmate with two bishops and a king

    • Know how to play basic pawn and king games (attack and defense)

    • Be able to notate and play a mock tournament match

    • Be observed displaying proper competition etiquette (standing at a distance, not talking to or distracting players, not making constant draw offers, losing gracefully, reporting score, not intimidating the opponent, not cheating, remaining humble)

    Intermediate 1 Objectives:

    • Learn what tactical weaknesses are, how to spot them, and how to attack them

    • Be able to identify tactical weaknesses in their own positions and defend during games

    • Be able to follow along with analysis, and ideally begin to analyze their own games

    • Know the basics of a few openings for both colors:

    • For white, have a response to e5, d5, c6, and c5

    • For black, have a response to e4, d4, and c4

    • Learn all pawn endgames

    • Achieve a non-provisional USCF rating above 800

    Intermediate 2 (USCF between 800 and 1200) Objectives:

    • Pawn-Storming/Opposite Side Castling/Not Castling Theory

    • Initiative (more advanced opening principles)

    • Middlegame Play I (Maneuvering and core concepts of how to think + candidate)

    • Middlegame Play II (Exchanges)

    • Student or Master game analysis to highlight

    • Advanced endgames (with rooks, bishops, and knights involved)

    • Achieve a non-provisional USCF rating above 1200


  • No prior knowledge is needed! This course is designed for absolute beginners. You'll start by learning the basics of the chessboard, piece movements, and rules.

  • The course is structured to be completed over 10 weeks with weekly lessons and practice exercises.

  • You will be provided with equipment to use on site. Online resources will also be provided for additional practice.

  • Your child can start at any time and we have a process to ascertain which class your child will be placed in.