Wednesday, March 30, 2022

CHESS this Wednesday March 30 at Starbucks!


Hi Everyone!

Our chess club meets for fun, challenging chess over the boards once again this Wednesday, March 30, 2022 from 3:00 p.m. on through closing time at our usual Starbucks venue, located at 1536 Kirker Pass Rd., just up from the corner of Ygnacio Valley Rd. and Clayton Rd. of Concord, CA. Come and go anytime. We welcome players of all ages and skill levels, from novices to masters and all in between.

Players arriving early for the better tables have a chance to be the first to solve a chess puzzle on the first try to win a free tall Starbucks drink of choice!

Our session this past Sunday saw several players enjoy the afternoon and early evening over the chess boards. Sam and Ken completed the final match of our club's 3rd USCF-rated Quad of the year, with a fantastic finish, with the clock counting down in seconds, resulting in a draw! Mike T., Tony, Yancy, Rob, Olaf, and Matthew were also there, and we all welcomed returning player Brandon and his friend and our newest club player, Clifford!

Our club's 3rd Quad resulted in Tony and Setsal tying for first place, halving the 1st and 2nd Place Prizes for each to receive $22.50, and the overall results will be reported to USCF for the ratings adjustments early this week. Our next club tournament will be a Round Robin format, entry fee to be determined, time control to be G/45;d10. Stay tuned, let me know if you're interested!

See you soon,

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

Saturday, March 26, 2022

CHESS this Sunday March 27 at Starbucks!


Hi Everyone!

Play fun, challenging chess over the boards this Sunday, March 27, 2022, at our usual Starbucks venue, located at 1536 Kirker Pass Rd., in the Clayton Station Shopping Center, just up from the corner of Ygnacio Valley Rd. and Clayton Valley Rd. in Concord, CA!

We meet every Sunday and Wednesday afternoons from 3:00pm on through 8:00p.m., come and go anytime, we welcome players of all ages and skill levels, from beginners to masters, and there are no dues, and there is no purchase requirement (but it would be nice).

Last Wednesday saw several players enjoy the game, and we welcomed Rob N., our newest player to the club! There to welcome Rob were Tony, Setsal, Mike T., Sam, Yancy, Irakli, Matthew, Michael J. and Serena!

Our club's 3rd USCF-rated Quad of 2022 will conclude next Wednesday with a final match, that being between Sam and Ken. In the meantime, results of our 1st and 2nd Quads of this year have been published in our previous email, and the results have been submitted to the USCF for the ratings adjustments. Looking ahead, as interest in rated matches grows, our club may hold a larger tournament, similar to the 8-player tournament we had earlier this year. There's also been interest in holding a blitz tournament, as well as a classic round-robin tournament.

See you soon,

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

Monday, March 21, 2022

CHESS this Wednesday March 23 at Starbucks & Carl's Jr.!


Hi Everyone!

About a dozen players came by to enjoy the game of chess this past Sunday at our Starbucks and Carl's Jr. venues. Additionally, our club has now completed 3 tournaments this year, with 2 USCF-rated Quads finishing up in the last couple of weeks, with a third one underway!

Tony took 1st Place in our 1st Quad, with Matthew finishing 2nd and
Ranen took 1st in our second Quad, with Yancy coming in 2nd.

A 3rd Quad is underway, with Tony, Setsal, Sam, and Ken the competitors this time, and results are possible by next Sunday, March 27, 2022.

If you are interested in competing in a rated club Quad, the specs are:
3 Rds; G/45.d10; Entry Fee = $12.50; 1st Place=$25; 2nd Place=$20.
Matches are played by agreement on either or both our club's Sunday or Wednesday sessions.

Our club welcomes and enjoys players of all ages and skill levels, from beginners to masters and all in between. We meet every Wednesday and Sunday from 3:00 p.m. to closing time at Starbucks, located at 1536 Kirker Pass Rd., at the Clayton Station Shopping Center, just up from the corner of Clayton Rd.and Ygnacio Valley Rd. in Concord. We often go across the parking lot to Carl's Jr., as well, so check there, too! Come and go anytime, there are no dues, and there is no purchase required (but it would be nice).

Lately there's been more interest in having another larger "classic" tournament with a higher prize fund and more winners, as we had in our first tournament this year.It's also been suggested that we even a fun blitz tournament. Let me know if you're up for the added excitement of tournament play. If not, we're still here for you to keep enjoying the game strictly for the fun and challenge of it!

See you soon,

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

Saturday, March 19, 2022

CHESS this Sunday, March 20, 2022 at Starbucks!


Hi Everyone!

Our next session is at Starbucks, located at 1536 Kirker Pass Rd., Clayton, CA, this Sunday, March 20, 2022. We sometimes have USCF-rated matches at the Carl's Jr. Restaurant across the parking lot from Starbucks, so always check there too, as you can play chess (or other games) just for fun at either place!

At least 10 players came by to enjoy the game of chess at our usual Starbucks venue this past Wednesday. We missed seeing Ken, Vishwa and Eric Z. who were with us at last Sunday's session at Carl's Jr., but we still had some fun and rather challenging games (and a chess puzzle) this time at Starbucks with a group comprised of Tony, Matthew, Setsal, Mike T., Herb, Alwin, John S., Bert, Ranen and Irakli (who solved the puzzle).

We welcome players of all ages and skill levels, from beginners to masters and all in between. There are no dues. There is no purchase requirement (but it would be nice). We meet every Sunday and Wednesday 3:00 p.m. through to the 8:00 p.m. closing time. Come and go anytime. Early arrivals usually get the best tables and often have a chance to be the first to solve a chess puzzle on the first try to win a free tall Starbucks drink of choice!

Ranen, Yancy, Irakli, and Vishwa will soon be playing their USCF-rated Quad's 3rd and final round either this Sunday or by next Wednesday, to complete our club's 2nd Quad and overall third tournament of this year! Stay tuned for the results of the 2nd Quad, as our club's 3rd rated Quad will soon be forming! Results of our 1st and 2nd Quads will be reported to USCF this week, now that the USCF server for such reports and ratings updates is back online.

See you soon,

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

Monday, March 14, 2022

CHESS this Wednesday March 16 at Starbucks & Carl's Jr!


Hi Everyone !

Join us for fun, challenging Chess this Wednesday, March 16, 2022 from 3:00 p.m. on through closing time at 8:00 p.m. at Starbucks, located at 1536 Kirker Pass Rd. in Clayton, Calif., just a couple driveways up from the corner of Clayton Rd. and Ygnacio Valley Rd. of Concord, Calif.!

Come by and stay or go anytime after 3:00p.m. for chess and perhaps other games, as we welcome players of all ages and skill levels, from beginners to masters and all in between!

Players may choose to play their games at Starbucks, or across the parking lot at the Carl's Jr. Restaurant, where you might even find USCF-rated chess matches in process! Players may certainly choose to stay at Starbucks to play their matches, rated or unrated. Players often check Starbucks first before going on to Carl's Jr.

There are no dues. There is no purchase requirement (but it would be nice). Players arriving early often have a chance to be the first to solve a chess puzzle on the first try to win a free tall Starbucks drink of choice!

This past Sunday's session saw at least 8 players having fun tangling over the chess boards. Ranen, Mike T., Yancy, Vishwa, Matthew, Setsal, Tony, and Eric Z. were there, as the club's 2nd USCF-rated Quad continued, with Ranen filling out the foursome in place of Steve for a 1st-round match with Yancy! Vishwa and Yancy then played their 2nd-round match. This Quad, with Irakli in the mix, is expected to conclude within a week's time, with results to be posted here, stay tuned! This Wednesday's session may also feature the formation and initial matches of our club's 3rd USCF-rated Quad of 2022!

See you soon,

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

Sunday, March 13, 2022

CHESS this Sunday, March 13th at Starbucks and Carl's Jr!


Hi Everyone !

Come by anytime after 3:00 p.m.on through the 8:00 p.m. closing time at both Starbucks and Carl's Jr. this Sunday, March 13, 2022 for fun, challenging chess at the Clayton Station Shopping Center, located just a couple driveways up from the corner of Ygnacio Valley Rd. and Clayton Rd.

We welcome players of all ages and skill levels, from beginners to masters. There are no dues, and there is no purchase required (but it would be nice). Players arriving early often have a chance of being the first one to solve a chess puzzle on the first try to win a Starbucks tall drink of choice!

Players usually meet and play chess at Starbucks the entire time. However, players who compete in our USCF-rated club matches or tournaments usually elect to play their matches at the Carl's Jr. Restaurant, across the parking lot, due to larger tables and a quieter setting there.

At either venue, the game of chess in our club affords players a friendly setting along with good vibes, music, and good, fun, interesting company! So then, feel free to play just for fun at either place, or even get in on the action in any of our USCF-rated club matches!

Last Wednesday's session saw at least a dozen players match up, with one USCF-rated Quad concluding and another one with a different set of players starting up! We welcomed Jackie C., who will play in our Wednesday Quads! Along with Jackie that afternoon over the chess boards were Tony, Mike T., Bert, Matthew, Herb, Setsal, Irakli, Vishwa, Yancy, John S. and Rich K.!

The rated Quad with players Tony, Setsal, Matthew and Herb finished with Tony snagging the 1st Place Prize of $25, winning 2 matches and drawing another (2 1/2pts.); and, with Matthew awarded the $20 second prize for winning 1 match and drawing 2 others (2pts.).

Another rated Quad started, with Irakli and Vishwa in their match Wednesday. Yancy and Steve will play theirs this Sunday. This Quad will continue next Wednesday, March 16 and conclude no later than next Sunday, March 20.

Interested in competing in one of our rated club tournaments? USCF current membership is required, and recent Time Control has been G/45.d10. Entry Fee for Quads has been $12.50, expect more for larger tournaments. Quads 1st Place Prize has been $25; 2nd Place Prize $20, with much higher amounts and more Place Prizes will depend on the number of players and number of rounds. Let me know if you have questions or need more info.

Thanks for your interest and support, see you soon!

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

Tuesday, March 8, 2022

CHESS this Wednesday March 9th at Starbucks and Carl's Jr.!!


Hi Everyone!

Players of all ages and skill levels are welcome once again this Wednesday, March 9, 2022, to play the great game of chess over the boards at either or both of our regular venues, Starbucks and Carl's Jr., located at the Clayton Station Shopping Center, which is just a couple of driveways up from the corner of Kirker Pass Rd. and Clayton Rd, Concord CA.

At either Starbucks or Carl's Jr. (which are just across the parking lot from each other) players come and go as they wish from 3:00p.m. on through both closing times of 8:00p.m. All or most players arriving before 4:00p.m. meet and start playing at Starbucks for the usual fun, challenging "coffeehouse chess". Other players may wish to continue on to Carl's Jr. for more spacious tables and a quieter setting, especially if they are in our club's official USCF-rated matches (as in Quads, which are now forming: Entry Fee $12.50; Time Control G/45d.10; 1st Place $25; 2nd Place $20; participants must be current members of the US Chess Federation.).

USCF-rated Quad Tournaments are now forming, and one is already underway, with the first round having been played this past Sunday at Carl's Jr.! At least 10 players had fun with chess last Sunday at both venues. There to enjoy the games and good company were Yancy, Irakli, Vishwa, Matthew, Herb, Setsal, Ken, Tony, Mike T., and Steve P. with his super-cute little daughter Cecilia!

The club's first official Quad of 2022 is underway with Tony, Setsal, Matthew, and Herb. They each played the first of 3 rounds last Sunday at Carl's Jr., with the possibility of playing the remaining two rounds this Wednesday at that same venue after first meeting at Starbucks! Results may be announced by this Friday, so stay tuned!

The club's second official Quad and possibly a third one may be formed and set to begin next Sunday, March 13. Who will be in the Quad matches? Once again, stay tuned, or if you haven't yet expressed interest, get your game up and join one! (You won't be overmatched.)

Note: There are no club dues. At either Starbucks or Carl's Jr., players are not required to purchase anything (but it would be nice, since they are hosting us). There is no requirement to join the US Chess Federation, however, if a player wants to compete in official USCF-rated matches, he or she must be a current member of the USCF. Players who wish to join or renew membership in the USCF can do so online at www.uschess.org.

See you soon,

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

Sunday, March 6, 2022

CHESS this Sunday March 6, 2022 at Starbucks!


Hi Everyone!

This past Wednesday saw at least 17 chess players at Starbucks! We meet every Wednesday and Sunday afternoons from 3:00 p.m. through closing time at 8:00 p.m. Come and go anytime, as we welcome players of all ages and skill levels, from beginners to masters and all in between!

Our next session: Sunday, March 6, 2022, from 3:00 p.m. on as stated above, at our regular Starbucks venue, located at 1536 Kirker Pass Rd., Clayton, CA., at the Clayton Shopping Center, just a couple driveways up from the corner of Clayton Rd. and Ygnacio Valley Rd. in Concord, CA..

There are no dues. There is no purchase requirement (but it would be nice). Players arriving early for the better tables have a chance to be the first to solve a chess puzzle on the first try to win a free tall Starbucks drink of choice!

Having fun with chess over the boards last Wednesday were Johnny H., Mike T., Tony, Olaf, Bert, Matthew, Vishwa, Irakli, Sam, Ranen, Setsal, Valeria, Yancy, John S., Alwin, Vernon (a player new to the club who stopped by to say he'll join us), and . . . Dennis! -- yes, Dennis (welcome back!) who used to host the chess club during pre-pandemic times!

The club's USCF-rated Quads for USCF members will soon be forming up, and the first of two Quads may very well form and actually start either this Sunday or next Wednesday! Entry Fee = $12.50; Time Control: G/45d.10;1st Prize approx $25; 2nd Prize approx $20.

See you soon,

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

Tuesday, March 1, 2022

CHESS this Wednesday March 2nd at Starbucks!


Hi Everyone !

Chess over the boards is a fun, challenging social activity every Wednesday and Sunday, from 3:00p.m. through to the 8:00p.m. closing time at our usual Starbucks venue!

Our next session is this Wednesday, March 2, 2022.

Come and go for chess and perhaps other fun kinds of games anytime after 3:00p.m., the earlier the better for the better tables. We're located at 1536 Kirker Pass Rd, Clayton, CA, just a couple driveways into the Clayton Shopping Center near the corner of Ygnacio Valley Rd. and Clayton Rd., in Concord, CA.

We welcome players of all ages and skill levels, from beginners to masters and all in between. There are no dues. There is no purchase requirement (but it would be nice). Players arriving early often have a chance to be the first to solve a chess puzzle on the first try to win a free tall Starbucks drink of choice!

At least 15 players enjoyed the game and meeting new friends at our session this past Sunday! We welcomed back Johnny H. (lonngg time no see, Mr. H !), as well as Elisa and her 7-year old son Johnny, and met for the first time her Chess and "Go" playing Dad, Phac! We also welcomed new players Valerie, Evelyn, Lee, and Jacqueline! On hand to get some games in with everyone were Mike T., Vishwa, Yancy, Tony, Sam, Mark and Setsal.

Tony solved the chess puzzle on his first try, and a tip of the hat goes to Yancy for his time spent giving young, smart, and attentive Johnny chess pointers; and, to Setsal for his focus and time spent teaching Valerie the basics of the game!

Looking ahead, expect more USCF-rated club tournaments! Stay tuned, see you soon,

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