Chess Resources

If you’re new to chess, or feeling overwhelmed by the wealth of information available, below we’ve outlined some key websites and resources that every chess player or parent in Ireland or abroad should be familiar with.

If you are completely new to chess or feel a little lost, you can also speak to one of our experienced coaches and they’ll answer any questions you might have.

Resources for new players / improvers

PLAYING ONLINE:
‍
‍Lichess.org
‍Chess.com
‍
‍
‍STUDY / TRAINING:
‍
‍Chessable.com
chesstempo.com

‍
‍YOUTUBE CHANNELS:
‍
‍youtube.com/@ChessCoachAndras
youtube.com/@ChessDojo
‍youtube.com/@DinaBelenkaya
youtube.com/@ChessNetwork

Laws of chess

The official rules of chess as set by FIDE, the governing body of chess, can be found here:
fide.com/FIDE/handbook/LawsOfChess.pdf

How to write your moves down

Club member and ICU women’s officer WCM Antonina Gora created an excellent guide for writing down your moves. You can find the guide here.

What is the ICU?

The Irish Chess Union (ICU) is the governing body of chess and the official national federation of chess in Ireland as set out by FIDE. They maintain their own national rating system, organise national championships and select players for international events. To play official chess events in Ireland you must be a member of the ICU.

What is FIDE?

FIDE or the “Fédération Internationale des Échecs,” is the world governing body, and current highest authority, of chess across the globe. They maintain their own international rating list, and organize events like the World Championship and Olympiad. They are also the body responsible for awarding titles to players.

What is the LCU?

The Leinster Chess Union (LCU) is the provincial body made up of clubs in Leinster. They are primarily responsible for organising the annual LCU chess leagues. They also organize a few smaller tournaments each year.

Joining the ICU & FIDE

To play competitive chess in Ireland, you must become a member of the Irish Chess Union (ICU). Membership comes with an annual fee, which helps fund the many logistics involved in running chess across the country. As a member, you will receive an ICU rating when you participate in tournaments. Since chess in Ireland is entirely self-funded, these fees play a crucial role in supporting and developing the game nationwide.

There is no separate membership requirement for FIDE, the international chess federation. To receive a FIDE rating, you simply need to be a member of your national federation (the ICU in Ireland) and participate in FIDE-rated events. Once you achieve a certain performance threshold in these events, you will be assigned an international FIDE rating. As you progress, your FIDE rating becomes increasingly important, as it is the rating used in major international tournaments and for earning official titles.

For aspiring junior players, the ICU rating is often the primary focus. It is used for selection to represent Ireland in junior international competitions and, in many cases, to divide sections in national tournaments, though some events are increasingly using FIDE ratings for this purpose.

This system ensures that players of all ages and levels have clear pathways for both national and international competition.

National Tournament calendars

You can find the calendar of Irish Events across the country here.

‍You can find the calendar of Knights of Éanna Events here

For stronger players looking to play in major international tournaments, the following two calendars are excellent resources: https://calendar.chessaround.com/tournament/all/upcoming
‍https://chess-calendar.eu/

How do I play my first tournament?

Chess has seen a surge in popularity in Ireland in recent years, and you can now find tournaments almost every weekend of the year. There are several types of tournaments available, broadly categorized as one-day events, such as Rapid, Blitz, and League games, or multi-day events, which are typically classical chess tournaments.

The format, Rapid, Blitz, or Classical, is determined by the amount of time each player has on their clock. Blitz is the fastest, with each player usually having less than 5 minutes. Rapid games typically allow 10 to 15 minutes per player, while Classical chess games give each player at least one hour.

Most classical tournaments in Ireland are known as “Weekenders.” These usually consist of one game on Friday evening, two games on Saturday, and two games on Sunday. Weekender tournaments are typically divided into rating-based sections to ensure competitive games, though some events are run as opens, with a single section for all players. Tournaments are run using swiss pairings, which means that everyone is guaranteed to play all rounds. There are no knockouts in a swiss tournament.

It’s important to check the details and rules of each tournament before signing up. If you’re unsure which type of tournament is best for you, our coaches at the club are always happy to offer guidance and advice tailored to your level and goals.