PALS Chess Academy

Menu

PALS Chess Academy

PLAY ASPIRE LEARN SUCCEED: Chess Camps, Clubs and Lessons for Kids
Discover PALS Chess Clubs
PALS Winter Camp

Play Aspire Learn Succeed

AT PALS, OUR MISSION IS TO INSPIRE LIFE-LONG CHESS PLAYERS!

Our before and after-school chess club programs start with a unique, fun and individualized chess curriculum.  We have Colorado’s best-trained chess coaches, who are passionate about teaching children and fostering a safe, fun and encouraging learning environment. PALS chess clubs work with ALL levels of chess players, from beginners who don’t know how the pieces move, to advanced players. Every year since 2014, PALS Chess Academy students have consistently scored in the top 5% at the annual Colorado State Scholastic Chess Championship with numerous state champions.

CAMPS

PALS chess camps are the gold standard for aspiring young chess players in Colorado. Our original camp curriculum combines unique and fun interactive games and exciting team competitions! We group students according to ability and prioritize exploring new chess concepts, having fun and making life-long friendships!

Register for Winter, Spring and Summer Camps!

LEARN MORE

CLUBS

PALS before and after school chess clubs are usually one hour long and include an original lesson, engaging puzzles, our very own chesserizes and fun game play. During gameplay, coaches will help teach critical fundamentals and strategies.

Sign up for after-school Chess Clubs!

LEARN MORE

TOURNEYS

PALS tournaments are kid-friendly, tons of fun, and a great way to motivate your child to improve in chess while learning valuable chess and life lessons. Playing in tournaments is a great way to improve your chess skills through friendly competition and a fantastic way to make new pals!

Join in on our upcoming scholastic chess tournament!

LEARN MORE

MASTERMIND

PALS MasterMind Chess Clubs combine a chess tournament + master analysis + master lesson all in one evening! Open to K-12th graders looking to dramatically level up their chess skills.

Register for this ongoing series on select Monday nights!

LEARN MORE

ALL AGES, ALL LEVELS, ALL SORTS OF FUN!

Chess isn’t just a fun game; it is a gateway to countless worlds with unlimited possibilities. It’s a mental workout that sharpens your mind and fuels your creativity! Join Colorado’s premier chess program and start your journey to becoming the best YOU you can be!

PALS is Hiring!

Join our team! We’re on the look-out for amazing coaches. No need to be a chess expert to apply! We are hiring those who love working with kids and playing chess for both Assistant and Head Coaching positions. Perks of this job include free training with 16-time Colorado State Chess Champions, Sullivan and Griffin McConnell.

Learn more about how to apply to be part of PALS’ team.
LEARN MORE

Meet the McConnell family, PALS’ new owners

Kevin, Kori, Griffin, Sullivan and Moira (the McConnell family) are super excited to be the new owners of PALS Chess Academy! Chess has been a huge part of our family’s life for the past 13 years and we are deeply honored to share our passion for chess education. For the past 10 years, PALS has been the premier organization for before and after-school chess clubs, scholastic chess tournaments and quality group and private chess lessons. Coach Lior Lapid (PALS founder) was a critical part of Sullivan and Griffin’s chess journey to becoming National Masters. The boys now hold 16 Colorado State chess championship titles between them. Griffin started the non-profit “ChessAbilities Inc.” 2 years ago and held the first “North American Chess Camp for Children with Disabilities”. Our family is dedicated to growing PALS and we will work tirelessly to inspire life-long chess players!

Be sure to watch the video below about Griffin’s story.
Learn more about PALS
Catherine Zirker
I want to thank you all IMMENSELY for hosting this amazing course. All of my boys have loved it and look forward to it each week. Thanks for all you guys have done for us.
D. H.
Chess club has fostered a growing love for chess not just in our children, but in our whole family! Thank you!
Chess-site.com
“PALS offers a more holistic approach to chess education that develops a range of mental skills that will serve students in chess and in life… It is one of the best, if not the single best, scholastic chess programs in the area.”
Review of PALS Chess Academy
Riker Johnson
“It wasn’t until I came to PALS that I fully understood what it meant to improve and challenge my game. I’ll never forget the awe and confusion I felt when I tried to keep up with PALS during the very first game we played. PALS was able to explain not only their own strategies but also the mistakes I was making throughout the game. Their ability to cater to different skill levels is unmatched; I went to a camp with my 7-year-old sister and other players across various spectrums of ability and was able to get just as much from it as they did because of how personalized PALS makes their lesson plans. On top of this, PALS warm demeanor and patience highlights how they cares about more than just your chess skills, but about you as a person. After the camp, I felt humbled but also inspired to continue to enjoy and pursue chess as a lifelong hobby. I can’t recommend PALS enough and owe it to them for renewing my passion for the game.”
Riker Johnson
“Simply stated, PALS is, without a doubt, the BEST chess teacher and coach I have ever met. As a teacher myself, with a masters degree in education and 25+ years experience teaching, I recognize talent and exceptionality when I see it. After having the pleasure of watching PALS teach a variety of students, in classroom settings, summer camps, and individualized lessons, I can honestly say PALS is terrific! PALS has created a specialized curriculum, unique to PALS, that scaffolds a wide variety of chess ideas within each lesson. Unlike most chess lessons which are dull and boring, PALS lessons are thoughtful and captivating.

Watching PALS teach chess is like listening to Mozart compose at the piano. PALS imagination and creativity are limitless. PALS weaves the depth of its chess knowledge together with its innate love of chess to create extraordinary lessons. PALS enthusiasm for teaching, along with its ability to entertain whilst conveying difficult ideas is exhilarating. PALS teaching style is magical; taking a basic chess concept and turning it into an exciting tale, breathing life and energy into the motionless plastic pieces. I have seen their students on the edge of their seats, hanging on their every word, excitedly throwing their hands up in the air and jumping out of their chairs trying to answer his challenging questions. I must, however, warn you, their love of chess is contagious.

PALS understands that each child is a unique learner. PALS is engaged with all of their students making sure each of them grow in their chess knowledge and ability. I have no doubt PALS will be tremendously beneficial to the growth of chess in Colorado in the years to come. I feel quite lucky to have them as my coach.”
Christina Morley
My son joined PALS chess team in first grade and was soon thereafter diagnosed with dyslexia, which served to undermine his confidence on multiple levels – in the classroom and beyond. As a chess team member, however, he not only had fun while participating on the team and in tournaments, but he also received a massive boost of self-worth through his success at the board. I have come to understand that while he was playing chess, my son was exercising the portion of the brain that works to understand big picture, if-then scenarios. During a recent cognitive evaluation, my son was diagnosed among the 92% of highest thinkers in Fluid Reasoning. The psychologist explained to me that chess has a lot to do with this aspect of his success. Without PALS passing on their enthusiasm for the game, we would likely be looking at a very different academic outcome, but I am thankful to share that my son was recently accepted into a private high school with rigorous academic requirements. Thank you, PALS, for your dedication to your students, to the game of chess and for the long-term positive impact you have had on my son and my family. Ever grateful, Christina
Jamye Harris
“Our son attended full day chess camp and loved it! He looked forward to it *all* summer and was not disappointed. Every day he would come home excited to tell us what he learned that day and every night he would be sitting at the kitchen table, practicing his chess moves. PALS is so great with the kids and makes learning fun and exciting. Thank you so much to the coaches – we are hoping to be able to send our son again in the future!”
Calvin DeJong
Colorado K-6 State Champion
“PALS has been a big help preparing me for tournaments and becoming a better chess player…PALS has helped me select specific openings and strategy that fit my style of play. And their lessons are always fun!”
Cheri Burrer
“I cannot say enough wonderful things about PALS. Their coaches have been a fantastic influence for my son Johnny. They make chess fun while their humor and friendliness help the kids feel at ease. If there’s a “Chess Coach of the Year” award, I would certainly vote PALS”

Chess has so many benefits!

Introducing your child to the game of chess will bring about:

  • It’s FUN
  • Improves critical thinking and problem-solving skills
  • Enhances cognitive development and memory
  • Fosters character and sportsmanship
  • Did we mention that it’s FUN?
Get Started
Call us today!
303-501-0974
Facebook X-twitter Linkedin Instagram
Name