CHESS this Wednesday, May 29th at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone!

At least 20 players of all ages and skill levels came by to enjoy a great afternoon of chess over the boards at our usual Starbucks venue. They were: High school grads Connor and Carter; Anh and his sister Trammy; Steve P., who we haven't seen in ages, with his little daughter; chess-playing mom Erin with her young son Cowen playing several games; Robert with his mini-keyboard; Red, chess player and keyboard artist also; Ju, new to the clut; and Mike T., Ben C., Kevin, Reza, Matthew, Mark, Daniel C., and Max H. who won a free tall Mango Dragon Fruit Starbucks beverage by being the first to solve the day's chess puzzle!

Our next session is this Wednesday afternoon, May 29, 2024, from 3 p.m on through closing time as usual, same place, all are welcome, come and go anytime, there are no dues, and there's no purchase required (but it would be nice). There usually is a chess puzzle to solve, and the first to solve it on the first try wins a free tall Starbucks beverage of choice!

(We may even have an experimental, impromptu unrated either blitz or rapid tournament depending on who is game to play in a Quad with a time control of either G/5;d.2 or G/10;d.2 with other details to be agreed on by the four participants.)

So then, see you soon, and don't be surprised as you enjoy the game, you're making new friends and even renewing old friendships!

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

CHESS this Sunday, May 26, 2024 at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone!

Several players enjoyed quite a bit of chess over the boards last Wednesday afternoon and evening at our usual Starbucks venue, with Ben C. earning bragging rights, being the first to solve the day's chess puzzle, albeit on a subsequent try at it!

More players are expected this Sunday, May 26, same place, same time (3pm to closing -- players can come and go anytime), as all ages and skill levels are welcome! There are no dues, there's no purchase requirement (but it would be nice), and usually there's a chess puzzle to solve, with the first to do so on the first try winning a free tall Starbucks drink of choice!

So then, perhaps see you there, have fun with the game of chess, make new friends, even renew old friendships!

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

CHESS this Wednesday, May 22nd at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone!

This past Sunday's session saw at least 16 players enjoy the afternoon playing chess over the boards at our usual Starbucks venue, where we welcomed a few new players and an old friend of the chess club! We welcomed Richard, Julian, and MacKenzie, and there to welcome them were Chris S., Chris N, Evan, Ben C., Mike T., Kevin, Lou, Reza, Olaf, Irakli, Daniel C., and Jackson! We also welcomed back David T., a stalwart friend and avid club player who was with the Contra Costa Chess Club when it started more than 15 years ago!

We meet again this Wednesday afternoon, as we do every Sunday and Wednesday, from 3:00 p.m. through to closing time at the same Starbucks located at 1536 Kirker Pass Rd., in the Clayton Shopping Center. Players come and go anytime, there are no dues, there's no purchase required, all ages and skill levels are welcome, and the atmosphere is quite coffee-house friendly!

There usually is a chess puzzle to solve, and the first to solve it on the first try wins a free tall Starbucks drink of choice! Last Sunday's puzzle was certainly not easy, and after several players had their go at it, it was Irakli who was first to solve it on his first try to win his latte!

We do have club tournaments, usually USCF-rated. Our next one, however, will be an unrated rapid tournament, which has yet to be scheduled for sometime in June. Please stay tuned for the details, which include the time control of G/10;d2.

In the meantime, do join the fun and challenge of chess with this club, and don't be surprised if you make new friends, and renew old friendships!

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

CHESS this Sunday, May 19th at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone!

Just a short email this time to say we meet again as usual this Sunday from 3pm to closing time at our usual Starbucks venue. Last Wednesday's session saw Ben C. take bragging rights for solving the day's chess puzzle, albeit on a subsequent run at it! There with Ben were Bert, Evan, Alwin, Irakli, Mike T., Ranen and son Noah.

We meet every Sunday and Wednesday afternoon, same place, same time. Come and go anytime, all ages and skill levels welcome,there are no dues, and there's usually a chess puzzle to solve, with the first player to solve it on the first try winning a free tall Starbucks drink of choice!

The next club tournament has been pushed out to late June - more details soon! See you at Starbucks, and Sunday's weather looks really nice for chess even outdoors there!

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

CHESS this Wednesday, May 15, 2024 at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone!

Eight players decided to spend part of Mother's Day last Sunday over the chess boards, and more players of all ages and skill levels are of course expected at this Wednesday afternoon's session (May 15) as well as next Sunday's (May 19). We continue to meet every Sunday and Wednesday afternoon from 3:00 p.m. on through closing time at our usual Starbucks venue, located at 1536 Kirker Pass Rd., in the Clayton Shopping Center, very near the intersection of Ygnacio Valley Rd. and Clayton Rd.

There usually is a chess puzzle to solve, and the first player to solve it on the first try wins a free tall Starbucks drink of choice! Last Sunday's winner was Sam, and there with Sam were Max H., Daniel C., Tony, Mike T., Lou, Kevin, and Larry with his very young chess-playing grandson, Jackson!

While our next club tournament will be an unrated rapid contest, it actually may not take place until sometime mid-June if not enough players are available for it next Sunday, May 19, 2024 since it was just put out there last week. Stay tuned for confirmation of the details, as well as confirmation of the dateline. In the meantime, perhaps we'll see you soon as you get your game on, and make new friends, even renew old friendships!

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

CHESS this Sunday, May 12, 2024 at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone!

There's lots more chess over the boards at our usual Starbucks venue this Sunday afternoon, May 12, 2024 as we meet every Sunday and Wednesday afternoon from 3:00 p.m. through to closing time! Players can come and go anytime, there are no dues, and there's no purchase required. Be the first to solve the day's chess puzzle on the first try to win a free tall Starbucks drink of choice!

It was Irakli who was first to solve the chess puzzle on the first try this past Wednesday, and along with him over the boards were Evan, Bert, Mike T., Red, Will, Daniel C., and Ranen with son Noah.

We're close to scheduling an unrated Rapid Tournament. Details so far are: Quads or Groups of Six; Time Control = G/10;d2 with two games per pairing; Entry Fee = $20. All entry fees returned as prizes for 1st & 2nd Places in Quads or !st, 2nd & 3rd in Groups of Six. Location: Carl's Jr. Restaurant (across the side parking lot from Starbucks). When: Looks like the afternoon of Sunday, May 19th --- stay tuned!

Perhaps we'll see you very soon, and this Sunday promises to be fun, with -- as usual, all ages and skill levels welcome to play, make new friends, and renew old friendships!

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

CHESS this Wednesday, May 8, 2024 at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone!

We meet every Sunday and Wednesday afternoon, and it bears repeating (we get new players all the time) from 3:00 p.m. to closing time at our usual Starbucks venue located at 1536 Kirker Pass Rd., in the Clayton Shopping Center, just up from the intersection of Ygnacio Valley Rd. and Clayton Rd, Concord/Clayton, California!

Last Sunday's session saw about 20 players, including Yancy, Sam, Mike T., Ben C., Red, Evan, Chris S., Max V., Daniel C., Ranen with son Noah, Cowen with mom Erin, Chris T., Lou, Juan, Irakli, Colby and... did I miss anyone? Part of the fun and challenge of each session is trying to solve the day's chess puzzle on the first try, with the first player solving it on the first try winning a free tall Starbucks drink of choice! No player solved it on the first go last Sunday, but Yancy got bragging rights for figuring it out on a subsequent try!

All ages and skill levels are welcome to the club, from beginners to masters! There are no dues, and there's no purchase requirement. We have club tournaments from time to time, and the next one may be an unrated blitz and rapid chess contest, stay tuned! Our next USCF-rated regular tournament will also be on the schedule, for sometime after the Las Vegas Chess Festival set for early June.

So then, perhaps we will see you soon at our Starbucks venue to get your over-the-board chess fixes, as you make new friends and renew old friendships!

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