About Our Guppies Program
A few years before the world changed with COVID, we noticed something fun (and slightly chaotic) happening at the Hampton Roads Scholastic Chess Club—curious younger siblings were eager to join in but weren’t quite ready for formal instruction. So we created a special beginner group just for them, affectionately named “The Guppies.”
Led by a patient, chess-loving parent, the original Guppy group used mini-games, repetition, and play-based learning to teach piece movement and basic strategy in a fun, accessible way. It worked: several of those first Guppies now appear on the US Chess Top 100 lists for their age group!
During the pandemic, virtual learning wasn’t ideal for our youngest players. For two years, we adapted by using the award-winning Story Time Chess curriculum, which served our students well—but something was missing. As we returned to in-person programs, we realized our aspiring young players needed more than stories—they needed the original HRCA Guppy magic.
In 2022–2023, we brought the Guppies back—and they’ve been thriving ever since. Many young players have already advanced to our developmental tournament club within just one season. We keep class sizes small, so early registration is encouraged to secure a spot!
Coach Mike leads our Guppies class, and specializes in working with young learners. In the event of a substitution, we will hand pick a coach with the right disposition to teach this age group. All of our coaches are certified by US Chess, background checked, and SafePlay trained.
Who Can Sign Up?
This class is specifically designed for total beginners ages 4-6 (Pre-K through 1st grade). If students show mastery of the basic rules of the game before they turn 7, they are welcome and encouraged to move on to Hampton Roads Scholastic Chess Club and continue honing their skills in our “Minnow” and “Rockfish” pre-competition groups.
Guppies are required to have a parent, guardian, or other responsible adult to be in the classroom with them. This approach ensures better classroom management and active engagement for our youngest children. it is also critical to the success of the program, as families can review and practice what they learned at home. Repetition is key at this age!
Looking for something for ages 6-13? Please check out our new Seahorses class! Like Guppies, it’s designed for absolute beginners – but for older kids!
Scroll to the bottom of the page to see open spots and to register!
When Does Class Meet?
Classes are on Tuesday evenings, 5:15-6:00 PM at King’s Grant Presbyterian Church, 745 Little Neck Road in Virginia Beach. There are 12 total classes in each session.
*Please note that the calendar in your Parent Portal does not allow us to mark dates that the class is not meeting. Please refer to our weekly newsletter, or website alerts page for any schedule changes!
Tuition and Fees
Rates for 2025-2026 have not been established yet.
HRCA requires autopay for tuition and registration fees. A non-refundable Annual Registration Fee will be charged to the account on file within 72 hours of enrollment, unless already paid via the Parent/Student Portal.
Tuition will be posted to your Parent/Student Portal approximately one week before payment is due. To avoid autopay, you may log into your Parent/Student Portal and make your own payment early.
Financial Aid/ Scholarships
We have limited financial assistance available, including payment plans and needs-based partial scholarships reserved for students with true financial need. If this applies to you, or you just need a monthly payment plan for tuition, please complete our Financial Assistance Application HERE. Your account will not be charged for your class until your scholarship application is processed and a co-pay (if any) is determined.
Registration Opens August 1, 2025.
