Quality Chess Classes
Teaching strategy to students of all ages.
Group
Chess Classes
Register for lessons for Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced-level students in a class setting
Private Chess Lessons
Register for private one-on-one lessons with one of our instructors
“Every instructor here is super friendly and very knowledgeable. This is a great place for kids to learn various skills and have fun.”
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
— Zhen W.
UPCOMING CHESS EVENTS
UPCOMING CHESS EVENTS
Upcoming Events
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Quads Chess Tournament
When: Saturday February 14th, 2026
Registration begins at 9:45am
Rounds at 10am, 12pm, and 1:30pmWhere: Buffalo Chess Association, 6043 Transit Rd Suite 101B, East Amherst, NY 14051
Time Control: G/45 d5
Entry Fee: $20 pre-register, $25 at the door
Prizes: $60 per quad
______Quads are groups of four players arranged by rating. These players compete against each other, giving higher rated players a challenge and beginner players similarly experienced opponents. The winner of each group (quad) wins a prize.
_____
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February Chess Camp
When:
February 16th - February 20th, 2026
9:00am - 1:00pm (half day);
9:00am - 4:00pm (full day)Where: Buffalo Chess Association, 6043 Transit Rd Suite 101B, East Amherst, NY 14051
Join us for days of chess! All skill levels welcome. Chess camps include unique lessons every day, open chess play, new chess variants, and more!
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Monthly Open Chess Tournament
When: Saturday February 21st, 2026 10:00am - 5:00pm
Where: Buffalo Chess Association
6043 Transit Rd, Suite 101B
East Amherst, NY 14051Entry Fee: $20.00 for online pre-registration before 12/12; $25.00 at the door
Details:
Time control: G45/d5
Format: Open RatedJoin us for a USCF Rated tournament! $200 Prize for 1st place. A USCF Membership is required!
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USCF Rated Blitz Tournament
All Ages and Skill Levels Welcome!
When: Thursday, March 5th 5:00pm - 8:00pm
Where: Buffalo Chess Association 6043 Transit Rd, Suite 101b East Amherst, NY 14051
Entry Fee: $20.00 for online pre-registration $25.00 at the door
Details:
Time control: 10-0; 0s/d
Format: Round Robin or Double Round Robin
Sections: Based on Sign-ups! -
Monthly Unrated Chess Tournament
When: Sunday, March 8th, 2026 4:00pm-7:00pm
Where: Buffalo Chess Association
6043 Transit Rd, Suite 101B
East Amherst, NY 14051Join us for fun, friendly competition!
Scholastic and Open (Adult) Sections available.
Open to all players. Contact us for details and to sign up!
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Summer Chess Camp
When:
Session 1: June 25th - July 24th, 2026
Session 2: August 3rd - August 28th, 2026
9:00am - 1:00pm (half day)
9:00am - 4:00pm (full day)Where: Buffalo Chess Association, 6043 Transit Rd Suite 101B, East Amherst, NY 14051
Join us for days of chess! All skill levels welcome. Chess camps include unique lessons every day, open chess play, new chess variants, and more!
Follow @buffalochessassociation
on Social Media!
New Program!
Join us for Chess Club!
Our Chess Club is open to all ages, and provides a comfortable space for people of all ages to practice and improve their chess.
Light instruction will be given where it is wanted, but the main focus will be on getting in games! Chess club members may attend as many club meetings per week as they wish.
Non-BCA students and walk-ins are always welcome!
__________
Where: Buffalo Chess Association, 6043 Transit Rd Suite 101B, East Amherst, NY 14051
When: Tuesdays - 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Saturdays - 3:15pm - 4:15pm
Sundays - 1:00pm - 2:00pm (12:30pm - 2:00pm for Advanced/Challenger Students)
__________
New Program!
#OneWorld Chess Class
In partnership with Bridges from Borders and AYLUS Greater Buffalo
_____
The #OneWorld Chess Class is a free class open to the WNY community led by youth instructors to promote diversity, inclusion, and friendships.
“Our mission is to promote diversity, inclusion, and friendships among people of different ages, backgrounds, and ethnicities through the game of chess.
Our program aims to create a welcoming and supportive environment where individuals can come together, learn from one another, and build lasting connections through the shared experience of playing chess.”
-Bridges from Borders
__________
Where: Buffalo Chess Association, 6043 Transit Rd Suite 101B, East Amherst, NY 14051
When: Every other Friday during the 2025-2026 academic year
__________
Promoting life skills through teaching chess.
Chess is a game which can combine fun and functionality, as well as encourage competition and learning. Quality chess instruction fosters traits such as critical thinking, planning, analytical thought, and creativity. Studying chess is studying the art of planning ahead- one of the most important skills a person can have.
Our curriculum seeks to use chess as a tool to cultivate these traits in our students, allowing them to become both better chess players and better thinkers as a whole.
From teaching new students how to set up the chess board to exploring advanced concepts with a chess Grandmaster, our standard classes and private lessons make the game fun and accessible to all levels of players. Our instructors are as passionate about teaching as they are about chess, and have shared their knowledge and love of the game with students locally and across the world.
Our Mission
Our motto is “balancing competition and fun,” and this is the underlying principle behind all of our lessons. We hire chess coaches who can connect with students-- coaches who offer them the guidance they need to grow both their skills and their love of the game. Players will always be pushed to grow, but not at the expense of their enjoyment of the game. We also have instructors who can cater to any skill level, so that students will never feel that they have “outgrown” their teachers.
* * *
Our objective is to turn Western New York into a major player in the worldwide chess community by creating a new generation of high-level chess players and rejuvenating Buffalo’s chess culture. We also intend to hold enough classes to make teaching chess a viable job for those who have the necessary skills.
Contact us.
Want to reach us with questions, concerns, or ideas? We can be contacted at any of the following places!
6043 Transit Road, Suite 101B
East Amherst, NY 14051
buffalochessassociation@gmail.com
(716) 243-2719