Guides for chess parents
Straight answers to the questions chess parents actually ask. No account needed, nothing to buy.
Your kid's first chess tournament: what to expect and what to bring
Swiss pairings, the between-round waits, what to pack, the parent rules people learn the hard way — and why 50% is a good first result.
Why is my kid's online chess rating higher than their USCF rating?
A 300–450 point gap is normal — most of it is a scale difference, part of it is fixable habits. How to tell which is which.
Why does my kid play worse in tournaments than online?
Long clocks, a physical board, a six-hour day, one game that counts. How to read the games and see which factor is costing points.
How do I analyze my kid's chess games if I don't play chess?
A real 10-minute routine with free tools, the questions a non-player can ask well, and the one thing the evaluation graph can never tell you.
What does my kid's Chess.com accuracy score actually mean?
Why 85% can be great or mediocre, what the move labels translate to, and which numbers are actually worth tracking.
How to read a chess scoresheet (and turn it into a digital game)
Algebraic notation in ten minutes, why kids’ scoresheets are messy, and three ways to turn the paper into a PGN.
Is a chess coach worth it for my kid?
Yes — at the right time. The honest readiness test, what coaches cost, and the between-lessons gap nobody prices in.