CHESS this Sat. March 28, Then Sun. March 29 at 2 Different Starbucks Locations!

Hi Everyone!
Our Wednesday session this week saw a nice group of chess players that included three new players who we welcomed to the club very recently: Ethan and his Dad Luke; and, James. We also got reacquainted with Meredith, back home on her Spring Break from her University!

We continue to meet for fun, challenging chess over the boards every Sunday and Wednesday afternoons from 3:00 p.m. through to closing time at our regular Starbucks located at 1536 Kirker Pass Rd., in the Clayton Shopping Center, just up from the intersection of Clayton Rd. and Ygnacio Valley Rd. Our next session there is this coming Sunday, March 29, 2025. All ages and skill levels are welcome, and players can come and go anytime. There's usually a chess puzzle to solve, and the player who solves it on the first try wins a free tall Sbux drink!! See you there!

This Saturday, March 28, 2025, from 2:00 p.m. through to closing time at the Starbucks located in Pleasant Hill at 1900 Contra Costa Blvd, all ages and skill levels are also welcome to play not only chess over the boards, but also other games (e.g., other board games). Consider the site an extension of our "Chess & Games Club," with players of all ages and skill levels quite welcome to come and go anytime --- all the while making new friends, and perhaps even renewing old friendships! See you there!

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

CHESS this Wednesday, March 26, 2025 at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone!

Our ever-growing chess club meets every Sunday and Wednesday afternoons, from 3:00 p.m. to closing time, at the Starbucks located at 1536 Kirker Pass Rd., in the Clayton Shopping Center. We meet again this Wednesday, March 26, 2025 and as always, players of all ages and skill levels are welcome to join and come and go anytime!

Last Sunday's session saw upward of 20 or more players and chess enthusiasts coming by to enjoy an afternoon and perhaps an early evening of fun, challenging chess over the boards. However, something unusual happened... The Starbucks shift supervisor had to require an evacuation of the entire store due to something that happened in one of the restrooms, requiring a call for a HAZMAT inspection and clean-up! So... all or most of the chess players moved to Carl's Jr. Restaurant, across the side parking lot.

Last Saturday's "test session" at the Starbucks located at 1900 Contra Costa Blvd. in Pleasant Hill was a success, thanks to 10 or more chess players, several of whom indicated that it was a good location for the "Chess & Games" sessions to be held there every Saturday from 2:00 p.m. on through closing time. We will therefore hold another session there next Saturday!

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

CHESS this Weekend, Saturday and Sunday, March 22 & 23, 2025 at Two Different Starbucks Locations!

Hi Everyone!

This Saturday, March 22, 2025, our chess club will have its first session of fun, challenging chess --- and perhaps even other games --- starting at 2:00 p.m. at the Starbucks located at 1900 Contra Costa Blvd. in Pleasant Hill. Players (and gamers) of all ages and skill levels are welcome to come and go anytime from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. or even through to closing time! For those who haven't been there before, it's located in a shopping center that has a Safeway, and a Chase Bank, along with Staples store, a Nation's restaurant, Pleasant Hill Dental, and other businesses. The shopping area sits between Crescent Drive and Gregory Lane, both of which run into Contra Costa Blvd. As this "test session" is at the request of the Manager of this Starbucks store, your feedback as to the suitability of the location for a "chess and games club" will be most appreciated.

We continue to meet Sunday and Wednesday afternoons, from 3:00 p.m. through to closing time at our regular Starbucks venue at 1536 Kirker Pass Rd., in the Clayton Shopping Center. We're there this Sunday, March 23, 2025 and as usual we welcome players of all ages and skill levels for the fun and challenge of the game of chess. Last Wednesday's session saw at least a dozen or more players enjoy the company and ambiance of Starbucks coffeehouse chess, and we welcomed young Ethan and his Dad Luke to the club! 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! As the weather warms up, expect to see quite a few players enjoy the games along with making new friends and even renewing old friendships!

----- Mike T
Contra Costa Chess Club
US Chess Federation
Affiliate Club ID #602746

CHESS this Wednesday, March 19, 2025 at our Regular Starbucks!

Hi Everyone!

We meet again this Wednesday, March 19th (as we do every Sunday and Wednesday afternoon) at our regular Starbucks venue, located at 1536 Kirker Pass Rd., in the Clayton Shopping Center, just up from the intersection of Clayton Rd. and Ygnacio Valley Rd. Players of all ages and skill levels are welcome to come and go anytime from 3:00 p.m. through closing time for the fun and challenge of chess over the boards! 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 session saw about 20 players, including two players there for the first time, at the chess boards. There to welcome Warren and Adrian were Jacob, Alex S., Arun, Arian, Ben, Lou, Tony, Raj, Red, Kevin, Daniel C., David T., John E., Mike T., Max, and Mark M. ! It was also great to see Lisa, Sofia, Yelena, Ken, Greg, Dan, Martin, and Ernie. Did I miss anyone? Highlights of Sunday's session certainly included Red and his talent in playing live music on his new keyboard for everyone at Starbucks! Also noted was Daniel patiently playing two boards at the same time, one with Warren and the other with young Jacob, and more than likely improving both their games! Honorable mention goes to Ben, who earned bragging rights for solving the day's chess puzzle, albeit after a few tries, but before anyone else could!

Announcement for a Possible New Chess Venue!!

Chess from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.this Saturday, March 22, 2025 at a Starbucks in Pleasant Hill, at 1900 Contra Costa Blvd (in the shopping center that has a Safeway, Chase Bank, Staples Store, Nations Restaurant, etc.).

-- All ages and skill levels welcome, from beginners to masters!
-- Your feedback would be appreciated as to whether the location and its facilities are suitable for our chess club as a regular venue for Saturday afternoons.

Note: The interest in establishing a chess club (and even a "Chess & Games Club") originated from Starbucks management on site. Let me know if you're interested in checking it out. (I already know that there will be several players there this Saturday.)

Any questions or need for more info, let me know.

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

CHESS this Sunday, March 16, 2025 at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone!

We meet every Wednesday and Sunday afternoon at our regular Starbucks venue for fun, challenging chess over the boards, and all ages and skill levels are welcome! Players can come and go anytime from 3pm to closing time, and whoever solves the day's chess puzzle on the first try wins a free tall Starbucks drink of choice!

Despite the wet, windy weather last Wednesday, at least 10 players came by to enjoy the pleasant warmth of a coffeehouse setting among friends to get their chess fixes! With much better weather this Sunday, March 16, 2025, expect lots more players to get in on the game that's been around for something like more than 1500 years!

Looking ahead, there's another Starbucks location that would like to host chess players on a different afternoon and evening... interested? Stay tuned, and see you soon for a chess match and to possibly make new friends and even renew old friendships!

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

CHESS this Wednesday, March 12, 2025 at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone!

We meet every Wednesday and Sunday from 3pm thru to closing time at our regular Starbucks venue located in the Clayton Shopping Center. All ages and skill levels are welcome, from beginners to masters. Last Sunday saw upwards of about twenty or more players dropping in to enjoy fun, challenging chess over the boards!

Ben continued his winning streak early on, only for it to be broken by Mark M., whose strategy with his slick chess moves in a close match culminated in a dazzling back-rank checkmate! Daniel C. almost solved the day's chess puzzle on his first try, as every defense seemed futile, until young Jacob found the only defense --- a simple yet crucial pawn move -- that prevented a mate in two moves! Any player who solves the day's chess puzzle on the first try wins a free tall Starbucks drink of choice!

Our next session of course is this Wednesday, March 12th, which based on weather reports might be chilly, and perhaps a wet one. Still, a good opportunity to play chess in the friendly warmth of a coffeehouse! See you there if you're there to play, and make new friends, and perhaps even to renew old friendships!

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

CHESS this Sunday, March 9, 2025 at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone!

More than a dozen players enjoyed chess over the boards this past Wednesday afternoon and early evening, inside our warm, usual Starbucks venue while it was quite chilly outside. While Ben was on quite a win streak, it was Matthew who solved the day's chess puzzle on the first try to win the free tall Starbucks drink of choice!

We meet again this Sunday, March 9, 2025, and don't be surprised if there are many more players of all ages and skill levels, from beginners to masters, as there's expected to be better weather, perhaps, along with clocks (not the chess clocks) having sprung forward! With new players coming aboard alongside seasoned club players, join us for fun, challenging chess and the opportunity to make new friends, and even renew old friendships!

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

CHESS this Wednesday, March 5, 2025 at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone!

Last Sunday's session of chess over the boards saw at least 3 more players new to the club, but not to the game of chess: Steven, Long, and Pedro! We also welcomed back, after quite a long absence, Patrick! Though I had to leave early (for a silly Oscars Party), I did see that there were several club players there to make all four feel quite welcome. Thanks much to all for the spirit of making new friends and renewing old friendships!

We meet every Sunday and Wednesday afternoons at our usual Starbucks venue located in the Clayton Shopping Center, just up from the intersection of Ygnacio Valley Rd. and Clayton Rd. All ages and skill levels are welcome, and players can come and go anytime as we meet from 3:00 p.m. through to closing time! 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!

See you soon, and, by the way, we will be having a USCF-rated tournament later this month or early next month, so stay tuned for details!

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

CHESS this Sunday, March 2, 2025 at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone...!

Just a short note to confirm that we continue to meet at our usual Starbucks venue for fun, challenging chess over the boards this Sunday, March 2nd, as we do every Sunday and Wednesday from 3:00 p.m. to closing time. Players of all ages and skill levels are welcome, from beginners to masters and all in between, and players can come and go anytime. 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 Wednesday's session saw a group of sharp players tangle over the boards, and there were not one, but three chess puzzles to solve on the first try for the prize(s). All were indeed solved, but on subsequent tries...!

See you soon, I hope, ready for chess and to make new friends, and perhaps to renew old friendships!

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