Welcome! This website is a volunteer effort to share information regarding chess playing and learning opportunities for youth in Northwest Washington and beyond.

Photo Galleries:
Elementary State - Chess F.E.S.T. - High School State - Whatcom Championships

(left, right) Smiles at the Whatcom County Championships 2007 in Lynden
(middle) Rows upon rows of chess at the Elementary State Championships 2007

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From Joanna at Neighborhood-Kids.com: Chess Season in the Northwest. An introduction to organized youth chess in Northwest Washington. Also from Joanna: Considerations Before Competing. If you're thinking about a tournament, here are some considerations.

Attention Earthlings! All kids can play chess against the life form in outer space! Help the Stevenson Elementary Chess Team (from Bellevue) pick Earth's moves against Astronaut Greg, currently working in the International Space Station 200 miles above us, zooming around Earth at five miles per second. Earth vs Space! (Recent position at right).

Bellingham Herald - The Game of Kings is the new King of Cool - Photos
Skagit Valley Herald - State's Best come to Burlington

Ask Dr. Chess column -- "Please describe the current dimensions of the scholastic chess world and the status of extracurricular chess in Northwest primary and secondary education."

Chess Openings 101: Need further persuasion? Here it is. Turn on your speakers, we have compelling oratorical virtuosity reminding us: Don't Mess With The Sicilian.

Practice chess against the Little Chess Partner! Or against The Brain, and watch it think as it ponders each move. You'll need a Java-enabled browser. Can you beat The Brain?

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Lynden Breaks Attendance Record

Give kids a chance, and they'll show you that they like to have fun while thinking hard. The photo above comes from the 2005 Washington State Elementary School Championships, held at the Lynden Fairgrounds on April 23, 2005. 1,135 young chessplayers had a blast, and set the record for the largest chess tournament ever held in Washington State. Chess -- as big as you think!