A very interesting project under the name “Gambit” is already in process with chess club from three European countries with the objective to invite, better train, motivate & retain children between the age of 7-12, with special focus on girls & people with fewer opportunities. The idea is to empower chess communities through developing chess clubs’ capacities with training their trainers & developing their training methodologies to improve value, motivation & soft skill development in chess education.
This will be implemented by 3 grassroot chess clubs from 3 different EU countries & the Judit Polgár Chess Foundation as a professional trainer organization. During the project there will be 3 knowledge exchange learning sessions (one in each country) & several online knowledge sharing sessions. After a proper needs assessment at clubs to fine-tune & tailor-make the training methodology, training the trainers’ sessions will be held both online & offline.
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The GAMBIT project will directly benefit 139 children from the chess clubs & improve +20 trainers’ methodologies.
Main focus of the project aims to:
- engage more children between 7-12 in chess
- increase number of girls involved
- increase the social inclusion of people in less centric, more rural areas
- achieve well trained & prepared chess trainers with effective professional toolkit at hand
- develop capacities of chess clubs with trained trainers & improved methodologies for motivation & retention
- develop soft skills & improved values of children who take part in regular chess trainings, performing better in school & in personal / social situations
- raise awareness & understanding of chess as a sport, its potential in education, health benefits & possibilities to create a better society on a European level.
The project will disseminate its outputs & lessons learned by sustainable tools such as the organizations’ websites & social media, a project presentation at Judit Polgar’s Global Chess Festival & a final video with all the experience presented in a GAMBIT final event in Spain.
Participation:
- CLUB D ESCACS LLINARS – SPAIN, Coordinator
- GYŐRI SAKK-KÖR, OKTATÁSI KULTURÁLIS ÉS SPORTEGYESÜLET – HUNGARY, Partner
- JUDIT POLGAR CHESS FOUNDATION – HUNGARY, Partner
- SKAKISTIKOS OMILOS LEON KANTIA – GREECE, Partner
Schedule & Trips:
Gambit project started on 1/2/2024 and will be concluded by 31/7/2025.
The project contains 3 trips in the three participant countries on the following dates:
1st trip: 9-12/5/2024 – Greece
2nd trip: September 2024 – Hungary
3rd trip: June/July 2025 – Spain
1st Exchange Trip
As part of the GAMBIT Erasmus+ project, the Judit Polgar Chess Foundation participated in the first knowledge-sharing and exchange trip in Heraklion, Crete, from May 9 to 12, 2024. We provided training based on the Judit Polgar Method to chess coaches from Greece, Spain, and Hungary, focusing on how to motivate and retain children in chess clubs. Children were also actively involved in the program, enjoying playful chess classes, tournaments, simultaneous exhibitions, and a hand & brain game on a giant chessboard on the beach. It was a fun and enriching experience for everyone! Thanks to Kostas and Leon Kantia team for the hospitality and organization.
2nd Exchange Trip and Global Chess Festival
The Erasmus+ GAMBIT Project took its second major step from 14-18 September in Győr and Budapest. The choice of dates was no coincidence, as a key part of the project was to draw inspiration from the 10th Judit Polgár Global Chess Festival. There, the project participants could play in the Inspiration Chess Tournament explore the Chess Palace Program through playful adventure courses and personally meet the greatest female chess player of all time.
In addition to attending the festival at the Hungarian National Gallery, the coaches participated in training sessions focused on elements of the Judit Polgár Method and joined the Educational Chess Summit. Meanwhile, the children competed in tournaments and played in a simul game. To cap it off, everyone visited the Chess Olympiad venue in Budapest.
3rd Exchange Trip and Final Conference
The third and final transnational exchange of the GAMBIT project took place in Llinars del Vallès, Spain, from 26 to 29 June 2025. The host of the event was Club d’Escacs Llinars.
The children had a very exciting programme. They participated in an international blitz tournament, played a simultaneous exhibition with WFM Maria Rodrigo, and received chess training from Catalan coaches.
The participating coaches took part in training activities led by Ármin Juhász, who completed his nearly 50-hour training session. In this final module, he provided useful insights on tournament evaluation, how to build an effective training plan, and the use of databases in player development. The feedback received from the participants was again very positive and highlighted the practical value of the tools and strategies introduced.
At the closing conference, the Best Practices Guidebook, developed by the Judit Polgar Chess Foundation, was officially presented. This publication compiles the key educational insights of the GAMBIT project and will serve as a useful reference for chess educators across Europe.
The event was a great success and offered an inspiring and joyful experience for all the children and coaches involved.
Best Practices Guidebook
The Best Practices Guidebook is a comprehensive educational resource developed specifically for the GAMBIT project. It synthesizes the content of the offline and online sessions, combining theoretical insights with hands-on activities. Designed especially for chess trainers, the guide offers practical strategies for teaching key topics from openings to endgames, along with curated links to books, websites, and apps to further support and inspire classroom engagement. With a special focus on motivating girls and fostering a playful learning atmosphere, the guide encourages educators to innovate and grow. As Judit Polgar reminds us: Don’t be afraid to try new things!
You can download the Best Practices Guidebook HERE.
GAMBIT Video
Final Conference
