Things People Ask Me About the Club.

Yes. Carmel Valley Chess Club is located at 9 Del Fino Place, Suite 201, Carmel Valley, CA 93924 — upstairs above Mika Sushi. We offer an after-school youth program, Summer Chess Camp, USCF rated tournaments, and monthly all-ages Family Chess Nights (one Friday a month, donation-based; first one Friday July 17).

We are at 9 Del Fino Place, Suite 201, Carmel Valley, CA 93924 — upstairs above Mika Sushi. Phone: (831) 392-7456. Email: chessclubcv@gmail.com.

I'm Justin Bradley — Coach JB to most people. I learned chess in kindergarten from my dad, grew up in Monterey County, and the chess community I needed as a kid never existed. So I built it as an adult. I'm a realtor by day, a husband to Halleh, dad to Cyrus and Leo, and the guy who runs this club. More about me here →

Yes — we're the only dedicated chess club in Monterey County. There are other chess groups in the area — roaming clubs where players get together in libraries, coffee shops, and other donated spaces. They're great communities and I'm glad they exist. But we're the only club with our own dedicated space, our own equipment, a structured youth program, weekly adult chess nights, and USCF rated tournaments all in one place. 1 of 1 on that.

No. Most kids start with zero — they don't know how the pieces move, and that's totally fine. I'd rather teach a kid from scratch than have to undo bad habits from someone else. If they already know how to play, even better. The class accommodates both.

The after-school program and Summer Chess Camp are for children ages 5 through 17. Adult chess is 18 and older. Tournaments are open to all ages.

Carmel Valley Chess Club offers after-school chess classes for kids ages 5–17. The Recreational League meets Monday at 3:15pm and 4:30pm and Tuesday at 3:15pm and 4:30pm, with a Middle & High School Recreational Chess League on Thursday at 3:15pm. Coach JB works directly with every student in groups capped at 8 students maximum. Learn more about the after-school program →

No. The after-school program requires enrollment and authorization from Coach JB before attending. Classes are capped at 8 students and walk-ins cannot be accommodated. To enroll, contact us at chessclubcv@gmail.com or call (831) 392-7456. All-ages drop-in is welcome on Family Chess Nights — one Friday a month, donation-based.

$120 per month, per student. A sibling discount is available — just let us know when you register. The same monthly rate applies whether the month has 3 class dates or 5, since we follow the CUSD calendar. Questions? Email or call (831) 392-7456.

Yes. The after-school program follows the Carmel Unified School District (CUSD) calendar. Classes do not meet on school holidays or breaks. If your child misses a class, they may attend another session in the same month as a makeup.

Monday: Recreational League at 3:15pm and 4:30pm.

Tuesday: Recreational League at 3:15pm and 4:30pm.

Thursday: Middle & High School Recreational Chess League at 3:15pm.

All classes capped at 8 students per session and follow the same structured format: warm-up puzzles, coached instruction, tournament-style play with clocks, and game review.

Summer Chess Camp 2026 runs June 15–19, 2026, Monday through Friday, 9am–3pm. Located at 9 Del Fino Place, Suite 201, Carmel Valley. Register at cvchess.com/summer-camp.html →

$500 all-inclusive. Covers chess lessons, pool days, meals every day, movie day, playground visits, USCF membership and rating, and the closing trophy ceremony. No à la carte add-on prices like other camps.

Optional add-ons if you need them: Early drop-off at 8am is $40/week. Late pickup until 5pm is $60/week. Bundle both for $90/week.

Everything is included in the $500 fee:

♟ Daily chess lessons and tournament play
🏊 Pool days at Carmel Valley Community Youth Center (CVCYC) — admission included. Bring swimsuit, towel, and goggles.
🌳 Playground at Tatum's Treehouse
🎬 Friday Movie Day
🍽 Meals every day — breakfast, snack, and lunch
♞ Giant floor chess set
♛ USCF membership and official chess rating
🏆 Trophy closing ceremony on Friday — parents invited

Summer Camp 2026 is sold out. We run one class and it's full. Join the email list at cvchess.com/summer-camp.html for first access when 2027 registration opens. Questions? Email chessclubcv@gmail.com or call (831) 392-7456.

14+ days before camp: Full refund minus a $35 processing fee.
7–13 days before camp: 50% refund.
Less than 7 days: No refund. A 50% credit may be issued at Coach JB's discretion.
With a doctor's note: Full credit valid for 12 months.

All refund requests go to chessclubcv@gmail.com.

Yes — and so can the whole family. Family Chess Nights run one Friday a month, 5–9pm, open to all ages and levels. The first hour (5–6pm) is beginner instruction with Coach JB; then it's open play. Donation-based, benefiting our youth scholarship fund. First one: Friday, July 17. See all the dates →

One Friday a month, 5–9pm. Upcoming 2026 dates: July 17 (our first), August 14, September 25, October 23, November 20, December 18. No registration — just show up. Donation-based, all ages welcome. More details →

Drop-in visitors of all ages are welcome on Family Chess Nights (one Friday a month, 5–9pm, donation-based). The after-school program during the week is by enrollment only and not open to walk-ins. See the dates →

Yes. We host USCF rated tournaments at 9 Del Fino Place. Our first was May 23, 2026 — a 5-round Swiss G/30. Our June Sushi Slam was postponed when the field didn't come together, but more tournaments are coming — dates to be announced. Join the email list and you'll be the first to know. See the tournaments page for the format we run (and a good story from that June Saturday).

A USCF rating is an official numerical measure of chess playing strength, assigned by the United States Chess Federation. Every Summer Camp participant and tournament player receives a USCF membership and their first official rating as part of their enrollment. Ratings are tracked nationally and updated after every rated event. Read our full guide to USCF ratings →

Research consistently shows chess improves focus, working memory, mathematical reasoning, and emotional regulation in children. A meta-analysis of 24 studies found chess instruction significantly improved math scores and reading ability. Beyond academics, chess teaches children to sit with a hard problem, think independently, lose gracefully, and plan ahead — skills that transfer directly to school and life. Read more about the benefits of chess for kids →

Children as young as 5 can learn the basic rules and enjoy chess. We welcome kids starting at age 5 in both our after-school program and Summer Camp. The earlier a child starts the more deeply chess becomes part of how they think — but there is no age that is too late to start. We have seen complete beginners of all ages fall in love with the game quickly.

Yes. The International Olympic Committee recognizes chess as a sport. The USCF governs it competitively in the United States like the NFL governs football. The way I describe it: it's a sport where you punch and kick the other person in their brain. The mental toll of a long chess game is real — ask anyone who's played a four-hour tournament round.