Montpellier is a sunny, lively city where young minds are full of energy and parents are full of care. You see it in the parks, the schools, and even in the quiet corners of the library. It’s a city that values learning, curiosity, and new ideas.
That’s why chess is becoming more and more popular here.
Chess is not just about kings, queens, and checkmates. It’s a smart game. A game that teaches kids how to focus, how to plan, how to stay calm when things get tricky. It builds the brain. And it builds the heart, too.
But here’s the thing: learning chess the right way matters. The right coach, the right class, the right plan—they can make all the difference. That’s why this guide is here.
Online Chess Training
If you’ve ever seen a child playing chess, you know the look—the eyes focused, the little hand hovering above a piece, the brain quietly ticking like a clock. It’s beautiful. But teaching that same child how to play better?
That takes more than just a board and pieces. It takes a teacher who understands how young minds work. And it takes a method that works for busy families.
That’s exactly where online chess training comes in.
Online chess learning is not about just watching videos or playing random games on the internet. When done right, it’s like sitting across from a real coach—but without leaving your house. Your child logs in, joins a live class, listens to a real teacher, plays real games, and learns step by step.
The class might start with a question. Then the coach explains a new trick or plan. The students try it, play with it, and talk about it. The teacher watches and helps. It’s simple, smooth, and surprisingly warm—even through a screen.
One of the best parts? Your child can learn from the world’s top coaches, not just the ones in your neighborhood. And everything—from class notes to puzzles to game reviews—is saved and sent to you. You don’t have to wonder what your child learned. You see it.
In cities like Montpellier, where families are active and schedules can be full, online learning is not just a better option. It’s often the only one that truly fits.
Landscape of Chess Training in Montpellier and Why Online Chess Training is the Right Choice
Montpellier is full of talent. Kids here are bright, curious, and quick to learn. Schools in the area are strong, and there’s a growing love for activities that build the brain—coding, languages, science, and yes, chess.
There are a few chess clubs scattered across the city. Some offer beginner classes. Others focus on tournaments. You might find a tutor in a school or a local hall. Sometimes a coach visits homes. These are fine options if you’re just starting out. But they come with limits.
The classes are usually group-based, and the schedule is fixed. If your child has music one day and football the next, it’s hard to keep up. If you miss a class, you’re behind. If your child is faster or slower than the group, they might feel lost or bored. And it’s rare to find a full learning plan—most lessons are made up week to week, with no real path.
Online training, on the other hand, gives you flexibility and structure. Your child learns at their own speed, from your home, with lessons made for their level. No travel. No traffic. No stress. And when the training is led by experts—like at Debsie—it becomes a powerful way to grow.
How Debsie is The Best Choice When It Comes to Chess Training in Montpellier
Debsie is not a chess club. It’s a chess academy. There’s a big difference. A club is a place where people play. An academy is a place where students learn.
When a child joins Debsie, they don’t just play random games. They follow a journey—a learning path built by real coaches who know how to teach step by step. From their very first move to deep strategy, we take them through each level with care, clarity, and confidence.
Our classes are live, personal, and full of energy. Coaches don’t just talk; they connect. They ask questions, give feedback, share screens, play puzzles, and cheer on every small win. Our students don’t sit quietly—they join in, they ask, they try, they learn.
Each coach at Debsie is certified by FIDE (the global chess organization). But more importantly, each coach is kind, patient, and trained to teach kids. They know how to explain slowly, how to fix mistakes gently, and how to keep the learning fun.
We also know that children are different. Some are shy. Some are bold. Some love tactics. Others like slow, deep thinking. That’s why we match students to the right coach and class level. Your child will never feel left out or held back. They’ll learn in a way that fits them perfectly.
We offer personal coaching for students who want extra help. We run online tournaments every two weeks to keep things exciting. We send feedback and progress notes to parents. We even offer homework (yes, chess homework!) to keep kids sharp between lessons.
Kids love logging in. Parents love the results. And everyone—from coaches to staff to students—feels like part of something bigger. A real community, not just a class.
Offline Chess Trainin
There’s something warm and familiar about sitting in a room, setting up a wooden chessboard, and playing face-to-face with another person. For many, that’s how chess was always taught—quiet rooms, ticking clocks, and the hum of pieces moving.
In Montpellier, you can still find places like this. A few clubs in the city hold weekly classes. Some schools offer chess as an after-school activity. There are even a few tutors who will come to your home for a private lesson. These options feel traditional, and for some students, they work just fine—especially in the early stages of learning.
When children are young, the feel of a real board and pieces can help make chess feel real and fun. And for social children, group classes help them meet others with the same interest.
But when it comes to true learning and growth—step-by-step improvement, real feedback, and preparing for tournaments—offline training often runs into problems.
Drawbacks of Offline Chess Training
Most in-person chess classes in Montpellier are group-based. That means one coach, ten or more kids, and maybe an hour per week. In that time, your child might get just a few minutes of actual coaching. If they’re quick to learn, they get bored. If they’re struggling, they might not get help. Either way, progress is slow.
There’s also no standard plan. Some classes teach random tactics each week. Others jump from one topic to another. There’s no clear ladder of growth. Kids often forget what they learned, or don’t know what to focus on next.
And the time! Getting your child ready, driving through traffic, waiting during the session, and then driving home—it’s a two-hour event for a one-hour class. That’s time you could spend doing something more relaxing or more productive.
What about feedback? Most offline coaches don’t send updates. You don’t get notes. You don’t get a plan. You don’t know how your child is really doing—unless you ask. And even then, the answer is often vague.
Also, most offline clubs or tutors don’t hold regular tournaments. And when they do, they’re rare, crowded, and high-pressure. Kids need more chances to play and grow in a low-stress, regular way. Without that, many lose motivation.
So, while offline classes may feel “real,” they often fall short in the things that really matter: personal attention, structure, progress, and joy.
Best Chess Academies in Montpellier, France
Now, let’s talk about the chess classes and tutors you might come across in Montpellier. You’ll find a mix of clubs, private tutors, and small group classes. Some are good, some are just okay. But none compare to Debsie.
Let’s start with the best—Debsie—and then briefly mention a few other options around the city.
1. Debsie
Debsie is not here to just teach chess. It’s here to grow thinkers. Calm, focused, confident thinkers. The kind of kids who not only play well—but handle life’s challenges with strength and smarts.
Every class at Debsie follows a clear learning path. Students move through levels—beginner, intermediate, advanced—with lessons designed to build their skills slowly and surely. Nothing is random. Nothing is rushed.
Coaches are trained and certified. But they’re also kind. They know how to listen. How to teach slowly. How to make hard ideas feel simple. That’s why students love logging in. And it’s why parents trust us deeply.
What makes Debsie even more powerful is how much it does beyond the class itself. We run friendly tournaments every two weeks. We give homework. We track progress. We send reports. We support parents.
It’s a full learning experience. One that doesn’t just work—but fits your life.
Whether your child wants to play for fun or train for trophies, Debsie has a plan for them. And it starts with something simple: a free trial class. Visit debsie.com and book your child’s first lesson today.
2. Échecs Club Montpellier (ECM)
Échecs Club Montpellier is the big chess club in Montpellier. It has many members (around 400 licensed players) and is recognized as a “club formateur” by the French Chess Federation.
They have two locations: one in “Centre‑Comédie” at Tour de la Babote, another at Hôpitaux‑Facultés, Les Jardins d’Ô.
They offer group lessons for many ages and levels. They host competitions, have youth programs, evening sessions, and are active in the city’s chess life.
What they do well: local presence, face‑to‑face interaction, strong sense of community, tradition, regular schedules, real boards, real people.
What they lack (in comparison to Debsie): less flexibility in timing; travel required; group size often large; fewer online tools or recorded lessons; less of a global coaching pool; less personalized feedback or adaptive pacing (depends on class).
3. L’Échiquier du Dragon
L’Échiquier du Dragon is an association / circle offering chess (and other strategy board games) classes and activities in Montpellier and nearby (Castelnau‑le‑Lez etc.).
They welcome young beginners (from about 6 years), plus adult players, with collective classes, animated sessions, tournaments, and game nights.
Strengths: It’s local, friendly, low barrier to entry, chances to mix fun with learning; classes and animations are quite accessible.
Weaknesses compared to Debsie: classes are larger and less intensive; less regular progress tracking; fewer advanced coaching support; mixed focus (board games, general social fun) rather than a dedicated chess academy path; offline focus, so less flexibility.
4. Private Tutors via Platforms (e.g. Superprof, NiceTutor, Apprentus)
There are several private tutors in Montpellier who teach chess. Some provide face‑to‑face lessons in a home, some provide online or via video. For example, Jako offers lessons in person and via video, camps from beginner to club level, with a strong reputation.
Other platforms like NiceTutor list several online‑only or mixed tutors in Montpellier with verified reviews.
Also, Apprentus has tutors who come to you or teach online, with flexible schedules.
These private tutors can be good if you want highly personalized attention, flexibility in schedule, & focus on your child’s pace. But sometimes they do not have a full curriculum, or may not include tournaments, recorded classes, or long‑term support.
5. Cours Collectifs Locaux (“Club + School Programs” / Mixed Hybrid)
There are other smaller clubs around Montpellier, school programs, associations offering group chess classes on certain days. Some “cours collectifs” are offered in community centers, youth centers. For example clubs listed in “Où jouer aux échecs à Montpellier” include 13 clubs for the city offering initiation, training, and casual games.
These are useful for beginners, for social aspects, and for regular practice. But usually they do not commit to rigorous feedback, do not run many tests or tournaments, lack global or high‑level coaching.
Why Online Chess Training is The Future
The world is moving fast. School is online. Work is online. Even doctor visits are online. So it’s no surprise that chess training is moving online too. And not just as a backup plan—but as the best way to learn.
In cities like Montpellier, families are busy. Children have school, sports, family time, homework. Adding one more thing to the calendar—like driving across town for a one-hour chess class—can feel like too much.
Online chess training makes it easier. It fits your schedule, not the other way around. Your child can join a class from home, right after dinner. No travel. No waiting. No stress.
When you learn chess online, you aren’t limited to the one or two good coaches nearby. You can learn from top coaches around the world. Coaches who have taught champions. Coaches who know how to explain clearly and gently. Coaches who make every lesson count.
Online training also gives you tools that offline classes can’t match. Lessons are recorded. Games are saved. Mistakes can be reviewed. Puzzles can be shared online. Your child learns not just during class—but anytime they want.
It’s also safer. It’s quieter. It’s more focused.
And for parents? It gives peace of mind. You don’t have to sit in a car or wait in a hallway. You can see what your child is learning. You can get feedback. You can feel part of the journey.
In short, online chess training is not second-best. It’s first-choice for families who care about time, quality, and growth.
And in this new world of smart learning, no one is leading like Debsie.
How Debsie Leads the Online Chess Training Landscape
Let’s finish strong.
At Debsie, we didn’t switch to online chess classes because we had to. We started online from day one—because we saw how powerful it could be when done right.
Everything we do is made for this. Every lesson. Every tool. Every step.
And we’re not just another company offering online classes. We’re a full academy. A home for young thinkers. A place where kids feel supported, challenged, and proud of what they’re learning.
And above all—respect. We treat every child like they matter. Because they do.
We’ve helped students in over nine countries. From quiet kids who had never played a game, to bold teens preparing for national tournaments. We’ve seen them all grow. Not just as chess players—but as thinkers, as learners, as people.
That’s why parents stay with us. That’s why kids stay excited. And that’s why we want to welcome you next.
Conclusion
Montpellier is full of life. You see it in the laughter of children in its sunny parks, in the calm focus of students at its schools, and in the quiet love of parents who just want the best for their child.
And maybe that’s why you’re here—because you know your child has something special inside them. Maybe it’s focus. Maybe it’s curiosity. Maybe it’s a quiet love for puzzles and patterns. Whatever it is, chess is one of the best ways to bring that gift to life.
But the truth is, not all chess classes help that gift grow. Some are slow. Some are too fast. Some are crowded or unstructured. Some lose the joy of the game, and with it, they lose the student.
That’s why more families in Montpellier are asking a better question—not “Where is the nearest chess class?” but “Where will my child learn best?”
And that answer, more and more, is Debsie.
At Debsie, we don’t just teach chess. We build thinkers. We guide children through a journey that strengthens their minds, builds their confidence, and teaches them how to handle life—not just a chessboard.
Our classes are not cold. They’re not stiff. They’re warm. Human. Personal. Every child gets seen. Every question gets answered. And every win, no matter how small, is celebrated.
And this isn’t just for future chess champions. This is for every child who needs help focusing. For every child who struggles with planning. For every child who needs to feel a little more confident. Chess does that. And Debsie makes it happen—step by step, move by move.
We know how much you care. We care just as deeply.
That’s why we’ve built something better than a lesson. We’ve built a home. A home for learning, growing, and feeling proud of progress.
And here’s the best part—you don’t have to wonder if it’s right.
Comparisons With Other Chess Schools: