What this Hicksville class is
ChessWize is a live online chess class for children aged 5–15, offered to families in Hicksville. A named coach teaches on a video call and shared digital board; this is not an in-person branch.
ChessWize is online only and has no local centre in Hicksville.
Who the format fits
It fits families with a beginner through a rated player who can keep a weekly class with the same coach, want a group capped at six or a one-to-one lesson, and want one regular coach. It does not fit a family that needs a walk-in classroom in Hicksville.
A coach for your Hicksville child, without the drive
Hicksville families know the routine: another activity means another drive across Nassau County. Your child joins a live video class from home, with a coach who watches every move and corrects it in real time. Batches are capped at six similarly-rated children, so nobody hides at the back, and the same coach stays with your child week after week.
Ruby, mother of a six-year-old, says in her video: 'Earlier he was not able to think rightly and take the right move'. Calmer thinking is something you can look for in your own child's practice. That is the kind of change a fixed weekly coach, a weekly WhatsApp report for every student, and small peer groups are built to produce.
The curriculum runs from a first board setup to rated tournament play, with tracks for ages 5-8, 9-12 and 13-15, plus beginner, intermediate, advanced, 1:1 and tournament-prep routes. Before you commit, we offer a complimentary 30-min level check before you commit, at no cost and with no payment details. If you continue and later stop a monthly plan in Hicksville, cancel within 48 hours of enrolling for a refund.
Timing is the honest constraint.
Chess in Hicksville: school lunch games and state scholastic play
Hicksville Middle School has put chess into the school day more than once. A report dated 5 June 2025 described 54 students in grades 6-8 taking part in a lunchtime tournament, with sixth, seventh and eighth graders competing during the lunch period. A 22 January 2026 report described further lunchtime chess in the gym lobby. At state level, the 58th annual New York State Scholastic Championships, open to grades K-8, were listed for 7-8 March 2026 at venues in Saratoga Springs. The New York State Chess Association says it has promoted chess in New York for almost 150 years and holds the state's longest-running scholastic tournament.
Who runs junior chess here
- New York State Chess Association. It says it has promoted chess in New York for almost 150 years and holds the New York State Championship plus the state's longest-running scholastic tournament. [1]
- US Chess. Its information for new members says membership includes the opportunity to participate in rated play and establish a chess rating. [2]
Events a child from Hicksville can enter
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Hicksville Middle School lunchtime chess tournament
Reported on 5 June 2025 · Hicksville Middle School, Hicksville
Fifty-four students in grades 6-8 took part, with sixth, seventh and eighth graders playing during their lunch period. [3]
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58th annual New York State Scholastic Championships
7-8 March 2026 · Saratoga Springs, New York
The 2026 listing covered grades K-8 only and allowed out-of-state players with prize restrictions. [4]
Where to play
- Hicksville Middle School. A 22 January 2026 report said students played lunchtime chess in the gym lobby during their lunch periods. [5]
From online class to a first tournament
- Ask Hicksville Middle School whether it offers lunchtime chess and whether your child can join, referring to the reports of play in the gym lobby.
- If you want a published rating, read the US Chess new-member page that describes rated play before entering a state event.
- Check the New York State Chess Association website for state scholastic dates and grade rules; the Saratoga Springs listing was for March 2026.
- Set aside a regular Eastern Time practice slot for complete online games, and review the moves together afterward.
Good to know
- Hicksville is in New York, which is listed as lying entirely in the Eastern Time Zone (EST UTC-05:00 / EDT UTC-04:00).
- Indian Standard Time at UTC+05:30 is 10 hours 30 minutes ahead of Hicksville in winter and 9 hours 30 minutes ahead while US daylight saving is in effect.
- NIST states that during 2026, US daylight saving time is in effect from 8 March at 2 AM local time to 1 November at 2 AM local time.
Sources (checked 2026-09-28)
- [1] New York State Chess Association official website
- [2] Information for New Members | US Chess.org
- [3] Lunchtime chess at Hicksville Middle School - Mid-Island Times
- [4] 58th annual New York State Scholastic Championships, open to grades K-8 only | US Chess.org
- [5] HMS students challenge themselves with games - Mid-Island Times
- [6] Eastern Time Zone - Wikipedia
- [7] Daylight Saving Time Rules | NIST
- [8] Time in India - Wikipedia
Class times for Hicksville
Families in Hicksville book classes in their own time zone, during their local working day. The exact time is chosen when you book the free demo.
Hicksville keeps US Eastern Time. Daylight saving still changes in this part of the US, so the coach's clock moves by an hour in spring and fall. The hour you book stays on your clock.
What Hicksville parents pay
Regular classes run from ≈ $3.90 to ≈ $10.41 per live class. The starter pack is ≈ $26.02 for 8 classes.
Our prices are set in Indian rupees. If you pay from outside India, checkout shows and charges the amount in your local currency; local figures on this page are estimates as of 2026-09-29.
The coaching roster parents can check
No coach is assigned to Hicksville merely because this is a city page. These are the national roster details published in the coaching data; the demo confirms the actual match for a child.
Hrdyansh Pandey
Ages 5–15 · Foundation, tactical, and tournament-prep tracks
Languages: English, Hindi
Tarun Gupta
All ages · Curriculum design + senior cohort coaching
Languages: English, Hindi
Aryan Pal
Ages 5–10 · Beginner foundations
Languages: English, Hindi
What the curriculum covers
Four phases: learn the board and legal moves; finish a complete game; use opening principles; find basic tactics and endings.
Recorded programme results
As of 2026-07-13, the trust record lists 1,000 students coached and 1,500 parents, with 4 district finishers in a cohort of 12 and an average of 4 months to a first tournament. These are past records, not a promise for one child.
How classes run
Your child keeps the same coach in a supervised small group, and a parent can sit in on any lesson. Read the full policy on the child safety page.
At home you need a laptop or tablet with a webcam and stable internet. Classes run in the browser. Setup details are on the online chess classes page.
The first meeting is a free 30-minute level check. Paid classes start only after you enrol and agree a recurring time.
The four published commitments
- Same coach every session — no rotation
- Full refund within 48 hours of enrolling on a monthly plan
- Complimentary 30-min level check before you commit
- Weekly WhatsApp report for every student
Refund wording is on the refund policy.
Eleven checks to make before enrolling
Each answer below is tied to the section that carries its proof, so a parent can verify the detail rather than rely on a slogan.
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Check 1
Who teaches my child, and are they rated?
Your child is taught by a named coach such as Hrdyansh Pandey, Tarun Gupta or Aryan Pal. The assigned coach stays with your child every session, and classes run live in English or Hindi so language is never a barrier.
See coaches -
Check 2
How many children share the coach?
Group batches hold strictly 4-6 similarly-rated students, so the coach can watch every game and every child gets real playing turns. If you want the coach entirely to yourself, the 1:1 Analyst Protocol maps your child's current game and targets the highest-value gap in private sessions.
See class size -
Check 3
Is there a real curriculum from beginner to rated play?
There is a written ladder from first legal moves to rated competition: beginner, intermediate, advanced, tournament-prep and rating-improvement tracks, plus age routes for 5-8, 9-12 and 13-15. Each track has defined milestones, such as finishing a complete game, calculating forcing lines, or converting training into events.
See the curriculum -
Check 4
How will I know it is working?
You receive a weekly WhatsApp report for every student, covering what was taught and how your child played. One mother says in her video, 'I can see the improvement in her concentration and the confidence level', describing her own daughter's experience. You do not need to understand chess yourself to follow the report or to see the trend over a term.
See progress reports -
Check 5
Is it safe, and can I see the classes?
Classes are live and supervised, with a named coach and no open chat with strangers. A parent sets up the account, in the spirit of COPPA, and children do not create their own accounts. You can sit nearby or watch the session, and the coach is the same adult each week.
Read safety policy -
Check 6
Can we try before paying?
No payment details are needed to take it. If the coach, the level and the timing do not feel right, you simply do not continue.
See the level check -
Check 7
What if we stop?
A Hicksville monthly plan still returns a full refund if you cancel within 48 hours, then a pro-rated refund minus sessions attended before the 3rd class. After those three classes the month stays on the bill, and cancelling is what prevents the next one. This applies after you have moved past the free demo onto a paid plan, and leftover term sessions after 7 days can still be completed within the term.
See refund terms -
Check 8
Will the timings fit our week?
Hicksville follows the clock named in the schedule note on this page. The weekly time is agreed at the free demo, and the same coach holds that agreement.
See class times -
Check 9
What does it cost, exactly?
You start with a starter pack of ≈ $26.02 for 8 classes. After that, regular plans run from ≈ $3.90 to ≈ $10.41 per class depending on the plan. The price list a Hicksville family sees is set in Indian rupees.
See fees -
Check 10
Is there a path to tournaments?
Hicksville Middle School ran a lunchtime chess tournament for grades 6-8, reported in June 2025. The New York State Chess Association holds the state's longest-running scholastic tournament and listed a K-8 edition in Saratoga Springs, so ask that association for the next date and its entry rules. On average, students reach a first tournament in about four months.
See results -
Check 11
What do I have to do at home?
A few focused minutes at home, a saved game link, or one honest question for the coach is enough for younger children. The coach sets homework matched to your child's errors, and you are never asked to teach chess yourself or to supervise long practice blocks.
See home setup
Watch family videos
Poster, title, speaker, and a one-line summary from the testimonial record. Each card links to its review page.
See every class, not just the fee
Every ChessWize class runs on ChessCore, so you always know what your child is learning.
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Your own parent dashboard
A private page for each child: next class, attendance, homework and progress, in one place.
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Progress you can read
Puzzle accuracy and a rating trend once your child has played enough games, explained in plain words.
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Notes from the coach
After classes the coach shares what your child worked on and what to practise next.
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Attendance and makeups
Every class is logged. If your child misses one, you can see the makeup credit and book it yourself.
No screen recording, keystroke logging or device-location access · classes recorded only with your consent. How we handle your child’s data →
Written reviews from parents
Two parent reviews for this page, with a Hicksville-tagged record first when the source has one.
★★★★★
The resilience piece was unexpected — and the real win.
“We signed up for chess. What Ishita got was emotional self-regulation. Month one was all about learning to lose without falling apart. By month three she was analysing her own games after tournaments, pointing out where she'd blundered, calmly. Her results followed. But honestly, the composure is what I'll remember.”
Anjana Rao
Mother of Ishita (10) · Mumbai
January 2026
★★★★★
She used to cry after every loss. Not anymore.
“Anika was playing 'casually' on chess.com and hanging pieces every game. First month the coach just drilled Checks-Captures-Threats. The dashboard is what sold me though. I don't know chess, but I can see exactly what she covered each week. Her play sharpened on its own by week eight.”
Monika Iyer
Mother of Anika (11) · Kanpur
February 2026
Google reviews from ChessWize parents
Google rating 5.0 from 21 reviews; the stored set was pulled 2026-07-08.
20EC101 Raghvendra
November 2025
★★★★★
ChessWize is a great platform for improving chess skills—clean interface, smart puzzles, and very helpful analysis.
Read on Google →Harshi
July 2026
★★★★★
We had been searching for a chess class online for our sons. Suddenly on instagram , we saw the ad for chesswize and connected with the them. The demo was really good and we started the classes for our almost 4.7 year old son. Ankit Rajoriya Sir engaged him really well , he very knowlegeble in his field. His classes are well structured and he teaches the concepts in simple and engaging manner. My son has started loving chess and has started applying the strategies. The environment of the class is really positive where kids feel safe asking questions and their queries are answered well. We truly appreciate his professionalism, dedication, and commitment towards his students. We highly recommend Chesswize and Ankit Rajoriya Sir to any parent looking for chess classes for their kids.
Read on Google →Anisha
June 2026
★★★★★
Coach Ankit has been amazing for my 8-year-old. He’s super friendly and explains chess rules in a way kids actually get. My son looks forward to every Chesswize class now. He motivates him to do better without any pressure, and I’ve seen fast improvement in both his game and confidence. Highly recommend Ankit for young beginners!
Read on Google →Why the online format fits Hicksville
Hicksville is a documented Long Island South Asian enclave, with a large Indian, Pakistani, and Bangladeshi retail strip; Asian residents represented about 32% of its population in 2020. Live online lessons give local families a fixed weekly coach without another activity drive across Nassau County.
Children can learn in English or Hindi and keep the same coach each week.
Local chess context
Long Island sits within the wider New York metro’s active scholastic-chess ecosystem, while Hicksville adds a distinct suburb-level context through its growing South Asian shopping area and large Indian, Pakistani, and Bangladeshi retail presence. Weekly online coaching can provide structure at home, with suitable local over-the-board games added separately when a child wants physical-board and tournament practice.
Online and nearby offline choices
ChessWize has no physical centre in Hicksville or elsewhere in New York. Local clubs and scholastic events can be useful for meeting opponents; ChessWize is the live online option for families who want one assigned coach, a small-group ceiling of six, and no extra Long Island commute.
See class details, fees and safety information below.
Questions from parents in Hicksville
Has Hicksville Middle School actually run chess during the school day?
Yes, in the form of lunchtime play. The Mid-Island Times reported on 5 June 2025 that 54 students in grades 6-8 had taken part in a lunchtime tournament, and sixth, seventh and eighth graders competed during lunch. A later report, dated 22 January 2026, said students were again playing chess in the gym lobby in those lunch periods. Ask the school office how that session is organized in the term you care about.
Where would a Hicksville child go for a New York K-8 state event?
Start with the New York State Chess Association's scholastic information and check the dates for the edition you plan to enter. The 58th annual championships were listed for 7-8 March 2026 in Saratoga Springs, for grades K-8 only. That is a past listing: it allowed out-of-state players with prize restrictions. Confirm the venue, section and reporting time for another edition before arranging travel.
How far is Indian Standard Time from a Hicksville class clock?
Hicksville follows Eastern Time. Eastern Standard Time is five hours behind UTC and Eastern Daylight Time is four hours behind UTC. Indian Standard Time sits at UTC+05:30, so it is 10 hours 30 minutes ahead in winter and 9 hours 30 minutes ahead while US daylight saving applies. India uses that single zone and does not observe daylight saving time. NIST's 2026 US window is 8 March through 1 November, each change at 2 AM local time.
Is there an in-person ChessWize academy near Hicksville or elsewhere on Long Island?
No. ChessWize is live online only. A child aged 5–15 works over video with a coach in English or Hindi, either 1:1 or in a batch of no more than six. Families can still use Long Island over-the-board opportunities separately for social or tournament play.
How does a family in Hicksville choose the weekly class time?
You choose the weekly time when you book the free demo, and the same coach keeps it. You can move it when school terms or travel change the week.
How does payment work for a Hicksville household?
Fees use the same INR price list as India, and checkout charges the USD equivalent; ChessWize does not invent a separate Long Island price. Start with the free 30-minute demo without payment, then choose 1:1 coaching or a small batch if the coach and schedule fit.
What ages and levels do the online batches cover?
Children from 5 to 15 are placed by working level, not just age. There are dedicated routes for ages 5-8, 9-12 and 13-15, plus beginner, intermediate, advanced, 1:1, tournament-prep, summer-camp and rating-improvement tracks. A complimentary 30-minute level check decides where your child starts.
Will my child keep the same coach every week?
Yes. Children settle faster with one adult who already knows their habits, their typical mistakes and their pace, because the same coach teaches every session and does not rotate. If a coach is ever unavailable, you are told in advance rather than handed a stranger.
Does ChessWize have a physical centre on Long Island?
No, ChessWize is live online only, with no physical centre in New York. Local clubs and scholastic events remain useful for meeting opponents face to face, and we encourage families to use them alongside our coaching for over-the-board practice and tournament play.
Are the classes live or pre-recorded videos?
They are live over video, with a coach who watches your child play and corrects moves in real time. Nothing is pre-recorded, so your child can ask questions and get answers immediately. Sessions are interactive throughout, in English or Hindi, whichever your child prefers.
What happens in the free 30-minute demo?
The coach assesses where your child actually is, plays a few positions with them, and recommends a track and a weekly slot. You get an honest level read with no payment details required. If the fit feels wrong for any reason, you owe nothing and simply walk away.
Is my young child's privacy protected during online classes?
Yes. Classes are supervised live with a named coach, and there is no open chat with strangers. A parent creates and controls the account, and we collect only what is needed to book and run the classes, in the spirit of COPPA. Children never set up their own accounts with us.
How soon could my child play in a real tournament?
On average, students take about 4 months to reach their first tournament. The tournament-prep track rehearses conditions, tightens the game plan and reviews games afterwards. School-night timing is why a home slot often wins on weekdays. The first month is for complete games, not for event pressure.
Do I need to know chess to support my child at home?
No. Homework is designed so a parent never has to teach. For younger children, five to ten focused minutes of setting up the board or solving two familiar positions is enough. Older children save a game link and bring one honest question to class for the coach to unpack.
Is my child’s privacy protected (COPPA)?
Classes are live and supervised, with no open chat with strangers and a named coach. We collect only what a parent provides to book and run classes, and a parent sets everything up. In the spirit of COPPA, children do not create their own accounts with us.
Do we get a free trial first?
Yes. You start with a complimentary 30-minute demo and level check, with no payment details required.
Are these live classes or recorded lessons?
Live over video with a coach who watches your child play and corrects them in real time, not recorded content.