About Our Chess Program

Our chess program is run by experienced Chess Masters Lou Mercuri and Kenneth Thomas. We offer Fall and Spring sessions (15-weeks each) during the school year, as well as a 6-week Summer Session. We offer Chess I for beginners and Chess II for intermediate/advanced instruction and competition preparation.

Summer Chess 2019!

Summer Chess session is now 12 classes, running for 6 weeks Mondays and Wednesdays June 24 through July 31. Chess class runs 6:15-7:45 PM. The cost of each 12-class session is $480. Instructor: Dr. Kenneth Thomas.

Eligibility 

We accept children of all ages and abilities, with the minimum requirement that the child needs to know the basic chess moves.

Lou Mercuri

Mr. Lou Mercuri is actively teaching chess in the Boston area and in MetroWest. His students continue to improve and play at the highest levels for their age groups. Currently, six of his students are rated in the top 100 for their age group in the US and compete in National Scholastic Championships. As a player, he is a US Life Master and his rating has peaked at 2404 (Senior Master). He was awarded the International Title of FIDE Trainer at the Turin, Italy Olympiad in May 2006. This selective title is awarded to experienced chess coaches and trainers at the 2350 rating level. He is among the first chess trainers in the United States to be awarded this title by FIDE, the International Chess Organization.

• Lou’s students have won Massachusetts State Scholastic Championship and one National Elementary Championship
• Six students have exceeded a 2000 rating—starting out at less than 1400
• Lou defeated World Champion Karpov in exhibition play in 1990
• He is a writer and publisher of theoretical opening articles
• He maintains an unsurpassed chess library (700+ books)
• Lou uses his own proven interactive techniques
• He has served as a consultant for various computer programs, books, learning methods, and tournaments

Kenneth Thomas

Kenneth is an experienced Master (highest FIDE rating 2225, current 2023) with 27 years of university teaching.  His chess coaching experience ranges from elementary schools to adults in Memphis, Chicago, and Boston. He coached the Hutchison School (Memphis, TN) to second place in the state elementary championships, and its first board was the winner of the overall individual event. He now teaches private clients in Boston and the Metrowest. He received his Bachelor of Arts in philosophy at Princeton University and his Ph.D. in political science from the University of Chicago.

Our Chess Masters at Mathapalooza! 2014

Chess FAQ

Q: How old are the children in the class?

A: We accept children of all ages

Q: What are the minimum skill requirements to enter the Chess I classes?

A: For the beginner class the only requirement is that the child knows the names of the pieces and the basic moves.

Children will progress as the class goes on.

Q: My child has been playing chess for a while. How do I know which class to sign up my child for?

A:. If your child has previously attended our Chess I class for one or two semesters, or has participated in a beginner chess program elsewhere,  he or she would likely be eligible for Chess II. The final determination of the class appropriate for your child will be done by the Chess Masters.   

Q: How can children of different ages and skills learn in the same classroom?

A: In chess, younger interested kids easily bridge the age gap. Even in competitive scholastic tournaments, most formats allow kids to play each other with up to a 4-year difference in ages. Within the class, children are grouped by age, and individual, skill-appropriate attention is given to each child.