Rook, Rattle & Roll: Bringing Chess to Chicago Communities
Rook, Rattle & Roll is the Chicago Chess Foundation’s cornerstone after-school program, bringing free chess instruction to young people in schools and community spaces across Chicago.
We believe every child should have the opportunity to learn, play, and compete in chess, regardless of their family’s ability to pay. Through Rook, Rattle & Roll, students receive consistent, high-quality instruction in a welcoming environment where they can challenge themselves, build relationships, and discover what they are capable of over the chessboard.
More Than Learning the Game
From September through May, CCF coaches work with students at partner schools and community organizations throughout the city. Students learn the fundamentals of chess while practicing skills that matter well beyond the board: critical thinking, patience, problem-solving, decision-making, resilience, and collaboration.
For some students, Rook, Rattle & Roll is their first introduction to chess. Others arrive already knowing how to play and are ready to take the next step. Our goal is to meet students where they are and give them a clear path to keep growing.
Throughout the program, students learn to:
Understand how each chess piece moves, its relative value, strengths, and limitations.
Recognize basic tactics and use them during games.
Analyze positions and identify advantages, threats, and opportunities.
Understand the opening, middlegame, and endgame.
Play complete games independently while demonstrating good sportsmanship.
Chess as a Tool for Youth Development
Our coaches teach more than moves and tactics. Chess creates natural opportunities for students to make decisions, manage frustration, learn from mistakes, work toward goals, and solve problems independently.
Drawing from CASEL’s social-emotional learning framework, coaches can use moments at the chessboard to reinforce skills such as:
Recognizing and managing emotions.
Developing a growth mindset and responding constructively to setbacks.
Setting goals and tracking personal progress.
Recognizing the strengths and perspectives of others.
Practicing teamwork, communication, and collaborative problem-solving.
Connecting critical thinking at the chessboard to decisions beyond it.
A Pathway Into Chicago's Chess Community
Rook, Rattle & Roll is also an entry point into the larger CCF community.
Students have opportunities to put what they learn into practice at free CCF tournaments, meet and compete with young chess players from across Chicago, and continue developing through additional CCF programs and experiences.
By building consistent chess communities within Chicago neighborhoods, we want students to have more than a place to learn the game. We want them to have a place to belong, compete, grow, and keep playing.
And like all Chicago Chess Foundation youth programming, Rook, Rattle & Roll is provided at no cost to students and families.
INTRODUCING SUSTAINABLE CHESS PROGRAMS TO YOUR SCHOOL
We know that chess teaches important life skills and we want to give that opportunity to thousands of children living in Chicago. Many schools have an interest in chess, but don’t have the money, equipment or expertise to start a sustainable program. Our Rook, Rattle, & Roll (RRR) program assists schools with the necessary tools to start a chess program.
Are you interested in bringing chess to your school? Send us your interest using the form below and we will respond with the official RRR application.