Academies that take beginners 5

These academies say on their own pages that a newcomer who has never played can start with them. iMaster offers a free one-hour lesson on Mondays that explains how the pieces move, ending with a certificate, and invites readers to book a trial class. Chess Lab in Al Quoz runs classes for players with little or no tournament experience.

Master Moves says that no prior knowledge of chess is needed at its Business Bay and Jumeirah Lakes Towers centres, and International Chess Center lists beginners among its pupils, though its link to recent chess rests on one tournament entry. Prices, where a page gives them, are on each entry; a trial lesson is mentioned only where the academy states one.