CHESS this Wednesday, August 28, 2024 at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone!

There's lots more chess over the boards this Wednesday, August 28th at our regular Starbucks venue, from 3:00 p.m. through to closing time, as players can come and go anytime; there are no dues; there's no purchase required (but it would be nice); and there's usually a chess puzzle to solve, with a free tall Starbucks drink of choice going to the one who is first to solve it on the first try!

We meet every Sunday and Wednesday, same place, same time, and last Sunday saw quite a few players of all ages and skill levels -- at least 25 or more players in all, playing chess inside Starbucks as well as on the tables outside! We welcomed a couple of players new to the club: Rodri and Fernando. It was fun to see Benoit and Irakli bring their families! So then, the chess players in the mix, playing all kinds of chess games, including matches both off and on the clock, were: Benoit and son Theo; Allen and son Samuel; Irakli, Ben C., Reza, Jackson, Matthew R., Cory, Red, Fernando, Meredith, Rodri, Daniel U., David T., Tony, Alwin, Kevin, Daniel C., Alex S., David B., Mike T.; and Jonathan and son Dylan...! Did I miss anyone...?

We even had a kind of "Brain & Hand" fun tournament, to possibly be completed either this Wednesday or at next Sunday's session... what were the teams again...? The fun prize: tall Starbucks drinks and Cake Pops to the winning team!

Join us this Wednesday, August 8th, and next Sunday afternoon, September 1, 2024 for more of the fun and challenge of chess over the boards! Come early if you can for the best tables, and be ready to make new friends, and renew old friendships!

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

CHESS this Sunday, August 25, 2024 at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone!

Join the fun and challenge of chess over the boards this Sunday, August 25th, at our usual Starbucks venue! Come and go anytime between 3:00 p.m. and closing time (8:30 p.m.) and, if it's anything like last Sunday, be among at least a couple dozen or more chess players of all ages and skill levels!

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! Tony solved last Wednesday's tricky puzzle. This Sunday will also feature a fun "Brain & Hand" contest (pairings approved by the organizer to ensure no team is overmatched) for the sweet prize of tall drinks and Cake-Pops for the winners!

See you there, and as always, be open to making new friends and don't be surprised if you renew old friendships!

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

CHESS this Wednesday, August 21, 2024 at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone!

More than 20 players came by our regular Starbucks venue this past Sunday, August 18th, to enjoy an afternoon of chess over the boards! Young Sophia was there for the first time, with her Dad Bill, and she played some chess games with young Samuel, who was there with his Dad Allen and Mom Rochelle! There to welcome them and play all kinds of chess games (including "Brain & Hand") were: Ben C., Reza, David T., Kassy, Trey, Daniel U., Red, Mike T., Daniel C., Sam, Jackson, Julia, Meredith, Kevin, Lou, Alex, Jordy, and Cory! Did I miss anyone? A group of 5 chess players even went over to the Curry Bowl and enjoyed some rather tasty Indian food after chess!

We continue to meet every Wednesday and Sunday afternoon for lively chess over the boards, and all ages and skill levels are welcome! We meet from 3:00 p.m. on through closing time at the Starbucks located at 1536 Kirker Pass Rd., in the Clayton Shopping Center, just a couple driveways up from the intersection of Ygnacio Valley Rd. and Clayton Rd., right on the border of Clayton and Concord. There are no dues; come and go anytime; and, there's no purchase requirement (but it would be nice to buy something). However, If you have food and drink from other shops, please enjoy them, but on the tables outside, where chess can also be played.

Our next session is this Wednesday, August 21, 2024, same time, same place,and the number of players joining the fun on Wednesday afternoons is increasing, so do come by to enjoy the game, and make new friends, and even renew old friendships!

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

CHESS this Sunday, August 18, 2024 at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone!

Well more than a dozen players came by to enjoy chess over the boards this past Wednesday, and as usual, many more are expected for our Sunday chess session this coming Sunday, August 18th, at our regular Starbucks venue!

We meet every Sunday and Wednesday afternoon, from 3:00 p.m. on through closing time, at the Starbucks located at 1536 Kirker Pass Rd., in the Clayton Shopping Center, just up from the intersection of Clayton Rd. and Ygnacio Valley Rd., right on the border of Clayton and Concord! Players come and go anytime, all ages and skill levels are welcome, there are no dues, and there's no purchase required (but it would be nice). Note: if you have food and drink products from other shops or stores, please enjoy them on the tables outside. There usually is a chess puzzle to solve, and the first one to solve it on the first try wins a free tall Starbucks drink of choice!

Last Wednesday we welcomed several players new to the club: Cory, David B., Zoey, and Matthew G.! Among the other players in the mix there to welcome them were Ben C., Red, Tony, Mike T., Irakli, Aaron, Meredith, Matthew R., Peter,and the father-and-son team, Jonathan and Dillon!

Speaking of teams, Meredith and Red paired up to challenge Cory and Zoey in a chess contest known as the "Brain & Hand," wherein, in turn, one player -- the "Brain" -- only names a chess piece to be moved (without specifying which if there is more than one available on the board), AND does not say where. The other player -- the "Hand" -- must then decide which named chess piece, if there is more than one available, to move on the board and to where. No other communication between Brain & Hand is allowed.

In the first match, Red was the Brain, Meredith was the Hand on one team; and, on the other team,Cory was the Brain, and Zoey was the Hand. The first match was lots of fun, as both teams got the hang of the game and laughed along with the audience's silly reactions to decisions made by both Brains and Hands. For the rematch, it was Meredith the Brain & Red the Hand versus Zoey the Brain & Cory the Hand. The rematch evolved, or devolved, into something resembling chess as Starbucks was about to close and chess moves somehow got Out-of-Hand, and yes perhaps even Out-of-Brain, too . . . but not without the joy and laughter that made for a fun evening!

Perhaps we will see you this coming Sunday to enjoy an afternoon of chess over the boards (and maybe even some Brain-Hand, along with some live keyboard music played by Robert and Red), and don't be surprised if you make new friends and even renew old friendships!

And, by the way, if you're game to play in an all day 4-rd USCF-rated tournament on Saturday, September 7, 2024 in Dublin, Calif.: (G/40;d.5); $2000 in overall cash prizes; All ages, Open Section 1500+; U1500; U1000, Starts at 9:00 a.m.Fallon Middle School at 3601 Kohnen Way, Dublin, Calif. Entry Fee $50 by 09/07/24; $60 if later. For more details check or google Emerald Hills Chess Club. They are adopting (coopting?) the name East Bay Open, the name originated by our own Contra Costa Chess Club back in the early 2010s. I do support most chess activities, and this is also a good opportunity for all our club players, especially those wanting more rated tournament experience, such as players who still have provisional ratings. I may even be one of the floor TD's there.

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

CHESS this Wednesday, Aug. 14th & Sunday, Aug. 18th at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone!

Our sessions of chess over the boards every Sunday and Wednesday afternoon are becoming quite active once again, as indicated by more players on Wednesdays, and even more players coming in for the fun and challenge of the game on Sundays! We meet every Wednesday and Sunday 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, near the intersection of Clayton Rd. and Ygnacio Valley Rd. on the border of Concord and Clayton.

We always welcome players new to the club, so it bears repeating that we welcome players of all ages and skill levels; come and go anytime; there are no dues, and there's no purchase required (but it would be nice; however, try not to bring in food and drink purchased from other places, if at all possible, and have them instead on the tables outside).

Our session Wednesday of last week saw at least a dozen players enjoy the game: Ben C., a new player also named Ben, Trey, Cassie, Meredith, Bert, Aaron, Mike T., Matthew R., Angel, Tony and Red! There's usually a chess puzzle to solve, with the first one solving it on the first try winning a free Starbucks drink of choice. No player got the prize last Wednesday.

This past Sunday's session saw even more players come by, including one we haven't seen for many months (Jordy), another a few months (Daniel C.), and another for many years (Peter)! Along with Peter, Jordy and Daniel were a father-son team new to the club, Allen and young Samuel, with mom Rochelle! Also new to the club were Matthew H. and a very shy Willie, there with regulars Red, Kevin, Lou, Johnny, Ben C., Sam, Reza, Mike T., Angel, David T., Suhas with his Dad Prudri, and Robert with his new electronic keyboard with live music played by both him and Red! Yes, it was pretty active that day!

So then, perhaps we will see you this Wednesday, August 14th and/or on Sunday the 18th of August, same time, same place, to enjoy the games, and make new friends, perhaps renew old friendships!

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

CHESS this Weds. Aug. 7th & Sun. Aug. 11th at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone!

We meet again, as we do every Wednesday and Sunday afternoon, this coming Wednesday, August 7 and Sunday, August 11, 2024 at our regular Starbucks venue located at 1536 Kirker Pass Rd., in the Clayton Shopping Center, which is just a couple of driveways from the intersection of Ygnacio Valley Rd. and Clayton Rd., right on the border of Concord and Clayton, California! We go from 3:00 p.m. through to closing time, as players can come and go anytime; there's no purchase required (but it would be nice), and there are no dues. All ages and skill levels are most welcome, from beginners to masters...

... and, in fact, we had a NM (National Master) drop in almost incognito this past Sunday!

Last Wednesday's session saw at least 10 players have a lot of fun with chess. We welcomed two players new to the club: Ezra and Aaron, and there to welcome them were Mike T., Tony, Ben C., Bert, returning player Angel, Red, Mark, and Irakli . . .

... and Sunday's chess crowd numbered at least 20 players, among whom were several kids game to play: Cowan, Tim, Anh, Serge, Suhas, and Trammy! They were definitely in the mix with Sam, Ben C., Reza, Max, Mike T., Brian, Kevin, Irakli, Tony, Mark, Red, Meredith, Anastasia, Prudi, David, and Rich K... did I miss anyone?

So then, perhaps we will see you this Wednesday and next Sunday, and don't be shy or surprised to make new friends, and renew old friendships!

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