CHESS this Sunday, January 30 at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone!

There's lots more chess over the boards this Sunday, Jan. 30, 2022 at our usual Starbucks venue, located at 5136 Kirker Pass Rd, Clayton, CA., at the Clayton Station Shopping Center, just a couple driveways up from the corner of Ygnacio Valley Rd. and Clayton Rd. in Concord, CA!

[If by chance Starbucks is closed for any reason, we hold our sessions at Carl's Jr. Restaurant, where there are ample tables, just across the parking lot. At either Starbucks or Carl's, there is no purchase requirement (but it would be nice)]

Come by anytime after 3:00 p.m., the earlier the better for the better tables, more matches, and some really nice company! Players arriving early have a chance to be the first to solve a chess puzzle on the first try to win a free tall Starbucks drink of choice!

Last Wednesday's session highlights include our welcoming two players new to the club, Ken C. and Vishwa! On hand to welcome Ken and Vishwa were Mike T., Tony, Matthew, Irakli, Bert, Sam, and Yancy. It was Irakli who solved the chess puzzle on his first try this time!

At least 4 or 5 players so far will be signing up for our USCF-rated matches, but some will need to join or renew membership in the US Chess Federation. So far, Tony, Setsal, Irakli, Matthew, and Mike T will be set to go for G/45 d.10 once the venue and game day & time schedule is determined. Entry fee: $18.00; 1st Prize $40; 2nd Prize $30; 3rd Prize $10, if only 4 or 5 players, Round-Robin Format. (Higher $$ prizes if more players, then 6 rds.SS applies, possibly over two sessions). If you're interested, let me know soon!

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

CHESS this Wednesday Jan. 26 at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone!

Chess over the boards at our usual Starbucks venue this Wednesday, Jan. 26th - come and go anytime between 3:00 p.m. through to closing time of 8:00 p.m. All ages and skill levels welcome, from beginners to masters, no dues, no purchase required (but it would be nice)! Early arrivals have a chance to be the first to solve a chess puzzle on the first try to win a free tall Starbucks drink of choice!

Our chess club will start hosting USCF-rated matches. Format depends on the number of entries, e.g., simple Quad; 1x or 2x Round Robin; or Swiss Pairing System. Time Control: G/45 d.10 (Forty-five minutes per side with a delay of 10 seconds per move). Good for experienced rated players, players with USCF provisional ratings, as well as for USCF-unrated and beginner players!

Club players definitely interested, so far, as of yesterday: Irakli, Yancy, Mike T., and Matthew.

(No player will be over-matched, unless a player specifically desires to "play up." Matches will be kept as much as possible within no more than 300 rating points of each other, with few exceptions for certain unrated or provisionally rated players in the same quad or bracket.)

Entry Fees, Monetary Prizes, Day and Starting Times to be determined with players' input.

Requirement: Current Membership in the US Chess Federation. New membership or renewals can be done easily of the USCF web site.

Let me know, see you soon!

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

CHESS this Sunday, January 23, 2022 at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone!

Once again there's more chess over the boards at our usual Starbucks venue, come by anytime from 3:00 p.m. through closing time at 8:00 p.m. to enjoy the game and good company! We welcome players of all ages and skill levels, from beginners to masters! There are no dues and there is no purchase requirement.

Players arriving early have a chance to be the first to solve a chess puzzle on the first try to win a free tall Starbucks drink of choice! By the way, it's become quite a challenge to be the first to solve the day's puzzle before Yancy does, as he has solved 3 out of the last 4 puzzles on his first try! (Along with Yancy during our session this past Wednesday were Matthew, Mike T., Tony T., Irakli, Sam, Setsal, Tom, and Maria.)

There's been renewed interest in having USCF-sanctioned rated matches. We can have those in our club. Let me know if you're beyond just interested, and we'll set them up!

See you soon,

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

CHESS this Wednesday, Jan. 19th at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone!

This past weekend's 13th Annual Golden State Open in Concord saw at least 10 or more players who frequented our chess club over this past year as well as during pre-pandemic times. Among players competing (and at least 3 or 4 were in the money! -- and there were wins, losses and draws for everyone, as no one got shut out!) were Enrico, Chris B., Ranen, Mike T., Bert, Morgan, Alwin, Eric, Carl N., and Jackie C., with visits from Yancy and Ronald!

It's a safe bet that more club players will plan on competing in next year's 14th Annual GS Open on the long Martin Luther King weekend at the Concord Plaza Hotel in Concord ! Overall it was fun, or at least quite the experience, and several of us certainly made some new friends.

Our club session takes place once again this Wednesday (tomorrow), January 19, 2022 at our usual Starbucks venue, at 1536 Kirker Pass Rd., Clayton, CA., just up from the corner of Clayton Rd. and Ygnacio Valley Rd. of Concord, CA.. However, should the Starbucks be closed for any reason, we simply meet at the Carl's Jr. Restaurant just across the parking lot!

As usual, players arriving early have a chance to be the first to solve a chess puzzle on the first try to win a tall Starbucks drink of choice!

See you soon,

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

CHESS this Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2022 at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone!

We'll meet again for chess over the boards this Wednesday, January 12, 2022 at our usual Starbucks venue from 3:00 p.m. on through closing time of 8:00 p.m. Players can come by anytime, the earlier the better for the better tables, more games, and some very nice company!

Players there early have a chance to be the first to solve a chess puzzle on the first try to win a tall Starbucks drink of choice! By the way, Yancy was the first to solve each of the last two puzzles on his first attempt!

Our club's subsequent session will be next Wednesday, Jan. 17th, instead of next Sunday due to the 13th Annual Golden State Open chess tournament in Concord this long Martin Luther King weekend coming up (Jan. 14-17)! However, for players not competing/playing in the tournament, there should be no problem playing at Starbucks strictly for funsies next Sunday.

See you soon,

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

CHESS this Sunday January 9, 2022 at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone !

More than a dozen players lit it up the chess boards last Wednesday, with several having their sights on next weekend's 13th Annual Golden State chess tournament in Concord!

We also welcomed a player new to the club, but certainly not to chess as he was the first to solve the day's chess puzzle on the first try! Welcoming Yancy were Herb, Tony, Morgan and Melissa, Alwin, Bert, Armen, Diego, Mike T., Ronald, Mark, Matthew, and Maria!

We meet again this Sunday, January 9, 2022, at our usual Starbucks venue located just up from the corner of Ygnacio Valley Rd. and Clayton Valley Rd. of Concord, at 1536 Kirker Pass Rd., in Clayton, California.

Come by anytime after 3:00 p.m. on through the closing time of 8:00 p.m; we welcome players of all ages and skill levels, from beginners to masters! Players there early have a chance to be the first to solve a chess puzzle on the first try to win a free tall Starbucks drink of choice!

See you soon,

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

CHESS at Starbucks Resumes this Wednesday, January 5, 2022!!

Hi Everyone!

Happy, Happier New Year 2022 to everyone as we resume our fun, challenging, over-the-board chess sessions this Wednesday, January 5, 2022, at our Starbucks venue located at 1536 Kirker Pass Rd., Clayton (just a couple driveways up from the corner of Ygnacio Valley Rd. & Clayton Rd., Concord, Calif.) !

Come by anytime from 3:00 p.m. on through the closing time of 8:00 p.m. Players arriving early have a chance to be the first to solve a chess puzzle on the first try to win a free tall Starbucks drink of choice!

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).

Don't be surprised if some players are practicing for the upcoming 13th Annual Golden State Open Chess Tournament set for this month's long Martin Luther King weekend (Jan. 14-17, 2022) at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Concord! There are several skill divisions in the tournament, from beginners to masters. Players can decide to play it over 4 days, 3 days, or even 2!! There's even a Blitz tournament included! If you need more info about it all, check the tournament out on line, or see me in person at our Starbucks venue.

See you soon,

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