CHESS this Sunday Afternoon, Oct. 31 (Halloween) at Starbucks ? 1:00 - 4:00 pm!

Hi Everyone!

Owing to Sunday, Oct 31st being Halloween, an evening for kids and parents and for yet others staying in to give out treats to trick-or-treaters as soon as darkness falls, our club chess session will run only from 1:00 p.m. - no later than 4:00 p.m. at our regular Starbucks venue. Players can of course stay longer, if desired.

So then, come by anytime between 1pm and 4pm this Sunday, Oct 31 for your chess fix !

More interest has been shown for USCF-rated competition held by our chess club, as in rated Quads or other formats. The rated matches (using tournament rules such as "touch move," and having a certified TD available) are good practice for the large January 2022 tournament (13th Annual Golden State Open, in Concord, CA !). The rated matches will also give our unrated players their provisional ratings so that they are better set for the exciting experience of playing in their first major chess tournament within their appropriate rating or skill levels!

In case you missed the announcement, with full specs, for the 13th Annual Golden State Open, here once again is the link/website (if you have questions about it, just ask):

https://new.uschess.org/13th-annual-golden-state-open

See you soon,

-- Mike T.
Contra Costa Chess Club
US Chess Federation
Affiliate ID #A6024746

CHESS this Wednesday, Oct. 27 at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone!

There's more chess over the boards this Wednesday afternoon, at our usual Starbucks venue, with an earlier start now that night falls earlier along with colder weather! Come by anytime now between 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.! We're located at 1536 Kirker Pass Rd., Clayton, CA, just a couple driveways up from the corner of Clayton Rd. and Ygnacio Valley Rd. in Concord.

As usual, we'll have a chess puzzle to solve for players who arrive early. Solve the puzzle on the first try (touch move!) and win a tall Starbucks drink of choice!

Announcement!: The announcement for the 13th Annual Golden State Open just came out! It's to happen on the long Martin Luther King holiday weekend January 14 - 17, 2022 in Concord, at the Crown Plaza Hotel (right by the Buchanan Fields Airport)! All the specs can be found using the following link:

https://new.uschess.org/13th-annual-golden-state-open

For our club's new unrated or new provisional-rated players, if you need help deciphering some of the specifications contained in the announcement, just ask me or one of our experienced tournament players, who will be more than happy to help. There's lots of time to practice and get some more rated games in before the Golden State Open ($25,000 Guaranteed Prize Fund, spread over several skill levels, from masters and experts to beginners)!

See you soon,

-- Mike T.
Contra Costa Chess Club
US Chess Federation
Affiliate Club ID #A6024746

CHESS Earlier this Rainy Day Sunday, Oct. 24 at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone !

Come by earlier, anytime between 2:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. or so at our usual Starbucks venue (They close at 8:00 p.m.) this Sunday, October 24, 2021 for fun, challenging chess over the boards!

Players arriving early will have a chance to be the first to solve a chess puzzle on the first try (touchmove!) to win a grande Starbucks drink of choice, since no player was able to solve the puzzle last Wednesday! Mike T. was on hand along with Setsal, Sam, Bert, Hasseb, Irakli, and Rich K. to welcome yet another new player to the club, Jeremiah!

A super-soaker rainstorm is expected Sunday, so we can expect to be playing indoors. (Carl's Jr across the parking lot is an alternate venue, if needed.) Please keep pandemic masks on if indoors and not eating or drinking. If the weather keeps you home safe and dry, perhaps we'll see you another time! For those game to play chess at Starbucks, drive safely!

We're located at 1536 Kirker Pass Rd., Clayton, CA, just a couple driveways up from the corner of Ygnacio Valley Rd. and Clayton Rd., in Concord. We welcome players of all ages and skill levels, from beginners to masters and all in between! There are no dues, and there is no purchase required (but it would be nice).

See you soon,

-- Mike T.
Contra Costa Chess Club
US Chess Federation
Affiliate Club ID #A6024746

CHESS this Wednesday Oct. 20th at Starbucks !

Hi Everyone !

Despite much cooler and windy weather with rain finally expected, at least seven players came by our usual Starbucks venue this past Sunday to enjoy the game of chess over the boards and indoors! No player was able to solve the chess puzzle on the first try to win a free drink, as Setsal, Mike T., Ranen, Irakli, Hasseb, Andrew, and Olaf settled in to play mostly blitz and otherwise rapid chess games through the afternoon and early evening . . .

We start our sessions earlier now, given that nightfall comes earlier. Come by anytime between 3:00 p.m. and closing time of 8:00 p.m. to play chess at Starbucks, located at 1536 Kirker Pass Rd., Clayton, CA, just a couple of driveways from the corner of Ygnacio Valley Rd. and Clayton Rd., in Concord, this Wednesday, October 20, 2021.

We meet every Wednesday and Sunday afternoons, same times, same place. We welcome players of all ages and skill levels, from beginners to masters! Players arriving early have a chance to solve a chess puzzle on the first try -- touch move! -- to win a free tall Starbucks drink of choice! There are no dues, and there is no purchase required (but it would be nice).

Players who wish to compete in USCF-rated Quad(s) need to inform me so I can set it(them) up. So far, Setsal and Irakli are clearly up for a Quad, which is open to anyone who is a member of the US Chess Federation. {If you need info on how to join, or renew your membership, you may go on the USCF website, or join/renew through the mail using the official form available in our club.}

See you soon,

-- Mike T.
Contra Costa Chess Club
US Chess Federation
Affiliate Club ID #A6024746

CHESS this Wednesday Oct. 13th at Starbucks -- Indoors OK again!

Hi Everyone!

Join us once again for chess over the boards both indoors and outdoors at our regular venue, Starbucks, located at 1536 Kirker Pass Rd., Clayton, CA, very close to the intersection of Clayton Rd. and Ygnacio Valley Rd. in Concord CA. We welcome players of all skill levels, from beginners to masters and all in between. There are no dues, and there is no purchase required (but it would be nice).

Come by anytime now between 3:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. every Wednesday and Sunday afternoons. Our next session is tomorrow, Wednesday, October 13, 2021 and, as usual, players arriving early for the better tables and more matches have an opportunity to be the first to solve a chess puzzle on the first try (touch move!) for a free tall Starbucks drink of choice!!

Please Note, Due to the Ongoing Pandemic: Customers/chess players who purchase Starbucks food and/or drinks and go immediately back outdoors probably will not need to show either proof of vaccination or proof of negative results of a Covid-19 test done within the last 72 hours. However, customers/chess players who intend to remain indoors may or will be requested to present such proof along with a valid photo I.D.

We will soon start our club Quads for players who are members of the US Chess Federation. Possibly as soon as next Sunday, October 17th! More specifics in my next email, stay tuned!

-- Mike T.
Contra Costa Chess Club
US Chess Federation
Affiliate Club ID #A6024746

CHESS this Wednesday Oct. 6th at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone!

We meet every Sunday and Wednesday, come by anytime from 4pm - 8pm at our regular venue, Starbucks, located at 1536 Kirker Pass Rd., Clayton, CA, just a couple driveways up from the corner of Clayton Rd. and Ygnacio Valley Rd. in Concord, CA. Our next session is this Wednesday, October 6, 2021, all ages and skill levels, from beginners to masters and all in between are welcome as chess is to be enjoyed over the boards, in person!

We had a lively outdoor session last Sunday, with players that ranged from a 7-year-old phenom and a sharp teenager who solved the difficult chess puzzle, to a couple of masters who shared in the fun by playing blitz, bullet vs. blitz, and even by an impressive win via checkmate playing blindfolded !! Along for the fun that went into evening hours were Raquel, Paul, Mike T., Setsal, Matthew, Hasseb, Ronald, Manny, Andrew, Irakli, Olaf, Chris B., and Suhas and his Dad!

More players can be expected once Starbucks restores inside dining in the very near future, after their Covid-19 training. In the meantime, should weather be an issue, the Carl's Jr. establishment across the parking lot from Starbucks may welcome indoors chess players who are vaccinated.

We are soon going to have rated Quads, stay tuned, and see you soon!

-- Mike T.
Contra Costa Chess Club
US Chess Federation
Affiliate Club ID #A6024746

CHESS this Sunday October 3rd at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone!

Join us this Sunday, October 3, 2021, anytime between 4:00p.m. - 8:00p.m. for fun, challenging chess over the boards at our usual venue, Starbucks, located at 1536 Kirker Pass Rd., Clayton, CA, just a couple driveways up from the corner of Ygnacio Valley Rd. and Clayton Rd. in Concord! We welcome players of all ages and skill levels, from novices to masters!

Come by early for the better tables and more games, plus an opportunity to be the first to solve a chess puzzle on the first try (touch move!) to win a free tall Starbucks drink of choice!

At least 7 players came by last Sunday, and 11 players this past Wednesday to enjoy the game of chess outdoors at Starbucks, despite the venue's prohibition of staying indoors due to the County's required Covid-19 mandated training of staff. Indoor play might be available once again starting this Sunday. Players included Tony T., Art S., Andrew, Hasseb, Evan, Mike T., Matthew, Irakli (who solved the chess puzzle), Bert, Alexei, Olaf, Setsal (welcome to the club!), and one other who did not leave his name, but will return soon after having won one blitz game. Evan will be away for a month, and Tony for three weeks, travel safe!

Breaking News: If Starbucks still does not permit staying inside due to Covid-19 training of staff this Sunday, it may be possible for us to play indoors at the Carl's Jr. Restaurant, which is across the parking lot. I will confirm that with Carl's Jr. 's on-site manager again this Sunday.

Note, however, that it is very likely that players will have to show their vaccination cards and photo I.D. -- and to keep masks on -- if staying indoors to eat, drink, -- or play chess, whether at Starbucks or Carl's Jr. For playing chess outdoors, masks are optional, though masks are required if going indoors to buy something or use the restroom.

See you soon,

-- Mike T.
Contra Costa Chess Club
US Chess Federation
Affiliate Club ID #A6024746