Membership Types
Based on age group. Payment options for monthly, annual, and trial.
Junior
- Accelerate your chess improvement
- Meet other chess enthusiasts
- Access to resources
- Regular playing opportunities
- Fun and intellectually stimulating activities.
Regular
- Accelerate your chess improvement
- Meet other chess enthusiasts
- Access to resources
- Regular playing opportunities
- Fun and intellectually stimulating activities.
Senior
- Accelerate your chess improvement
- Meet other chess enthusiasts
- Access to resources
- Regular playing opportunities
- Fun and intellectually stimulating activities.
* There is a $10 one-time setup fee when starting monthly dues.
All members receive the following benefits:
- Personalized Membership card
- Usage of our club room during open hours -- there’s always a Club Steward to play against
- Access to our library, a huge number of books
- Access to our WiFi
- Digital subscription to our publication, En Passant
- Access to our En Passant Archive (since 1944)
- Access to our lecture video archive.
- Discounted or exclusive invitations to all club activities, including:
- Free classes for players rated U1000
- Discounted classes for players rated U1800
- Summer chess camps
- Lectures by leading players and instructors
- Discounted weekly tournaments
- Simultaneous Exhibitions
- 10% off our club merchandise
- A chance to compete for the title of Club Champion
- Shared learning and camaraderie with other chess players
- Keeping the chess community thriving in Pittsburgh and Allegheny County
Trial Memberships
Not sure about yearly membership? We also offer a 3-month Trial Membership for $30/individual. Dues can be transferred to any new yearly membership.
Frequently Asked Questions
Unfortunately, our policy does not allow walk-ins except for monthly Open House events, tournaments, classes, and lectures. If there is a question that can't be answered from the website, please contact us.
The club is normally closed to the public (ie. no walk-ins). Members can access the club during Club Hours, tournaments, classes, and special events, but will need their membership keycard to enter. Of course, non-members can visit during open house events and also by registering for tournaments, classes, and lectures. Please see our Club Hours, tournament, club classes, lectures, and open house calendars for days/times.
No, there is no attendance requirement. Members can participate in club events as their schedule allows.
Members under the age of 13 will need to be accompanied by their parent or guardian. There is an exception in our access policy to allow for the non-member parent and guardian.
We offer classes of all skill levels, Beginner through Advanced. Our Beginner and Advanced Beginner classes (aka. 100-level courses) are free to members and will be held each quarter, the starting date depending on instructor availability. Some classes will have a Junior section for ages 6-14, a General section for ages 8+, or an Adult section for ages 16+. Please make sure to select the appropriate section in your registration.
We offer Beginner and Advanced Beginner classes (aka. our 100-level courses) free to members. Our 200-level (and higher) courses will require paid registration.
Our Beginner and Advanced Beginner classes (aka. our 100-level courses) are offered exclusively to members only. Other courses (200-level and higher) may be available to the public, which you can register for through the Education tab in the Club Portal. Please see the class event page for details.
It's important to enter the name of your son/daughter as this is the name that is used for tournaments, classes, and the membership card.
Yes, we offer a family discount for families of 3 or more members. Please contact us for details.
There is a 15% discount for active-duty military personnel, public safety officers, and veterans in recognition of their service. Please use discount code SERVICE. Must provide proof of service and/or military ID.
There is a 20% discount for residents in counties adjoining Allegheny County: Washington, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Westmoreland, Fayette, Lawrence, Greene. Please use discount code ADJOINING-ALLEGHENY-COUNTY at checkout and specify your county in the registration.
There is a 50% discount for non-residents (living outside counties adjoining Allegheny County). Please use discount code NONRESIDENT at checkout and specify your city/county/state in the registration.
There is a 35% discount (on Regular Memberships) for students. Must be under 35 years of age, enrolled full-time at an accredited educational institution. Must provide proof of registration and college ID. Please use discount code COLLEGE and specify your college details in the registration.
There is a 75% discount for FIDE titled players. Please use discount code TITLED at checkout and specify your title in the registration.