Louisville's home for rated over-the-board chess. Register online and battle for prizes — bughouse, blitz, and cash-prize opens for every age and rating.
Four tournaments in the District 4 Chess League series, plus special events — mark your calendar.
More tournaments announced regularly — online entry-fee payment is supported for upcoming cash-prize events.
Three Saturday mornings at the AMPED Tech & Learning Center on West Market. Free, breakfast included, and open to every age and every skill level — including anyone who has never moved a piece.
Questions? Contact Coach Corbin — urbanlouisvillechess@yahoo.com
Two Saturday afternoons at Baxter Community Center in the Russell neighborhood. Learn chess, play casual games, or compete in tournaments for Chess Dollars — all ages and all skill levels, and beginners are always welcome.
Questions? Contact Coach Corbin — urbanlouisvillechess@yahoo.com
Run by the JCPS Opportunity & Access Division for middle and high school students. Six Wednesday sessions this fall and six more in the spring — free, and open to every level, including students who have never moved a piece.
Questions? Contact Abdul Sharif — abdul.sharif2@jefferson.kyschools.us
Work directly with Coach Corbin — one-on-one, or in a small group of two to four players. All ages, all levels, from someone who has never moved a piece to rated tournament players.
Coach Corbin is running free bughouse lessons and practice sessions ahead of the Butch Mosby Chess Classic 2 on Sunday, October 11, 2026 — a $5,000 bughouse tournament. Never played? That is exactly who this is for.
Bughouse is two-on-two team chess played on two boards side by side. You and your partner play opposite colors against the other team. Here is the twist: every piece you capture gets handed to your partner, and they can drop it onto their own board as a move. It is fast, loud, and a completely different game from regular chess — which is why practice matters.
Pre-register now to hold your spot. No payment is required — the entry fee has not been announced yet. We will email you the playing conditions as soon as they are set.
From your phone to the board in four steps.
Sign up online in under a minute — the Okolona Chess Classic is free to enter.
We email your spot to the Ambassadors so you're on the list.
Arrive by 10:30 AM to check in — first round starts at 11.
Compete in bughouse & blitz for gift cards and Chess Dollars.
The Kentucky Chess Ambassadors bring competitive, rated over-the-board chess to Louisville and beyond — from lightning blitz and wild bughouse to serious cash-prize opens. Whether you're chasing your first trophy or your next title, there's a seat at the board for you.
All ages. All ratings. One community that takes the game seriously and makes it fun.
Get tournaments, results, and one-tap registration on your home screen — like an app, no download needed.
Coach Corbin with Dr. Frank Simon. Thank you, Dr. Simon for your years of support for chess in West Louisville, and your unwavering Christian fellowship.
Chess changes lives. Help us bring the game — and its lessons of patience, focus, and dignity — to people across the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
We're collecting chess books to donate to incarcerated individuals across the Commonwealth of Kentucky — giving them a constructive path to grow their minds, build discipline, and find purpose behind the board. Donate a book or contribute funds to send more.
Your financial gift helps place a dedicated chess coach and instructor at a retirement home or care facility — bringing connection, mental sharpness, and joy to our elders through the timeless game of chess.
All donations go through PayPal @Kentuckychess. Every book and every dollar makes a difference — thank you for supporting chess in Kentucky. 🙏
Real moments from our latest tournament — thanks to our volunteers for capturing the action.
Lock in your spot for any of our upcoming tournaments — pick your event below.
Fall Cash Classic
You'll be taken to a secure Stripe checkout to pay your entry fee and confirm your seat.
Maybe laterPreview note: connect the Kentucky Chess Ambassadors' Stripe account to accept live card payments here.
Kentucky Chess Ambassadors