Where to play chess in Aix-les-Bains: club, venues and practical pointers
Updated 18 October 2026 · Échecs en Savoie, independent guide
To play chess at a club in Aix-les-Bains, there is a single club affiliated to the French Chess Federation: the Académie d'Échecs d'Aix-les-Bains, which plays in Nationale 4 and has 99 licensed players for the 2026-2027 season. Its opening hours, lessons and fees can be found on its official website, aixlesbainsechecs.org. The Chambéry and Albertville clubs complete the offer within an hour's travel.
Important note. This guide is an independent editorial site, not affiliated with the Académie d'Échecs d'Aix-les-Bains. To join, ask a question or find out the current sessions, contact the club directly through its official website, aixlesbainsechecs.org.
The Aix-les-Bains chess club in brief
Académie d'Échecs d'Aix-les-Bains: an association affiliated to the FFE under number J73075, attached to the Savoie committee and the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes league. It is the only chess club in Aix-les-Bains recorded by the federation. Its first team plays in Nationale 4 of the team league.
The data below comes from the club's official page on the FFE website, surveyed in October 2026. It is public and updated by the club itself; in case of discrepancy, the federation page and the club's website prevail.
| Item | Public data |
|---|---|
| Official name | Aix-les-Bains Chess Academy |
| FFE number | J73075 |
| Registered office | 15 avenue d'Annecy, 73100 Aix-les-Bains |
| Playing rooms | 15 avenue d'Annecy on weekdays; 131 boulevard Wilson at weekends |
| Licensed players 2026-2027 | 73 A licences and 26 B licences, 99 in all |
| Team league | Nationale 4; juniors in the Regional Division |
| Declared opening days | 7 days a week |
| Declared reduced-mobility access | No |
| Official website | aixlesbainsechecs.org |
The club's website says it was founded in 2010 and that its main room is on boulevard du Président-Wilson, near the railway station. It highlights regular Friday-evening tournaments, rapid games and blitz, as well as work with schools in the area. For details of sessions and subscriptions, the club's own page remains the only reference: this guide reproduces neither fees nor contact details.
Where to play chess in Aix-les-Bains, depending on who you are
Not everyone is looking for the same thing when typing “chess club Aix-les-Bains”. Here are the real options, from the most structured to the freest.
You want to play regularly and improve
The affiliated club is the natural route: playing partners of all levels, analysis, internal tournaments, team competitions. A Nationale 4 club welcomes players rated above 2000 Elo as readily as adult beginners. The licence is taken out through the club; how A and B licences work is explained on our page on the chess licence in Savoie.
You are looking for an activity for a child
Children often start with chess at school, during lessons or after-school hours. The Aix-les-Bains club presents on its website a “schools circuit” with partner schools, from nursery to sixth form. Next come club lessons and youth competitions, which start at départemental level (the Savoie youth championship) before the league and the French championship.
You are passing through: spa visit, holiday, weekend
Aix-les-Bains welcomes spa visitors and holidaymakers on the shores of Lac du Bourget every year. A visiting player can generally take part in an evening of play or an open rapid tournament; it is best to warn the club in advance by the means given on its website. For a longer stay, summer festivals in the resorts are presented on our page on chess on holiday in the Alps.
You prefer to play online
The Aix-les-Bains club runs a team on Lichess, the free, open-source platform. It is a good way to meet local players before pushing open the door of a playing room. Online games do not count towards the official FFE or FIDE Elo rating.
The clubs closest to Aix-les-Bains
Aix-les-Bains is well placed: Chambéry is about fifteen kilometres away, Annecy about thirty. Depending on where you work or your timetable, another club may suit you better.
| Club | Town | Licensed players | Team league |
|---|---|---|---|
| Académie d'Échecs d'Aix-les-Bains (Aix-les-Bains Chess Academy) | Aix-les-Bains | 99 | Nationale 4 |
| Club d'Échecs de l'Agglomération Chambérienne (CEAC; Chambéry Area Chess Club) | Chambéry | 99 | Nationale 3 |
| Albertville Savoie Échecs | Albertville | 46 | Regional Division |
| Le Bois Tarentaise Échecs | Le Bois | 9 | Regional Division |
The details of each Savoie club, with addresses and website, are on our page on chess clubs in Savoie. For the Annecy area, see the clubs of Haute-Savoie. You can also consult the Aix-les-Bains page of the club directory of the Palais des Échecs, which lists clubs by town.
How to choose and join a chess club
- Spot the sessions that suit you on the club's website: free play, beginners' lessons, youth lessons, competitive training.
- Come and try: most clubs accept one or two taster sessions before you join. Ask first.
- Choose your licence: the A licence for all competitions, the cheaper B licence for leisure, rapid and blitz.
- Join: the club registers your licence with the FFE. You then appear in the federation database and can play rated tournaments.
Aix-les-Bains, a town that has hosted major championships
The town has a richer chess history than you might imagine. It hosted the French Championship in 2003 and 2007, the year Maxime Vachier-Lagrave won his first national title, then the European Individual Championship in 2011. These editions are told on our pages French Championships in Aix-les-Bains and 2011 European Championship.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I play chess in Aix-les-Bains?
The only FFE-affiliated club is the Académie d'Échecs d'Aix-les-Bains, whose playing rooms are on avenue d'Annecy and boulevard Wilson according to the federation page. Its opening hours and conditions are published on its official website, aixlesbainsechecs.org. The Chambéry and Albertville clubs are the nearest.
How do I join a chess club?
You contact the club, often attend a trial session, then join: the club registers an A or B licence with the French Chess Federation. It is not possible to take out an FFE licence without going through a club.
From what age can you play chess at a club?
There is no federal minimum age: the FFE issues licences down to the “petits poussins” category (under 8). Many children discover the game at around 5 or 6, often at school. Each club sets the starting age for its lessons.
How many licensed players does the Aix-les-Bains club have?
According to the FFE page surveyed in October 2026, the Académie d'Échecs d'Aix-les-Bains has 99 licensed players for the 2026-2027 season: 73 A licences and 26 B licences.