A city guide to chess life in Tula
Chess schools, clubs and chess lessons in Tula
A big guide to chess in Tula: where to learn, how to find a coach, a chess club, a tournament or simply somewhere to play. We have gathered verified addresses of schools, clubs and the federation, along with information about coaches, tournaments and the history of chess in the city where the twelfth world champion Anatoly Karpov grew up.
Useful for parents looking for a school for a child and for adults thinking about returning to the board.
The city where a world champion grew up
The city has a municipal sports school - the chess and draughts department of the Yunost Olympic-reserve school; the private club «The Tula Chess Salon», the city's most notable chess address; the Temp chess centre; the children's clubs Tyoma and Znayka; a regional chess federation; and a regular tournament calendar.
Three grandmasters at once are connected with Tula: Alexander Kotov, a native of the city; Alexey Suetin, a product of the Tula Palace of Pioneers and the coach of world champion Tigran Petrosian; and Anatoly Karpov, who moved to Tula as a teenager in 1965 and finished school No. 20 here. In parallel a city amateur format lives in the city - Vibe Chess: short tournaments in bars and cafes for people who want to play and talk without sporting pressure.
Chess schools and clubs in Tula
The chess addresses of Tula: the municipal sports school and the private clubs for children and adults. Every card is a working organisation with public contact details.
Where there is chess near you
The chess addresses of Tula by administrative district - where to look for a school or a club nearer home or work.
- The Tula Regional Chess Federation (Veresayeva 24)
- The Yunost Olympic-reserve sports school (Veresayeva 24)
- The Tula Chess Salon (Lenina Ave. 16)
- The Temp chess centre (Oktyabrskaya 44)
When to start a child, and what to choose
Tula's private clubs - Tyoma, Znayka and the Tula Chess Salon - take children from 4-5 for a playful introduction to the rules. Sports training at the Yunost Olympic-reserve school begins later, from 6, with enrolment from 1 November to 31 December.
What parents should look at before signing up: 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.
What chess gives a child
- ConcentrationA game means 30-60 minutes in a single focus. That is a skill in itself, and it helps later at school.
- Understanding consequencesIn chess you cannot say «oops, that was an accident». Every move changes something, and 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 its own atmosphere and rules.
- Tournament experienceTravel, regulations, playing on the clock - all of it feeds a growing independence.
You can start from scratch - and nobody will laugh
The Tula Chess Salon and the Temp chess centre work with adults at any level, including those starting from scratch. There is also the city amateur format Vibe Chess, where 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.
A group at a club
Regular lessons, a coach and a programme - if you want something systematic.
An individual coach
The fastest progress and a flexible schedule. It costs more than a group.
Club meetings
Casual games, company and local tournaments both rated and not.
Vibe Chess
City amateur tournaments in bars and cafes. No rating requirements, open to all.
Weekend tournaments
The Tula Chess Salon regularly holds tournaments rated by the Russian federation.
Studying on your own
Books, lichess or chess.com, going over your games. A useful supplement to lessons.
How to look for a coach in Tula
We deliberately do not compile a «top coaches» list - there is no objective source for such a ranking, and subjective selections often do harm. Better to give the criteria to choose by.
Tula's chess clubs listed above already employ coaches with genuine titles - a FIDE master at the Tula Chess Salon, for instance, and a three-time Russian champion at Temp. They can be contacted directly through the clubs' websites and telephone numbers.
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
Real reviews from parents or adult pupils are worth more than a rating on an aggregator. Ask people you know and look in local 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.
A trial lesson
Never buy a season ticket from a photo and a description. One or two trial lessons is the standard; at Temp the first lesson is free altogether.
An individual approach
At a trial lesson the coach should be asking questions about the pupil rather than switching straight into «the programme». If that is missing, be wary.
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, keep going» are a bad sign.
The price and the payment format
Tula's clubs usually give exact prices by telephone rather than publishing them on their sites. Compare two or three options before signing up for a season ticket.
A guide to chess tuition prices
Tula's clubs rarely publish their prices openly - the exact figure is usually given by telephone. Below is what we were able to confirm for each club, with no invented numbers.
The state sports school
The Yunost Olympic-reserve school is a municipal institution with a chess and draughts department. For enrolled children the training runs on a subsidised programme; check the details when you enrol (enrolment from 1 November to 31 December).
The Temp chess centre
Individual and group lessons for children aged 3-15. The price after that is available by telephoning the club.
The Tula Chess Salon
Group lessons (2-3 times a week) and individual ones for children and adults. The price list is not published on the site - book a trial lesson through the site or by telephone.
The Tyoma club
Chess for children aged 5-12 as part of a development club. The cost and the format are available from the club's administrator.
The Znayka club
A children's chess club with lessons for pre-schoolers and school pupils aged 5-14. The price is available by telephoning the club.
Vibe Chess tournaments
City chess evenings in bars and cafes. Registration and the terms of entry are in the Telegram bot.
The chess federation of Tula and the region
The official chess life of the city and the region is coordinated by a single structure, the Tula Regional Chess Federation. Below are its contacts and what it does.
Chess tournaments in Tula
The official calendar is kept by the regional federation - children's championships and the regional championships in classical, rapid and blitz. Separately, the Tula Chess Salon holds its own weekend tournaments rated by the Russian federation.
What the formats are
Vibe chess in Tula
Vibe Chess runs city chess evenings in the bars and cafes of Tula. 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 and clubs 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 Tula 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 Tula
Only verifiable events, with no embroidery. If any of the dates turn out to be inexact, we will correct them.
Alexander Kotov, the future grandmaster, becomes Tula champion for the second time - by now after graduating from the Tula Mechanical Institute.
On 10 January Dmitry Nikolayevich Yefremenkov takes charge of the chess circle at the Tula Palace of Pioneers - at that point the only place in the city where you could play chess systematically.
Tula-born Alexander Kotov becomes USSR chess champion.
Alexander Kotov is awarded the title of grandmaster.
Alexey Suetin, the future grandmaster and coach of world champion Tigran Petrosian, graduates from the Tula Mechanical Institute, having grown as a player at the Tula Palace of Pioneers.
The Karpov family moves to Tula. Anatoly Karpov enrols at school No. 20 and goes straight to the chess circle at the Palace of Pioneers under Dmitry Yefremenkov; that same year he plays in the Tula Region championship for the first time.
Alexey Suetin receives the title of grandmaster.
Anatoly Karpov, still a Tula resident, wins the world junior championship in Stockholm.
Dmitry Yefremenkov ends his 43 years in charge of the Palace of Pioneers chess circle.
Anatoly Karpov gives a simultaneous display at the Tula chess club.
Alexey Suetin becomes world senior chess champion.
Anatoly Karpov is made an honorary citizen of the hero city of Tula.
Notable chess players connected with Tula
Only confirmed names, with the nature of the connection stated: «born», «lived and studied», «moved here as a teenager». The sources are in the cards.
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 Tula
Where can you learn chess in Tula?›
The city has a municipal sports school - the chess and draughts department of the Yunost Olympic-reserve school (Veresayeva St. 24, from age 6) - and private clubs: the Tula Chess Salon (Lenina Ave. 16), the Temp chess centre (Oktyabrskaya 44), and Tyoma and Znayka for children. Contacts and addresses are in the «Schools and clubs» section on this page.
Which chess schools and clubs are available in the city?›
Municipal: the Yunost Olympic-reserve school with its chess and draughts department. Private: the Tula Chess Salon, the city's most notable club; the Temp chess centre with a FIDE-master coach; and the children's clubs Tyoma and Znayka. Each organisation has its own format, from sports training to a playful introduction to the rules.
Where do I find a chess club near me?›
By district: in Sovetsky there is the federation and the Yunost Olympic-reserve school (Veresayeva 24); in the Central district, the Tula Chess Salon (Lenina Ave. 16); in Zarechensky, Temp (Oktyabrskaya 44). See the table «A map of chess places in Tula».
Where should I send my child for chess in Tula?›
It depends on age and goal. The Yunost Olympic-reserve school takes children from 6 for sports training, with enrolment from 1 November to 31 December. The private clubs take them younger: Tyoma and Znayka work with children from 5, and Temp from 3 to 15 with a free first lesson. The Tula Chess Salon takes children from 3-4 into playful groups.
Can an adult start playing chess from scratch in Tula?›
Yes. The Tula Chess Salon and Temp work with adults at any level, including complete beginners. Besides the classical clubs, the city has the Vibe Chess format - city chess meetups in bars and cafes where you can turn up knowing only the rules.
How much does a chess coach cost in Tula?›
Tula's clubs rarely publish exact price lists openly - the price is usually given by telephone after a trial lesson. It is known that at Temp the first lesson is free. At the municipal Yunost Olympic-reserve school the training for enrolled children runs on a subsidised programme. It is best to compare two or three options by calling directly.
Are there tournaments for beginners in Tula?›
Yes. The Tula Regional Chess Federation keeps a calendar of children's championships and the regional championships in classical, rapid and blitz (tulachess.ru). The Tula Chess Salon regularly holds tournaments rated by the Russian federation, including themed and family ones. For complete beginners the Vibe Chess format is the answer - with no rating requirements.
Where are official chess competitions held in Tula?›
The main venues are the Yunost Olympic-reserve school (Veresayeva St. 24) and the Tula Chess Salon (Lenina Ave. 16). It is here that the federation and the club hold the regional championships, the children's championships and weekend tournaments.
What is the regional chess federation and what is it for?›
The Tula Regional Chess Federation (tulachess.ru, Veresayeva St. 24) is the regional organisation that coordinates the region's official chess life: rated tournaments, championships, children's championships and liaison with the Chess Federation of Russia. Visits are by appointment, weekdays from 16:00 to 19:00.
How does a chess school differ from a chess club?›
A school is a system: a programme, a coach, regular lessons, rank norms and a route to tournaments (the Yunost Olympic-reserve school is an example). A club is a place to play, learn and get to tournaments in a freer format; clubs like the Tula Chess Salon combine both.
Is it true that world champion Anatoly Karpov learned chess in Tula?›
Yes. The Karpov family moved to Tula in 1965, he finished Tula school No. 20 and trained at the chess circle of the Palace of Pioneers under coach Dmitry Yefremenkov. In 1998 Karpov was made an honorary citizen of Tula.
Where can you play chess in the evening without the sporting pressure?›
Vibe Chess runs city chess parties in Tula, in bars and cafes. The games are short, the opponent changes every round, and between rounds you can simply talk. It suits beginners as well as anyone who just wants to come back to the board without the tension of a tournament. Announcements are in the Telegram bot.
Can I come to chess on my own?›
Yes, to every format. Turning up alone for lessons at a school or a club is a standard situation. Most guests come to the Vibe Chess city meetups without company too - the games introduce people around the table by themselves.
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.
The app instead of arbiter software
Pairings are computed by bbpPairings, an open-source engine implementing the Dutch system by FIDE rules: score groups, floats on an odd field, colour alternation. Free to use.
- Swiss systemproper rounds with correct pairings, not random matchups
- Round robina full circle, with the round count derived from the field
- Free meetupa light format with no tournament machinery