If you’re reading this, you’re probably thinking about starting or supporting someone to start something. Maybe it’s a chess club, a tutoring group, a robotics team, or something completely different. We were in the exact same spot a few years ago, just kids with an idea, no real plan, and honestly……
Many parents of children with ADHD spend years searching for activities that truly help their kids focus, build confidence, and enjoy learning. Some activities feel overwhelming. Others don’t hold attention long enough. But one activity consistently surprises families: Chess. At Puddletown Chess tournaments and training sessions, we’ve seen many kids with…
We loved our April 2026 tournament. Over 70 players. Many familiar families and a lot of new ones as well! A major shout-out to our dear volunteers who helped tirelessly throughout the day. Congrats to our following winners: Best Female Performance Award: Riana Paul, with a perfect score in the Open…
We really enjoyed our revived March 2026 tournament. Over 110 players. Many familiar families and a lot of new ones as well! We had many firsts at this tournament, including our chief TD Dave Murray, a new registration system, many new volunteers, more awards, new boards and clocks and lot more. …
One Saturday, we watched a student walk in wearing the “learner hat.” They started with a puzzle lesson, quietly soaking it in. A bit later, they had switched into the “competitor hat,” locked in during their first tournament game. After the round, they slid into the “friend hat,” laughing with a…
Every great movement has a bold goal. At Puddletown, ours is this: help 1,000 students reach a USCF rating of 1,000. We call it our BHAG, our “Big Hairy Audacious Goal.” And while the phrase may sound funny, the mission is anything but. Why 1,000 Rating? A USCF rating of 1,000…
At first glance, it looks simple: if you’re good at chess, you can coach chess. Right? Well… not quite. At Puddletown, we’ve seen that being a strong player is just the baseline. Our coaches actually juggle three very different hats every single session: chess expertise, communication skills, and leadership. Without all…
Back when we first launched Puddletown, we had no idea we’d one day run 36+ webinars for chess players across the world. We just wanted to bring more people into our growing community - and maybe make it a little easier for beginners to level up. Fast forward to today, and…
We decided to dedicate our 2025 June tournament theme to the people who make Puddletown way more than just a place to play chess. The ones who show up early, stay late, support our mistakes, cheer on our wins, and honestly believe in us even when we blunder five moves in…
Thanks to everyone who joined my recent webinar! We had a great time discussing some sharp ideas, practical tips, and common tournament rules. Here’s a quick summary of the most interesting questions from the Q&A, in case you missed it—or just want a refresher! Q: What are the benefits of commanding…
The Sixth Rank (June) Puddletown Chess Tournament was a resounding success! Among them, 12 players were attending their first USCF-rated tournament, and 36 were girls. This was one of our biggest event at Puddletown so far. We hope to keep serving the community with high quality chess tournaments and training! Quick…
If you’ve ever played a Saturday tournament with us, tuned into a founder-led webinar, or even just popped into one of our online training program sessions, you already know—we take chess seriously. But what you might not know is that we also take volunteering just as seriously. And if you’re a…
At Puddletown Chess, when you see players improving, winning games, and moving up levels, it might seem like everything just works. But behind the scenes, there’s an entire system of frameworks, founders, processes & volunteers working to make sure every student gets the best training possible. It’s not just about the…
Tournaments at Puddletown Chess are always exciting, but in February, we decided to add a fun twist! Before each round, I surprised players with a quick quiz about our chess community. The questions highlighted cool facts about our club, and the winners walked away with gift cards! Here’s a recap of…
Introduction At Puddletown Chess, we’ve developed a unique and hands-on training program designed to help students grow their chess skills in a structured and engaging way. Unlike many traditional programs, we emphasize consistent coaching, interactive learning, and reinforcement strategies to ensure students not only learn chess but master it over time.…