In today’s world, having a strong online presence is essential, even for a youth-led organization like ours. When we started Puddletown Chess, we didn’t just want to create a place for students to learn the game. We wanted to build a community. That meant reaching players, families, and partners beyond the…
At Puddletown Chess, we don’t just teach chess—we build a community where everyone has the opportunity to learn, compete, and grow. A big part of that mission is making sure chess is accessible to all, no matter their background. That’s why donations play a huge role in what we do. Over…
At Puddletown Chess, we believe chess should be for everyone—no matter where you come from, what your background is, or how much experience you have. That’s why we’ve set up several scholarships to help players who might not otherwise have access to training, tournaments, or a chess community. We want to…
When we first started hosting tournaments, we focused exclusively on scholastic players—kids up to grade 12. It was all about creating a space for young players to compete, learn, and improve their game. But as our tournaments grew in size and reputation, something interesting happened: many adults wanted to join in…
Hey Puddletown gang! If you’ve ever played in a Puddletown Chess tournament, you’ve probably heard us say, “Pairings are up!” before each round. But have you ever wondered how those pairings are made? Why do you sometimes play someone way stronger or way weaker than you? And why don’t you get…
During our most recent tournament, on March 15th, I shared three heartwarming stories that embody the spirit of humility and gratitude within our Puddletown Chess community. Story#1: A Young Player's Generosity On his birthday last May, one of our remarkable young chess enthusiasts chose to donate $100 of his own hard-earned…
Spring Symphony II 2025 (March) Puddletown Chess Tournament was a tremendous success! Notably, 11 players participated in their first-ever USCF-rated tournament! This was one of the top 10 largest events we've hosted in Puddletown so far. We look forward to continuing to serve the community with top-quality chess tournaments and training!…
Our Golden Autumn Chess Tournament was another successful, very satisfying experience for players, volunteers and founders. After the very large (150+ players) anniversary tournament last month, it felt like a cakewalk to host "only" 97 players this time. Our 20+ volunteer team tirelessly and seamlessly took care of all the logistics…
It was another amazing turnout for the Puddletown May tournament! Of the 86 players, 4 were adults, 23 were girls, and 2 were rural players. As you know Puddletown proudly offers FREE tournament entries for the following categories of players: Girl players Non-binary players Rural area players Low-income family players Section…
Hello, Puddletown chess enthusiasts! In today's discussion, we're diving into a crucial aspect of Swiss system tournaments: the tie-breaking methods. Ever find yourself tied with others at the end of a tournament, puzzled over why someone else claimed the top prize? That's where tie-breaks come into play, helping determine who stands…
April 6th marked a momentous day for chess enthusiasts as we hosted our 2024 April tournament at Puddletown Chess. This month’s Oceanic Gala not only brought together a diverse crowd of over 300 players and their families but also saw a flurry of records shattered, setting new milestones for our thriving…
The 2024 March Tournament was another successful event with almost 80 players! Fun Fact: The biggest section this time was not Section C, but Section A with over 30 people! The fun fact is that there were 4 major scholastic chess tournaments in the Portland metro area on this day and…
Many beginner parents and kids ask me about the standard algebraic notation used for chess. Let me tell you, chess notation is so much fun and easy to learn. I can guarantee that you can learn in 30 minutes, and will be an expert in 2-3 days. It is that easy!!…
We had another amazing turnout to the December Tournament of over 50 players! Of the 50 players, 5 played their first tournament, 10 were girls who received a free entry to the event and 2 free entries to players with low-income or from a rural-area. Now, for our prizes (even score medals…
Puddletown had another amazing turnout to the October Tournament with over 60 players! Huge shoutout to the Sherman County School chess team, who had to wake up at 5 a.m. (again!) to drive for almost 3 hours just to play in this tournament. Of the 60 players, 3 played their first…