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FAQs

General FAQs

  • What is Chessminds.co

    We are a not-for-profit organization dedicated to making world class chess instruction more accessible.


    We exist to connect chess masters from New York City, Mississippi, California  and elsewhere with new and young players on Long Island (at least for now).

  • What makes Chessminds.co different?

    We do not sell gaming software. We do create  chess experiences. 


    Unlike other apps or streaming services we are NOT monetizing your viewership or play time and we do not sell your information to advertisers.


    We are a community of chess enthusiasts new to the royal game working to bring chess to others.

  • What is lichess.org?

    lichess.org is a free/libre, open-source chess server powered by volunteers and donations.

  • Why do you require a lichess.org account?

    We are using the lichess.org platform for playing. All participants are required to create a free account on lichess.org and join the New York Chess Academy team for the coaches to be able to monitor the game and pair them up against the other participants in the class.

  • Why should I support lichess.org?

    Lichess provides computer analysis for free to all users. The world-class open source Stockfish engine is used to analyse players games.


    Sometimes we get the question why can't we play our games on another app or site. The truth is we play games on other apps and sites too, but for learning & instructional activity we use lichess.org exclusively.


    You can help support lichess.org here.


    *Still need more convincing, we refer you to our answer in question 2 of this section.

Academy FAQs

  • What is the Academy?

    The Long Island Chess Academy is not-for-profit that seeks to make world class chess instruction more accessible.

  • How does it work?

    Expert chess professionals provide a group lesson which makes them more affordable to others and also expands their reach.


    All participants are welcome to contact any instructor to arrange for private lessons.

  • Why are there fees?

    We solicit instruction from chess professionals who have dedicated much of their lives to chess. In many cases chess is their profession. They are compensated by the Long Island Chess Academy in order to make lessons more affordable for our members than if they were taken alone.

  • Why do the fees vary?

    Please note that all the pricing tiers are open to all levels and ages. The only difference is the skill level of the coach providing the lessons. All our coaches are experienced and competitive instructors. Students have different preferences and may want to have a chess master coach.

  • Can I exchange items?

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  • Do you offer gift cards?

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Chessminds.co Kids Club FAQs

*The LICA kids club is free to all and provides an informal outlet to reinforce formal training.

  • What is the Chessminds.co Kids Club?

    The Chessminds.co Kids Club is informal club play for grades k-6 at the Islip Public Library. We are guests here and it is very important to be respectful to our hosts.

  • Where do you meet?

    The Kids Club meets at the Islip Library on the 2nd and 4th Monday of each month from 6:00 - 7:30.

  • Do I need my own chess board?

    While it is best to bring your own chess board, the Islip Library has several sets on hand. To use a library set kindly ask the children's desk and be sure to return the complete set.

Club FAQs

*Clubs are not affiliated with the Long Island Chess Academy.

  • What is Club Play?

    There are several informal chess clubs on Long Island and we support them all.

  • Are they associated with Chessminds.co?

    No. Each club is its own informal entity with its own norms, customs, cultures, and, in some cases, policies. Please be respectful.

  • Why does Chessminds.co support these clubs?

    We list these clubs because when we started playing chess it was very difficult to find places to play over the board. We do not endorse any of these clubs and make no representations about them.

  • Where can I find a club near me?

    As of January 2022 we are aware of the following club locations and play times:


    • The Oakdale Chess Club, Tuesday's from 6-8 at the Connetquot Public Library
    • The Bayshore Chess Club, Thursday's from 6-8 at the Bay Shore Brightwaters Public Library
    • The Long Island Chess Club, Thursday's, 7:30 at  East Meadow United Methodist Church*

    *Please visit the Long Island Chess Club for more information.

Members FAQs

  • What do I get for my membership?

    By becoming a member of Islip Chess you are supporting our mission to spread chess on Long Island and among K-12 players in particular. All proceeds go to support our mission of providing access to local quality chess programs and education.


    Specifically, however, you receive:

    • an awesome t-shirt (of course!),
    • a tournament grade chess board,
    • access to monthly opening-specific lessons from master-rated players, and
    • access to our curated LIChess games and article library.

  • Why are your prices cheaper than other retailers?

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  • How much is delivery?

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  • Can I exchange items?

    Describe the item or answer the question so that site visitors who are interested get more information. You can emphasize this text with bullets, italics or bold, and add links.

  • Do you offer gift cards?

    Describe the item or answer the question so that site visitors who are interested get more information. You can emphasize this text with bullets, italics or bold, and add links.
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