CHESS CLUB Meets On Line This Sunday, Monday & Wednesday !!

Hi Everyone . . . !

How's Sheltering In Place going for you and your chess game . . .

As mentioned in the message sent to you this past Friday, you're most welcome to join on www.chess.com our very own chess club's session today, Sunday, March 29, 2020,

from 2:00pm - 6:00pm PDT (come by anytime) or for as long as people want to play, for chats, orientation, and challenging matches of all kinds (from speed chess to regular length games, to variations like bughouse and 4-player chess!) and at all skill levels -- from novices to experts and more -- and time controls of your choice!

(For the dates and times scheduled as mentioned above and below, I will usually be available to facilitate matters if and when needed, with the help of John S. and Chris B. and others familiar with the web site as their time permits.)

Membership is FREE ! Last I looked, there are 32 members already!  Current and brand new members, once you are signed up with a login username and password of your own, just have this link to click handy (or bookmarked):

https://www.chess.com/club/contra-costa-chess-club

Newcomers can learn how to observe games of players you actually know in progress, how to mark them as friends, and to challenge (and accept or decline challenges) players we've come to know at Starbucks and Mona's Bar & Grill and elsewhere in weekly in-person sessions or occasional tournaments!

Our chess club's site or room is open 24/7 and there's likely someone in there up for a match!

We also meet tomorrow evening, Monday, March 30, 2020, from 6:00pm - 10:00pm PDT (come by anytime) or for as long as people want to play; and, on Wednesday evening on-line once again, April 1, 2020, from 6:00pm - 10:30pm PDT (come by anytime) or for as long as people want to play.

If you need more info, or have questions, let me know; in the meantime, see you in there!

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

CHESS: Our Chess Club Is On Line! Free to Join!

Hi Everyone . . . !

Sheltering in Place doesn't mean the end of the Contra Costa Chess Club, even temporarily!  In response to popular demand, we've reactivated our long-dormant club page at Chess.com and are ready to play !!

To participate you need to be a Chess.com member.  All you need to do to join is go on the web site and join the site's FREE standard membership.  Once you are signed up and logged in, just click this link:

Contra Costa Chess Club on Chess.com

And then, click on JOIN.  One of our Admins will approve you as promptly as possible and you'll be all set !  (We check the site often to accept new members, but bear with us if it takes just a little while to get to you.)

Our Virtual Meetings this coming week will be:

Sunday, March 29, 2020 at 2:00pm -6:00pm or as long as people want to play.
Monday, March 30, 2020, from 6:00pm - 10:00pm or as long as people want to play.
Wednesday, April 1, 2020, from 6:00pm - 10:30pm.or as long as people want to play.

As usual, come and go anytime, and it would be good to let others know who you are due to various usernames or "game handles" that will be on the site.

Our plan at this point is to duplicate our usual in-person meeting times on-line, however, you are able to visit the club's site anytime 24/7, and very likely find someone to play!

Chess.com has ton of great features, and once we got things a little more figured out, we can consider adding on-line rated Quads or Round Robin tournaments; forming teams to play other clubs, etc.

So far the word-of-mouth response has been great!  We're up to 28 on-line members already, including recent additions of Max (who won our tournament at Mona's Bar & Grill two Sunday's ago!); Andrew, Jim N., Dennis, Tony T., Roger H., and more to join (more than 70 players receive this email).

Even players who are farther away or have moved away may join (e.g., Anthony B., John D., Jack McF., Scott C. and Co., Darmawan, etc. just a few examples)!

As you can tell, we're really excited about this!  All we ask is that you don't have such a great time that you forget to come back to Mona's and Starbucks when this CoronaVirus thing is over !

Let us know if you need more info or have questions, and thanks for your support!

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

CHESS Club Sessions Cancelled Until Further Notice Due to Health Order!

Hi Everyone . . .

Today, March 16, 2020, The Contra Costa County Health Officer, under the authority of Health & Safety Code Sections 101040 and 120175, ordered that all individuals are to shelter in their places of residence.  The exceptions are those who are involved in essential activities; essential government functions; and, the operation of essential businesses. Other exceptions involve family and even the care of pets.  Apparently, those who violate this Order may be subject to a fine, imprisonment, or both.

As a result, going along with The Order and an abundance of caution, The Contra Costa Chess Club will not nor should not hold any chess sessions or tournaments until further notice.  The Order I understand might last through April 7, 2020.

While this is unfortunate and almost unbelievable, the link below will take you to the official Health Order that came out just today.  Several other counties in the Bay Area have issued similar Orders.  The Order details what those above-mentioned essential activities, etc. are.

Contra Costa County Health Department Order 

So then, until further notice, which I hope will be soon, our Contra Costa Chess Club will go into hiatus, until The Order is amended appropriately or totally rescinded.

(However, if anyone is in dire need . . . 😀.)  Let me know if you need more information, or need a chess fix . . . !

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

CHESS March 8 - 11, 2020 at Mona's & Starbucks!

Hi Everyone . . . .!

This Week's Chess   -- Over the Boards !:

Sunday, March 8, 2020:  From 2pm - 5:30pm, Mona's Bar & Grill, 4635 Clayton Rd., Concord.

Monday, March 9, 2020:  From 5:30pm - 9:30 pm, Mona's Bar & Grill, as above.

Wednesday, March 11, 2020: From 5;00pm - 9:00 pm, Starbucks, 1536 Kirker Pass Rd., Clayton.

As usual, at all the above, come by anytime, all ages and skill levels are welcome!

I'll have news about our USCF-rated tournament set for Sunday March 15 at Mona's Bar & Grill.  Depending on the number of players and projected customer activity at Mona's, I may move the venue to Carl's Jr. Restaurant, (located across the lot from our Starbucks venue).  I'll confirm by this coming Thursday a.m.

-- Mike T.
Contra Costa Chess Club

US Chess Federation www.uschess.org

Affiliate Club ID #A6024746