Backyard Chess Live

Uniting young players through chess and community.

  • Weekly live coaching, online tournaments and anytime access to a community of young chess players.

  • We offer groups for all levels! Placement is determined by your child’s rating, age and experience to ensure the best environment. We run classes from 6pm-9pm depending on your child’s level.

  • Each student participates individually in coaching, tournaments, events and community activities. Ask us about our sibling rate!

What Sets Backyard Chess Live Apart

01 / Elite Community

Students join a private online community where they connect with other young players. Our kids share games, exchange ideas and build friendships with peers who love chess.

02 / Professional Instruction

BYC coaches have years of experience teaching chess to children both in-person and online. Lessons are structured to help students steadily improve their game.

03 / Competitive Play

Beyond weekly lessons, students compete in weekly virtual tournaments with prizes. This gives our kids the chance to apply what they have learned in a competitive setting.

Weekly Live Pass Schedule

Online Class: Rising 

Tuesday • 6:00 PM EST
Hosted by Coach Akshat
For students Unrated or Under 600 USCF

Online Class: Intermediate

Tuesday • 7:00 PM EST
Hosted by Coach Nick
For students Under 1000 USCF

Online Class: Advanced

Tuesday • 8:00 PM EST
Hosted by Coach Nick
For students 1000+ USCF

Livestream

Friday • 5:00 PM EST
Hosted by Coach Kiani
For all students

Challenge

Saturday • 5:00 PM EST
Hosted by Coach John
For all students

Lichess Tournament

Saturday • 6:00 PM EST
Hosted by Backyard Club
For all students

Lichess Tournament

Sunday • 6:00 PM EST
Hosted by Backyard Club
For all students

BYC Live Coaches

Nick Moore

A master from Melbourne with years of coaching experience, Coach Nick leads our intermediate and advanced groups, helping students refine their thinking and compete at a higher level.

National Master USCF 2300+

Akshat Suresh

A chess expert based in Orlando, Coach Akshat works with our rising players, creating engaging lessons that build strong fundamentals and confidence.

Expert USCF 2000+

Earning the IM title places Coach John among the top players worldwide. He leads our live events, including “Challenge the Coach,” simuls and puzzle races.

International Master USCF 2450+

John Ludwig

From his first tournament in 2019 to founding BYC in 2022, Coach Kiani has seen rapid growth in his own improvement. He hosts live gameplay streams, walking students through his decision-making in real time.

Advanced Player USCF 1700+

Kiani Walker

One pass, endless possibilities

Live Pass
$129 monthly

Be part of Backyard Chess from anywhere in the world.

✓ Weekly live coaching
✓ Weekly live events and challenges

✓ Weekly online tournaments with prizes
✓ Access to private online chess community 24/7

No commitment. Cancel anytime.