A city guide to chess life in Krasnodar
Chess schools, clubs and chess lessons in Krasnodar
A big guide to chess in Krasnodar: where to learn, how to find a coach, a chess club, a tournament or simply somewhere to play. Sports school No. 7 at Postovaya 59, the Krasnodar chess club of the city federation at Proyezd 1-y Linii 44/1, the Kaissa Academy, the Art Fa school, the club in the Yubileyny micro-district, the Krasnodar grandmasters - Vitaly Tseshkovsky, Vladimir Kramnik, Sergey Tiviakov, Tatyana Stepovaya, Boris Savchenko - and the history of chess in Kuban.
Useful for parents looking for a school for a child and for adults thinking about returning to the board.
The city of the Tseshkovsky school and the birthplace of Tiviakov and Stepovaya
Chess life in Krasnodar rests on municipal sports school No. 7 at Postovaya St. 59 - a municipal school specialising in chess with two competition halls, where the city and regional championships take place. The city level is covered by the Krasnodar chess club at Proyezd 1-y Linii 44/1 - the venue of the Krasnodar Federation of Chess Sports Disciplines, a city public organisation formed on 8 April 2019. The private segment consists of the Kaissa Chess Academy at Zipovskaya St. 45, the Art Fa school at Aerodromnaya St. 20 and a club venue for children and adults at Akademika Lukyanenko St. 30 in the Yubileyny micro-district.
Krasnodar is a city with a strong chess tradition. In the second half of the 20th century Vitaly Tseshkovsky created his school here - twice USSR champion and the coach of the 14th world champion Vladimir Kramnik, who was born in Tuapse and trained in Krasnodar from 1982 to 1984 under international master Orest Averkin. Grandmasters Sergey Tiviakov (1973) and Tatyana Stepovaya (1965) were born in Krasnodar; Boris Savchenko moved to Kuban at the age of 8. The regional calendar is kept by the Chess Federation of the Krasnodar Territory, a regional public organisation (f-chess-kk.ru), under Evgeny Mikhailovich Bondarenko.
Chess schools and clubs in Krasnodar
The chess addresses of Krasnodar: municipal sports school No. 7, the Krasnodar chess club of the city federation, the Kaissa Academy, the Art Fa school and the club in the Yubileyny micro-district. Every card is a working organisation with public contact details.
Where there is chess near you
Krasnodar is divided into four city districts - Central, Karasunsky, Prikubansky and Zapadny. Below are the chess addresses by district where they exist.
- Municipal sports school No. 7 - Postovaya St. 59
- The Krasnodar chess club (the city federation) - Proyezd 1-y Linii 44/1
- The Kaissa Chess Academy - Zipovskaya St. 45
- A chess club - Akademika Lukyanenko St. 30 (the Yubileyny micro-district)
- The Art Fa chess school - Aerodromnaya St. 20
When to start a child, and what to choose
In Krasnodar the private schools take children from 4-5: the Kaissa Academy at Zipovskaya St. 45 and the Art Fa school at Aerodromnaya St. 20 are the main addresses for pre-schoolers and primary-school children. Municipal sports school No. 7 at Postovaya St. 59 admits children on the sports-training programme from 6-8. For teenagers and anyone already playing there is the Krasnodar chess club at Proyezd 1-y Linii 44/1 and the club at Akademika Lukyanenko St. 30 in the Yubileyny micro-district.
What parents should look at: the age and level of the group, the coach, the district, the timetable, whether there is tournament practice, how many children are in the group and what the atmosphere is like at the trial lesson.
What chess gives a child
- ConcentrationA game is thirty to sixty minutes in a single focus. That is a skill in its own right, and it pays off at school.
- Understanding consequencesIn chess nothing happens «by accident». A child learns to think a move ahead.
- Losing calmlyArguably more important than the wins. A child learns not to fall apart after a defeat and to try again.
- A communityThe child gets a circle of peers outside school and the courtyard, with an atmosphere of its own.
- Tournament experienceTravel, regulations, playing on the clock - all of it feeds a growing independence.
You can start from scratch - and nobody will laugh
The Krasnodar chess club at Proyezd 1-y Linii 44/1 and the club venue at Akademika Lukyanenko St. 30 are Krasnodar's main club addresses for casual games and city tournaments. The Art Fa school at Aerodromnaya St. 20 takes adults at any level, with the first lesson free. The Kaissa Academy at Zipovskaya 45 is a private school with adult groups and individual formats. The city amateur format Vibe Chess is somewhere you can turn up knowing only the rules.
You do not need a rating or a rank. Nor do you have to join a group - you can work one-to-one, or simply come to club meetups and amateur tournaments. Competitive chess and the amateur format are two different worlds; in the amateur one what counts is not the result but the fact that you turned up.
Lessons at a club or a school
Regular lessons, a programme, a coach - if you want it systematic.
An individual coach
The fastest progress and a flexible timetable. It costs more.
Club meetings
Casual games, company, city tournaments rated and unrated.
Vibe Chess
City amateur tournaments in cafes and bars. No rating requirements.
Online lessons
If travelling is awkward, there are online schools not tied to a city.
Studying on your own
Books, lichess or chess.com, going over your games - alongside the lessons.
How to look for a coach in Krasnodar
We deliberately do not compile a «top coaches in Krasnodar». There is no objective data for a ranking, and subjective selections are often misleading. Criteria for choosing are more use.
The coaches work at the schools and clubs listed above and can be contacted directly through their websites. Sports school No. 7, the Kaissa Academy, the Art Fa school and the Krasnodar chess club all have permanent coaching staff. Among the city's historic mentors is twice USSR champion Vitaly Tseshkovsky, the coach of the 14th world champion Vladimir Kramnik. Woman international grandmaster Tatyana Stepovaya teaches in Krasnodar today.
Experience with children
A child needs not the strongest player but the one who can explain. Ask how many children of that age the coach has taught.
Sporting title
Candidate master, master, international master are a guide but not a guarantee. What matters is the title combined with teaching experience.
Experience preparing for tournaments
If the aim is to travel for norms, you need a coach who has taken pupils to tournaments and understands the regulations.
Reviews and recommendations
A live word from parents or adult pupils beats a rating on an aggregator site. Ask friends and the VK groups.
District and format
For a child the journey is a big factor. Sometimes a good coach «right across town» works out worse than an average one round the corner. The alternative is online lessons.
Price
Prices in Krasnodar depend on the school and the format. Sports school No. 7 runs a municipal institution's sports-training programme. The private schools (Kaissa, Art Fa) publish their rates on request or on their sites.
An individual approach
At a trial lesson the coach should be asking questions about the pupil rather than switching straight into «the programme».
Communication with parents
With a sensible coach it is clear what you are doing, why, and how progress is going. Answers along the lines of «all fine» are a bad sign.
A trial lesson
Never buy a season ticket off a photo and a description. One or two trial lessons are standard.
A guide to chess tuition prices in Krasnodar
The price depends on the school, the format and the coach's title. Below is a guide to the main formats of chess tuition in Krasnodar for 2025-2026. Exact rates are on the schools' own sites.
Sports school No. 7
A municipal budget institution at Postovaya St. 59. Sports-training programmes. To enrol, call +7 (861) 268-63-66.
The Krasnodar chess club
Proyezd 1-y Linii 44/1. The city federation's venue: training, city tournaments and rated games. +7 (996) 956-96-00.
The Kaissa Chess Academy
Zipovskaya St. 45. A season ticket for two lessons a week costs around 2,800 roubles a month and for three around 3,900. +7 (953) 075-14-01.
The Art Fa chess school
Aerodromnaya St. 20. Groups and individual lessons at any level. Suitable for children and adults alike.
A chess club (Lukyanenko 30)
The Yubileyny micro-district. Club games and groups for adults and teenagers. +7 (918) 478-76-18.
The region's regular tournaments
The Krasnodar Territory championships and the «Krasnodar Open» and «Krasnodar Spring» festivals. The schedule is at f-chess-kk.ru.
Krasnodar's city tournaments
The Krasnodar city federation's calendar - chesskrd.ru.
A Vibe Chess amateur tournament
City chess evenings in cafes and bars. Registration in the Telegram bot.
The regional and city chess federations
Krasnodar has two parallel chess federations: the regional one (for the region as a whole) and the city one (for the regional capital). They cover different levels - regional and municipal - and work together.
Chess tournaments in Krasnodar
The calendar of regional tournaments is kept by the regional federation at f-chess-kk.ru. The city federation publishes its own calendar at chesskrd.ru. The main regular events are the Krasnodar Territory championships, the «Krasnodar Open» festival (a stage of the Professional Chess Series), «Krasnodar Spring» as part of the Russian Children's Cup and the Southern Federal District championship in Dzhubga in the Tuapse district. All rated tournaments can be filtered in the ratings.ruchess.ru system by region 23 (the Krasnodar Territory).
What the formats are
Vibe chess in Krasnodar
Vibe Chess runs city chess evenings in the cafes and bars of Krasnodar. Short games, different opponents, real conversation between rounds. It suits anyone who wants to come back to chess without the atmosphere of an exam or the pressure of competition.
It is not a replacement for the classical schools but an addition to them. After a working week you do not want to sweat over the board - you want a good evening with a game and some interesting people. Vibe Chess has a page of its own for Krasnodar with all the rules of the format.
What a «vibe tournament» means
- Short games: 3+2 or 5+3.
- Several rounds in an evening, with different opponents.
- The levels vary - nobody has to be strong.
- Between games you can talk and order a coffee or a drink.
- You can come on your own - that is the normal way of it.
- Registration and announcements are in the Telegram bot.
The history of chess in Krasnodar
The key dates of Krasnodar chess - from the births of Tatyana Stepovaya and Sergey Tiviakov in the 1960s and 1970s to the young Vladimir Kramnik's training under Orest Averkin in Krasnodar, Vitaly Tseshkovsky's school, the formation of the Krasnodar city federation in 2019 and the region's and city's current tournament calendar.
Tatyana Stepovaya is born in Krasnodar - the future woman international grandmaster (1992) and three-time RSFSR champion (1987, 1988, 1989).
Sergey Tiviakov is born in Krasnodar - the future international grandmaster (1991) and 2008 European classical chess champion.
Vladimir Kramnik, the future 14th world chess champion, is born in Tuapse in the Krasnodar Territory.
The young Vladimir Kramnik trains in Krasnodar under international master Orest Averkin, after which he joins the Botvinnik-Kasparov school.
The Krasnodar grandmaster Vitaly Tseshkovsky becomes Vladimir Kramnik's coach. A strong regional chess school takes shape in Krasnodar.
Vladimir Kramnik, a player with Krasnodar roots, beats Garry Kasparov in a match in London and becomes «classical» world champion.
Vitaly Tseshkovsky dies during a chess game in Krasnodar. He is buried in the Alley of Glory at the Slavyanskoye cemetery.
The Krasnodar Federation of Chess Sports Disciplines, a city public organisation, is formed - a structure for the city level separate from the regional federation.
The Krasnodar Territory calendar includes the «Krasnodar Open» festival on 26-27 April, «Krasnodar Spring» in May as part of the Russian Children's Cup, and the Southern Federal District championship in Dzhubga in the Tuapse district from 1 to 14 November.
Notable chess players connected with Krasnodar
Players whose names are connected with Krasnodar and the Krasnodar Territory. Every card leads to the source of the biography.
A checklist for choosing a chess school
For parents
- The age and level of the group - will the child land somewhere interesting for them.
- The coach - do they have experience with children of that age, and do they ask about your child.
- The district - can you realistically make the journey regularly. If not, online is better.
- The group's level - is the average level even, or will the child be «the weakest of all».
- Tournament practice - is there a plan to enter local events.
- The atmosphere - after the trial lesson the child wants to go again.
- Price and package - what is included, what is not, and whether there is a trial lesson.
- The timetable - does it fit around school and other activities.
- Reviews - live ones are better, not only from an aggregator.
For adults
- Whether there are adult groups, not only children's.
- Whether you can come from scratch - literally knowing only the rules.
- Whether there is a casual-play format, not only lessons.
- An evening timetable - can you get there after work.
- Whether the competitive pressure is heavier than you want.
- Whether there are amateur tournaments - for your own motivation.
- Whether the format suits you: a group, one-to-one, online or a club.
School, club, coach or tournament - the differences
Frequently asked questions about chess in Krasnodar
Where can you learn chess in Krasnodar?›
The city's main addresses are municipal sports school No. 7 at Postovaya St. 59, the Krasnodar chess club of the city federation at Proyezd 1-y Linii 44/1, the Kaissa Chess Academy at Zipovskaya St. 45 and the Art Fa chess school at Aerodromnaya St. 20. The regional calendar is at f-chess-kk.ru.
Which chess schools are there in Krasnodar?›
On the municipal side there is sports school No. 7 (formerly children's sports school No. 7) at Postovaya St. 59. On the city club side, the Krasnodar chess club of the city federation at Proyezd 1-y Linii 44/1. Private: the Kaissa Chess Academy (Zipovskaya 45), the Art Fa chess school (Aerodromnaya 20) and the club venue at Akademika Lukyanenko St. 30 in the Yubileyny micro-district.
Where can I find a chess club in Krasnodar near home?›
In the Central district there is sports school No. 7 (Postovaya 59). In the Prikubansky district, the Krasnodar chess club (Proyezd 1-y Linii 44/1), the Kaissa Academy (Zipovskaya 45) and the club at Akademika Lukyanenko St. 30 in the Yubileyny micro-district. In the Karasunsky district, the Art Fa school (Aerodromnaya 20).
Where should I send my child for chess in Krasnodar?›
The private schools usually take children from 4-5 (the Kaissa Academy, Art Fa). Municipal sports school No. 7 at Postovaya 59 admits children on the sports-training programme, with starter groups aimed at 6-8 year-olds and departments by rank after that.
Can an adult start playing chess from scratch?›
Yes. The Krasnodar chess club at Proyezd 1-y Linii 44/1 and the club venue at Akademika Lukyanenko St. 30 are the main club addresses for adults. The Art Fa school (Aerodromnaya 20) and the Kaissa Academy (Zipovskaya 45) run adult groups at any level. Vibe Chess Krasnodar runs city chess meetups with no rating requirements and no sporting pressure.
How much does a chess coach cost in Krasnodar?›
At sports school No. 7 the lessons follow a municipal institution's sports-training programme. The private schools - the Kaissa Academy and Art Fa - have season tickets and individual rates. At the Kaissa Academy a season ticket for two lessons a week costs around 2,800 roubles a month and for three around 3,900.
Where can I see the tournament calendar for Krasnodar?›
The regional one is at f-chess-kk.ru (the Chess Federation of the Krasnodar Territory). The city one is at chesskrd.ru (the Krasnodar Chess Federation). The main regular events are the Krasnodar Territory championships, the «Krasnodar Open» festival, «Krasnodar Spring» as part of the Russian Children's Cup and the Southern Federal District championship in Dzhubga. The national calendar is at ruchess.ru, and rated tournaments for region 23 are at ratings.ruchess.ru.
Where are official chess competitions held in Krasnodar?›
The main venues are sports school No. 7 at Postovaya St. 59 and the Krasnodar chess club of the city federation at Proyezd 1-y Linii 44/1. The regional and city championships, rated stages and preparation for rank norms all take place here.
How does the Chess Federation of the Krasnodar Territory differ from the Krasnodar Chess Federation?›
The Chess Federation of the Krasnodar Territory (site f-chess-kk.ru) is the regional structure: the regional championships, inter-municipal tournaments, rank norms and work with the region's towns. Its president is Evgeny Mikhailovich Bondarenko. The Krasnodar Federation of Chess Sports Disciplines (chesskrd.ru, telephone +7 918 497-64-04) is the city organisation, formed on 8 April 2019; it keeps the city calendar and runs the venue at Proyezd 1-y Linii 44/1.
Which grandmasters are connected with Krasnodar?›
Connected with Krasnodar and the Krasnodar Territory are: Vitaly Tseshkovsky (1944-2011), twice USSR champion, a long-time resident of Krasnodar and a coach to Vladimir Kramnik; Vladimir Kramnik (b. 1975, Tuapse), the 14th world champion; Sergey Tiviakov (b. 1973, Krasnodar), a grandmaster from 1991 and European champion in 2008; Tatyana Stepovaya (b. 1965, Krasnodar), a WGM and a coach in Krasnodar; Boris Savchenko (b. 1986), a grandmaster from 2007 and three-time Moscow champion; and Oleg Mayorov (b. 1971), a grandmaster from 1999.
What has the Tseshkovsky school to do with it?›
Vitaly Valeryevich Tseshkovsky (1944-2011) moved to Krasnodar in his mature years and created one of the country's strongest chess schools in Kuban. His pupils include the 14th world champion Vladimir Kramnik. Today the tradition of the Krasnodar chess school continues through sports school No. 7 and the regional and city federations.
What is the difference between a chess school and a chess club?›
A school is a system: a programme, a coach, regular lessons, an assessment and a route to tournaments. A club is a place to play, run into other players and get to local tournaments. In Krasnodar the school role is filled by sports school No. 7, the Kaissa Academy and Art Fa, and the club role by the Krasnodar chess club on Proyezd 1-y Linii and the venue in the Yubileyny micro-district at Lukyanenko 30.
Do I need a rating to play in a tournament?›
Amateur meetups and Vibe Chess are unrated and you can turn up from scratch. Tournaments rated by the Russian federation require the player to be registered in the system, through a school or a club. Sporting events with rank norms need a confirmed rank or a permit.
Where can I play chess without the competitive pressure?›
Vibe Chess Krasnodar runs city chess meetups in cafes and bars. The games are short (3+2 or 5+3), the levels vary, and nobody judges you after every mistake. Announcements and registration are in the Telegram bot.
Can I come to chess on my own?›
Yes, to every format. Most people come to the city meetups without company - the games introduce you to your neighbours at the board by themselves. And signing up for a school or a club alone is entirely ordinary.
Solve a chess puzzle
Mate in one - a real position from a chess database. Solve it and see if you're a fit for us.
How to run a tournament in Krasnodar without being an arbiter
No arbiter skills required. The app takes over the part that usually stops people from running tournaments at all: who plays whom in each round and who finishes first.
works for ten players and for fifty
for a small group that wants to play everyone
for those who do not need a bracket at all
- 1Creating the event takes a minute
- 2Open registration and drop the link into the chat
- 3Pairings follow FIDE rules (Dutch system, the bbpPairings engine)
- 4Results go in with two taps and the table recalculates instantly
More about chess in Krasnodar and in other cities
Besides the schools and sections, Krasnodar hosts the informal Vibe Chess evenings - short games and new acquaintances in cafes and bars, where you can turn up knowing only the rules. And below are guides to learning in neighbouring cities and a catalogue of openings for practice on your own.