What this Philadelphia class is
ChessWize is a live online chess class for children aged 5–15, offered to families in Philadelphia. 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 Philadelphia.
Who the format fits
It fits beginners through rated players whose family can protect one of the published US Eastern Time (ET) — pilot markets on the East Coast windows, wants a group capped at six or a one-to-one format, and values one regular coach. It does not fit a family that needs a walk-in classroom in Philadelphia.
Chess coaching that fits a Philadelphia school week
Most Philadelphia weekdays fill up with homework, sports practice, and traffic on the Schuylkill or I-76, so we built the schedule around that reality. ChessWize is online-only, with no centre in the city, and we staff two Eastern-time windows: Saturday morning cohorts from 8:00-11:00 AM ET, and a weekday pre-school hour from 7:00-8:00 AM ET. We do not sell weekday-evening slots, because India-based coaches would be teaching in the middle of their night. For Main Line and city families who want steady coaching at home, that is the honest offer.
Your child learns live with a FIDE-rated coach: Hrdyansh Pandey (1850), Tarun Gupta (1920), or Aryan Pal (1780), teaching in English or Hindi. Group batches hold 4-6 similarly-rated students, or you can choose 1:1. The same coach stays with your child week after week; that is our guarantee, not a hope. Sessions are live over video, never recordings, so the coach watches the moves and corrects them in the moment.
One ChessWize parent put it plainly: 'The ability to sit still and concentrate has carried straight into his maths and reading.' On Google we hold a 5.0 rating from 21 reviews. Before you pay anything, you can hear and see it yourself: every family starts with a complimentary 30-minute demo at one of our Eastern-time windows, with no payment details required.
The local chess scene is real, and our training points at it. US Chess runs rated scholastic events nationwide, ASAP Chess supports more than 150 school and community clubs plus the Philadelphia Scholastic Chess League from October through February, and the World Open returns each Independence Day weekend. Four months is typically all it takes for a ChessWize student to step into their first tournament. Our refund promise stays simple: 100% refund on unused sessions, and a weekly WhatsApp report after every class.
Class times for Philadelphia
The table keeps Philadelphia time beside the coach's India time so a parent can check the weekly fit before booking.
We run two Eastern-time windows for Philadelphia. Weekend morning cohorts meet Saturday, 8:00-11:00 AM ET, which is 5:30-8:30 PM IST. The early-morning weekday slot runs before school, 7:00-8:00 AM ET, which is 4:30-6:30 PM IST. Both mappings are approximate and shift by one hour with US daylight saving, so your slot can move an hour against the coach's clock when the clocks change. We do not staff weekday evenings, because 3:00-8:00 PM in Philadelphia is overnight for our India-based coaches. The free 30-minute demo happens inside one of these windows, so you can confirm the fit before you enrol.
| Window | Family time | Coach time |
|---|---|---|
| Weekend morning cohorts | Saturday, 8:00–11:00 AM ET | 5:30–8:30 PM IST (approx; shifts 1 hr with US daylight saving) |
| Early-morning weekday slot | Weekday before school, 7:00–8:00 AM ET | 4:30–6:30 PM IST (approx; shifts 1 hr with US daylight saving) |
What Philadelphia parents pay
The local-currency guide runs from ≈ $3.31 to ≈ $10.58 per live class. The starter pack is ≈ $26.44 for 8 classes.
Shown in USD at the mid-market rate of 2026-09-04
The ≈ $26.44 local guide sits beside the billing amount of ₹2,500 for 8 classes. ChessWize bills the INR list; the family's provider converts it. Rate reference: 1 USD = ₹94.54 from open.er-api.com mid-market.
The coaching roster parents can check
No coach is assigned to Philadelphia 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
Published FIDE rating 1850
FIDE ID IN-25600184 · Verify profile
Ages 5–15 · Foundation, tactical, and tournament-prep tracks
Languages: English, Hindi
Tarun Gupta
Published FIDE rating 1920
No FIDE ID is published in the current roster record.
All ages · Curriculum design + senior cohort coaching
Languages: English, Hindi
Aryan Pal
Published FIDE rating 1780
No FIDE ID is published in the current roster record.
Ages 5–10 · Beginner foundations
Languages: English, Hindi
What the curriculum covers
Class length
Class length: see the programme page. The shared programme data does not publish one duration for every track, so this page does not manufacture one.
Batch formats in the programme data
12-week synchronized batches with strictly 4-6 similarly-rated students
Private option: 1:1 Analyst Protocol. Private 1:1 live analysis sessions + engine homework + written coach reviews
Beginner → intermediate → advanced
Beginner
- Learn the board and legal moves. The child practises setup, movement, captures, check, checkmate, castling, promotion, and en passant through playable examples. The coach checks understanding by changing the position.
- Finish a complete game. Once the rules are stable, the child plays guided games. The coach helps with a simple thinking routine but leaves enough space for the student to make and correct decisions.
- Use opening principles. Development, centre control, and king safety give the first moves a purpose. The child learns principles that work across many openings before studying a named repertoire.
- Find basic tactics and endings. Forks, pins, simple mates, and basic king-and-pawn endings turn rules into practical skill. Reviews stay focused on mistakes the beginner is ready to understand.
Intermediate
- Stabilise tactical vision. Pins, forks, skewers, discoveries, and removal of the defender are practised in mixed positions. The child must identify why a tactic works and what would stop it.
- Choose candidate moves. Instead of calculating the first attractive move, the student lists sensible choices. Checks, captures, threats, and improving moves become part of a deliberate search.
- Read positional clues. Open files, weak squares, pawn breaks, and poorly placed pieces help the child form a plan. Strategy stays connected to concrete moves rather than abstract rules.
- Link openings to endings. A compact repertoire produces familiar middlegames, while essential king-and-pawn and rook endings improve confidence when pieces come off the board.
Advanced
- Audit the player's game. Recent tournament and online games are grouped by error type. The coach establishes priorities and distinguishes one-off mistakes from patterns that need a training block.
- Deepen calculation. Exercises include candidate selection, comparison of resulting positions, defensive resources, and stopping points. Accuracy and evaluation matter more than the number of moves calculated.
- Refine repertoire and strategy. Opening files are tied to model positions and likely opponents. Middlegame work covers pawn structures, exchanges, initiative, and transitions rather than memorisation alone.
- Convert training into events. Pre-event preparation, clock plans, rest, and post-event review connect weekly lessons to competitive play. The plan changes as new game evidence appears.
How the first month starts
The level check establishes the starting point. Early lessons then use the first roadmap goal for that level: beginners learn the board and legal moves, intermediate players stabilise tactical vision, and advanced players audit recent games. The coach moves from that evidence instead of assigning a city-wide syllabus.
Practice and parent reporting
A beginner benefits from repetition with variation. Set up a king-in-check position in several ways, ask for all legal responses, or practise one mating pattern from both sides of the board. This confirms that the child understands the idea rather than remembers one diagram.
For visibility at home, the published commitment is Weekly WhatsApp report for every student, giving the family a regular account of what to practise next.
Recorded programme results
The first-party trust record, last changed 2026-07-13, lists 1,000 students coached and 1,500 parents. It also records 4 district finishers in a cohort of 12, plus an average of 4 months to a first tournament. These are past records, not a promised result for one child.
DISTRICT — 2ND PLACE
Rachit Seksaria
Came to us plateaued and prepping for a district event. The coach analysed his games to pinpoint weak links, then drilled them. Within 2 months he finished 2nd (on tiebreaks) in the district tournament.
Event: District Tournament — 2nd place (tiebreaks)
Record date: 2 months in programme
FIDE-RATED AT AGE 6
Gahan C
His mother was understandably worried — would a 3-year-old learn online? She agreed to a 2-month trial. That was 2½ years ago. Gahan is still with us, has progressed from absolute beginner to a FIDE-rated player, and is the academy's youngest tournament-rated student.
Event: FIDE-rated tournament (youngest in academy)
Record date: 2.5+ years in programme
ACTIVE PROGRAMME STUDENT
Jiyansh
Active student in our structured programme — works through the same Foundation → Tactical → Tournament pathway every ChessWize student does. Photos from his recent classroom and practice sessions.
Event: Cohort tournament practice
Record date: In programme
How child safety works
Every coach clears a multi-step hiring process, and background verification — police clearance plus a reference check — is completed before they teach a child. Classes are live lessons rather than recorded lesson libraries, parents may sit in on any session, and a parent or guardian should remain at home during classes for children under eight. Read the complete, observable delivery policy on the child safety page.
What to set up at home
Any laptop, desktop, or tablet with a stable internet connection and a webcam. Classes run on Zoom plus our own student platform for puzzles, homework, and progress tracking. Nothing to install — it all runs in the browser.
What happens in the demo
- 1 · Meet
A FIDE-rated coach meets the child for the complimentary 30-min level check before you commit.
- 2 · Check
The child plays and solves positions so the coach can identify the current level.
- 3 · Match
The family hears which skill-matched batch or one-to-one format fits the assessment.
- 4 · Decide
No payment is taken before the demo. Paid classes begin only after enrolment and an agreed recurring time.
The four published commitments
These lines come directly from the shared trust record and are shown without rewriting their terms.
- Same coach every session — no rotation
- 100% refund on unused sessions
- Complimentary 30-min level check before you commit
- Weekly WhatsApp report for every student
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.
-
Check 1
Who teaches my child, and are they rated?
Your child is taught by a FIDE-rated coach: Hrdyansh Pandey (rating 1850), Tarun Gupta (1920), or Aryan Pal (1780). Classes are live over video, not recordings, so the coach sees every move and corrects it in real time. Teaching is in English or Hindi, and your child keeps the same coach every session.
Check the proof → -
Check 2
How many children share the coach?
Group classes are capped at 4-6 similarly-rated students, so the coach can hear each child calculate out loud, and 12-week batches stay together. If you want full attention, the 1:1 Analyst Protocol maps your child's current game, targets the highest-value gap, and tests the change in play. Either way your child is placed by working level, not by age alone.
Check the proof → -
Check 3
Is there a real curriculum from beginner to rated play?
Yes. Levels run from beginner through intermediate and advanced, plus age tracks for 5-8, 9-12, and 13-15. A beginner learns the board, finishes complete games, and picks up opening principles and basic tactics; intermediate work stabilises tactical vision and candidate moves; advanced students audit their games and convert training into events. Tournament-prep and rating-improvement tracks sit on top of the ladder.
Check the proof → -
Check 4
How will I know it is working?
You receive a weekly WhatsApp report for every student; that is a standing guarantee, not something you request. The report shows what your child covered and where the coach is pushing next, so you can follow progress even if you do not play chess yourself. Between classes, saved games and one honest question give the coach better evidence than a stream of unreviewed blitz.
Check the proof → -
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, and a parent sets everything up; in the spirit of COPPA, children do not create their own accounts with us. A FIDE-rated coach teaches every session over video, so you always know exactly who is teaching your child, and the weekly WhatsApp report tells you what each class covered.
Check the proof → -
Check 6
Can we try before paying?
Yes. You start with a complimentary 30-minute demo and level check at a weekend or early-morning ET slot, and no payment details are required to book it. The coach uses that session to place your child in a group batch or 1:1, so you know exactly what you are joining before you spend anything.
Check the proof → -
Check 7
What if we stop?
Unused sessions are refunded in full under our guarantee: 100% refund on unused sessions. That matters when a winter sports season takes over your calendar; you are not paying for classes your child could not attend. Start with the starter pack: about $26.44 for 8 classes. It keeps your first commitment small while you see whether the weekly rhythm works.
Check the proof → -
Check 8
Will the timings fit our week?
Our two staffed windows are Saturday, 8:00-11:00 AM ET for weekend cohorts, and a weekday pre-school hour, 7:00-8:00 AM ET. We deliberately do not sell weekday evenings: 3:00-8:00 PM Eastern is the middle of the night in India. If winter sports or a Main Line activity schedule collides with after-school clubs, protecting a weekend or pre-school hour is exactly how our Philadelphia families keep lessons going.
Check the proof → -
Check 9
What does it cost, exactly?
The starter pack is about $26.44 for 8 classes, which works out to about $3.31 per class. After that, regular plans run from about $3.97 to about $10.58 per class depending on the plan. Those are two different prices for two different things. We bill from one price list; your card is charged the local-currency equivalent at checkout, with no inflated overseas rate.
Check the proof → -
Check 10
Is there a path to tournaments?
Most ChessWize students are ready for their first tournament within four months. The tournament-prep track rehearses event conditions, repairs the game plan, and reviews the evidence afterwards. Closer to home, US Chess runs rated scholastic events, ASAP Chess supports more than 150 school and community clubs and the Philadelphia Scholastic Chess League each October through February, and the World Open lands every Independence Day weekend.
Check the proof → -
Check 11
What do I have to do at home?
Keep it small and regular. For younger children, five to ten focused minutes work better than a long block: set up the board, walk through how one piece moves, or solve two familiar positions. Older children save one slower game each week and bring a single honest question or a short error log to class. The coach designs the rest; you are not the chess teacher.
Check the proof →
Watch every family video in the source record
These four files, posters, speaker labels, quotes, and summaries come from the testimonial and evidence inventories. Metadata appears only when it exists in those records.
A Parent's Journey
ChessWize Parent
“We tried two other academies before ChessWize. The difference is the weekly progress report — I can actually see what's working. He's improved more than we ever imagined.”
Steady, visible improvement
2026-05-03 owner-cleared-2026-09-04
From Beginner to Confident
ChessWize Parent
“She wouldn't even play with her grandfather because she was afraid of losing. Six months in, she's the one challenging him. The confidence is the real result.”
Composed under pressure · plays tournaments
2026-05-03 owner-cleared-2026-09-04
Transformation in Focus
ChessWize Parent
“His school teacher actually called us to ask what changed. The ability to sit still and concentrate has carried straight into his maths and reading.”
Focus carried into school work
2026-05-03 owner-cleared-2026-09-04
Student Testimonial
ChessWize Student
“What I love most is that my coach actually explains why a move is bad — not just that it is. I'm thinking ahead two or three moves now without being told.”
Tournament-ready in 6 months
2026-05-03 owner-cleared-2026-09-04
Written reviews from parents
The full written-review array is shown below, with a Philadelphia-tagged record first when the source has one. Names, roles, cities, dates, ratings, and words remain as stored.
★★★★★
Honestly, I was skeptical about online chess coaching.
“Aadvik hated sitting still for anything, and I thought a Zoom class would last two weeks max. It's been six months. Last Sunday his class teacher called just to ask what changed — his attention in maths has jumped. He now does his puzzles before I'm up. Coach Arjun has the patience I don't.”
Rupali Sharma
Mother of Aadvik (9) · Lucknow
March 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
★★★★★
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
Every stored Google review
Google rating 5.0 from 21 reviews; the stored review set was pulled 2026-07-08.
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 →Ayushi
June 2026
★★★★★
We are very happy with the coaching at Chesswize, especially with our son’s teacher, Ankit Rajoriya. Ankit sir is a wonderful coach especially for younger kids.He knows the game deeply but also teaches with patience, encouragement, and real passion. He explains ideas in a clear and easy way, so children can understand and use them in their games. His classes are well-planned, fun, and motivating. Since our son started learning with Ankit sir, we have seen big improvements in his chess skills, thinking ability, focus, and confidence. He creates a friendly environment where kids feel comfortable asking questions and are inspired to keep getting better. We truly value his dedication and care for each student. We strongly recommend Chesswize and Ankit Rajoriya sir to any parent who wants quality chess coaching for their child.
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 →Susmita
June 2026
★★★★★
We are extremely happy with the quality of coaching provided by Chesswize, especially by our son’s chess teacher, Ankit Rajoria. Ankit is an exceptional coach who combines deep chess knowledge with patience, encouragement, and a genuine passion for teaching. He explains concepts in a simple and engaging manner, making it easy for young learners to understand and apply new strategies. His lessons are well-structured, interactive, and motivating. Since joining Chesswize and learning under Ankit’s guidance, we have noticed a significant improvement in our son’s chess skills, critical thinking, concentration, and confidence. Ankit creates a positive learning environment where children feel comfortable asking questions and are encouraged to continuously improve. We truly appreciate his dedication, professionalism, and commitment to each student’s growth. We highly recommend Chesswize and Ankit Rajoria to any parent looking for high-quality chess coaching for their child.
Read on Google →divya
June 2026
★★★★★
I am very happy with the overall experience at chesswize! Mr Ankit Rajoriya makes the class so much fun. Honestly the whole session finishes without any boring or dull moment. Everything is so systematic. Its worth it!
Read on Google →Padma
June 2026
★★★★★
Hi, just wanted to share a feedback about the ongoing chess classes My daughter harshitha really enjoyed learning chess with Ankit Rajoriya. His classes are highly engaging and interactive, making it easy to stay focused throughout the session. He explains concepts clearly, patiently answers questions, and provides practical strategies that help improve both understanding and gameplay. I have noticed a steady improvement in her chess skills and confidence since joining his classes. I would highly recommend Ankit as a chess coach to anyone looking to learn and grow in chess. Really appreciate the effort and happy with her progress 👍
Read on Google →Read the remaining 11 stored reviews
manasa
June 2026
★★★★★
It was a great platform for kids and learners.. teaching concepts and making them to think and play..Ankit rajoriya sir was excellent in teaching makes children in comfort zone by funy way and he starts teaching .that is the way children can engage whole time..
Read on Google →Sri
June 2026
★★★★★
Extremely happy with Tarun, he teaches my son really well, explains the topic in child understandable language, very disciplined..Thanks for the wonderful sessions
Read on Google →Anusha
December 2025
★★★★★
Chesswise Academy is an excellent place for kids to learn chess. The trainer is patient, knowledgeable, and focuses on building strong basics. Classes are well-organized and engaging. I can see good improvement in my child’s thinking and confidence. Highly recommend Chesswise Academy for chess learning.
Read on Google →priyanshu
December 2025
★★★★★
A perfect place to learn chess the right way. Excellent trainers, structured lessons, and amazing improvement.
Read on Google →Utkarsh
December 2025
★★★★★
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Great learning platform with clear teaching, supportive mentors, and well-structured content. Very effective and highly recommended
Read on Google →Shailja
November 2025
★★★★★
It's a truly amazing platform which not only enriches the individual's skills but also boost up the candidates to pursue in the field of success ....
Read on Google →Tushar
November 2025
★★★★★
My nephew is learning chess from chesswize and I'm very happy with his progress.The teaching style is clear, engaging, and very student friendly. Highly recommended for kids!
Read on Google →Ankit
November 2025
★★★★★
One of the best platform to learn chess skill, enhance either. The instructors are young and enthusiastic.
Read on Google →20EC101
November 2025
★★★★★
ChessWize is a great platform for improving chess skills—clean interface, smart puzzles, and very helpful analysis.
Read on Google →Priyansh
November 2025
★★★★★
My brother started chess 6 months ago from beginner level and now he is in Intermediate level. Their 2:1 program is highly effective.
Read on Google →Rajeev
November 2025
★★★★★
I am extremely happy with ChessWize Chess Academy. The coaching is very structured, child-friendly, and delivered with amazing patience. Each session is interactive and helps kids build strong fundamentals along with confidence. The best part is the personal attention given to every student, which truly makes a big difference in their progress. The academy also celebrates students’ achievements, motivating them even more. I strongly recommend ChessWize to anyone looking for quality chess training.
Read on Google →Why the online format fits Philadelphia
Philadelphia is Pennsylvania’s largest city and an East Coast school and sports metro where weekday evenings fill quickly with homework, sports, and traffic on the Schuylkill and I-76 corridors. South Asian communities are part of both city neighbourhoods and nearby suburbs.
India-based coaches cannot cover Philadelphia weekday after-school hours without overnight teaching, so those slots are not sold. Serviceable windows are weekend mornings Eastern Time and a 7–8 AM ET weekday pre-school hour. For Indian-American households that want a steady coach in English or Hindi without another midweek pickup across the city, those times are the truthful offer.
Local chess context
US Chess organises rated scholastic events nationwide, and the Philadelphia region has long participated in school and weekend tournament culture common to large East Coast metros. A weekly structured lesson helps a child prepare for that scene without assuming every family will travel to every event. Philadelphia's scholastic scene is anchored by ASAP Chess, which supports more than 150 school and community chess clubs and runs the US Chess-rated Philadelphia Scholastic Chess League from October through February, alongside monthly Saturday scholastic tournaments and the annual Philly Girls Play Chess event. The city also hosts the World Open, an annual international open usually played in Philadelphia over the Independence Day weekend since the 1970s.
Online and nearby offline choices
Offline clubs work well when the venue is close and the coach is consistent. ChessWize is online-only with no Philly centre. Online fits when parking, transit, or dual work schedules make midweek attendance fragile, and when you want weekly WhatsApp parent reports plus a refund policy on unused classes.
Programme claims are linked to first-party pages below; the national federation link comes from the country source record.
Questions from parents in Philadelphia
How much do online chess classes cost in Philadelphia with ChessWize?
We bill in INR from the single India price list; your card is charged the local-currency equivalent. There is no separate invented USD menu for Philly. Live 1:1 or max-six groups, same coach weekly, unused classes refundable. Free 30-minute demo first with no payment.
Is online good compared with a local academy, and is there a ChessWize centre here?
There is no ChessWize offline centre in Philadelphia. Coaching is live on video with a FIDE-rated coach, not recorded lessons. Many parents keep any local club for OTB social play and use ChessWize for planned weekly teaching. Ages 5–15, English or Hindi, programme rated 5.0 on Google from 21 reviews.
Can a child continue classes during winter sports season on the Main Line?
Yes, if you protect one of the staffed windows: weekend morning ET or 7–8 AM ET weekday. Evening practices that conflict with “normal” after-school coaching are exactly why we do not claim weekday-evening coverage. Use the free demo to pick a slot that survives sports calendars before you enrol.
The India time difference is huge — how can this work for a US family?
Honestly, weekday after-school does not work: 3–8 PM US Eastern is the middle of the night in India. So we run the US as an Eastern-time pilot with two windows that genuinely work — Saturday-morning cohorts (8–11 AM ET) and an early-morning weekday slot before school (7–8 AM ET). We do not pretend to offer US weekday-evening classes.
Which US time zones can you serve right now?
The pilot covers US Eastern Time. We are not yet taking Pacific-time bookings, because the overlap with Indian coaching hours is too thin to promise a reliable weekly slot. We would rather say that plainly than sell you a slot we cannot staff.
How does payment and pricing work from the US?
ChessWize keeps one price list in Indian rupees (from INR 2,500 for 8 classes). Your card is simply charged the equivalent in your local currency at checkout, so there is no separate or inflated overseas rate.
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 at a weekend or early-morning ET slot, with no payment details required.
Are these live classes or recorded lessons?
Live over video with a FIDE-rated coach who watches your child play and corrects them in real time — not recorded content.
Are the classes live or recorded lessons?
Live over video, always. A FIDE-rated coach watches your child play and corrects mistakes in real time, which is the whole point of the format. There are no recordings to fall behind on and no app replacing a teacher. If you want to see the format first, the complimentary demo runs exactly like a real session in one of our Eastern-time windows.
Does my child need chess experience before joining?
No. Complete beginners start by learning the board and legal moves, then finish their first full game within the beginner track, and the coach confirms ideas with repetition and variation rather than one diagram. We also run dedicated age tracks, so a five-year-old and a thirteen-year-old are not thrown into the same batch. The level check in your demo tells you exactly where your child would start.
Why are there no weekday evening classes in Philadelphia?
Because our coaches teach from India, and 3:00-8:00 PM on the East Coast is the middle of their night, so those hours are not sellable and we will not pretend otherwise. Instead you get Saturday morning cohorts from 8:00-11:00 AM ET and a 7:00-8:00 AM ET weekday slot before school. Both windows stay stable through the school year, adjusting once for daylight saving.
Will my child get the same coach each week?
Yes. Our same-coach guarantee means no rotation: the coach who does your child's level check is the coach who teaches every session after it. Continuity matters more in chess than in most subjects, because the coach remembers which positions confused your child last month and builds the next lesson from that. It is also why we cap batches at 4-6 students.
Do you have an offline centre in Philadelphia?
No, ChessWize is online-only with no Philadelphia centre, so there is no venue to drive to across the city or the Main Line. Rather than pre-recorded lessons, your child gets real-time video sessions with a FIDE-rated coach. Many parents keep a local club for over-the-board social play and use ChessWize for planned weekly teaching.
What ages does ChessWize teach in Philadelphia?
Children from age 5 through 15, with dedicated tracks for the 5-8, 9-12, and 13-15 groups alongside beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels. A five-year-old works on setting up the board and safe move habits, while a teenager builds a working repertoire and an honest baseline. Working level, not birthday alone, decides placement, and the demo settles it.
Can we continue classes during the winter sports season on the Main Line?
Yes, as long as you protect one of the two staffed windows rather than an after-school hour. Evening practices are exactly why we never claimed weekday-evening coverage in the first place. Test a Saturday morning or pre-school slot against your calendar during the demo, and if a season swallows the term, unused sessions are refunded in full.
How does payment work from the US?
We keep a single India price list, and your card is simply charged the local-currency equivalent at checkout; there is no separate or inflated overseas rate for Philadelphia families. Recent rates work out to roughly $3.97-$10.58 per class depending on the plan. The starter pack, about $26.44 for 8 classes, is the simplest way to begin. The free demo comes first with no payment details.