Who We Are
About Us
Our Mission
A Home for Laredo Chess
We started Chess Rock to give Laredo a dedicated home for the sport we love. Our mission is to share this game so kids can grow their minds and adults can find a real challenge — a place where chess is more than just a hobby, but somewhere to learn, compete, and belong.
At Chess Rock, you aren't just being supervised while you play — you're being taught by players with international competitive experience. We focus on the "why" behind every move, helping students build strategy and logic they can use both on and off the board.
"También Hablamos Español" — instruction available in both English and Spanish.
The Team
Meet the Coaches
Between the 1st and 3rd place finishers of the Laredo City Championship, Chess Rock essentially owns the leaderboard in Laredo.
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Cristian Bojorquez
Co-Founder & Head Coach
Undefeated Laredo City Champion
Cristian has competed at the highest levels of chess for nearly a decade — representing Mexico on the world stage and holding the Laredo City title since 2022. At Chess Rock, he focuses on the "why" behind every move, helping students build a deep understanding of strategy they can use both on and off the board.
- Undefeated Laredo City Champion — title holder since 2022
- FIDE Master title earned at the 2018 North American Youth Chess Championship (conditional on reaching 2100 rating)
- Represented Mexico at the 2018 World Youth Chess Championship in Halkidiki, Greece
- Double Bronze Medalist — 2019 Olimpiada Nacional México (Blitz 3+2)
- Gold Medalist — 2017 Juegos Escolares Nacionales, Guadalajara
- Peak FIDE rating of 2056 (Expert level)
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Jesús Alaniz
Co-Founder & Coach
State Team Champion
Jesús is the creative energy behind Chess Rock. As our lead for marketing and content, he's dedicated to showing the fun side of chess — making sure kids actually look forward to playing every week. He's the coach behind our most engaging training activities and a favorite among beginner and intermediate students.
- Texas Team Chess Champion — won in Brownsville, TX
- 2nd Place — 2023 Region 7 Championship (South Texas elite)
- 3rd Place — most recent Laredo City Championship
- 1700 USCF rated — bridges the gap between casual and competitive play
How We Teach
Fun Meets Focus
Our classes are high-energy and engaging. We mix traditional game analysis with interactive training — because students who enjoy being here are students who keep improving.
Hand and Brain
A teamwork exercise where two students share one board — one calls the piece, the other picks the move. Builds communication, calculation, and trust.
Blindfold Challenges
Play without seeing the board. A proven technique for sharpening visualization and deepening positional memory.
Live Strategy Quizzes
Rapid-fire tactical puzzles and positions pulled from real games. Keeps the energy high while training pattern recognition.
What We Stand For
Our Values
Community
Chess Rock is built for Laredo. We serve players of all ages, backgrounds, and skill levels — in English and Spanish.
Excellence
From beginners to advanced competitors, we push every player to reach their full potential on and off the board.
Passion
We love chess. That passion drives everything we do — from daily classes to local and regional tournaments.
Not Sure Yet?
Free 1-Day Trial
Come see if we're the right fit. Bring your child by during regular class hours to meet the coaches, see the club, and play a few games on us — no commitment required.