About Us

Previously called Newark Chess Club, where we started in a small room inside the Newark Public Library in 2008, our chess club became really popular and has attracted lots of kids from all over NorCal. For the past 15 years, our chess center has been visited by several chess celebrities: Former Women World Champion & Grandmaster Susan Polgar conducted several lectures and simultaneous exhibition; Famous writer/CLO Editor & International Master Jennifer Shahade conducted a girls chess camp/simul; former #1 ranked chess player in California and Chess Olympiad member/coach, GM Varuzhan Akobian frequently conducts chess camps/simuls/lectures; top Bulgarian Chess player and in-house coach, GM Dejan Bojkov is also a staple at the club; top Australian GM Ian Rogers has also conducted lectures; formerly the youngest GM in the US, GM Ray Robson also did a simul/lecture at the club. And many more.

   Voted #1 chess club in the country in 2015, NorCal House of Chess has also won the USAT NATIONALS 3 times! 

NHC headquarter is centrally located in South Fremont has more space to provide a better playing atmosphere for kids and adults. Whether for both fun and serious play, being a member of NorCal House of Chess has tons of benefits: discounts in tournaments, free lectures from time to time with Grand Masters and International Masters, Wi-Fi on site, access to collections of books/CDs/DVDs, coach referrals, and much more. You can also be a part of our team when we compete in national tournaments! NHC has produced several top players who have made it into the Top 100 Nationwide List, State Champions, National Champions, Silver/Gold Medalists in North American Chess Championship, Silver/Gold medalists in World Youth Chess Championship & Pan American Youth, and also the youngest FIDE master in the world.