Wednesday, October 30, 2024

CHESS this Wednesday, October 30th at Starbucks!


Hi Everyone!

Nearly 20 players of all ages and skill levels were at the chessboards this past Sunday. We welcomed back players we haven't seen in a while, like Evan and his mom Erin and brother Zane; and, Mark M. as well as Olaf. Rounding out the action over the boards were Max (who was first to solve the day's chess puzzle on the first try to win a free tall drink), Dan G., Ben C., Sam, Benoit, Alex S., David T., Red, David S., Anh, Anson with mom So, Lou, Adam M., Mike T., and Tony!

We meet again this Wednesday, October 30, 2024, from 3:00 p.m. through to closing time at our regular Starbucks venue. By approximately 5:00 p.m., the player who is voted as having the best Halloween-themed feature or look while playing chess wins a free tall Starbucks drink of choice! All ages and skill levels are welcome; players can come and go anytime; there are no dues; and, there's no purchase required (but it would be nice).

Looking ahead: We'll have a USCF-rated club tournament on Sunday, November 10th. Complete details, entry fees, requirements, etc. may be found by clicking the on Upcoming Club Tournaments tab.

Also ahead, Dan G. is hosting, on Tuesday, November 12, 2024, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., the Lamorinda Chess Club's "Moraga Chess Happy Hour" at the Canyon Club Brewery, located at 1558 Canyon Rd., in Moraga. All ages are welcome; there should be plenty of chess sets available for use; and attendees are encouraged to enjoy some food and drink while playing chess!

See you soon, game to play and make new friends, perhaps even renew old friendships!

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

Sunday, October 27, 2024

CHESS this Sunday, October 27, 2024 at Starbucks!


Hi Everyone!

More than a dozen players enjoyed an afternoon of chess over the boards at our regular Starbucks venue last Wednesday. We welcomed Eric and his son Brandon to the club, and we also welcomed back Ken (long time no see, Ken!), as well as Jonathan and son Dylan, who were away on a trip! There to welcome them were Mike T., Ben C., Lou, Benoit, Red, Tony, David M., Anh, Matthew, and Bert! Players were not, however, able to solve the day's rather tough mate-in-two chess puzzle, needing a broad hint to get to the solution!

We meet every Wednesday and Sunday afternoon, from 3:00 p.m. through to closing time, at the Starbucks in the Clayton Shopping Center. All ages and skill levels are welcome; 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 one to solve it on the first try wins a tall Starbucks drink of choice!

USCF-Rated CLUB TOURNAMENT DETAILS:

When: Sunday, November 10, 2024.
Location: Carl's Jr. Restaurant (across the side parking lot from our Starbucks venue).
Format: Quads and/or groups of 6 players or more, depending on number of entries.
Time Control: G/40;d10.
Number of Rounds: 3 for Quad players; 4 for Groups of 6 or more players, Swiss system. Note: Bring your chess sets and clocks. Pens and score sheets are provided.
Starting Times: Round 1=10:30 a.m.; Round 2= NLT 12:30 p.m.; Round 3= NLT 2:00 p.m.; Round 4= NLT 3:30 p.m. (NLT means "no later than.")
Entry Fee: $35.00 if paid before 11/10/24; $40 if paid on 11/10/24 (90% or more of entry fees are returned as cash prizes: 1st & 2nd Place in Quads; 1st, 2nd & 3rd Place in groups of 6 or more players).
Requirement: Current membership in the US Chess Federation. To join or renew your membership, simply go online at uschess.org.

See you this Sunday, or very soon, and be open to making new friends and very possibly renewing old friendships!

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

Wednesday, October 23, 2024

CHESS this Wednesday, October 23, 2024 at Starbucks!


Hi Everyone!

Despite the 49er game with the Chiefs this past Sunday afternoon, at least a dozen or more players came to play chess over the boards at our regular Starbucks venue! We welcomed back Chris T. after a very long absence, and he got some good, fun games in with Anson, who was there with his mom So. Matthew stopped by in the evening, though all or most players had left already, missing action with Tony, Benoit, David T., Arun and son Arian, Lou, Mike T., Adam M., and Red.

We do meet again this Wednesday, October 23, 2024, same place, from 3:00 p.m. through to closing time! Perhaps see you then. Come by anytime - all ages and skill levels are welcome, and there's no purchase required (but it would be nice). See you soon!

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

Saturday, October 19, 2024

CHESS this Sunday, October 20, 2024 at Starbucks!


Hi Everyone!

Just a brief message to say that we meet again, as we do every Sunday and Wednesday afternoon, from 3:00 p.m. through to closing time, at our usual Starbucks venue. Players come and go anytime; no dues; no purchase required (but it would be nice).

Our session last Wednesday afternoon was quite pleasant, with So and Anson there along with Red, Ben, Tony, Benoit, Mike T., Adam M., Alex S., and Matthew. Many more players are expected this Sunday afternoon, especially after the 49ers game which starts at about 1:00 p.m. During our chess sessions over the boards, there usually is a chess puzzle to solve, with the first to solve it on the first try winning a tall Starbucks drink of choice!

Our USCF-rated tournament is still on schedule for Sunday, November 10, 2024. For more details, click on the Upcoming Club Tournaments tab above.

See you real soon, game for chess and to make new friends, perhaps renew old friendships!

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

Tuesday, October 15, 2024

CHESS this Wednesday, October 16th at Starbucks!


Hi Everyone!

Our club's upcoming tournament:

Our club's USCF-rated tournament will be held on Sunday, November 10, 2024. Format: Quads and/or groups of 6 players or more, depending on number of players. Time Control = G/40;d10. Location: Carl's Jr. Restaurant (across the side parking lot from our regular Starbucks venue); Entry Fee: $35 if paid before 11/10/2024; $40 if paid on 11/10/2024 (90% or more of entry fees are returned as cash prizes); Number of Rounds: 3 for Quad players; 4 for Groups of 6 or more players; Starting Times: for Round 1 = 10:30 a.m.; Round 2 = NLT 12:30 p.m.; Round 3 = NLT 2:00 p.m.; Round 4 = NLT 3:30 p.m. Requirement: Current membership in the US Chess Federation. To join or renew your membership, simply go online at uschess.org.

Last Sunday's club session saw nearly 20 players enjoy an afternoon of chess, as we welcomed yet another player new to the club, a fellow by the name of Justin! Welcoming Justin were Ben C., with Vivian and Michele; Alex S., Mike T., Sam, Kevin, Tom, Anh, Lou, Tristan, Adam M., Matthew, Suhas with his mom Vandana; and, Cowen with his mom Erin and his pal Kayden. It was Suhas who quickly was the first player to solve the day's chess puzzle on the first try to win a free tall Starbucks drink of choice!

We meet every Wednesday and Sunday afternoon at the Starbucks located at 1536 Kirker Pass Rd., just up from the corner of Clayton Rd. and Ygnacio Valley Rd., in the Clayton Shopping Center. We're there from 3:00 p.m. through to closing time, as players can 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). There usually is a chess puzzle to solve, and the first to solve it on the first try wins a free tall Starbucks drink!

So then, perhaps we will see you very soon, and don't be surprised if you make new friends, and even renew old friendships!

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

Wednesday, October 9, 2024

CHESS this Wednesday, October 9, 2024 at Starbucks!


Hi Everyone!

It was really nice to see at least a dozen players enjoy an afternoon and evening of chess over the boards this past Sunday, despite the heat of the day, and a 49ers game on the telly. Suhas was there with his dad Prudi, as were Alex S., David T., Tony, Red, Vishwa with Tyas, Mike T., Adam M., Trammy with her brother Anh, and Dan G.

We meet again this Wednesday, October 9th, at our regular Starbucks venue, located at 1536 Kirker Pass Rd., in the Clayton Shopping Center, just a couple driveways up from the intersection of Clayton Rd. and Ygnacio Valley Rd., right on the border of Concord and Clayton. All ages and skill levels are welcome; there are no dues; and, there's no purchase required (but it would be nice to buy something). 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!

Dan G. played a game and invited everyone in our chess club to join a chess session on Saturday, October 19th from 3:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. at the Europa Hofbrau, located at 64 Moraga Way, in Orinda. Dan is starting up the Lamorinda Chess Club. All ages and skill levels are welcome; he will have some chess sets available for those who don't bring their own sets; and, there is an expectation that players are to spend a minimum of $10 for food or beverage at the restaurant.

See you soon, game for chess, and to make new friends, even renew old friendships!

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

Sunday, October 6, 2024

CHESS this Sunday, October 6th at Starbucks!


Hi Everyone!

Just a short note on another hot day to say that there's cooling off at our regular Starbucks venue while enjoying the fun and challenge of chess over the boards! We're there from 3:00 p.m through to closing time, so players can come and go anytime, with new players of all skill levels coming by to make new friends as they play chess with or without clocks! There are no dues and there's no purchase required (but it would be nice to buy something). There usually is a chess puzzle to solve, with the first one solving it on the first try winning a tall Starbucks drink of choice!

See you there, and we may even have another one of those "Brain&Hand" contests for a prize or two!

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

Wednesday, October 2, 2024

CHESS this Wednesday, October 2, 2024 at Starbucks!


Hi Everyone!

Join us this Wednesday, October 2nd for lots of chess over the boards, as we do every Wednesday and Sunday afternoon at our regular Starbucks venue from 3:00 p.m. through to closing time, as players of all skill levels can come and go anytime! There are no dues, and there's no purchase required (but it would be nice to buy something). First one to solve a given chess puzzle on the first try wins a free tall Starbucks drink of choice!

Last Sunday's session drew at least 20 or more players to the chess scene, as we welcomed a couple new players to the club: Tristan and Tom. There to welcome them were John H., Mike T., Benoit, Ben C., Red, Lou, Tony, Arun and son Arian; Natan and Dad Gene with sister Bella; David T.; Trey and Kassy; Adam M., Amit, Ranen, Jesse, and Eddie... Did I miss anyone?

Jesse and Eddie will be at our Wednesday session to once again greet those who will be extras (playing chess) in the movie they are filming this coming Saturday, and to be available to recruit more extras and to answer any questions. The day's food and drinks for all cast members and any parents for kids in the cast will be provided/catered! Sounds like an interesting fun day with chess as the theme!

So then, perhaps we'll see you this Wednesday, and don't be surprised if you make new friends, and even renew old friendships!

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