Tuesday, July 28, 2015

CHESS Wednesday July 29 at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone . . . !

It's chess over the boards this Wednesday evening, July 29, 2015, from 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. at Starbucks, located at 1536 Kirker Pass Rd., Clayton, Calif.  Come by anytime, the earlier the better for the best tables, more games, and some really nice company!

Last Wednesday saw at least 8 or 9 players enjoy an evening of chess, with Chris and Andrew playing and splitting a couple of matches, as Bill K. took on Carl over a few games, as Rich K. and Anthony honed their chess skills over a tough problem before playing a match, while Priya was back from India and Germany to enjoy a game or two with Mike T. and Chris . . . with the evening ending up with, for chess players, a platter of goodies from the Starbucks counter!!

Come on by and say hello if you haven't enjoyed an evening with us in a while . . . while chess is the main course, there's always the social interaction that's also fun.

See you soon,

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

PS: Pai gow and blackjack strategies also featured this Wednesday evening.

Tuesday, July 21, 2015

CHESS Wednesday July 22nd at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone . . . !

Chess over the boards is interesting and fun every Wednesday evening from 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. at Starbucks, located at 1536 Kirker Pass Rd., Clayton, Calif.  There's another session of course this Wednesday evening, July 22, 2015, come by anytime, the earlier the better for the best tables, more games, and some really nice company!

Our last session featured chess matches both indoors and outdoors at our favorite venue, with Bill K. and Hans and later FM Rich K. playing the air-conditioned indoors, and Anthony, John M., Mike T., and Chris T. as well as Rich K. enjoying the pleasantly warm outdoor tables. Chess Master Manny Perez also came by to visit, long time no see, Manny! 

The highlight of the outdoor games was a Team Alternate-Move Match (with no consultation or kibbitzing, but snickering or laughing out loud was allowed) between Rich and Mike playing the white pieces versus Anthony and Chris playing the black pieces.  The white pieces won, and I'm not sure but it may have had something to do with Mike being on that team, but I could be mistaken . . . perhaps a rematch or a switch of team members next time!

IM-elect Ronald Cusi confirmed in a recent phone conversation with me that he would be holding another simultaneous challenge session one of these summer Sundays at either our Starbucks, or across the parking lot at Carl's Jr., as he did once before, when he played about 20 players at the same time, winning 19 and drawing on 1 table.  Ronald also played several speed chase games, allowing each challenger rated under 2000 five full minutes and while giving himself only one (above 2000 he gave himself two or three).  My recollection is that he did not lose a single one of those blitz games.  Once Ronald lets me know which Sunday, probably one in mid-to-late-August, I'll let everyone know by email the details, and request that you let me know right away if you're going to play him in the simul, as space would probably be limited to 20 or so.

Thanks much,
-- Mike T.

Contra Costa Chess Club
USCF Affiliate Club ID #A6024746