Friday, February 26, 2016

CHESS this Sunday Feb. 28th at Panera Bread Restaurant!

Hi Everyone . . . !

Just a short note to say we're having a fun and challenging chess session over the boards, all skill levels, regular chess as well as speed chess and even "960" chess for the chessnuts, this Sunday afternoon, February 28, 2016, at the Panera Bread Restaurant at the corner of Treat Blvd. and Bancroft Rd. in Walnut Creek, Calif.! 
Address of Restaurant:  744 Bancroft Rd., Walnut Creek.  Ample parking, in a shopping center, with driveways into the place from both Treat Blvd. and Bancroft Rd..

Time:  We're there from 2:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. or later for those who want to stay later, so come by anytime, the earlier the better for the best tables, more matches, and some really nice, interesting company!
This will be our first session at this venue, and we'll have a section of the restaurant all to ourselves.  I'll be interested in your feedback regarding this location for future chess sessions!

We had a good session this past Wednesday evening at our regular venue, Starbucks, with more than a dozen players, including our newest player, a fellow named Peter who we look forward to meeting again, as we do all of you!

Thanks, and see you soon!
-- Mike T.
Contra Costa Chess Club
US Chess Federation
Affiliate Club ID #A6024746

Monday, February 22, 2016

CHESS Wednesday at Starbucks, and Sunday at Panera Bread!

Hi Everyone . . . !

There's chess over the boards as usual this Wednesday evening, February 24, 2016, at Starbucks, located at 1536 Kirker Pass Rd., Clayton, Calif., from 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. . . .
. . . then, this coming Sunday, February 28, 2016, we'll have our first once-a-month chess afternoon session of this year at Panera Bread Restaurant, located at 744 Bancroft Rd., Walnut Creek, right at the corner of Bancroft Rd. and Treat Blvd., from 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. or as late as players want to stay . . . !
I hope you'll be able to join us for the chess challenge and fun at one or both sessions, come by anytime, the earlier the better for the best tables, more games, and some really nice company!  . . . and we're also looking forward to seeing players of all skill levels at either session, especially the Sunday one for those who normally can't make it to our Wednesday evening events due to work or school!
See you soon,
-- Mike T.
Contra Costa Chess Club
US Chess Federation
Affiliate Club ID #A6024746

Tuesday, February 16, 2016

CHESS Wednesday Feb. 17th at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone . . . !

There's more fun and challenging situations over the chess boards this Wednesday evening from 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. at our regular venue, Starbucks, located at 1536 Kirker Pass Rd., Clayton, Calif., come by anytime, the earlier the better or the best tables, more games, and some really interesting company!
Last week's session was especially fun and interesting, with two players new to the club . . . !  There was Tom from Discovery Bay, and Ralph all the way from Munich, Germany, accompanied by Robert, Ana, and Julia . . . and also on hand to welcome them were Rich K., Anthony B., Tony T., Sevien, Hans, Bob C., John S., and Mike T . . . and a few observers still a bit shy despite our having chess players of all skill levels . . . !
___________________________________________________________________

While we continue to meet every Wednesday evening at Starbucks, we will also be meeting on afternoon on the last Sunday of each month, but at the t Panera Bread Restaurant located in Walnut Creek!  We have Bob C. to thank for brokering the arrangement with Panera Bread Restaurant (at 744 Bancroft Rd, Walnut Creek, between Ygnacio Valley Rd. and Treat Blvd.), and we will meet there on Sunday, February 28, 2016, from 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. 

The restaurant, where there is ample parking, will have a section set aside for us, and certain chess masters like Ron Cusi and Manny Perez as well as other players of all skill levels who normally can't make it to our Wednesday evening sessions due to school or work may also be on hand to help inaugurate our new Sunday site that day . . . !  If you have any questions or need more info, just let me know.

See you soon,

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

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

CHESS this Wednesday, Feb. 10 at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone . . . !

More chess players of all skill levels are having fun and challenging games over the boards these Wednesday evenings at Starbucks, located at 1536 Kirker Pass Rd., Clayton, Calif., from 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m., and when players want to continue the evening, we go across the parking lot to Carl's Jr., so come by Starbucks anytime between 6 and 9p.m., this Wednesday, February 10, 2016, the earlier the better for the best tables, more games, and some really interesting company!

Last week's session saw another new player to the club enjoy the evening - Hanza's friend Cassidy, welcomed by other players on hand, namely Hans, Bob C., Mike T., Anthony B., Tony T., Rich K., Chris Th., Dan, Robert and Ana with Julia, and John S. rounding out the group, which also drew a few onlookers still a bit shy about joining the fun . . .
. . . and while we continue to meet every Wednesday evening, we will also have a session the last Sunday of this month, and that will be on Sunday, February 28, 2016.  We'll see if we can inaugurate another venue for the club for that day, or whether we just meet at our regular Starbucks. 
Stay tuned, and we'll see you soon!
-- Mike T.
Contra Costa Chess Club
USCF Affiliate Club ID #A6024746

Monday, February 1, 2016

CHESS this Wednesday, Feb. 3rd at Starbucks!


Hi Everyone . . . !

There's more fun and challenging chess over the boards from 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. this Wednesday evening, February 3, 2016, 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 interesting company!
Our session last week saw more than a dozen players enjoy an evening of chess, with Anthony B., and a tournament player new to the club (didn't catch his name, darn!) enjoying speed chess, while others were jousting in their own fun matches . . . as also on hand for the fun were Dale (really long time no see, Dale!), Chris Th., Tony T., Rich K., Bob C., Kitty, Bill K., Hanza and Andrea, Sevien, John S., and Mike T. . . . it was really great to see players of all skill levels mix and match over time, with new friendships made every time we meet . . . !
. . . One of the many highlights of the evening was Mike T.'s victory over an opponent who will remain nameless because it's been years since Mike scored a win over that esteemed player, a rarity indeed, as it is doubted that John S. could soon forget the shock of having his queen trapped, like a Sasquatch in a vat of molasses with a chess rodeo about to run amok amidst the rest of his pawns and pieces . . . and while other players were comfortable at the Starbucks long table, others such as Kitty, Sevien, Chris Th., and Dale were awash in luxury in their leather lounge chairs in the conversation pit with their chessboards going full throttle . . . nice going !
See you soon, and if it's been a long while since you've joined us, come on by, renew old friendships, make new ones . . . !
-- Mike T.

Contra Costa Chess Club
US Chess Federation
Affiliate Club ID #A6024746
www.ccchess.com