Laura Smith

Laura is a chess master who earned the title of National Master in 2004 at the age of 16. Formerly Laura Ross before she married, she was the first U.S. female to head a "Top 100 Players" list of both male and female players, as published by the United States Chess Federation. In April 2002 she became the highest rated 13-year-old, male or female, in the U.S.

Laura is an alumna of Binghamton University. After college Laura taught for the non-profit Chess-in-the-Schools and she enjoyed teaching so much that she went on to earn her Master's in Childhood Education. She is now a 4th Grade teacher in Brooklyn and she helps run the chess enrichment clubs. She also has created two chess courses on Chessable titled Forcing Moves for Beginners and co-authored Can I Take It? An Introduction to the Counting Tactic in Chess with NM Dan Heisman. She loves spending time with her family and friends in Brooklyn, NY and enjoys her Chess Club for adults and kids in the neighborhood.