Welcome scholastic players!  On this website you will find information about, and links to, many chess events, programs, and websites, including the programs at Lakeforest Mall in Gaithersburg.  If you ever have any questions or news about your school program, or to discuss any other chess matter, please send us an E-mail.  All active students may look up their club-ratings using the link at the left and download some of our Chess Journal handouts, as well. USCF rated players may look up their official ratings and tournament records at any time using the USCF link at the left.  Our ratings lists are usually up dated monthly.

A NOTE ABOUT DOWNLOADS:
Most of the download files were created using a Microsoft "WORD" program. However, the chess diagrams were created using specific chess "fonts" which are not usually found on a computer.  If you do not have these fonts you will have trouble with the diagrams.  Please contact us for a free copy of the fonts needed.  They can be sent to you as attachments to an E-mail and then copied into the "Fonts" folder (usually in the "WINDOWS" directory of your "C" Drive). 

                                    New Players 

New players who read may learn the basic moves and rules from our downloads or directly from the Chess Magnet School website (in cooperation with the USCF).  This site will allow novice players to learn the basics using 20 short lessons with exercises.  Click this link to try it out:

                                               Basic Chess Rules and Practice 
                                               Problems accessing site? click here Help Site

Although not as complete as our classroom and Chess Journal materials it is a great way to start learning the basics and some chess terminology, and to review classroom lessons.  Pre-schoolers, and students who don't read well yet, will need an adult, or other reader, to help them.  When ready, students can even practice against a computer opponent.  This computer opponent can give a variety of "odds" games (computer handicaps) and "Shuffle Chess" (similar to Fischer Random Chess).  All of our students can also benefit from the "Practice Checkmate" exercises on this site. 

                         Practice and Competition

Any student who wants to play against students from other schools, is welcome to come to the Lakeforest Mall (LFM) chess club in Gaithersburg.  That club, located in the food court, offers relaxed and friendly "free play" to everyone, seven-days-a-week.   It was started for players of beginner and intermediate strength... players just like you and your friends.  You are welcome to bring friends and/or family members when you come.  See the "LFM Club" page for more details. 

For higher level competition you are also invited to participate in our three, seasonal, club-rated "ladder" tournaments with other students and adults at, or near, your own level.  Club ladder play is inexpensive, and offers a good way to get experience, improve your club rating (the same rating used at your school if you have a C&O chess program), and train for USCF tournaments.  Our LFM tournaments are played at a relaxed pace for four months. They offer intense fun and the possibility of prizes (trophies, gift certificates, cash prizes, scholarships, chess sets, clocks, etc.) for a very modest entry fee.  See the "Events" page for details. 

Friday evenings, and Saturdays from 12:00 noon to at least 4:00 PM, are usually the times with the most scholastic players.  That is when Coach Omar Pancoast is scheduled to be there.  However, there are players there every day and you can find many experienced adults who are willing to give you a game …and a few pointers.  You may also meet and play some high-ranked players.