About
Play More Chess Academy
Play More Chess Academy was founded
in 2011 to promote the game of chess and provide chess instruction to
students of all ages. We are based in Hamden, Connecticut but we have
students who live around the world. Students can choose either in-person
or online chess instruction.
Our
programs offer students from kindergarten through adult a chance to learn
chess and improve their chess skills. We teach all ability levels, from
beginners to advanced players. Since
2011, we have offered after-school and in-school enrichment chess programs
at schools in New Haven County.
Over
12,000 children and adults have participated in classes, private lessons
and chess events offered by Play More Chess Academy since it was
founded. Students from over 140 schools
have participated. As of 2024, PMCA has over 100 enrolled students taking
classes and lessons each week. The Hamden Chess Club has 151 club members
who participate in adult casual play, USCF tournaments and weekly online
tournaments. See Facts about Hamden Chess Club
page for additional info about HCC members and our community.
Play
More Chess Academy was founded by Rod Groff, a USCF Certified Chess
Coach and Certified Club Tournament Director with the United States Chess
Federation.
PMCA Affiliated Coaches/Instructors
|
Rod
Groff,
PMCA Founder, Lead Instructor |
Founder
and lead instructor for Beginner & Intermediate
Kids Classes
|
 |
Yassamin
Ehsani,
Woman FIDE Master & National Master |
Currently
enrolled University of Chicago student with over 4 years of chess
coaching experience is currently accepting new lessons students for
online lessons only |
 |
Jordan
Groff,
National Master |
2022
grad of Connecticut College with over 5 years of chess coaching
experience is currently accepting new lessons students for either
in-person lessons at PMCA or online lessons. Instructor for Adult
classes offered in Fall, Winter and Spring in conjunction with Hamden
Adult Education and Advanced Class. See Lesson Schedule Availability
and Classes page for more info.
|
Hamden
Chess Club
Hamden
Chess Club is an official affiliate of US Chess. The
club has a permanent home at Play More Chess Academy and meets weekly
for casual play. Tournaments and special events for kids and adults are
held each month. In addition to scheduled events, HCC members can meet
up with friends and play chess during open hours.
Chess
Store Hours:
Day
of Week
|
Hours*
|
Mon
|
2:00PM
- 8:30PM
|
Tue
|
12:00PM
- 6:30PM
|
Wed
|
12:00PM
- 6:30PM, plus evening adult classes as scheduled
|
Thu
|
2:00PM
- 8:30PM
|
Fri-Sun
|
By
Appointment Only and Scheduled Tournaments/Events
|
*If coming to purchase an item, please try to come outside of class times
(i.e. come either before 4PM or after 6:15PM)
*Please
confirm store hours or item availability by calling 203-680-8456 or emailing:
info@PlayMoreChess.com.
*Current schedule of available times for individual lessons is on the
Lessons
page.
Holiday
Schedule/Closures as noted
-Jan 1, 2025 New Year's Day (Special hours for Open House: 1:00-4:00PM)
-Jan 20, 2025 Martin Luther King Day*
(no classes or store hours but OPEN for HCC MLK Day January Action Quads
Tournament @ 6:30PM - Advance Registration required)
-Feb 17, 2025 President's Day*
(no
classes or store hours but OPEN for HCC Presidents Day February Action
Quads Tournament @ 6:30PM - Advance Registration required)
-May 26, 2025 Memorial Day*
-Jun 19, 2025 Juneteenth
-Jul 4, 2025 Independence Day
-Sep 1, 2025 Labor Day*
-Oct 13, 2025 Indigenous Peoples' Day*
-Nov 27, 2024 Thanksgiving
-Dec 22-30, 2024 Winter/Holiday Break
-Jan 1, 2026 New Year's Day (except open for our annual Open
House (1:00-4:00PM), chess and refreshments)!
*Students
who have a regular scheduled Beginner or Intermediate class on these holidays,
may join a class at their level later that same week. Please email to
schedule a makeup class.
Weather
Closures announced at WTNH Channel 8 Storm Closings and PlayMoreChess.com
home page
Location
Play More Chess Academy
Home of the Hamden Chess Club
1227 Whitney Avenue
Hamden, CT 06517
Parking
Email
info@PlayMoreChess.com
Local
Area Establishments (Food, Coffee Shops, Libraries, Bookstores)
-Books and Company
-Whitneyville Food Store (across the street)
-The Playwright (restaurant and Irish pub - across the street)
-The Soup Girl (soup) and Scoop Girl (ice cream; across the street)
-Hamden
Whitneyville Library (Branch) 1 block West on Putnam)
-Paul and Eddy's Pizza (1 mile North)
-Cumin India (restaurant - 1.9 miles North)
-Panera (restaurant - 2.1 miles Northwest)
-Starbucks coffee (2.1 miles Northwest)
-Hamden's Miller Library (Main) (2.9 miles North)
-Barnes & Noble, Target, etc (4.5 miles Northeast)
Space
Rental for Private Events
Facility: Our facility (1928 square feet) is available for rent
for parties and events involving chess, table tennis and foosball. Eight
tournament-quality chess sets and clocks, Stiga table tennis equipment
and a Tornado foosball table are available for your group. Six tables
and plenty of chairs are available for serving food and eating. A kitchen
with refrigerator, microwave other appliances are available for your use.
You
may bring any food or drink you like, play music from your playlist
through the built-in sound system. Parking on the premises with additional
public/street parking available.
For
Further Information or to Request a Party Date:
Email: info@PlayMoreChess.com
or call 203-680-8456.
Gift Certificates
for
Chess Players
|
Gift certificate must be used within 12 months of the date of
purchase. A gift certificate of $240 is enough to purchase a lesson
set of four one-hour lessons.
|
Chess
Store
We have over 200 chess books for kids and adults, chess sets, clocks,
gifts and supplies. A limited number of souvenir coffee mugs available
for the chess player in your home.
|
News
Archive:

- 2023-01-07
Kushagra Bhargava (former PMCA classes student) is CT State Champion
(Elementary K-5 Section) at 2023
Connecticut Scholastic Championships
- 2022-12-31,
Open House with Casual Play Chess, Cookies and Hot Chocolate. Over 50
chess players of all ages attended.
- 2022-09-10,
GM Alex Fishbein came to Play More Chess Academy and Hamden Chess
Club, in partnership with the CT State Chess Association, and gave a
lecture and simultaneous exhibition Flyer
(PDF)

GM Alex Fishbein at 2020 National Invitationals, where
he won the Senior title. (photo courtesy of US Chess)
Newsletter
Email: info@PlayMoreChess.com
| Phone: 203.680.8456 | Hamden, CT |