Strategic Thoughts NOLA

09/06/2026

Strategic Thoughts NOLA is bringing Chess at NORD Centers back! We’re looking forward to spreading chess among New Orleans youth, building community and friendships, and creating a new generation of champions! ♟️

09/03/2026

The 2026-2027 New Orleans Youth Chess season is about to begin!!!!

08/18/2026

08/05/2026

08/05/2026

https://www.kingregistration.com/event/brsummer

View the chess tournament information for the Summer's End in Baton Rouge. Check this page for the section information, time control, playing schedule, and entry fees.

07/14/2026

Great times The Historic New Orleans Collection Chess Club meeting held New Orleans Public Library REACH Center this past Saturday!! 📸 CMNabonne

07/10/2026

Good afternoon Chess Community!

We’d like to invite anyone available to attend the third of four The Historic New Orleans Collection Chess Club meetings tomorrow, July 11, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at the REACH Center, 2022 St. Bernard Avenue, Corpus Christi, Building C, New Orleans, LA 70116.

Come out for a noncompetitive, no-pressure afternoon of chess. During the first hour, we will offer introductory lessons for beginners. There will also be history activities, arts and crafts, pizza, drinks, and jazz playing in the background over the speakers.

For more information about HNOC Chess Club meetings and Chess Fest, please visit:
https://hnoc.org/events/chess-club-2026-1

06/22/2026

Happy Birthday to New Orleanian Paul Morphy, one of the greatest chess players of all-time:

New Orleanian Paul Morphy rose to international fame as a chess master.

05/18/2026

In 1870, in Quincy, Illinois, Captain James P. Cadman, a Civil War veteran and member of the Grand Army of the Republic, sat down to play a series of ten chess games with Ernest Thomas Morphy. Ernest was the uncle of chess legend Paul Morphy. Though no longer at his peak by 1870, Ernest had once been considered one of the strongest chess players in the South before the rise of his famous nephew.

Ernest was also a foundational figure in early New Orleans chess, serving as an officer in the first iteration of the New Orleans Chess Club. He later relocated to Quincy, Illinois, likely seeking greater safety and opportunity for his family as national hostilities spiraled toward the Civil War.

In the image shown, we see written in descriptive notation, Ernest putting up a hard-fought battle as Black, using the Petroff Defense before ultimately losing to his much younger opponent, J. P. Cadman.

To follow the game, use the following algebraic notation:

1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nf6
3. Nxe5 d6
4. Nf3 Nxe4
5. Nc3 Nxc3
6. dxc3 Be7
7. h3 Bf5
8. Bd3 Qd7
9. O-O Nc6
10. Bxf5 Qxf5
11. Nd4 Nxd4
12. cxd4 O-O-O
13. d5 Bf6
14. c4 Rhe8
15. Qa4 Kb8
16. Be3 a6
17. Rab1 Re4
18. Rfc1 h5
19. Qd1 h4
20. b4 g5
21. b5 a5
22. b6 c6
23. Qa4 cxd5
24. Qxa5 Rxc4
25. Rxc4 Qxb1+
26. Rc1 Black resigns.

Why did Ernest resign?

05/13/2026

Dear chess players,

Thank you for playing in our May Youth Chess Meet and congratulations to all the schools and section winners!

First place finishers

A special shout out to the following players for winning first in their section.
K-2, Rohan Sarakar & Niva Ou
K-4, Shamshad Jadoon
K-6, Nayan Janumpally
K-8, Evan Seal
K-12, Kristofferson Mercadel & Ishan Samant

Lower championship, Brody Bourque
Upper championship, Jack Landry

Other chess clubs and camps

Kendric Perkins runs the The Historic New Orleans Collection Chess Club, a free chess club that does not require a US Chess membership. In addition to casual play, members engage in humanities-based research and study related to the game of chess.

Nick Matta will be running a chess camp this summer at Ecole Bilingue de la Nouvelle-Orléans.

Downriver Chess Club of New Orleans also organizes US Chess-rated weekly club nights! All ages and skill levels are welcome.

Mondays at Turtle Bay, 1119 Decatur St. 6:45 PM. G/15

Tuesdays at Morning Call, 5101 Canal Blvd. 6:45 PM. G/90;d5

Thursdays at Cafe Envie, 1241 Decatur St. 6:45 PM. G/15
Socials

The New Orleans Youth Chess Series is a triad partnership between Strategic Thoughts NOLA,Crescent City Chess, and Downriver Chess. You may click those links to follow us on the socials and see event photos and local chess news.

Next events in the youth chess series
We're working quickly to lock down a calendar for the 2026-2027 academic year. If you know of a school that would like to host a youth chess meet, please let us know!