CHESS today, Sunday June 22, 2025 at Starbucks!

Hello Everyone...!

It's officially summertime, and we continue to enjoy the fun and challenge of chess over the boards at our regular Starbucks venue every Sunday and Wednesday afternoon from 3:00pm through to closing time. We're at 1536 Kirker Pass Rd., in the Clayton Shopping Center. All ages and skill levels are welcome to come and go anytime. There are no dues. 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!

In our last session, amid the sharp group of chess players who were there was a player we have not seen in many, many years. He is Tom H., who recently turned 93 and has overcome a serious injury that has kept him away for so long a time. Welcome back, Tom!! ... And here's to all our chess players who are also game to meet new friends, and yes, to renew old friendships!

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

CHESS this Sunday, June 15, 2025 at Starbucks!

Hello Everyone...!

Just a short note to say we continue to meet every Sunday and Wednesday afternoons from 3:00 p.m. on through closing time at our usual Starbucks venue in the Clayton Shopping Center. All ages and skill levels are welcome to come and go anytime to enjoy the fun and challenge of chess over the boards with us. There usually is a chess puzzle to solve, and the first to solve it on the first try wins a free tall Starbucks drink!

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

CHESS this Wednesday, June 11, 2025 at Starbucks!

Hello Everyone...!

Our chess session this past Sunday saw a slow business day at our regular Starbucks venue, yet several players came by to enjoy the fun and challenge of the game, over the boards. We even had (NM) Rich K. drop in for a game, and quite a match it was, as Patrick was able to battle Rich to a draw! Another highlight of the session was Daniel C.'s ability to be the first to solve the day's chess puzzle on his first try!

We meet again this Wednesday, June 11th, as we do every Sunday and Wednesday afternoon from 3:00 p.m. through to closing time, at our Starbucks located in the Clayton Shopping Center. All ages and skill levels, from beginners to masters, are welcome. Players can come and go anytime, and there are no dues. There usually is a chess puzzle to solve, and the first to do so on the first try wins a free tall Starbucks drink of choice!

See you soon!

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

CHESS this Sunday, June 8, 2025 at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone!

There's lots of chess over the boards this Sunday, June 8th, at our regular Starbucks venue in the Clayton Shopping Center, and if last Sunday's session is an indicator, it could be quite active, with chess matches spilling out onto the outside tables! All ages and skill levels are welcome, and players can come and go anytime, from 3:00 p.m. through to closing time!

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! We'll see you there, and do be open to making new friends (we welcomed Merritt, a collegiate, to the club last week), and even to renewing old friendships!

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

CHESS this Wednesday, June 4, 2025 at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone...!

Last Sunday's session drew quite a few players, and the chess games spilled out onto the outside tables due to the number of chess players and customers at our regular Starbucks venue, located in the Clayton Shopping Center, which is just up from the corner of Clayton Rd. and Ygnacio Valley Rd. Max aced every chess puzzle that came his way, being the first to solve them, and easily won the prize of a free tall Starbucks drink of choice!

We meet again today, Wednesday, June 4th, same place, from 3:00 p.m. through to closing time, with players of all ages and skill levels welcome to come and go anytime for the enjoyment and challenge of chess over the boards, and perhaps to make new friends, and even renew old friendships! See you there...!

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

CHESS this Sunday, June 1, 2025 at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone!

June is almost upon us, and some rather warm weather is going to make chess over the boards in the cool environment of our regular Starbucks venue a fair pleasure along with the fun and challenge of the game. As we meet every Sunday and Wednesday afternoon from 3:00 pm through to closing time, we get together again this Sunday, June 1st, at the Starbucks located in the Clayton Shopping Center, at 1536 Kirker Pass Rd., just up from the corner of Ygnacio Valley Rd. and Clayton Rd. Players can come and go anytime, there are no dues, and all ages and skill levels are quite welcome.

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 there, perhaps to also make new friends, even renew old friendships!

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

CHESS this Wednesday, May 28, 2025 at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone...!

Sunday's session drew some 20 players to our regular Starbucks venue, located in the Clayton Shopping Center. Ivan was new to the club and may soon be a regular. Among the players enjoying the game of chess over the boards were Ben, Anh, Lou and Rose; David, Mike T., Reza, Patrick, Nicholas, Daniel C., Benoit, Red; a younger Daniel along with his parents; and, Adam and son Logan; Steve with daughter Cecilia.

Solving the puzzle of the day and winning the prize of a free tall Starbucks drink of choice was... Rose, who figured out the key 1st move!!

We meet again this Wednesday, May 28th, same place, same time (3pm to closing), with players of all ages and skill levels welcome to come and go anytime...! See you soon there for the fun and challenge of the game of chess, as well as to make new friends, and perhaps even to renew old friendships!

--- Mike T.
Contra Costa Chess Club
US Chess Federation
Affiliate Club ID# A6027426

CHESS this Sunday, May 25, 2025 at Starbucks!

Hello Everyone...!

More than a dozen players came by last Wednesday to enjoy the challenge of chess over the boards at our regular Starbucks venue! The chess puzzle that day was another tough one, and once again it was Irakli who eventually figured it out (along with Will this time) to share bragging rights! At the chess tables that day were Will, Irakli, Matthew, Nathan and Ethan, Luke and Jacob, Patsara, David, Ben, Bert, Daemon, Mike T., and Lou!

We meet again this Sunday, May 25th, at our usual place, Starbucks, in the Clayton Shopping Center, at our usual time, from 3:00 p.m. to closing, as players of all ages and skill levels are welcome to come and go anytime. There are no dues. 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!

Enjoy the Memorial Day weekend, and see you very soon, as we 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, May 21, 2025 at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone!

Our session this past Sunday saw at least a dozen players come by to enjoy chess over the boards at our regular Starbucks venue, in the Clayton Shopping Center. One of the players there was Anh, whose father came by and offered to treat us (and a new friend, Michaela), to delicious smoothies next door, at Munchy's. Several of us were quick to accept the offer, and it so happens that Anh's family owns Munchy's! Another highlight of the session was that, once again, Irakli earned bragging rights by being the player who eventually solved the day's fairly difficult mate-in-two chess puzzle!

We meet again this Wednesday, May 21st, as we do every Wednesday and Sunday afternoon, same place, same time (3:00 p.m. to closing time). Players can come and go anytime, there are no dues, and players of all ages and skill levels are welcome, from beginners to masters and all in between! See you soon, and be ready to make new friends, and perhaps even renew old friendships!

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

CHESS this Sunday, May 18, 2025 at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone!

Our chess club meets every Sunday and Wednesday afternoon, from 3 p.m. through to closing time, at our regular Starbucks venue located at 1536 Kirker Pass Rd., in the Clayton Shopping Center, just a couple of driveways up from the intersection of Ygnacio Valley Rd. and Clayton Rd. There are no dues, players can come and go anytime!

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 Wednesday's puzzle was a tough one, but Irakli earned the bragging rights when he eventually solved the mate-in-two mystery!

(We haven't seen Tony in a while, but we hope to see him again very soon!)

See you soon, and be open to making new friends across the boards, and perhaps even to renewing old friendships!

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

CHESS this Wednesday, May 14, 2025 at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone!

Just a short note reminder that we meet again, as we do every Wednesday and Sunday afternoon, this Wednesday, May 14, 2025 at our regular Starbucks venue, from 3pm on through closing time, in the Clayton Shopping Center, for fun, challenging chess over the boards!. All ages and skill levels are welcome, there are no dues, and players can certainly 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!

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

CHESS this Saturday May 10th, then Sunday May 11th at Two Starbucks Shops!

Hi Everyone!

There's lots of chess over the boards and even other games this weekend for players of all ages and skill levels at a couple of Starbucks coffee shops this weekend! Players can come and go anytime from 3:00 p.m. through to closing time.

On Saturday, May 10th, it's on at the Starbucks located at 1900 Contra Costa Blvd. in Pleasant Hill. I'll be there to get at least a couple of games in, how about you?

On Sunday, May 11th, we're at our regular Starbucks located at 1536 Kirker Pass Rd., in the Clayton Shopping Center. We meet there every Wednesday and Sunday afternoons from 3:00 p.m. on. See you there!

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

CHESS this Wednesday, May 7, 2025 at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone!

It was so nice to see a full table and more of friends enjoying the fun and challenge of chess over the boards last Sunday at our regular Starbucks venue located at 1536 Kirker Pass Rd., in the Clayton Shopping Center. We meet there every Sunday and Wednesday afternoon from 3:00 p.m. to closing time, as players of all ages and skill levels are welcome to come and go anytime. There are no dues, and there's usually a chess puzzle to solve, with the first to solve it on the first try winning a free tall Starbucks drink of choice! We will certainly meet again this Wednesday, May 8th, same time, same place.

Looking ahead, in response to an invite from Starbucks, we will once again have an extra session this coming Saturday, May 10, 2025, at the Starbucks located at 1900 Contra Costa Blvd., in Pleasant Hill. Players of all ages and skill levels are welcome, as above, to enjoy chess as well as any other board games they wish to play in a coffeehouse atmosphere, also from 3:00 p.m. to closing time.

We will try to schedule a USCF-rated club tournament later this month or sometime in June, at our usual tournament venue, the Carl's Jr. Restaurant across the side parking lot from our regular Sunday/Wednesday Starbucks. What's holding up the schedule is that venue's restrooms, which seem to be unpredictably out of service lately. Stay tuned, hopefully it's been fixed.

So then, see you very soon, and along with chess and perhaps other games (there was some Scrabble last Sunday), don't be surprised if you happen to make new friends and/or renew old friendships!

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

CHESS this Wednesday, April 30, 2025 at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone...!

Last Sunday's session was quite active and well attended despite the chilly weather, as players of all ages and skill levels came by to enjoy the fun and challenge of the game of chess over the boards! We will meet again this Wednesday, April 30th, at our usual venue, the Starbucks located at 1536 Kirker Pass Rd., in the Clayton Shopping Center, just up from the corner of Ygnacio Valley Rd. and Clayton Rd.

There are no dues, and players can come and go anytime. We meet from 3:00 p.m. through to closing time every Wednesday and Sunday afternoons. 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! See you soon, and don't be surprised if you make new friends and/or renew old friendships!

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

CHESS this Sunday, April 27, 2025 at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone...!

Just another short note to confirm that we continue to meet at our regular Starbucks in the Clayton Shopping Center every Sunday and Wednesday afternoon from 3:00 p.m. to closing time! As usual, we welcome players of all ages and skill levels. There are no dues, and players can come and go anytime! We hope to see you this Sunday, April 27th!

Last Wednesday's session was quite pleasant and fun, with at least 14 players or more coming by to enjoy the game of chess over the boards! We welcomed Patchara, her first time to join us, and also Andrew, who was there for only his second time. We will miss Kevin, who has moved away from California due to his job. Kevin has always been one of the club's best supporters over the years! Good luck and wishes for all the best from all of us, Kevin, and do come by to see us when you can!!

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