2,600 ₺
Junior Chess
Little Pawns (Ages 5-7)
How the pieces move, the chessboard through stories and mini-games: a first meeting with chess.
İzmit · Başiskele · From age 5 to adults
The game that teaches thinking: chess
Groups formed by age and national or FIDE rating, a 60-board tournament hall, rated and rapid tournaments every month. Mind games groups with mangala, reversi and Go; free level assessment.
310+Licensed players
60Board tournament hall
find your group
By age and rating
Groups by rating band
Chess groups are formed by age and playing strength: students with a national rating (UKD) or FIDE rating are placed by rating band, and unrated players by a level test. Mind games and Go groups are listed separately.
2,900 ₺
Junior Chess
Foundation Chess (Ages 8-10)
Opening principles, basic checkmates, notation and the chess clock: getting ready for a first tournament.
Rating band0–1000
3,200 ₺
Junior Chess
Tactics and Combinations (Ages 8-12)
Tactical motifs, calculation and middlegame plans for students rated 1000-1200 UKD.
Rating band1000–1200
3,400 ₺
Tournament Chess
Development Group (Ages 11-14)
UKD 1200-1400: an opening repertoire, pawn structures, endgame technique and a regular tournament schedule.
Rating band1200–1400
4,200 ₺
Tournament Chess
Tournament Preparation Group (Ages 10-16)
UKD 1400-1700: three sessions a week, online analysis, tournament coaching and preparation for age-group…
Rating band1400–1700
5,400 ₺
Tournament Chess
Performance Group (FIDE 1700+)
Deep opening work, strategic positions and an individual training plan for players rated FIDE 1700-2000.
Rating band1700–2000
1,900 ₺
Adults
Adult Chess and Club Evenings
A weekly evening lesson plus free play for adults who are new to chess or returning after years away.
Rating band0–1600
2,700 ₺
Mind Games
Mind and Puzzle Games (Ages 7-12)
Strategic, spatial and numerical thinking through mangala, reversi, hex, Turkish draughts, sudoku, kakuro and…
10-question test
Chess Level Test
A 10-question pre-assessment for unrated players. The first four questions are worth 1 point, the rest 2 points. The result is a suggestion; final placement follows a level assessment game.
- For unrated players
- Instant group suggestion
- Final placement by a game
- 2012Founded
- 310+Licensed players
- 60Board tournament hall
- 47Provincial and national placings (2025-2026)
Tournament calendar
Tournaments and events
November 2026
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun12345678910111213141516Club Blitz Night17181920212223Junior Rapid Chess Tournament (U8-U14)24252627282930Mangala and Mind Games Festival
- Tournament
Hamlekâr Winter Open Chess Tournament (Rated, 7 Rounds)
Friday · 10:00 Hamlekâr İzmit Tournament Hall
- Exhibition
Simultaneous Exhibition: FM Kemal Durusoy vs 20 Boards
Monday · 14:00 Hamlekâr İzmit Tournament Hall
Membership · tournament entry
Club membership and tournament packages
Memberships renew monthly. Groups are assigned by age and rating band after a free level assessment. A 10% discount applies to a second family member.
Club Evenings
Adults, one evening a week
1,900 ₺/month
VAT included
- 1 x 120 min a week
- Monthly blitz tournament
- Use of the club library
Foundation
Ages 5-12, 2 sessions a week
2,900 ₺/month
VAT included
- 2 group sessions a week
- Weekly puzzle homework book
- Monthly mini tournament
- End-of-term progress report
Development
UKD 1000-1400, 2 sessions a week
3,400 ₺/month
VAT included
- 2 x 90 min a week
- Analysis of tournament games
- A personal opening repertoire
- 30% off club tournaments
Tournament
UKD 1400+, 3 sessions a week
4,200 ₺/month
VAT included
- 2 in-person + 1 online session a week
- Coach support at tournaments
- Opponent and opening preparation
- Free entry to club tournaments
Online registration for tournaments and holiday camps run by the club. Tournament entries require the player’s name, year of birth and, if any, federation licence number.
Winter Open Entry
2 days, 7 rounds, rated
600 ₺
VAT included
- 7 rounds, 60 min + 30 sec
- National rating
- Trophies and medals
Junior Rapid Tournament
U8-U14, 6 rounds
350 TL
VAT included
- 6 rounds, 10 min + 5 sec
- Medals for all participants
- Feedback from coaches
Mid-year Chess Camp
5 days, 09:30-15:30
6,500 ₺
VAT included
- 5 days x 6 hours
- Daily lessons, puzzles and a tournament
- Lunch and a snack
- An end-of-camp simul
Rating calculator
How much will your rating change after a game?
Enter your rating, your opponent’s rating and the result to see the expected score and estimated rating change under the FIDE formula.
with the FIDE formula
About the club
We teach thinking, not just winning
Hamlekâr is an amateur sports club founded in İzmit in 2012 by FIDE Master Kemal Durusoy. Today 5 coaches teach chess and mind games to more than 400 members in two halls, and we run more than 20 tournaments a year.
- A sports club registered with the Provincial Directorate of Youth and Sports
- Groups by age and rating band
- A written progress report every term
Groups by rating
Balanced groups by rating band, so everyone is challenged at their own level.
A tournament every month
Rated, rapid and blitz tournaments, with coaches at tournaments.
Mind games
Different thinking skills with mangala, reversi, hex, sudoku and Go.
A 1,200-book library
Members can borrow books and magazines during club hours.
Tournaments with national arbiters
Club tournaments are run by licensed arbiters.
Coaches
The coaches at the board
Founder and Head Coach, FIDE Master (FM)
Kemal Durusoy
A FIDE Master with a peak rating of 2310 who placed in Turkish youth championships. He founded…
Junior Coach, Woman FIDE Master (WFM)
Seda Koral
A Woman FIDE Master with a degree in primary teaching. She designed the club’s play-based chess…
Coach, Tactics and Development Groups
Tunç Ilgın
Rated 2050 UKD and holds a level-2 coaching certificate. He specialises in tactics and endgame…
Mind and Puzzle Games Teacher
Melike Arıkan
A maths teacher who has taught the Intelligence and Mind Games elective in middle schools. She…
Ofislerimiz
İzmit and Başiskele halls
Main club and tournament hall
İzmit Main Hall
- Yahyakaptan Mah. Kartal Sok. No: 6 Kat: 1, İzmit / Kocaeli
- +90 262 331 47 20
- Weekdays 15:00-22:00 · Weekends 10:00-19:00
Branch
Başiskele Seaside Branch
- Yeniköy Mah. Sahil Yolu Cad. No: 48, Başiskele / Kocaeli
- +90 262 331 47 21
- Wednesday 15:00-20:00 · Saturday and Sunday 10:00-17:00
Players and parents
Every move a lesson
My son used to cry whenever he lost; now he opens the game from his scoresheet and says “I went wrong here”. The coaches’ patience and attention are invaluable.
In two years my national rating went from 1250 to 1640 and I got my first FIDE rating. The analysis with Kemal between tournament rounds really helps.
I started coming to the club on Thursday evenings after retiring. It keeps my mind sharp and I have made new friends of all ages.
My daughter started with mind games before chess. Mangala and sudoku have made her really comfortable with numbers, and now she wants to join a chess group too.
Our school team joined the club’s preparation camp and placed in the provincial competition for the first time. The programme was excellent; we would love to see more places for schools.
Move Notebook
Tournaments, mangala and practice at home
Does Chess Improve Children’s School Performance?
What is known about chess and attention, problem solving and maths, and what parents can realistically expect.
Read more
Getting Ready for a First Tournament: Clock, Notation and Tournament Psychology
Licence, registration, the chess clock, notation and the round after a loss: a checklist for children and parents…
Read more
Mangala: How to Play Anatolia’s Strategy Game
Two players, twelve pits, forty-eight stones: the basic rules of mangala, common strategies and tips for teaching it to…
Read moreThe first move is yours
The level assessment is free: a 20-minute game and a short talk to find the right group together.
find your group