Blog
Insights from Coach JB on chess education, youth development, and why this game does something for people that very few things can.
Coach JB on chess as a historically male space, why it doesn't have to stay that way, and the women's chess night we're cooking up in Carmel Valley with Halleh. Mocktails, charcuterie, your first real game. For casual players and competitors both.
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Chess isn't just a game — it's one of the most research-backed tools for building the cognitive and emotional skills that help children thrive in school and in life. Here's what the science says, and what Coach JB has seen firsthand at Carmel Valley Chess Club.
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The same scene plays out before every USCF tournament I run. A parent gets out of the car. The kid stays in the back seat. Here's what's actually going on — and how to get a nervous kid through their first tournament without breaking them.
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Most chess coaches lead with openings. Coach JB doesn't — and here's why. A first-person look at how chess actually gets taught at Carmel Valley Chess Club, and why understanding beats memorization every time.
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May 23rd. All skill levels. Every participant gets USCF membership included. Coach JB breaks down the format, schedule, entry fees, and exactly what to expect.
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Every camper at CV Chess Club Summer Camp 2026 leaves as a rated USCF tournament player. But what does that actually mean? Coach JB explains the rating system, why it matters, and how your child earns their first official chess ranking.
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Coach JB didn't open Carmel Valley Chess Club because chess clubs are popular. He opened it because Carmel Valley is the kind of community that deserves one — and because he knows firsthand what chess can do for a kid who needs it most.
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Five short videos from Coach JB — about five minutes each. Made for parents teaching their kids, and they work just as well for any grown-up starting from square one. Sign up and we’ll send all five straight to your inbox, plus club news, Friday night reminders, tournament dates, and camp updates.
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