REGISTRATION OPENING May 30, 2025.
We are still making edits to this page and adjusting the associated Shopify registration.
Welcome to the 2025 Caveman Chess Camp
July 20-25 at Hilton/Chicago-Northbrook
2855 North Milwaukee Avenue, Northbrook, IL 60062
Followed by the US Blind Open, US Junior Open, US Senior Open, Caveman Not JR/SR (Medior) Open, Beginner Open 1, Beginner Open 2, US Junior Blitz, US Senior & Caveman Medior Quick, Friday Fun, July 25-27 $40K in prizes! Over 80 Plaques. 370 Grand Prix points
“This camp is definitely tailored for chess lovers, and it was amazing.”
Overview & History
The Caveman Chess Camp has its roots in one of the earliest and best chess camps in the country - WisChess - which was held annually at the University of Wisconsin -Whitewater in the 1990s. WisChess was one of the premier and most successful chess camps in the country.
Coach Bachler joined the WisChess staff in 1997, the same year he coached his first national championship team from Franklin Elementary in Park Ridge, IL. That team had also won three consecutive state championships. During the next few years the management of WisChess changed, and Coach Bachler took over the management of the camp. In 2002 the camp held one of the largest camps we know of, with 235 campers 20 instructors including eight grandmasters, and 17 counselors.
Shortly thereafter, the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, which had many successful football and cheerleading camps decided it wished to focus on those. As a result, the camp moved to St. Olaf College in 2005 and became OleChess. St. Olaf has a particularly beutiful campus, and feels like a place where one “should” learn how to play chess.
OleChess was a successful camp, but lost strong the connection to Illinois players that we had at UW-Whitewater. So, after several years, we decided to open a second camp, the Caveman Chess Camp, at North Central College in Naperville, IL.
WisChess, OleChess, and the new Caveman Chess Camp all drew nationally as the camp had top Grandmasters and other instructors who were chosen based on several key qualifications:
The instructors were classically trained, understanding the philosophies developed in the 1600s, 1700s by Philidor, 1860s by Morphy, 1880s by Steinitz, and later work by Lasker, Capablanca, Alekhine, Botvinnik, Fischer, Karpov, Kasparov, as well as theorists like Shereshevsky, Kotov, and others.
The instructors were good with both adults and kids, and were capable of teaching abstract concepts to children who who had not yet developed the ability to think abstractly.
The instructors were willing to mix with kids and adults at meals, play soccer with them, and so on. Going to a camp and playing soccer with a GM is a great experience.
Instructers who were also willing and capable of addressing challenges such as students who were on the spectrum had ADHD or other challenges.
Our goal is to develop thinking people who can plan and enjoy chess - not little chess robots who play chess tactics. The deeper concepts of chess - like the Four Elements of Chess, Steinitz’s Six Meta Principles, Move Efficiency, The Fundmanetal Theorem of Attack, are all concepts that apply to other concepts in life - such as business, sports and other areas of competition. It is this deeper learning which provides transferable experience - not the mere learning of how to execute a new checkmate.
It is with this fundamental approach that Caveman Chess, our Camps, and our Classes were designed.
This is a key element that separates our camps and classes from others.
We also believe in the development of the person. Among our top players, we have had players go on in life to be successful in accounting, teaching, vocal performance, hockey, weightlifting, multiple peole in advanced computer science, medicine, audiology, and many other fields.
So, the camp includes activities other than chess - soccer, frisbee and other ways to keep our students moving.
In terms of the general structure of the camp, it is built in several ways.
First, we use a concept called “A Camp Within a Camp.” What we mean by this is that the camp is tailored to meet the needs of various campers, by dividing the camp into smaller groups.
Each group in the camp has three lessons a day on Monday - Wednesday, with two on Thursday. of the 11 classes, five to six will be with a “Base Instructor” - with all of the Monday classes with that instructor. Beginning on Tuesday, campers will have other instructors rotate into their class for one to two classes a day. Typically students will have their base instructor for about halft their classes, and rotating instructors for the other half. All students receive some Grandmaster instruction.
Additionally, for all of our camps, we cannot, in one week, may anyone a significantly better player. But what we can do it provide them the tools, and the key games and reference material, to become a significantly better player by continuing to apply what they learned at the camp after they leave the camp.
Second, the camp is first divided into the Explorer section, and Intensive Study. Explorer is a little less directed, and a little more focused on a broad range of fundamentals, including a slightly heavier focus on tactics. Explorer is still divided into separate classes based on age and strength.
Third, Instensive Study is divided into key subgroups each of which participated in the one-hour intensive study lecture
Adult Fundamentals is for adults, typically under 1400, who often have not learned all the key fundamental meta conceptions, like the Four Elements of Chess, Steinitz’s Six Meta Principles, Move Efficiency, and The Fundmanetal Theorem of Attack. Older students under age 18 may be allowed into this class if they are mature and if we need a few more students to make the class a “Go.”
Advanced Youth targets players 1500 and up, but who are under age 18. This class is more rigorous and had more theoretically important games (versus practically import study in the Explorer group.)
Advanced Girls has been held sporadically, depending on the number and strength of girls who have registered for camp. It is open to girls only, and is typically for players who are girls and rated at least 1300 to 1700.
Advanced Adult targets players over 18, or players under 18 who are rated at least 1700. It is target toward players who will work harder and take camp seriously, won’t have to be told multiple times to end breaks, stop playing blitz, etc. The players in this group must act like adults, including being sensitive to the concerns of other in the class.
Master Class is strictly open to players who are currently, or who have been, over 2000.
There is a class exceptions policy to get into each of these classes if your student doesn’t meet all the requirements. Note, do this in the advance of camp, not after camp has started. Typically only changes initiated by instructors will be made during camp. Also note, perceived higher classes are not necessarily so. The difference might be age,, not rating, for example. Further, the tournament sections do not necessarily match 1-1 the class sections. Also, by moving a student up, you might be robbing them from learning a key fundamental they don’t yet know. Moving up in a camp class is not the same as changing sections in a rated tournament. In a tournament, one is trying to provide a greater challenge through better competition. But that isn’t what happens for a class. Would you choose to move your student in arithmetic to a calculus class, so that they don’t learn algebra or geometry?
So think carefully before moving a student up in class. We repeat, it is not the same as playing in a higher tournament section.
People May Attend the Camp In Three Ways
As a Day Camper, from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
As a Commuter, attending 8:00 am to 9:00 pm, but not staying at the hotel (also called non-resident)
As a Resident, attending 8:00 am to 9:00 pm, and staying at the hotel.
What’s Included in the Camp?
A week of high quality instruction
A camp with for all ages, abilities, and experience
A tailored experience via our “camps-within-a-camp” approach
An immersive learning experience by engaging directly with
fellow campers
with Instructors
Premier players and teachers
Instructors are mostly internationally titled:
FIDE Masters, International Masters, Grandmasters, FIDE Trainers, or
Nationally titled US Chess titled Masters, Senior Masters, chess coaches, etc.
Some of our youngest and beginning students may receive a well-established educator who is an Expert or possibly a high-class A strength, and trained in classical chess instruction
The immersive experience fosters accelerated learning, new chess friendships, and resources
11 classes tailored to age and strength
14 classes for Intensive Study
Rotating instructor staff
Base instructor for approximately 50% of classes
Rotating instructors for the remaining 50%
All campers receive grandmaster instruction
Classical instruction
Advocating for comprehension over memorization
Provides better learning transference to other topics
Chess-related activities
Simultaneous exhibitions
A championship tournament tailored to age and strength
Tournament and assignments differ
Master and Grandmaster review of championshp tournament games
US Chess rated quick chess tournament
Unrated Blitz and bughouse tournaments
13 hours each day of chess and physical activities
Physical activity is a key part for all chess players
Roughly double what’s provided at most day camps
Emphasizing the importance of being well-rounded
A camp tee-shirt
A complimentary year-long membership to Chessable Pro, a chess training app supported by scientific research.
Several National Championship Chess tournaments follow the camp during part or all of the July 25th - 27th weekend- allowing campers to learn about multiple types of chess. All tournaments July 25-27th unless shown otherwise
2025 U.S. Junior Open ( born after January 1, 2004)
2025 U.S. Senior Open, (born before July 26, 1974)
2025 Caveman Medior Open (players born after July 25, 1974 and before January 2, 2004 )
U.S. Blind Open Championship.
Friday Fun (July 25th - perfect for younger campers who participate in the younger sections of the US Junior and need something to do Friday afternoon.)
Caveman Beginner Open 1 (July 26)
Caveman Beginner Open 2 (July 27)
US Junior Blitz (July 26)
Caveman Medior & US Senior Quick Chess (July 26)
Who May Attend the Camp?
The camp welcomes all players.
Players under 10 years of age (born after July 20, 2015) require a chaperone. There is a maximum of four campers per chaperone. The resident chaperone fee includes all meals and a camp t-shirt.
Roommates:
We strongly encourage campers to get vaccinated for all relevant vaccinations.
Known roommates can coordinate with each other and register directly with the hotel through its direct links:
https://cavechess.cc/festival-camp-hotel for the camp
Camp space is filled on a first-come, first-served basis, and spots cannot be held for a late-registered roommate.
To facilitate a positive camp experience, we request prior communication for players with overtly challenging conditions, physical, ADHD, or spectrum disorders. We’ve had many such campers in the past, and it helps our preparation if we are aware of such situations.
Flyers & Handouts
Anticipated (not final) Daily Schedule 2025
SAMPLE (not final) Classroom and Instructor Rotation 2025
Items to Complete Before Registering
Please complete these items
To Upload Completed Documents:
Camp & Tournament Registration
Camp Registration:
Tournament Registration:
The Added Value of an Overnight Camp
Have you considered the value of an overnight camp compared to a day camp? We operate both and find each has merits. While overnight camps are more costly, they offer greater "cost per benefit" efficiency. Let's explore the reasons for this.
Day camps cater in part to parents needing childcare. Arrival and departure schedules allow for approximately five to six solid hours of instruction daily, plus a few hours for casual learning and games like Blitz and Bughouse.
Overnight camps, on the other hand, offer a more profound and comprehensive experience. Students engage in chess discussions with peers and mentors from morning to night. During meals, they can converse with a grandmaster, gleaning insights on optimal strategies for the London System or evaluating Bronstein's versus Najdorf's literature on the pivotal Zurich 1953 chess tournament, which spotlighted the King’s Indian Defense. These type of discussions can happen at a day camp, but are typically less deep, less thorough and less intense.
The immersive nature of overnight camps broadens the educational environment to include daily analyses of championship games, communal meals, and evening group activities. This collective experience bolsters the day's lessons and facilitates a "learn and confirm" process among participants.
These elements combine to render overnight camps a more intensive educational journey. No camp will make someone a much better player in a day - or a week.
Detailed Class Descriptions
Explorer
For players of all ages & strengths. Campers are grouped by like ability & age for classes. Evening events: blitz, quick & bughouse
Intensive Study (“IS”):
All Intensive Study sections include the evening lecture series & separate camp activities for blitz, quick & bughouse.
Advanced Youth:
For players under age 18 with a 1500+ rating – for strong students. This includes greater classroom rigor.
Advanced Adult:
For players age 18 & over OR rating of 1700+. This class is intended for serious adult students with greater classroom rigor. This session will admit serious, mature-acting youth students who meet the requirements & have camp director approval. Students who do not conduct themselves in an adult manner will be moved to Advanced Youth.
Fundamental Adult:
This class is for players age 18 and over. It is for the novice to moderate-strength adult interested in strengthening their chess knowledge for themselves or for teaching others. It includes takeaway materials and, for those interested in coaching, a letter of recommendation for the USCF Certified Chess Coach Program. Stronger players should consider IS-Advanced Adult. However, there are exceptions - if you are unfamiliar with the positional framework of Steinitz and have had difficulty improving, consider this class; you may be missing key fundamentals.
This class may allow a limited number of mature high school students of appropriate strength if the class needs a few more students to be a “go.”
Intensive Study Master Class:
This class is for serious players (including mature-acting youth) rated over 2000, or who have been over 2000. This class will be taught by GMs only (unless an unavoidable circumstance requires another international title player to teach a limited number of classes). The class will provide electronic ChessBase format class materials, & the associated tournament section will be limited to the strongest players only (allowances for camp size and an even number of players in the section). Masters are encouraged to participate.
Camp Sections and Class Assignments
Class assignments prioritize strength and age, with a stronger emphasis on the former. We primarily consider US Chess and FIDE ratings for placement. Other ratings are given less weight. If rating information is lacking, we may use additional data, including actual games and losses.
There exists a common misperception among chess parents that their children should advance to a higher camp section to face stronger players, akin to moving up a division in a tournament. However, this is usually not advisable. A class designed for 1500-rated players aims to teach them relevant skills to advance to the next level of play. Moving them up in a class prematurely potentially bypasses essential topics and puts them in a setting where they are expected to know material they have not yet covered.
It's analogous to suggesting that because a child earned "A’s” in 3rd-grade math, they should skip to high-school calculus.
You may hear on the first day, particularly in the first one to two classes, that your camper isn’t “learning anything new.” New campers will often—incorrectly—tell their parents this, and by the second day, when the parents are reacting, the student realizes they’ve made an error. We then end up with students who want to stay in a class and parents who wish to move them up.
There are two reasons why students make this error.
It's important to understand that students at the same rating level may not necessarily have the same knowledge. For instance, every student should know about the Four Elements of Chess, which includes the ability to analyze using these elements; however, many students lack experiential understanding of this topic. So, when we touch base on the elements, the student thinks “I know this.” When we start having the student do a step-by-step analysis of the four elements, the student may realize they are not proficient.
Similarly, most students are unfamiliar with Steinitz's Six Meta-Principles of Chess and lack experiential knowledge of using these principles. This lack of knowledge can hinder their progress towards the Expert level. However, because we begin with something as simple as the “Four Elements” some students may become impatient with the learning process and look for shortcuts, skipping over essential topics they think they already know. They mistake knowing of the Four Elements with knowing how to use them. They also likely do not know that the Four Elements apply to other games, sports, business, and so on. For example, Tic-Tac-Toe requires only two of the Four Elements, and knowing how to correctly use this makes it impossible to lose a game.
To address the experience issue, we walk students through several games using these tools, taking a day to a day and a half, and by the end of the process, students of all ages often express their surprise by saying, "Why didn't anyone tell me this before?" Unfortunately, some parents may not understand the importance of these topics and may feel that the instructor wastes time on topics their child already knows. However, it's important to remember that if the student knew these topics, their rating would already be much higher.In the initial classes, some effort is dedicated to establishing a common foundation and language for all. This is crucial for the ongoing development of students throughout the week. Learning isn't achieved by the wave of a magic wand; it involves engaging with and evaluating ideas throughout the week, then carrying those concepts and methodologies forward to facilitate continuous learning, and engaging with each other.
Please allow us the time to bridge learning gaps, ensuring students can progress more smoothly.
Remember that a camp section might have multiple classes. Based on the number of campers, there could be two or more Explorer classes of similar rank but different ages, or two or more Advanced Youth classes separated by age. It's important not to presume that one class is superior to another.
That a player has occasionally done well against higher-rated players isn’t an indicator that they are moving ahead. A good place to check is the player’s US Chess rating record. On the player’s main rating page, choose “Show Game Statistics.”
What we often see with players trying to advance too quickly is moderate scores against higher-rated players—say 50%—but also moderate or even lower scores against a particular lower rating level, which shows that the player is missing something and isn’t ready to advance.
This is a record of a camper from several years ago. The player was rated in the high 1400s. The player’s parents insisted they wanted their camper in the Advanced Adult class.
We can see from the circled results that the camper is not sufficiently consistent against 1300, 1400 and 1500 players to be in the 1700+ range.
While the score against 1700s and 1800s may indicate a strength a bit about 1500 (remember, 200 rating points is approximately 3 out of 4 odds) we can also see that a score of only 60% against 1200s, and 50% against lower rated players doesn’t support a higher class. Putting the student higher is a disservice to the student - because they miss the opportunity to learn fundamentals they need to know. Consider these things carefully when looking to move up your camper.
Camp Championship Tournament Assignments
The competition is organized into various sections in modern chess tournaments, such as the Caveman Chess Camp Championship Tournament. These sections do not always align with the camp class divisions. For instance, students from the same class may be distributed across different tournament sections. Additionally, while age is almost irrelevant in determining tournament groupings, it plays a role in assigning camp classes.
Further, the camp tournament is about instruction and learning, not about playing only stronger players. It creates conditions that emulate a serious-rated tournament and allows students to learn and try new ideas, new openings, and so on, without risking their rating. It’s an opportunity for these players to perform against the competition they need to face, with analysis by Grandmasters and other instructors. It’s good to give campers an opportunity at mastery.
Want to Register for a Higher Section?
If you wish to register yourself or your child for a higher section, do not call or email us. We are sorry, but we receive a high volume of such emails, and they make it very difficult to prepare for the camp.
Instead, please follow the Class-Exception-Policy. Email us **ONLY IF** if you have a question about how to follow that policy.
If your camper clearly qualifies for a section - for example, if they are US Chess Standard 1500 - a section like Advanced Youth is the correct registration. If they are short of qualification, for example, if they are 1680 and wish to be in Advanced Adult, register them in the appropriate section and request an exception to move up. See http://www.cavemanchess.com/class-exception-policy. If there is a pricing difference, we will charge the difference as of the time of your initial registration.
Chess has returned to mostly normal, so we are back to less flexibility in the policy to move up. Players will need to build a strong case to be in a higher section - both as a responsibility to themselves and to their fellow campers who expect them to participate at that higher level and contribute to class at that higher level.
Hotel Information and Registration
There are two ways to register for your room. The methods differ, but there is no difference in pricing if you are room sharing with the same number of people.
Direct Hotel Registration - YOU create the room assignment: You may register for the camp and your room separately, in which case, you can use our camp link of www.cavechess.cc/festival-camp-hotel. This gives you the camp price, and full control over your room, and any other people staying in your room, just as in a normal hotel reservation. If you are registering a room for one person, please register this way.
Hotel Registration Through the Camp - Automatic Room Assignment by the Camp: In this case we will have you pay for the camp. We will also securely take and hold your credit card information. We will then assign your requested number of additional campers to your camper’s room - and report all the campers and credit card information to the hotel on your behalf. We will do this reporting to the hotel weekly.
Your camp charges will still come from the camp - and hotel charges will be split for the hotel.
Register for your hotel room here: https://cavechess.cc/Festival-Camp-Hotel
The camp will be at the Hilton-Chicago/Northbrook.
Campers under age 18 will be assigned to a single floor, separate from other guests.
We will have camp counselors on the same floor.
Camp pricing is $125 a night for 1-4 people per room.
Campers can save significantly with multiple people per room.
Each room includes a refrigerator that can be used for various medicines
The sink for each room is separate from the bathroom, so multiple people can get ready simultaneously
Camp meals are part of camp pricing, not hotel pricing
Information on Tournament Hotel Rooms is at this link: <TBA>
A travel and room-sharing forum is at Caveman Chess Community Forum
Why Did the Camp Move to a Hotel?
The decision to move the camp to a hotel was prompted by the challenges we faced with college venues since COVID, which often led to disorganization and increased stress. We have partnered with a reputable hotel to ensure a smoother camp experience. In 2024 the hotel had an issue with their air conditioning. All of the air conditioning has been replaced and upgraded.
Room Security at a Hotel
We have camp counselors who are assigned to watch the halls in the evenings. Additionally, we are coordinating with the hotel so that under-age 18 campers and any Chaperone parents, but no other adults besides counselors, will be on that floor. If you do not register as a Chaperone, we will look to locate you on a different floor. Unlike dorms, where there was often a central hall restroom, each hotel room has a bathroom (and a fridge), so there is no reason for any camper to be in the hallways after lights out. The presence of any adult on the floor will be an immediate red flag for all counselors. This differs from colleges, where there may be more than one camp sharing a dorm space.
Quick Reference for Tournaments
To register for the hotel during the tournaments July 25-27, please use this link: https://cavechess.cc/festival-tourneys-hotel
Save Money!! Room Sharing and Roommates
Campers can save up to nearly $600 by sharing two to four campers to a room.
Direct Registration with the Hilton: If you register for your room directly with the hotel, room assignments are up to the campers. Some campers come with siblings, and some have friends.
We anticipate that campers will share room costs something like this:
One person will register the room (it is required to have a “point-person.”)
As that person gains roommates, they will add those roommates to the room, allowing those roommates to obtain keys
We anticipate most people will share room costs via PayPal, Venmo or cash options.
You can find links to these items at www.cavemanchess.com/festival.
See elsewhere for more information on the Hotel.
Room Share Forum: To assist people in finding room-share partners, we have set up a forum at https://cavechess.cc/Festival-Room-Travel-Forum. At that forum, you may make posts describing the age, strength, etc., of a roommate camper that you would like to find.
Camp-Assigned Room Share: The camp will assign roommates if you would like. To do this, at registration we will collect your credit card information, and pass it to the hotel. When available, we will assign a roommate of comparable age and the same sex (not gender.)
Chaperones and Chaperone “Castling”
Players under 10 years of age (born after July 20, 2015) require a chaperone. There is a maximum of four campers per chaperone. The resident chaperone fee includes all meals. The non-resident fee includes meals like a non-resident camper—lunch and Dinner S-Th.
Chaperones often either treat the camp as a relaxing vacation, or bring work with them to complete during the camp. Chaperones may also “castle” - we’ve had chaperones, with good communication with the camp, switch off during the week - switching one chaperone for another during the week, so each only needs a couple of days off. Also, chaperones could easily room share for multiple rooms of campers, significantly decreasing the chaperone cost.
Camp Fees
The Table Below Shows the Registration Price for Registration by June 23RD. The amounts shown are Per Registrant Per Room for the Week.
Remember, there are three types of Campers: Day Camper, Commuter and (Hotel) Resident.
In the table below, be have listed:
The camp registration price.
The estimated hotel price.
The estimated total price.
Sharing Rooms: If you know campers with whom your camper wishes to share a hotel room, please register directly with the hotel. If you do not know such campers, but wish to share room costs, you may register through the camp, and we will match your camper up with other campers of the same sex and similar age.
| Includes | Explorer Section | Intensive Study | Master Class | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day Camp | Lunch, T-shirt, Hours 8-5 | $650 | N/A | N/A | |
| Commuter (Non-Resident) | Lunch, Dinner, T-shirt, Hours: 8am-9pm. | $900 | $1,100 | $1,200 | |
| Resident. Camper registers directly with hotel. | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, T-shirt, Hours: 8 am to overnight daily | 1. Camp: $970 2. Est hotel: $781.25 3. Total est: $1,751.25 | 1. Camp: $1,170 2. Est hotel: $781.25 3. Total est: $1,951.25 | 1. Camp: $1,270 2. Est hotel: $781.25 3. Total est: $2,051.25 | |
| Resident 2 people per room. Hotel reserved room through camp. | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, T-shirt, Hours: 8am-9pm. | 1. Camp: $970 2. Est hotel: $391 3. Total est: $1,361 | 1. Camp: $1,170 2. Est hotel: $391 3. Total est: $1,561 | 1. Camp: $1,270 2. Est hotel: $391 3. Total est: $1,661 | |
| Resident, 3 Hotel Reservations Per Room Through Camp, Roommates assigned through camp | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, T-shirt, Hours: 8am-9pm. | 1. Camp: $970 2. Est hotel: $255 3. Total est: $1,225 | 1. Camp: $1,170 2. Est hotel: $255 3. Total est: $1,425 | 1. Camp: $1,270 2. Est hotel: $255 3. Total est: $1,525 | |
| Resident, 4 Hotel Reservations Per Room Through Camp, Roommates assigned through camp | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, T-shirt, Hours: 8am-9pm. | 1. Camp: $970 2. Est hotel: $155 3. Total est: $1,125 | 1. Camp: $1,170 2. Est hotel: $155 3. Total est: $1,325 | 1. Camp: $1,270 2. Est hotel: $155 3. Total est: $1,425 | |
| Chaperone | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, T-shirt | $375 | $375 | $375 | |
| For Regular Registrations from 6/24 through 7/4, add $100 to amounts above | |||||
| For Late Registration 7/5 through 7/18, add $300 to above table. | |||||
| Siblilng Discount: 15% discount of camp (not hotel) costs. Email us for a special code. | NA | NA | NA | NA | 0 |
| Senior Discount: 15% discount of camp (not hotel) costs. Email us for a special code. | NA | NA | NA | NA | 0 |
Camp Fees Include
Camp hotel rooms are $125 per night for 1-4 people, double beds available. Cook County hotel tax is around 25%, so that four to a room brings the cost to $39 per night - obviously much cheaper per person per night, a significant savings.. You pay for the hotel separately from the camp.
The camp's base fees are roughly the same, with variances for instructor level and attendance, which impact meals. This is reflected in the pricing for various levels of instruction and in the different meal levels. In addition to this, we have the camp t-shirt, photos, and a one-year subscription to Chessable Pro.
This year we have designed the camp with a few design levels. They are:
Day Camp, which includes hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.. This level does not include the evening events, and includes only a daily lunch meal, and the Sunday dinner, but still includes the t-shirt and Chessable Pro. Most chess day camps are chess enrichment classes - somewhere between chess education and a child-sitting service. Our day camp provides real instruction, and every camper will receive some grandmaster instruction, with other instruction by either titled or highly experienced instructors. Hence, our prices are a little higher than the typical day camp.
Resident Camper registration includes Sunday dinner, M-Th breakfast-lunch-dinner, and Friday breakfast. Each camper will also receive a one-year subscription to Chessable Pro. Campers must either register separately for a hotel room, or may register through the camp if they wish the camp to assign roomates (2, 3, or 4 total to a room, based on your registration preference.) We crossreference with the hotel to ensure that all resident campers are properly registered. Under age 18 campers will all be housed on one floor of the hotel. See hotel information for details.
The commuter fee includes camp registration, lunch, and dinner, M-Th, and Sunday dinner. Non-resident commuters still need to register Sunday afternoon and arrive for the Sunday evening dinner by 5:00 p.m. Non-residents need to arrive daily at the tournament room by 7:50 a.m. M-F and will plan to depart at approximately 9:00 p.m. Sun-Thu, and noon on Friday. If desired, non-residents may purchase additional meals at the hotel restaurant.
Travel Information
The camp hotel is on Illinois State Route 21, also known as Milwaukee Avenue, slightly south of where Route 45 joins Route 21. A close major intersection is Willow Road and Interstate 94. It is useful to know that the intersection of Willow Road and Sanders Road provides a quick “back entrance” to the hotel, which avoids some additional lights. The hotel is also 4 miles directly south of the Westin Chicago - Wheeling, where the Chicago Class is held. Both hotels are on Route 21.
As you can see on the map below, by exiting west onto Willow Road, one can travel to Sanders Road, then south to Winkleman Road, and West to the hotel. Winkleman has no clear point-of-interest, so we suggest slowing down as you get near the former Allstate campus on the East Side of Sanders. If you miss the turn, continue on Sanders, and it intersects with Milwaukee, and you can turn back north to the hotel.
The Crowne Plaza, which we have sometimes used for tournaments, is closed. It is expected to reopen after some renovations, as a different hotel group recently purchased it, although we expect it to stay a Crowne Plaza. We have had people go to the wrong hotel in the past. The camp is at the Hilton.
The latitude and longitude of the hotel: 42.10154 (latitude) and -87.8819 (longitude). The address is Hilton Chicago-Northbrook, 2855 Milwaukee Avenue, Northbrook, Illinois, 60062.
Bus to US Open in Madison Information
A $35 quality bus (Van Galder Bus LInes, a member of USA bus) from Northbrook heads straight to Madison for the US Open, Sunday evening 7/27 at 7:00 p.m.. This bus trip will allow players time to relax and not worry about expenses or time management. The bus will arrive at the US Open site hotel at approximately 9:45 p.m. The link to acquire a bus ticket is here: https://cavechess.cc/madisonbus
Camp Schedule
These tables below show the anticipated schedule for the 2025 Caveman Chess Overnight Camp from Sunday, July 20th to Friday, July 25th. Rooms are subject to change.
| Sunday | July 20 | |
|---|---|---|
| Begin | End | Event - Location |
| 3:00 PM | 5:00 PM | Camp Registration - Larch Room |
| 2:30 PM | 4:30 PM | $5 Blitz Tournament - Linden & Locust Rooms |
| 5:00 PM | 5:45 PM | Dinner - TBD |
| 6:00 PM | 9:00 PM | Simultaneous Exhibition - Ballroom Section TBD |
| 7:00 PM | 8:00 PM | Chess/Play |
| 8:00 PM | 9:00 PM | Play/Counselors (Early Finishers) |
| 9:00 PM | 10:00 PM | In-Dorm |
| 10:00 PM | 10:30 PM | In-Room |
| 10:30 PM | 6:00 AM | Lights Out |
| Tuesday | July 22 | |
|---|---|---|
| Begin | End | Event - Location |
| 6:00 AM | 7:15 AM | Up, Shower, to Breakfast |
| 7:15 AM | 7:50 AM | Breakfast - TBD |
| 7:50 AM | 8:00 AM | Announcements - Ballroom Sect - TBD |
| 8:00 AM | 10:10 AM | Tournament #2 - Ballroom Sect - TBD |
| 8:30 AM | 10:30 AM | Analysis - TBD |
| 10:30 AM | 12:00 PM | Class No. 4 |
| 12:00 PM | 1:00 PM | Lunch - TBD |
| 1:00 PM | 2:30 PM | Class No. 5 |
| 2:30 PM | 3:00 PM | Break |
| 3:00 PM | 4:30 PM | Class No. 6 AND PICTURES |
| 4:45 PM | 5:45 PM | Dinner - TBD |
| 6:00 PM | 8:30 PM | CE Blitz - Ballroom Sect - TBD |
| 6:00 PM | 7:15 PM | IS (Combined) Lecture - Room 104 |
| 7:15 PM | 9:00 PM | IS Blitz - Ballroom Sect - TBD |
| 9:00 PM | 10:00 PM | In-Dorm |
| 10:00 PM | 10:30 PM | In-Room |
| 10:30 PM | 6:00 AM | Lights Out |
| Thursday | July 24 | |
|---|---|---|
| Begin | End | Event - Location |
| 6:00 AM | 7:15 AM | Up, Shower, to Breakfast |
| 7:15 AM | 7:50 AM | Breakfast - TBD |
| 7:50 AM | 8:00 AM | Announcements - Ballroom Sect - TBD |
| 8:00 AM | 10:10 AM | Tournament #4 - Ballroom Sect - TBD |
| 8:30 AM | 10:30 AM | Analysis - TBD |
| 10:30 AM | 12:00 PM | Class No. 10 |
| 12:00 PM | 1:00 PM | Lunch - TBD |
| 1:00 PM | 2:15 PM | Class No. 11 |
| 2:15 PM | 2:30 PM | Break |
| 2:30 PM | 4:30 PM | Tournament #5 - Ballroom Sect - TBD |
| 2:45 PM | 4:30 PM | Analysis - TBD |
| 4:45 PM | 5:45 PM | Dinner - TBD |
| 6:00 PM | 8:30 PM | Bughouse |
| 6:00 PM | 7:15 PM | IS (Combined) Lecture - Room 104 |
| 7:15 PM | 9:00 PM | IS Bughouse |
| 9:00 PM | 10:00 PM | In-Dorm |
| 10:00 PM | 10:30 PM | In-Room |
| 10:30 PM | 6:00 AM | Lights Out |
| Monday | July 21 | |
|---|---|---|
| Begin | End | Event - Location |
| 6:00 AM | 7:15 AM | Up, Shower, to Breakfast |
| 7:15 AM | 7:50 AM | Breakfast - TBD |
| 7:50 AM | 8:00 AM | Announcements - Ballroom Sect - TBD |
| 8:00 AM | 10:10 AM | Tournament #1 - Ballroom Sect - TBD |
| 8:30 AM | 10:30 AM | Analysis - TBD |
| 10:30 AM | 12:00 PM | Class No. 1 |
| 12:00 PM | 1:00 PM | Lunch - TBD |
| 1:00 PM | 2:30 PM | Class No. 2 |
| 2:30 PM | 3:00 PM | Break |
| 3:00 PM | 4:30 PM | Class No. 3 |
| 4:45 PM | 5:45 PM | Dinner - TBD |
| 6:00 PM | 9:00 PM | Sports/Outdoor, Movies - TBD |
| 6:00 PM | 7:15 PM | IS (Combined) Lecture - Room 104 |
| 7:15 PM | 9:00 PM | Under 18 - IS: Join Sportsnight |
| 9:00 PM | 10:00 PM | In-Dorm |
| 10:00 PM | 10:30 PM | In-Room |
| 10:30 PM | 6:00 AM | Lights Out |
| Wednesday | July 23 | |
|---|---|---|
| Begin | End | Event - Location |
| 6:00 AM | 7:15 AM | Up, Shower, to Breakfast |
| 7:15 AM | 7:50 AM | Breakfast - TBD |
| 7:50 AM | 8:00 AM | Announcements - Ballroom Sect - TBD |
| 8:00 AM | 10:10 AM | Tournament #3 - Ballroom Sect - TBD |
| 8:30 AM | 10:30 AM | Analysis - TBD |
| 10:30 AM | 12:00 PM | Class No. 7 |
| 12:00 PM | 1:00 PM | Lunch - TBD |
| 1:00 PM | 2:30 PM | Class No. 8 |
| 2:30 PM | 3:00 PM | Break |
| 3:00 PM | 4:30 PM | Class No. 8 |
| 4:45 PM | 5:45 PM | Dinner - TBD |
| 6:00 PM | 9:00 PM | Quick Chess |
| 6:00 PM | 7:15 PM | IS (Combined) Lecture - Room 104 |
| 7:15 PM | 9:00 PM | IS Quick Chess |
| 9:00 PM | 10:00 PM | In-Dorm |
| 10:00 PM | 10:30 PM | In-Room |
| 10:30 PM | 6:00 AM | Lights Out |
| Friday | July 25 | |
|---|---|---|
| Begin | End | Event - Location |
| 6:00 AM | 7:15 AM | Up, Shower, to Breakfast |
| 7:15 AM | 8:00 AM | Finish Packing, Checkout, Breakfast |
| 8:00 AM | 11:00 AM | Individual Evaluations - Rooms TBD |
| 8:00 AM | 11:00 AM | Survivor Simulation Ballroom Sect - TBD |
| 11:10 AM | 12:00 PM | Closing Ceremony/Awards - Ballroom |
| 12:00 PM | Camp Closes |
Quick Links & Downloads
Camp Registration:
Tournament Registration:
Items Before Registration:
Quick Links & Downloads
Upload Documents:
Visa Letter Application
Hotel Registration:
Caveman Chess Travel Forum:
$35 Bus to US Open:
Class (Move-Up) Exception Policy:
Camp Photographer:
US Chess Federation:
Evening Lectures for Intensive Study Groups & General Public
Monday, 7/20: Time Management & Intellectual Decisions in General Over the Board - Grandmaster Yury Shulman
Tuesday, 7/21: The Exchange sacrifice in Modern Chess - Grandmaster Boris Avrukh
Wednesday, 7/22: TBD
Thursday, 7/23: Meeting the Champions. Gary Kasparov - Grandmaster Dmitry Gurevich
Lectures are required for all Intensive Study campers under age 18, and are open to all campers age 18 and older.
Lectures are open to the public for a $20 advance fee (through 7/20), $30 for late registration. Go to www.cavechess.cc/shop to purchase a ticket.
COVID and Other Policies
Caveman Chess, LLC looks to the government and our host sites for decisions about holding our chess events.
If WE cancel an event, we will make refunds proportionally based on any withholding from the tournament site. and may offer the choice of a credit with a bonus amount. If we do not cancel, but you withdraw, our normal withdrawal policy applies (see Terms and Conditions.)
The decision to vaccinate is up to each person. Generally, vaccines are safe and effective, and we encourage vaccination, especially for long-standing, well-tested vaccines. These work to eliminate not only individual infections, but reduce the risk of infection for the entire group. Increasing the distance between unvaccinated people (including by placing more vaccinated people in between the unvaccinated.)
Camp Photographer
Our camp photographer is Rob Riddle of Legacy Photography and Videography. If you have special requests use the form at https://www.capturedlegacy.com/inquiries or email rriddle44@gmail.com. Fees for photographs are determined by Legacy Photography and Videography.
Credits, Discounts, Sales and Withdrawals
To register siblings and receive a 15% discount on the total order, please email us with the subject "Sibling Discount," and we will send you a discount code.
Seniors aged 50 and over are also eligible for a 15% discount. Email us with "Senior Discount" in the subject line, and we will provide you with a personalized discount code.
If you have a credit from previously canceled events, email us with "Prior Credit" in the subject line, and we will issue you a personalized code to redeem your credit.
Withdrawals: A $250 fee is deducted for camp withdrawals. To withdraw, visit our withdrawals page at https://cavechess.cc/withdraw. Requests received by 10 PM CST on June 30th will be refunded, minus a $250 non-refundable deposit fee. After June 30th, no refunds will be issued, but substitutions are permitted. (Should you find someone to take over your reservation, we will accommodate the change upon receiving your written consent.) This policy overrides our General Refund Policy.
VISA Letter for Foreign Attendees
Foreign players often need to obtain a Caveman Chess invitation to apply for a visa. In fact, we receive so many invitation requests that we are challenged to keep up with them. Following these guidelines will increase your chances of receiving your invitation on time. Please note that no "appearance conditions" are offered or implied to any player by merely providing an invitation for VISA purposes.
1. Timing: Request your invitation as early as possible—preferably at least two months before the tournament. Do not expect same-day service. Sometimes, we cannot respond promptly because of a backlog of other work. Once you receive your invitation, you will often experience a long delay in obtaining your travel visa.
2. Method: To request an invitation, fill out the form at www.cavechess.cc/visa. Do not fax or mail invitation requests to us. Only use the form at www.cavechess.cc/visa. Other methods will be ignored.
3. Fax: If you wish to have your invitation faxed, include a dedicated fax number. If a fax number is continuously busy or not answered we cannot make excessive attempts to get through, and you may lose out on a timely invitation.
5. Information Required: You will need the information below for each person's invitation request. The form has additional questions, but most other information is not required. However, if your country requires additional information, please have it handy. If necessary, you will be able to edit the information.
Full name
Address including City, State, Region Code, Country
Email address.
Phone number.
Dedicated fax number
FIDE ID (if you have one)
US Chess ID (If you have one)
Date of birth in the required format
Tournaments or events you wish to attend.
Dates you wish to attend.
6. Confirmation: You will receive an email confirmation and editing ability.
Typical Camp Questions and FAQ
How many youth attend?
Typically, 100 to 125 youth attend our camps. Most adult campers attend one of the Intensive Study sections. As we add campers, we add instructors, intending to maintain a ratio of 8-12 campers per instructor, with the occasional class creeping up to 14 in order to fit classes by age and rating. Classes must have at least 6 students to be a “go”, and special arrangements are made in the event of classes of fewer than 6 participants.
How many adults attend?
Typically, our camps have over a dozen adult campers, and sometimes, adults make up as much as 25% of the camp.
What is the predominant range of ages of the campers?
The age range typically ranges from 7-year-old campers to 50-year-olds-plus; the widest range we have had was from age 6 to age 80. Most participants are ages 10–17, and the largest group is ages 11–14. Adults select one of the two adult-oriented Intensive Study sections, although some select the Explorer camp, particularly if they wish to attend with their children. Typically, there are over a dozen adult campers at the camp.
What is the predominant range of ratings of the campers?
Ratings range from Beginner to 2400+. The majority of our young campers’ ratings range from unrated/600 to 1200, with the next largest group being 1200–1600. There is a strong contingent from 1800 – 2200+. Adult campers generally break into two groups—one of 1000-1400 and the second of 1600 – 2200. We have had 2300s and 2400s participate as campers in the Master Class.
How can I view my child’s chess ratings?
Go to the US Chess Federation at www.uschess.org, select “Ratings,” then “Player/Ratings Look Up,” and enter your child’s name or ID.
Will participants be allowed to travel around campus alone?
Younger campers are informed to travel in a group with a counselor during movement between breaks, while adults may travel freely.
What is your cell/smartphone and other electronic devices policy?
Cell phones and other electronic devices are not prohibited, but should be used only during free time. US Chess-approved notating devices are allowed.
If minor participants drive themselves to the program, can they leave whenever they want?
No, at check-in, the driver’s keys are turned in and given to the camp directors. If they wish to leave, the guardian must provide a note in advance. Adults may travel freely, but we ask that they notify the camp about their change in plans.
Do you have enforceable consequences for prohibited actions?
Campers who break the rules are sent home with no refund.
What if my child is on medication?
Although camp counselors can hold the medication in a locked room, they cannot administer it to the camper. Hotel rooms have refrigerators.
All campers must be able to administer their medications.
What is the refund policy?
Written cancellations (post, fax, or email) received by June 30 receive a refund less a $250 non-refundable deposit fee. No refunds are given thereafter, but substitutions are accepted (you may exchange the reservation to another person.)
Tax ID and EIN
What is your EIN and address so that I can write off the camp under the Child Care Tax Credit?
Employer Identification Number: 82-5006592
Address: 27 Morris Street, Park Ridge, IL 60068
It is our understanding that the cost of overnight camps does not qualify. Please consult a certified accountant for help on this issue, or consult the IRS website. Neither Caveman Chess nor Kevin Bachler provides accounting or tax advice.