CHESS this Wednesday, March 1st at Starbucks!

Hello!

We meet again this coming Wednesday, March 1, 2023, at our usual Starbucks venue, at our usual time of 3:00 p.m. on through closing time! We meet every Sunday and Wednesday afternoon, same time, same place, and early arrivals usually have a chess puzzle to see who can be the first to solve it on the first try to win a free tall Starbucks drink of choice! Last Sunday's puzzle was quite difficult, but it was finally or eventually solved by Ranen! This Wednesday's puzzle will be much, much easier!

Last Sunday's gathering saw at least 18 players enjoy the rainy afternoon playing chess over the boards. We welcomed 3 more players new to the club: Joe, George, and Stephan! Myles hung in there quite well with the adults, and Julia's game is getting noticeably stronger! Several close contests were played by and among all players that included Reza, Mike T., Olaf, Tony, Duncan, Patrick, Vin with Vin Sr., Red, Steve, Ranen, Connor and Diego, as well as Myles, Julia, George, Stephan and Joe! Did I miss anyone?

As mentioned in a previous email, we'll have USCF-rated Quads on Sunday, March 19, 2023, with details to be confirmed soon. Also in the works for anytime 4 to 6 players can get together --- an unrated Blitz tournament! Let me know if you're interested.

See you soon,

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

CHESS this Sunday, Feb. 26th at Starbucks Rain, Snow, or Shine!

Hello!

Last Wednesday's session saw at least 14 players enjoy chess over the boards at our usual Starbucks venue, located at 1536 Kirker Pass Rd., in the Clayton Shopping Center, just up from the corner of Concord's Ygnacio Valley Rd. and Clayton Rd. We welcomed Ihauk, our newest player! There to welcome him were Matthew, Julia, Steve, Albert, Bert, Tony, Mike T., Ernie, Mike S. and Ernie -- and there were 4 or 5 players who seemed like high school students who came in and kept to themselves playing blitz chess!

We meet every Sunday and Wednesday afternoon, from 3:00 p.m. on through closing time. We welcome players of all ages and skill levels. There are no dues, and there is no purchase requirement (but it would be nice). Players arriving early have a chance to be the first player to solve a chess puzzle on the first try to win a free tall Starbucks drink of choice! While no player solved last Wednesday's puzzle on the first try, Tony did outscore 5 other players to win a special chess contest!

Our club will have USCF-rated matches (either Quads or 3-rd Swiss; G/45;d.10) on Sunday, March 19, 2023. Entry Fee = $25; with 95% or entry fees returned in cash prizes. Players must be current members of the US Chess Federation to participate. However, if unrated Blitz Quads are held, anyone can play!

See you soon!

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

CHESS this Wednesday, Feb. 22nd at Starbucks!

Hello!

About 27 players of all ages and skill levels came by for the fun and challenge of chess over the boards over our last two sessions, and it was more fun with kids in the mix along with their parents! We welcomed Steve, a new player; and we welcomed back after a long, long time away, Justin! Along with Justin and Steve were Sam, Tony, Mike T., Ernie, Dan, Matthew, Mark, Red, Morgan, Julia, Mike S.,Bert, Kevin, Meredith, Duncan, Vin, Vin Sr., Roman, Myles with Mila, Ly, and Thomas; and Sabina, Jackson and mom Susie! Did I miss anyone? (A few regulars were away on trips.)

Our next session is this coming Wednesday afternoon at our usual Starbucks venue, from 3:00 p.m. through to closing time. Players there early will have a chance to be the first to solve a chess puzzle on the first try to win a tall Starbucks drink of choice! Sabina once again helped with the solution to this past Sunday's chess puzzle; and, Vin won a drink credit by outscoring 5 other players in a contest that required predicting a master's winning chess moves!

Our club will hold USCF-rated Quads on March 19, 2023, more details to follow!

We meet every Sunday and Wednesday afternoon starting at 3:00 p.m., and players can come and go anytime; there are no dues, and there is no purchase required (but it would be nice). We're located at the Starbucks at 1536 Kirker Pass Rd., just a couple driveways up from the corner of Ygnacio Valley Rd. and Clayton Rd., on the border of Concord and Clayton, Ca., in the Clayton Shopping Center.

See you soon!

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

CHESS this Sunday, Feb. 19 at Starbucks!

Hello!

Just a quick note to say there's the usual fun, challenging chess over the boards this Sunday, February 19, 2023, at our usual Starbucks venue, from 3pm through to closing!

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

CHESS today, Wednesday Feb. 15th at Starbucks from 3pm!

Hello!

Just a quick note to confirm we meet as usual today, as we do every Wednesday and Sunday afternoon, at our usual Starbucks venue from 3pm on through closing time. Chess 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!

Players of all ages and skill levels are welcome; there are no dues, players come and go anytime, and there is no purchase required (but it would be nice).

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

CHESS Tomorrow, February 12, 2023? On Super Bowl Sunday?

Hello!

Yes, for players who prefer to play chess instead of watching the Super Bowl!

Our regular Starbucks venue is available as usual every Sunday and Wednesday afternoon from 3:00 p.m. through to closing time as chess players can come and go anytime. I'll probably drop in at halftime and/or after the championship contest.

Our chess club will have USCF-rated Quad Tournaments March 5th, a Sunday. Four players to a Quad, grouped by skill level. At least one Quad will play Blitz or Rapid. Other Quads to play the classic game, with Time Control at G/45;d10. First matches start at 10:30 a.m. Location and Entry Fees to be determined (figure $25; location across lot from Starbucks). Current membership in the US Chess Federation is required. Let me know if you are interested, or if you have any questions.

Our Wednesday, February 15, 2023 session will feature a chess puzzle to challenge players to be first to solve it on the first try to win a free tall Starbucks drink of choice. Winners of the last two challenges: Yancy and Tony! Last Wednesday's session saw at least a dozen players enjoying chess over the boards despite some rather damp, chilly weather: Sam C.,Tony, Red, Duncan, Morgan, Bert, Mike T, Mike S., Trenton, Zachary, Yancy, and Diego!

See you soon,

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

CHESS this Wednesday, February 8th at Starbucks!

Hello!

Several chess players (about 20 or so) dropped in for fun, challenging chess over the boards this past Sunday, including another new player, and a couple of players we haven't seen in a long, long time! The chess puzzle was a rather difficult one, and it took some time before it was solved, after several tries. (Yancy solved it, eventually!)

There to enjoy the coffeehouse atmosphere as well as all that chess had to offer (including Kevin's "Stealth Chess" version of the game), were: Rich P. and spouse; Donovan and Andreena; Meredith, Red, Yancy, Vishwa, Nando, Mike T., Kwaku, Vin Sr. and Vin Jr., Sam C., Sam N., Ron Z., Dave T., Tony, Connor, Mike O., and . . . Kevin! Did I miss anyone?

We meet every Sunday and Wednesday afternoon from 3:00 p.m. through to closing time at our usual Starbucks venue. All ages and skill levels are welcome! Players come and go anytime, there are no dues, and there is no purchase required (but it would be nice). Players there early usually 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'll have a fun USCF-rated tournament soon, stay tuned for details!

See you soon,

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

CHESS this Sunday, February 5th at Starbucks!

Hello!

At least 18 players enjoyed chess over the boards this past Wednesday, including at least three more new players and at least a couple players we haven't seen in quite a long time! They all are: Tony, Bert, Eric Z., Albert, Matthew, Ernie, Zachary, Sam M., Mike T., Mike S., Meredith, Vishwa, Nando, Red, Ty, Morgan, Duncan, and Julia! Did I miss anyone?

We meet every Sunday and Wednesday afternoon from 3:00 p.m. through to closing time at our usual Starbucks venue, in the Clayton Shopping Center, at 1536 Kirker Pass Rd., just up from the Concord corner of Ygnacio Valley Rd. and Clayton Rd. . . . We welcome players of all ages and skill levels, from beginners to masters! There are no dues, there is no purchase required (but it would be nice), and players come and go anytime. To play rated club tournaments, however, entry fees are in order, and players must be members of the US Chess Federation.

We meet again this Sunday, February 5th, same times, same place, and players there early have a chance to compete to be the first to solve a chess puzzle on the first try to win a free tall Starbuck drink of choice! Join us, have fun, make new friends, renew old friendships!

See you soon,

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