Chess clubs for kids in Oslo

Årvoll gård, Bjerke

A youth chess club with game evenings on Thursdays in the main house at Årvoll farm, affiliated with the Norwegian Youth Chess Federation and Oslo chess district youth section. Years 1 to 3 play from 6pm to 7pm and years 4 to 10 from 7pm to 8.30pm, and the club is one of few organised chess offerings in the Bjerke district. The club provides the venue, boards and pieces, and parents must confirm a first visit by email.

ages 6-16

Lambertseter gård, Langbølgen 2C, Nordstrand

One of Oslo's largest youth chess clubs, with a permanent venue at Lambertseter farm and chess activities at several schools in the south and south-east of the city. Children and teenagers aged 6 to 16 meet for club nights, coaching and their own club championship, and the venue is only a few hundred metres from the metro and bus. Chess is cheap, social and needs only a board - a calm niche activity for children who like to think and compete without it being physical.

ages 6-16

Kampen Bydelshus, Bøgata 21, Gamle Oslo

A chess club in Kampen community house with its own youth programme meeting on Tuesday afternoons, gathering children from Kampen, Ensjø, Hasle, Løren and Gamlebyen. The club's motto is 'chess for everyone' - no prior knowledge is needed, and membership in a chess club is among the most affordable organised activities there is.

ages 6-16

Bogstadveien, Frogner

The youth section of Oslo Schakselskap, and the fourth largest chess club for children and young people in the city. This is not the beginners' group: training is aimed at experienced players aged 9 to 19 who want to progress and are ready for adult tournaments and long time controls. Training runs every other Wednesday from 6pm until about 7.30pm, and both training and playing evenings are free for members. If your child is learning chess from scratch, the same club's children's chess is the better fit. Approved for the Oslo leisure card.

ages 9-18

Tøyen Arena, Gamle Oslo

Chess for children, partly in cooperation with the Deichman libraries. Tøyen Sportsklubb is a neighbourhood club in Gamle Oslo where membership costs 100 kroner for the whole calendar year, and that covers everything the club runs for your age group. Activities take place at Tøyen Arena and Gamle Munch, and the club also runs free holiday activities during school breaks.

ages 6-18

Haugerud, Alna

The chess section of Haugerud IF, with sessions on Thursday evenings and members from Haugerud, Tveita and Hellerud. Chess within a sports club means the offering is local and affordable, and for children in Alna this is one of few organised mind sports in the neighbourhood.

ages 6-16

Majorstuen, Frogner

Norway's most tradition-rich chess club, founded in 1884, with its own premises centrally at Majorstuen and a dedicated children's chess programme. Children learn chess from scratch in a club setting, and for the more experienced there is the youth section OSSU, which trains every other week and plays tournaments with long thinking time. Chess requires nothing but a board and a willingness to think.

ages 6-16

Flere skoler i Oslo, Sentrum

A chess club exclusively for children and youth, with structured evening courses led by skilled instructors and two to three course rounds per term. The club runs monthly tournaments for children, its own chess camps in the school holidays, and game evenings that are free for members. Activities run at several schools around Oslo, so it is often a short trip.

ages 6-18

Stovner Senteret, Stovner

The youth section of Stovner og Omegn chess club, registered with the Norwegian Chess Federation and part of the children's and youth chess scene in Oslo. The club runs jointly with Vestli Sjakklubb Ungdom, with separate time slots for children under eleven and those older, and the two are based at Stovner Senteret. The club is one of few organised chess offerings in the north-east of the city, and chess requires nothing but a board and a willingness to think. Contact the club via the federation's club page for session times.

ages 6-16

Rustad skole, Østensjø

A neighbourhood chess club with children's chess in the premises of Rustad school in Østensjø, every Tuesday: a dedicated girls' group from 17:00 to 18:00 and children's chess from school year 2, 18:00 to 19:30, all levels. The club is one of the larger children's and youth clubs in the Oslo chess district, welcoming everyone from complete beginners to those who want to play tournaments. Chess costs almost nothing and needs only a board - one of the most affordable organised activities there is.

ages 6-16

Rødtvet skole, Grorud

A chess club for children and young people training at Rødtvet school, drawing members from Rødtvet, Nordtvet and Ammerud. The club runs the Groruddalen school chess championship and has also hosted the Oslo championship for school teams. Chess needs nothing but a board and the wish to think, and this is the only organised chess offering for children in the Grorud district.

ages 6-18

Vålerenga, Gamle Oslo

A youth chess club with sessions on both Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, and members from the Vålerenga and Grefsen areas. Two fixed evenings a week is more than most children's clubs offer, so the children get plenty of games in - and it is easy to start mid-season.

ages 6-16

Oslo, Sentrum

The youth section of Schakklubben av 1911, one of the city's established chess clubs, with a dedicated programme for children and youth and financial support from the City of Oslo. The club cooperates with the other Oslo clubs on joint training sessions and tournaments, so members meet peers from across the city over the board.

ages 6-18

Tokerud flerbrukshall, Stovner

Chess at Tamil Sangam IL at Tokerud. One of the cheapest activities there is, needing neither equipment nor a hall, and a good way in for children who like to think things through.

ages 6-18

Grünerløkka, Grünerløkka

A chess club at Grünerløkka with its own children's chess programme, where play, inclusion and progress come first. The children meet on Thursdays, and the club also runs rapid chess every Thursday and blitz on Saturdays. An active community in the middle of the city, with a low threshold for new players.

ages 6-16