Community – Puddletown Chess

How to Introduce Chess to Kids With ADHD or Autism (A Parent’s Guide)

Many parents wonder when and how they should introduce chess to their child. This question becomes even more important when a child has ADHD, autism, or other learning differences. Parents often look for activities that help with focus, confidence, and problem-solving while still being enjoyable. Chess can be a great option…

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06/18/2026

Community / Education / Youth

A Playbook for Creating Your Own Nonprofit

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……

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06/04/2026

Community / Education / Learnings / Youth

Is Chess Good for Kids With Autism? What Parents Should Know

Many parents of children with autism spend a lot of time searching for activities that help their kids feel comfortable, confident, and engaged. Some activities rely heavily on fast reactions or complicated social interactions, which oftentimes make students feel overwhelmed. Chess is different. The rules are clear, the board never changes,…

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05/21/2026

Community / Education / Learnings / Training / Youth

Why Chess Is Great for Kids With ADHD (7 Surprising Benefits)

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…

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05/07/2026

Community / Learnings / Tournaments / Training / Volunteers / Youth

Trust the Process: A State Champion’s Story

A Quick Note from Ishaan Every once in a while, someone in our community reminds us what consistent effort, the right mindset, and love for the game can really lead to. Hayul is one of those people. He’s not just an incredibly strong player, he’s also one of our coaches and…

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04/27/2026

Community / Education / Training / Youth

Taking Chess to Rural Communities – Why It Matters

When people hear the word “chess,” they often picture big tournaments in city libraries or fancy schools with high ceilings and bright lights (trust me, I can relate). But what about kids in small towns who’ve never been to a big city chess club? What if the closest tournament is three…

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03/12/2026

Community / Learnings / Youth

Why Our Mission Came Before Our Names

When we were first brainstorming names for our nonprofit more than 3 years ago, we had a lot of ideas. And I mean a lot. Some of them sounded like tech startups. Some sounded like chess clubs from the world of Harry Potter. And, weirdly enough, some of them included the…

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01/15/2026

Community / Training / Volunteers

The Spontaneous Leader: Why You Should Embrace Chaos

At Puddletown, we’ve learned something important: leadership doesn’t grow out of perfect plans. It grows out of chaos. When you’re working with kids, chess boards, clocks, pizza boxes, and a tournament hall full of buzzing energy, things will go sideways. And that’s exactly where spontaneous leadership shows up. The Tournament Tiebreaker…

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11/18/2025

Community / Tournaments / Training / Youth

Our BHAG: Help 1000 Students Reach 1000 USCF Rating

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…

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11/10/2025

Community / Education / Learnings / Training / Youth

Why We Help Who We Help

At Puddletown, people often ask us: Why focus on certain groups of kids? Why make a special effort for girls and non-binary students, for kids from low-income families, or for kids growing up in rural communities? Isn’t chess supposed to be for everyone? It is supposed to be. But the reality…

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11/02/2025

Community / Training / Youth

How Puddletown Helps Kids at Any Stage… from Ultra-casual to Masters level

At Puddletown, we’ve learned something important: there’s no single “type” of chess kid. Some kids want to hang out and casually move pieces around. Others want to climb the rating ladder as fast as possible. Some fall in love with puzzles, some with tournaments, and some just with free pizza at…

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10/17/2025

Community / Volunteers / Youth

Our Volunteer Recruiting -> Onboarding -> Growth strategy

At Puddletown, volunteers are not just helpers—they're the backbone of everything we do. When people hear about our nonprofit, they often ask how we’ve managed to grow so fast or how just four teenagers can organize training & tournaments for hundreds of kids across the world. The real secret? Volunteers. From…

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10/01/2025

Community / Musings / Volunteers

A Million Thanks to Our Community Coaches

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…

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07/17/2025

Community / Education / Learnings

June Webinar Recap: Your Top Chess Questions Answered

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…

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07/12/2025

Community / Musings / Outreach

We Built a Marketing Engine… Before We Could Drive a Car

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…

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06/11/2025