If you’re a parent in Forest Hills, New York City, looking to help your child learn chess, you’re in a really good place. Chess isn’t just a game. It’s a way to help kids think clearly, solve problems better, and stay calm under pressure. And right now, more and more families are realizing how helpful it can be—not just for school, but for life.
But with so many chess academies out there, picking the right one can feel confusing. Some offer in-person classes. Some are online. Some seem fun but don’t really teach much. Others feel too serious and boring. What you really want is a place that understands your child—where they’ll be guided step by step, with care, and actually enjoy the learning.
In this article, I’ll walk you through the top 5 chess coaching academies in Forest Hills, and I’ll help you understand what each one offers. But more importantly, I’ll show you why one academy—Debsie—stands above the rest. Not just because of how we teach, but because of how we make kids feel confident, focused, and proud of their growth.
Online Chess Training
More and more families today are choosing to learn online. And not just for schoolwork—also for things like music, coding, and yes, even chess. At first, this might sound strange. How can a child learn a board game through a screen? But once you understand how online chess actually works, it becomes clear why it’s now the best way to learn.
Landscape of Chess Training in Forest Hills, New York City and Why Online Chess Training is the Right Choice
Forest Hills is a lovely neighborhood in Queens. It’s full of bright students, supportive families, and great schools. It’s also a place where education matters. Kids are enrolled in all kinds of after-school programs—from dance to tutoring to robotics. And chess is quickly becoming one of the most popular choices.
In Forest Hills, there are a few local options for chess. You might find a weekend class at a community center, or a chess club in one of the public or private schools. Some private tutors offer in-home lessons, and some camps introduce chess as part of a bigger mix of activities.
Online training gives your child access to expert coaches, structured lessons, and thoughtful feedback—all without leaving home. They can attend class in a quiet space, on a schedule that fits your family’s routine. And best of all, every class is part of a bigger plan. Your child won’t just learn random ideas. They’ll move through levels with confidence.
In New York City, time is precious. Between school, homework, commuting, and errands, it’s not always easy to drive your child to a class—and wait around while it happens. Online training solves this by being flexible, safe, and always just a click away.
It’s not just a trend. It’s a smarter way to learn.
How Debsie is The Best Choice When It Comes to Chess Training in Forest Hills
Debsie is more than a class. It’s a complete chess academy built for kids of all ages and levels. Whether your child has never played before, or they already know how the pieces move, we meet them where they are—and take them to the next level.
The classes are interactive. Your child will speak, ask questions, solve puzzles, and play real games. Our coaches give feedback during and after each class, and we track progress carefully. You’ll know what your child is learning, where they’re improving, and what comes next.
And we don’t just teach one piece at a time. We teach thinking. Patience. Confidence. Focus. These are skills that help in every part of life—not just in chess.
Every two weeks, we host fun, safe online tournaments. These aren’t scary or too serious—they’re a place for kids to try what they’ve learned and feel proud of what they’ve accomplished.
And for families in Forest Hills, Debsie is a perfect fit. No need to take the subway or hunt for parking. No waiting in a hallway or missing dinner. Your child can log in, learn, and grow—all from home.
Parents love the way we communicate. We share updates, lesson summaries, and video replays so you’re always in the loop. You’ll know what your child is learning and how they’re doing—every step of the way.
👉 Click here to take a free trial class
Offline Chess Training
Before online classes became common, chess was always taught in person. And even now, some families still prefer that. The idea of a child sitting across a real board, moving real pieces, and listening to a teacher nearby—that can feel comforting, familiar, and real.
In Forest Hills, you’ll still find this kind of training in a few places. Some schools offer after-school chess clubs. There are community centers that bring in local coaches. A few private tutors even offer house visits or teach out of libraries and small offices nearby.
For families who want their child to get out of the house, meet other kids, and enjoy a group setting, offline training can seem like a good fit. And in some ways, it is. There’s value in seeing body language, in shaking hands before and after a game, and in the physical touch of the board and pieces.
Most offline programs in Forest Hills are built for groups, not individuals. That means one coach is trying to teach 8 to 15 kids all at once. Some of those kids have never played before. Others already compete in tournaments.
This makes it hard for coaches to adjust. Some students get too much attention, while others feel left out. And with so many kids to watch, mistakes are missed, games aren’t reviewed, and learning feels random.
Rethinking the Value of In-Person Chess
To make offline chess truly valuable in today’s learning environment, businesses and educators in Forest Hills need to move beyond tradition and begin to innovate. The most effective offline programs in this new era are not those with the longest history—they are the ones that blend personal attention with a thoughtful system of development.
In a fast-paced, achievement-oriented neighborhood like Forest Hills, parents are not just seeking an “activity.” They’re looking for measurable learning, structured progress, and opportunities for their child to grow in confidence. For offline training to meet those expectations, it has to offer more than just weekly lessons.
A successful in-person chess program should be intentional, not just recreational. That means creating skill-based groups, delivering a consistent curriculum, and making sure coaches know where each child stands in their learning. Offline programs must begin to track student performance, follow a structured roadmap, and regularly update both the student and parent on milestones.
Making Offline Training More Strategic for Local Providers
Educational centers and enrichment providers in Forest Hills have a unique opportunity to upgrade their chess offerings. Instead of operating as standalone weekly classes, they can create a system that blends the trust of in-person mentorship with the structure and feedback of a modern academy.
For example, businesses could offer hybrid models—offline sessions supplemented by online practice, homework assignments, and game reviews. This gives students the face-to-face interaction they enjoy, while ensuring they still have consistent instruction and personal feedback between sessions.
Chess centers can also strengthen their value by offering “learning plans” that chart a student’s growth over a semester or year. This turns your chess class into a development program that parents can trust—one where improvement is visible, and effort leads to tangible gains.
Drawbacks of Offline Chess Training
Offline chess classes can be enjoyable. But if you look closely, they often fall short when it comes to helping a child truly grow in chess. And the biggest reason is this: most offline programs are not built for progress. They’re built for participation.
That sounds fine on the surface—after all, kids are still playing and having fun. But if your child is learning the same basic checkmate patterns month after month, or sitting in a room where half the kids are talking and the coach is trying to keep up, they’re not actually getting better. And if they are getting better, no one’s tracking it.
In Forest Hills, this happens more often than parents realize. A child joins a program excited. They like the coach. They enjoy their first few games. But as time goes on, they start to plateau. The lessons repeat. There’s no feedback. No challenges. No goals. And slowly, they lose interest—not in chess, but in how it’s being taught.
Without a structured curriculum, offline learning can quickly become repetitive. Coaches might focus on what they know best, rather than what each student actually needs. Some students may be stuck playing the same types of games week after week, with no direction. Others might be learning things out of order, creating gaps in their understanding that hurt them later on.
Best Chess Academies in Forest Hills, New York City
Forest Hills is home to many talented students and families who value meaningful education. So, it’s no surprise that chess is a popular choice here. And with that popularity comes options—some local, some regional, and some global.
But not all chess academies are the same. Some focus more on competition, while others treat it as just an after-school hobby. And some, like Debsie, blend fun with deep learning—offering both structure and support, all from the comfort of home.
Let’s explore the top choices for chess training available to families in Forest Hills. And let’s start with the one that’s leading the way—by a long shot.
1. Debsie – The Best Chess Academy for Kids in Forest Hills
Debsie isn’t just the best online chess academy—it’s the best chess learning experience available to families in Forest Hills, period.
We’re not trying to be the biggest. We’re trying to be the most thoughtful. That’s why everything we do is centered around your child’s growth. From the first free class to tournament day, we make sure every step feels clear, fun, and full of purpose.
Our live, online classes are led by FIDE-certified coaches who know how to teach and inspire. These aren’t just skilled players—they’re trained mentors who know how to meet kids where they are and help them move forward with confidence.
Each student begins with a light assessment, so we know exactly what they need. From there, they’re placed in a small class—never more than a handful of students—so they can get the attention they deserve.
Our curriculum isn’t made up as we go. It’s built from years of experience, designed to help students grow at their own pace, with clear checkpoints and regular reviews. Whether your child is just learning how to protect their king, or already thinking five moves ahead, we guide them to the next level—step by step.
And we do more than just teach chess. We host tournaments every two weeks. We give feedback after every class. We send updates so you’re never left wondering. We even offer private coaching when students are ready to go deeper.
We’ve built a global classroom—with students from nine countries—and yet, every child feels like they belong.
So if you’re a parent in Forest Hills and you want your child to experience a smarter, more joyful way to learn chess, Debsie is where you start.
👉 Try a free trial class today and see for yourself why so many families love learning with us.
2. Chess NYC
Chess NYC is a large regional program that offers in-person camps, classes, and school partnerships across New York City. They’re known for hosting competitive events and have a fun, energetic teaching style that appeals to many younger players.
While they offer online options as well, their classes are usually large and fast-paced. They’re a good choice for casual learners or those looking for local group events, but don’t offer the kind of long-term personalized coaching that Debsie provides.
3. Premier Chess
Premier Chess is a smaller New York-based organization focused on providing lessons in schools, companies, and community programs. They work with a number of private schools and have experience with corporate training as well.
Their coaches are knowledgeable, but their programs are heavily dependent on where you live or which school your child attends. Without a structured online academy experience, it can be hard to join consistently unless your child is already part of their network.
4. New York Chess Academy
New York Chess Academy is another organization offering classes, tournaments, and camps across the city. They serve many neighborhoods in Queens and host seasonal events, especially for competitive students.
Their focus is mainly on developing tournament players. If your child already competes regularly, this might be a fit. But for beginners or kids who need more structure and a patient pace, it can feel overwhelming.
5. ChessKid (Online Platform)
ChessKid is a popular platform that offers a fun way for kids to explore chess on their own. It includes puzzles, videos, and safe online play. It’s a great starting place—but not a full learning experience.
There are no live classes. No real feedback. And no connection to a coach who knows your child. For families that want more than entertainment, ChessKid can be a useful tool—but not a full solution like Debsie.
Why Online Chess Training is The Future
We’re living in a time where the way kids learn is changing fast. They watch lessons on tablets, they take notes on screens, and they connect with teachers and friends in virtual classrooms every day. It’s not a fad. It’s how the best learning happens now.
Online chess training fits into that new world beautifully.
Because chess isn’t just about pieces on a board—it’s about how we think. And when chess is taught online the right way, it becomes more clear, more flexible, and more effective than most in-person lessons ever could be.
In Forest Hills, where many families juggle school, after-school programs, and busy schedules, online learning offers something powerful: freedom without losing focus.
You no longer have to drive across Queens during rush hour. You don’t have to skip dinner or rearrange your evening just to get to class. Online learning makes room for chess—without pushing everything else aside.
But more than that, online learning—especially with Debsie—brings structure and feedback to every child. Every game is saved. Every mistake is reviewed. Every question is answered. And every student moves forward on a path that’s built just for them.
When done right, online chess training gives children the perfect mix of comfort and challenge. They’re learning in their own space, at their own speed, with coaches who actually know their name.
How Debsie Leads the Online Chess Training Landscape
We built Debsie from the ground up—not just to teach chess, but to change the way kids grow through chess.
We start with a simple belief: every child is capable of deep thinking, of strong focus, of calm decision-making. Our job is to help them discover that through a game they already love—or are just beginning to explore.
We don’t offer random lessons. We offer a journey. From your child’s first class to their tenth tournament, we guide every step with care. We use live teaching, real conversations, and a structured curriculum that meets them where they are—and gently moves them forward.
Our coaches don’t just correct mistakes. They celebrate growth. They ask questions. They make kids feel seen and smart. Every student is part of a small, warm class where their voice matters.
We mix learning with playing, strategy with fun, and patience with progress. Our tournaments are exciting. Our feedback is personal. And our support doesn’t end when class does.
We serve students from over nine countries. But every single one of them matters. Because at Debsie, it’s not about numbers. It’s about people.
And if you’re in Forest Hills, you can experience it all without leaving your home.
👉 Try a free trial class today and see the difference for yourself.
Conclusion
Choosing a chess academy isn’t just about learning how the pieces move. It’s about helping your child grow. To focus better. To think more clearly. To face challenges with calm and confidence. That’s what the right chess training can do.
In Forest Hills, there are several places where your child can play chess. But if you’re looking for something deeper—something that truly supports your child’s growth step by step—Debsie is where it begins.
We don’t just teach chess. We teach children how to learn, how to lead, and how to believe in themselves. Every lesson is live. Every student is guided. Every parent is supported.
We’ve helped children around the world discover the joy of thinking. And we’d be honored to help yours too.
👉 Click here to take a free trial class and let your child experience the Debsie difference for themselves.