THE BAC TOURNAMENT TEAM (IN-PERSON)

THE BAC TOURNAMENT TEAM - In Person (Apply below!)

8 sessions in Fall 2026: Sept 19 to Dec 12, below.
The Price has been adjusted for Families that missed 9/19 and 10/3, and assumes a start date of 10/10.

2-hour Advanced Classes per session + BAC Shirt, BAC Workbook 
+ 1 FREE Enrollment to a CalChess Super-States Tournament This Fall!
Apply Below.

The Spring 2026 BAC Team saw an Average Rating increase of +191 USCF points per Student (in 3 months).

Meeting Times:

Specific Saturdays: 12:00 - 2:00 pm

Location:

  Unitarian Universalist Church of Palo Alto (map)
  505 E Charleston Rd, Palo Alto

Required Skill Level:

600-1600 USCF Rated, Ages 6 to 15 only.
(Don't quite yet have 600?, there's time!: Play Rated Events)

Team Meeting Dates:

8 Scheduled Classes:
9/19, 10/3, 10/10, 10/24, 10/31, 11/7, 11/21, 12/12
 

While there are no make-up classes offered for missed sessions, we feel that the extra value more than covers the difference.
Please only join if the player is available for at least 6 out of the 8 scheduled Saturday classes.

What are the State-Event Dates for the Free Entry?

Major BAC Tournaments:   

    9/26 - 9/27 : CalChess Boys and Girls State Championship - Milpitas
    10/17 - 10/18 : SuperStates K-1 / K-6 / K-12 - Santa Clara
    11/14 - 11/15 : CalChess Grade-Level Championship - Milpitas
    12/5 - 12/6 : US Jr Chess Congress (National) - Sunnyvale

We will Need to Know which Event to register you to (for free) at least 1 week in Advance of the Event.
If you know earlier, let us know!

Apply for the BAC Tournament Team:

24 Seats are available.  If you would like to APPLY for the BAC Team,
please send your application through this Google Form:

>>> APPLY HERE <<<

Once Approved, you may Register directly from this Page!
(Accepted Players will be Notified/Invited to Register)

A Note from the Instructor, Senior Coach Wolfgang Behm: 
  "The Team class is designed for the serious scholastic player rated between USCF 500-1600, who wants to improve their tournament performance & overall chess skills.
Students are taught primarily thinking skills & learning methods, all of which aim to equip them to study independently & correctly, and to evaluate their over-the-board positions effectively & soundly.
These skills are grounded in the Purdy/Fine Method based on fighting for the initiative, and the 30 principles of the opening, middlegame, and endgame.
This method emphasizes the importance of pattern recognition, forcing moves, and utilizing force.
Students are given a list of stylistically approved openings, model games of those openings, and a list of 50 of the most important tactical games to study at this rating level; additionally, the instructors teach key concepts and positions in class, which are reinforced with occasional homework or in-class quizzes.
Students are expected to be willing & prepared to do the work, especially working on tactics regularly on their own; complete assignments, follow instructor directions & recommendations, play USCF rated tournaments, and bring their games for in-class analysis.
What your child gets out of this class is proportional to what they put into it. Outside of class, students are expected to practice homework when assigned, study on their own with recommended chess books, online tactics trainers, and to play online and attend in-person tournaments regularly."

Team Members receive:
8 Meeting Sessions for Tournament Themed Training + Instruction + Practice
 + BAC Team Shirt + BAC Workbook +
State  Championship!!

Meeting dates are staggered intentionally to allow for Players to Join us for Rated Championships on non-instruction weekends! 
NOTE: Team Classes are Only for USCF RATED Players.
The CalChess State Championships are approaching! - BAC Tournament Team members who need USCF renewals will receive that for free if they fall within the Team date range and are of course going to participate in the Free posted Event!

Required Skill Level:
  For 600-1600 USCF Rated, Ages 6 to 15.  We are looking for Active Tournament Players, One event per month minimum. If your child is unrated, or not yet rated 600, then please engage in more rated tournaments before joining this class, as they are hosted just about every weekend in the Bay Area: BAC Tournament Site and Menu.  We will not be making exceptions on the Rating requirements this season.

What if my Child is not yet Rated?
  We would recommend joining more USCF Events to update the Rating ASAP. If you feel that you need an assessment, the Palo Alto CLUB (group lessons and pairings) meets on Saturdays at the same location, for a drop-in fee, where you can speak directly with Coach Wolfgang. If you cannot commit to joining any tournaments, then the Tournament Team is not right for you and we recommend the weekly Palo Alto Chess Club, or one of the other locations: (see all locations)

Are there Make-ups or Pro-Rates?
 Teams do not offer pro-rates, trials or drop-ins as it is important that the coaches have a static roster for all sessions. Missed classes are not 'refunded', though we made sure that the value was appropriate even if a session or two was missed.

Instructors?
 Senior Coach Wolfgang Behm and Coach Mathew Benson will host the Team. If the Team grows to a certain ratio, we will add an instructor.
 

Note: Rated Tournaments are registered through our TOURNAMENT Website, below. The two sites use different log-in credentials.

     https://enrichment.bayareachess.com is the Enrichment Site : 
     All registration for Camps / Classes / Clubs / Chesskid / PracticeEvents / Teams use the Enrichment website. 
     (Help email: enrich@bayareachess.com)

     https://www.bayareachess.com  is the Tournament Site : 
     All USCF-Rated Events (including State Championships) use the Tournament website.
     (Help email: events@bayareachess.com)