CHESS this Wednesday, July 17, 2024 at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone!

We meet again this Wednesday, July 17, 2024 at our regular Starbucks venue, as we do every Sunday and Wednesday afternoon from 3:00 p.m. through to closing time. Players come and go anytime, there are no dues, no purchase required, all ages and skill levels welcome, etc... What's there not to like as we enjoy the game of chess over the boards?

Last Sunday's session was hopefully at or towards the very end of a rather scorching heat wave! There to enjoy chess were Tony, Reza, David, Mike T., Ben C., and young Suhas, who was there with his mom and grandmom! Suhas lost only one of his matches, and that one was to Ben C. in a very close battle. The best end game of the day went to Suhas, with several onlookers seeing that both he and his opponent (Tony) were down to their last 2 seconds of a tight G/15 match when Suhas pulled out a surprisingly quick sweeping move with his queen, backed up by a distant bishop, to the H1 square for a checkmate at the very last second!!

We believe Suhas and the other players may be back, along with many more players, at next Sunday's fun, challenging, chess session, same place, same time, and stay tuned for information/details regarding our next club tournament...! See you soon, and I need to get my game up, you can help!

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

CHESS this Sunday, July 14, 2024 at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone!

Hot summer days are certainly upon us, and there's more chess over the boards to be played at our usual Starbucks venue this coming Sunday, July 14, 2024, when we expect to see more players of all ages and skill levels have fun with the challenge of the game!

Chances are very good this Sunday that we will see young Suhas, our club's 10-year old international tournament-playing chess wizard, play chess with the club's best players, and even take part in an impromptu set of unrated Blitz and Rapid Quads! Suhas dropped by with his mom Vandana this past Wednesday, and played against Bert and Matthew, two who came to play despite the searing heat of the day, and who can attest to the skill of Suhas.

We continue to meet every Sunday and Wednesday afternoon, from 3:00 p.m. to closing time, at our regular Starbucks venue located at 1536 Kirker Pass Rd., in the Clayton Shopping Center, just a couple driveways up from the corner of Ygnacio Valley Rd. and Clayton Rd. There are no dues: come and go anytime, there's no purchase required (but it would be nice), 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

CHESS this Sunday, July 7, 2024 at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone!

A half-dozen players braved the scorching heat to enjoy the air conditioning and the fun of chess over the boards at our regular Starbucks venue this past Wednesday. There to play were Ben C., Tony, Sam, Aaron, Mike T., and... Matthew, who solved the day's chess puzzle on his first try to win the prize!

As we do every Sunday and Wednesday, we meet again this Sunday, July 7, 2024, same place, same time (3:00 p.m. to closing, come and go anytime), with all ages and skill levels welcome, no purchase required (but it would be nice), and whoever solves the day's chess puzzle on the first try wins a free tall Starbucks drink of choice! This Sunday's chess puzzle could be quite different, depending on the number of players who come by to give it a try!

So then, see you soon, get your game up (mine needs a lot of work, lately), but win, lose or draw, you're bound to make new friends, even renew old friendships!

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

CHESS this Wednesday, July 3, 2024 at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone!

Despite the heat of the day last Sunday, at least a dozen players dropped in at our regular Starbucks venue for chess over the boards! We even welcomed two more players new to the club: David, and Brian. There to welcome them were Kevin, Jackson, Ben C., Yancy, Red, Tony, Mike T., and Reza...!

It is once again going to be hot, hot, hot this Wednesday, July 3rd, and perhaps there will be more chess players than expected, to enjoy Starbucks air-conditioning along with the fun and challenge of the game of chess. So then, perhaps we'll see you there, from 3:00 p.m. on through closing time as players can come and go anytime... and do enjoy the 4th of July long holiday weekend! (We will meet again next Sunday, July 7th, same time, same place, where we may even have impromptu unrated blitz quads!)

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

CHESS this Sunday, June 30th at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone!

Join the fun and challenge of chess over the boards again this Sunday, June 30, 2024 at our usual Starbucks venue! We meet every Sunday and Wednesday from 3:00 p.m. through to closing time, as players come and go anytime! There are no dues, all ages and skill levels are welcome, 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 of choice! Our Sunday sessions are quite busy with chess players, and may feature an impromptu, unrated Blitz tournament (G/5;inc.2) as others play simply for the fun of it, with or without a clock.

Last Wednesday at least a dozen players came by, and three were brand new to the club: Trey and Cassie, and Pete, all welcomed by Mark, Bert, Mike T., Ben C., Roman (who solved the sneaky-tough chess puzzle to win the prize), Aaron, Irakli, Tony, and Matthew! Several players stayed until closing time (8:30 p.m.).

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

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

CHESS this Wednesday, June 26, 2024 at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone!

Our next session of fun, challenging chess over the boards is this Wednesday, June 26th, at our Starbucks venue located at the Clayton Shopping Center, just up from the intersection of Clayton Rd. and Ygnacio Valley Rd., on the border of Clayton and Concord...! It promises to be an interesting session. All ages and skill levels are welcome, and may include a friendly, unrated seeded Blitz contest (G/5;inc.2), with 4 players or more, and an entry fee of $5. All entry fees to be returned as prizes, paid to 1st and 2nd Places in groups of 5 or less; and to 1st, 2nd and 3rd Places for groups of 6 or more.

We continue to meet every Sunday and Wednesday afternoons, from 3:00 p.m. to closing time. There are no dues, and there is no purchase required (but it would be nice); and, all ages are quite welcome. Last Sunday's session saw at least 17 players having fun with the game of chess. We welcomed two youngsters, both 7 years old: Cowen, with his chess-playing mom Erin; and, Michael, also an avid chess player, there with his parents! And, after a few years away from chess, we welcomed back Setsal to the club! There to welcome them all were David T., Mike T., Kevin, Lou, Jackson, Daniel U., Irakli, Ben C., Benoit, Tony, and Olaf... did I miss anyone?

So then, chess is quite active these hot summer Sunday and Wednesday afternoons at our cool Starbucks venue. We usually have a chess puzzle to solve, and the first one to solve it on the first try wins a free tall Starbucks drink of choice! Join us for the fun and social aspects of our sessions, and certainly be open to making new friends, and renewing old friendships!!

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

CHESS this Sunday June 23, 2024 at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone!

We meet every Sunday and Wednesday afternoons from 3:00 p.m. through closing at our usual Starbucks venue for fun, challenging chess over the boards! Players come and go anytime, there are no dues, all ages and skill levels are welcome, and there's no purchase required. Additionally, 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! This past Wednesday's puzzle must have been a tough one, as no one solved it on the first try...!

Last Wednesday's session saw a smaller crowd of players at the game, with Ben and Sam there along with other players including Mike T and Tony, with the latter two adjourning a very tight game for the next time they meet.

Sunday's session promises to be a lively one, with several more players, including a couple new to the club, and with at least four or more players possibly playing in impromptu unrated Blitz Quads (G/5.inc.2) with an entry fee and prize fund agreed to by each player.

So then, perhaps we will see you there to have fun with chess and to make new friends as well as possibly renewing old friendships!

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

CHESS this Wednesday, June 19, 2024 at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone!

We meet again this Wednesday, June 19, 2024 at our regular Starbucks venue from 3:00 p.m. on to closing time for an afternoon and early evening of fun and challenging chess over the boards! This past Sunday's session saw about 10 players or more enjoy the game, with a dad or two able to come by despite it being Father's Day. There to play were Benoit, Alex, Reza, Lou, Red, Mike T, Daniel U., Matthew, and -- long time no see -- a noted chess master who has played in our club since its start back in 2007 or so... Rich K!

We should be seeing more of Rich and many more players this Wednesday, and next Sunday. We'll have a chess puzzle to solve this Wednesday, and the first one to solve it on the first try wins a free Starbucks drink of choice! All ages and skill levels welcome, see you soon!

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

CHESS this Sunday, June 16, 2024 at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone!

Just another short note this time to remind all that there's chess over the boards as usual at our regular Starbucks venue this Sunday, June 16, 2024. And... it'll be Father's Day, so don't be surprised if several Dads come by for their chess fixes as part of their fun today, as has happened in the past...!

There may also be impromptu unrated blitz or rapid contests, as described in previous posts.

So then, perhaps see you very soon!

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

CHESS this Wednesday, June 12, 2024 at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone!

As we do every Sunday and Wednesday afternoon from 3:00 p.m. through to closing time at our usual Starbucks venue, we meet again for fun, challenging chess over the boards this Wednesday, June 12, 2024. All ages and skill levels are always welcome, and players can come and go anytime. Players can opt to play on a clock, or no clock at all. There are no dues, and there's no purchase requirement (but it would be nice). There usually is a chess puzzle to solve, and the first one who solves it on the first try wins a free tall Starbucks drink of choice!

Last Sunday's chess session saw at least 17 players enjoy an afternoon and early evening at the game of chess, with Daniel C. being the first to solve the day's chess puzzle on the first try! There with him were at least three players new to the club, and one we haven't seen in quite a while. New to the club were Alex, and two players named Zach! We also welcomed back Joe, and Claudia too! Welcoming them all were Kevin, Ben, Jackson, Yancy, Mike T., Daniel U., Daniel C., Tony, Evan, Irakli, and Lou... did I miss anyone? Additionally, Bruce, one of our area's premier Scrabble players, came by and was able to play a game or two of Scrabble with a couple of the chess players...!

This coming Wednesday and Sunday sessions may also feature impromptu unrated Blitz or Rapid tournament sessions, with a time control of either G/5;inc.2 or G/10;inc.2 and an entry fee to be agreed upon by the players (it was $5 last time we did this). Format to be in Quads or groups of six players or more, seeded accordingly. 100% of entry fees to be returned as cash prizes for 1st and 2nd placers in Blitz Quads, with each player playing each opponent twice, once on the white pieces, the other on the black pieces. In groups of six players or more, seeded accordingly, a Round Robin format will be applied, with the cash prizes going to the 1st, 2ns and 3rd placers. Let me know if you are interested in this fun approach to club play!

So then, perhaps see you very soon, and with new players always joining us, thanks for being open to making new friends as well as renewing old friendships!

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

CHESS this Sunday, June 9, 2024 at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone!

Just a short note this time to say we meet again as usual this Sunday, June 9, 2024 at our usual Starbucks venue, from 3pm to closing, as players come and go anytime. All ages and skill levels welcome, no dues, no purchase required but, hey, it would be nice. We can expect to see at least a couple players new to the club, based on recent phone contacts with me. There may also be an impromptu Blitz contest (time control G/10;inc.2), and other features, including a chess puzzle to solve, with the first player solving it on the first try winning a free tall Starbucks drink!

Last Wednesday's session was a success, with about a dozen players, and with Ben providing the day's chess puzzle, not an easy one for sure given several attempts, but one that Matthew solved on his first try!

Perhaps see you at Starbucks, with you on your game and ready to make new friends, and in some instances, to renew old friendships!

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

CHESS this Wednesday, June 5, 2024 at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone!

At least a dozen or more players came by to enjoy an afternoon of chess over the boards at our usual Starbucks venue this past Sunday: Seen there were Hossam, Lou, Mark, Mike T., Jeremy, Tony, Red, Ben C., Daniel U., Jackson, Daniel C., and Kevin --- with the last six players named playing in an impromptu unrated Blitz tournament with a time control of 5 minutes and an increment of 2 seconds per game, in a round-robin format!

Red won 1st Place ($15), with Ben C. coming in 2nd ($10), and Daniel U. finishing 3rd ($3). The entry fee agreed upon by all players at the start of the friendly contest was five bucks each, for a total prize fund of thirty dollars, with a hundred percent paid out! Expect to see or even play in more of these impromptu Blitz or Rapid contests . . . in the club!

Additionally last Sunday, it was Daniel U. who was first to solve the day's chess puzzle on the first try, for the prize of a free tall Starbucks drink! There usually is a chess puzzle in our sessions as we meet every Sunday and Wednesday from 3pm on through closing, same place, with all ages and skill levels welcome. We meet again this Wednesday, June 5, 2024. There are no dues, and there's no purchase required (but, c'mon, it would be nice). So then, do drop in, get your game up, make new friends, renew old friendships!

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

CHESS this Sunday, June 2, 2024 at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone!

Lots of chess and more is in store for players of all ages and skill levels this Sunday, June 2, 2024 at our usual Starbucks venue, located at 1536 Kirker Pass Rd., in the Clayton Shopping Center, which is just a couple driveways up from the corner of Ygnacio Valley Rd. and Clayton Rd. The action starts at 3:00 p.m. as it does every Sunday and Wednesday afternoon at our Starbucks, and goes through to closing time as players come and go anytime. There are no dues, and there's no purchase required (but it would be nice), plus there's usually a chess puzzle to solve --- and the first one to solve it on the first try wins a free tall Starbucks drink of choice!

This Sunday, there might even be an unrated, impromptu Blitz Quad or two. Time Control = G/5;inc.2 !! Yes, an increment of 2 seconds! Any four players who agree to the challenge must also agree on an entry fee (e.g.,$1 or $2, or $5, etc.) and prize distribution. Each player must play each opponent twice, once playing white and once playing black, for a total quad set of six (6) games. If such matches are successful, this could become a going activity, with some matches perhaps USCF-rated!

Also this Sunday, there may even be a top-rated Scrabble player, ready to play Scrabble with anyone who so chooses to challenge him, (with my oversight, in the event of any challenge to any word played, using the Tournament Word List, or TWL, having run Scrabble clubs, too)!

Additionally, there may very well be more live keyboard music. We do have at least a couple keyboard players, and anyone else is welcome to play their lilting tunes!

Last Wednesday's session drew several players, and it was Matthew who somehow I understood solved the day's chess puzzle rather easily after other players had trouble finding the key moves! There with Matthew for an afternoon of fun, challenging chess were Red, Mike T., Ben C., Sam, Tony, Evan, Daniel C., and --- long time no see, Carl !

More players are joining us on Sundays (at least 20 last week), and that makes for more fun as there are new friends to make, and old friendships to renew! See you there!

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

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