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 too!
At first, there was some hesitation. Parents and students were nervous. Why were these adults—some much older and more experienced—being invited into a space that was originally just for kids? But over time, we realized that playing against adults wasn’t just okay—it was actually an amazing opportunity.
Why Play Against Adults?
If you’ve ever played in the open section of a tournament, you may have noticed a few adults mixed in with the kids. Maybe you even played against one! If you have, you probably realized pretty quickly that it’s a totally different experience from playing against your usual scholastic opponents. And that’s a good thing!
Here’s why playing against adults can help you grow as a chess player:
- More Experience, Bigger Challenges – Adults who enter these tournaments are usually strong players with years of experience. Facing them pushes you to think deeper and play better, which speeds up your learning process.
- A Calm, Focused Approach – Many adults bring a different mindset to the board. They tend to be more patient, calculating, and disciplined in their play. This can teach younger players valuable lessons about how to stay calm under pressure and approach the game with a long-term strategy.
- Exposure to Different Playstyles – When you only play other kids, you get used to a certain style of play. But adults often have unique openings, unconventional tactics, and a completely different approach to the game. The more variety you’re exposed to, the better you’ll become at adapting to different situations.
- A Chance to Overcome Nerves – Let’s be honest: playing against an adult can be intimidating at first. But once you get used to it, you realize that chess is chess—no matter who’s sitting across the board. Learning to handle that nervous energy will help you in big tournament settings and other high-stakes games.
- Building Confidence – There’s nothing quite like the feeling of beating a strong adult player. It’s proof that your hard work is paying off and that you’re improving. Even if you don’t win, just holding your own against an experienced opponent is a huge confidence boost.
How We’ve Made It Work
We know that adding adults to scholastic tournaments is a big change, so we’ve put a few rules in place to keep things fair and fun:
- Adults can only play in the top open section – This way, younger and lower-rated players can still compete against their peers without feeling overwhelmed.
- Only scholastic players are eligible for trophies and medals – Don’t worry, the adults aren’t here to take away your prizes. The awards are still reserved for young players.
- We welcome feedback – If you have concerns or suggestions about adult participation, let us know! We want to make sure everyone has the best experience possible.
Learning from the Best
Most of us founders and experienced training volunteers have seen firsthand how valuable it is to play against adults. Some of us even travel within and outside of Oregon—to Portland Chess Club, Las Vegas, and California—to seek out strong adult opponents. It’s one of the best ways to grow as a player.
So next time you see an adult in your section, don’t be intimidated—be excited! You have the chance to learn from someone who might push you to play your best game yet. And who knows? Maybe one day, you’ll be that experienced player helping a young competitor level up their skills.
