Looking for chess lessons in Birmingham? Want to learn how to play chess, improve your game or take your chess skills to the next level? Longbridge Chess Club offers free chess lessons in Rednal, Birmingham, for children, beginners, newcomers and more experienced players.
Whether you’re learning the rules for the first time or looking to improve your competitive chess, there’s an opportunity to learn with us.
Our lessons take place every Tuesday at The Oak Tree in Rednal. There is no charge for our club members, you can simply turn up and join in.
Chess Academy: Chess Lessons for Children and Beginners
Every Tuesday, 5pm–7pm
Our Chess Academy welcomes children, beginners and newcomers who want to learn chess in a friendly club environment.
Whether you’re completely new to chess or already know the basics, our sessions provide an opportunity to develop your understanding, practise your skills and enjoy playing with others.
Weekly Chess Lessons
A structured lesson will begin at 6pm every Tuesday, lasting approximately 30 minutes to one hour, depending on the topic. Lessons will cover the fundamentals of chess and help players build their knowledge step by step.
Topics will include opening principles, tactical patterns, checkmate techniques, planning and the basic principles needed to play better chess.
The rest of the session provides time to practise, play and put what you’ve learned into action with other members of the club.
The Chess Academy is an ideal starting point for young players and anyone who wants to learn chess in a welcoming environment.
Advanced Chess Lessons in Birmingham: Strategy, Tactics and Improvement
For players who already know how to play and want to improve, we will also be running more in-depth chess lessons during our regular club nights.
These sessions are open to club members and non-members alike. Club membership is encouraged for those who would like to make Longbridge their regular chess club.
Lessons will explore more advanced aspects of chess, helping players understand not just which moves to play, but why they work.
Potential areas of study include:
- Opening preparation: Understanding opening systems, plans and typical positions.
- Tactics and calculation: Improving your ability to spot combinations and calculate variations accurately.
- Positional chess: Understanding pawn structures, weak squares, good and bad pieces, and long-term plans.
- Planning and strategy: Learning how to assess positions and formulate a plan.
- Endgame technique: Improving your ability to convert advantages and defend difficult positions.
- Practical game analysis: Learning from real games and understanding how to avoid common mistakes.
The programme will feature a range of topics designed to help players of different strengths develop their understanding and become more confident over the board.
Evening lessons will begin at 8pm on Tuesdays when no club match is scheduled.
Upcoming Chess Lessons
Our weekly programme will feature a changing selection of topics, with lessons led by members of our club.
Upcoming lesson schedule
- 3rd November, 6pm:
Basic Opening Principles, Gary Mason - 10th November, 6pm:
How to Prevent Blunders, Matt Clarke - 17th November, 8pm:
The Stonewall Attack, Chess Openings, Tom Sherwood. - 24th November, 8pm:
A Guide to Complex Checkmates, Jordan Cummins
Check this page for updates to the upcoming lesson programme.
Meet Our Chess Tutors
Longbridge Chess Club has several members who will be contributing their knowledge and experience to our lessons. Our tutors will help players develop their understanding of the game, from the basics through to more advanced chess ideas.
Matt Clarke
Matt pretty much runs the chess club. He is one of our strongest players and runs both the chess academy, and the main club night. If you visit our club often, you will no doubt have met Matt before.
He is rated around 1700.
Tom Sherwood
Tom is a long-standing member of Longbridge Chess Club and plays many matches for the club as well as competing in external tournaments. He is a balanced player but specialises in complex positions.
He also likes to use his understanding of the opening to gain advantage early and dominate his opponents in the middlegame. Rated around 1600 and climbing!
Gary Mason
Gary is the web developer of Longbridge Chess Club and organises the lessons. He is a good player and focuses on teaching kids and new players the basic of chess so they can improve their games.
If you have any questions about club, or academy, you can reach Gary via the contact form.
Rated around 1500
Jordan Cummins
Jordan is another very strong chess player that plays very aggressive crazy chess. Loves a good sacrifice and enjoys playing rapid chess rather than long time format games. He specialises in different kind of checkmates and openings like the King’s Gambit.
He is rated around 1600
Where and When Are the Chess Lessons?
Venue: The Oak Tree, downstairs Function Room, Lickey Road, Rednal, Birmingham, B45 8UX.
Day: Every Tuesday.
Chess Academy: 5pm–7pm, with the structured lesson beginning at 6pm.
Evening chess lessons: From 8pm on Tuesdays when no club match is scheduled.
Cost: Free to attend for club members.
Booking: No booking required, simply turn up.
We recommend arriving a little before the start of the lesson so you have time to get settled.
Join Longbridge Chess Club
Whether you’re a complete beginner, a parent looking for chess activities for your child, or an experienced player who wants to improve, you’re welcome at Longbridge Chess Club.
Come along, learn something new and enjoy playing chess with us.
New to chess? Start with our Chess Academy. Already play regularly? Join us for our in-depth evening lessons.
We look forward to welcoming you to Longbridge Chess Club.