CHESS this Wednesday, February 1st, at Starbucks!

Hello!

This past Sunday, despite rainy weather and televised NFL championships, well more than a dozen players dropped in on our usual Starbucks venue to enjoy fun, challenging chess over the boards! There to welcome three more new players (Trenton, George and George's uncle) were Tony, Mike T., Ron Cl. and Ronald C., Mark, Jason with kids Sabina and Jackson, along with Donovan, Meredith, Red, and Julia. Did I miss anyone?

We welcome players of all ages and skill levels, from beginners to masters! We meet every Sunday and Wednesday afternoon from 3:00 p.m through to closing time at the Starbucks located at 1536 Kirker Pass Rd., in the Clayton Shopping Center, just a couple driveways up from the Concord corner of Ygnacio Valley Rd. and Clayton Rd. Our next session is this Wednesday, February 1, 2023, and there are no dues, players come and go anytime, and there is no purchase required (but it would be nice). Players there early will 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!

Some players were wondering when our next rated club tournament would be. Sunday, February 26, 2023 looks good, or even sooner, so stay tuned for details as to format, time control, entry fees, divisions, etc.. Not all players need to compete in rated matches; however, for those who do, current membership in the US Chess Federation is required. New or renewing members may sign up on line at www.uschess.org.

Anyone up for 4-Way Speed Chess?

See you soon,

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

CHESS this Sunday Jan. 29 at Starbucks!?!

Hello!

Last Wednesday's session saw at least a dozen or so players enjoy an afternoon and evening of chess over the boards, as we welcomed 3 more new players to the club! No player was able to solve a rather difficult chess puzzle on the first try, perhaps an easier one will be on the table next Wednesday! Having fun with the challenges of chess last Wednesday were Tony, Mike T., Yancy, Red, Bert, Jake and Jennifer, Rich P., Chris B., and new players Will, Mike S., and Julia!

We usually meet every Sunday and Wednesday afternoons, from 3:00 p.m. through to closing time at our usual Starbucks venue. Will we have our usual session and turnout this Sunday, January 29, 2023?? The NFC Championship game between the SF 49ers and the Philadelphia Eagles kicks off around noon and should finish by 3:30 p.m., so we'll likely see some players drop in for chess Sunday afternoon, after all!

See you soon,

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

CHESS this Wednesday, January 25 at Starbucks!

Hello!

Two Sundays ago we welcomed 3 new players, Rich P., Don G., and Sean, as nearly two dozen players enjoyed an afternoon and early evening of chess over the boards, as did at least seven players last Wednesday, despite rather wet weather!

We have a regular session this coming Wednesday, January 25, 2023, from 3:00 p.m. through closing time, at our usual Starbucks venue, located at 1536 Kirker Pass, in the Clayton Shopping Center, just a couple driveways up from the corner of Clayton Rd. and Ygnacio Valley Rd. Players arriving early have a chance to be the first to solve a chess puzzle on the first try to win a free tall Starbucks beverage of choice!

We welcome players of all ages and skill levels, from beginners to masters and all in between. Players can come and go anytime; there are no dues; and, there is no purchase required (but it would be nice).

However, when we do have rated matches or tournaments with either cash or non-cash prizes, competing players -- regardless of skill group or division -- must be current members of the US Chess Federation. Membership costs are quite reasonable, --- moreso for students and seniors --- and can be easily obtained online at www.uschess.org. Rated matches or tournaments are announced well in advance, with info as to date(s), location, start times, skill divisions, entry fees and prizes, as well as format and time control(s).

For those interested, we lately have set time aside to experiment with and possibly develop our own version of four-player chess, but amp'ed up for speed, to be known as 4-Player Speed Chess! So far, based on a couple timed games (one at 5 minutes, the other at 10), the feedback has been that it's certainly offbeat, a bit crazy and fun, -- and Kwaku is the player to beat! -- would you like to try it sometime?

Let me know if you have questions or need more information, see you soon!

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

CHESS this Sunday, Jan. 22nd at Starbucks??

Hello!

Just a short note to say that chess players are welcome as usual to play chess at our usual Starbucks venue this Sunday afternoon -- however, we'll not have our usual features such as a chess puzzle to solve for a free Starbucks drink, etc., as not too many players (myself included) are expected due to the much-hyped afternoon NFL playoff match between the Dallas Cowboys and the San Francisco 49ers!

We'll resume our session with more players this coming Wednesday afternoon, and I'll have more info in the next email, see you soon!

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

CHESS Today, January 18th, at Starbucks!

Hello All,

Just a quick note to say we meet as usual today, as we do Sunday and Wednesday afternoons, from 3pm thru closing time at our usual Starbucks venue. Players there early 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!

I'll have lots of club info or updates (like Kwaku being the defending champion of our new 4-Way Speed Chess Challenge!) in my next email!

See you soon!

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

CHESS this Sunday, January 15th at Starbucks!

Hello All!

Just a short note to confirm that our chess club meets as usual this Sunday, Jan. 15th from 3:00 p.m. on through closing time at our usual Starbucks venue, come more rain or some sunshine! We welcome players of all ages and skill levels, and those who are there early will have a chess puzzle to solve, and the first one to do so on the first try wins a free tall Starbucks drink of choice!

We wish good, winning games and top prizes for those very few club players (e.g., Chris B., Max, Eric M., Ranen) who decided to compete in the Golden State Open in Marin County this weekend despite the flooding rains there, along with the distance and costs.

We meet Sundays and Wednesdays, same time, same place, for fun challenging chess over the boards --- see you soon!

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

CHESS this Wednesday, January 11th at Starbucks!

Hello!

This past Sunday's session saw at least a dozen players mix it up over the chessboards: Kids Myles, Jackson, and Sabina were there along with Susie, Yancy, Sam, Ron, Mike T., Ray, Jil, Kevin, Vinn Jr., and Mark! Did anyone solve the mate-in-two chess puzzle? Well, if it weren't for Sabina showing everyone what the correct first move was, it may never have been solved! For her key participation, Sabina won a Starbucks treat for her and her brother!

We meet every Wednesday and Sunday afternoon, from 3pm through closing time at our usual Starbucks venue. We therefore convene again this Wednesday, January 11, 2023. We welcome players of all ages and skill levels. There are no dues and there is no purchase required (but it would be nice). Players there early usually have a chance to be the first to solve a chess puzzle on the first try to win a free tall Starbucks drink!

Join us also to try 4-Way Speed Chess! Last Sunday, Ron, Mike T., Sam, and Kevin gave it a try without clocks, and it was fun! On the clocks, set at 5 minutes each, it should be quite interesting with special club rules and an initial $$$ prize for the winner!

See you soon!

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

CHESS this Sunday, Jan 8th at Starbucks, Rain or Shine!

Hello!

Last Wednesday's session had at least half a dozen players enjoying an afternoon and early evening of chess over the boards despite the late rains! Sam, Tony, Matthew, Mike T., Meredith, and Donovan were there to play, and check out the new 4-way chessboard to add to the fun!

Rain or shine, from 3:00p.m. on through closing this Sunday, January 8, 2023, at our usual Starbucks venue, let's have a fun, challenging time over the boards, with a couple special challenges: first, as usual, players 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! Second, for players who would like to try something new, there will be $$ prizes for winning experimental 4-Way Speed Chess Games! Yup, you heard or saw it here first!

We welcome players of all ages and skill levels, there are no dues, and there is no purchase required (but it would be nice). Come and go anytime, see you soon!

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

CHESS this Wednesday, January 4th, 2023 Rain or Shine at Starbucks!

Hello All . . . !

Just a short note to confirm that there's chess over the boards this Wednesday, Jan 4th at our usual Starbucks venue!

It will probably be wet weather, and probably a good day to stay in, but if you're up for the game of chess for the afternoon/evening from 3pm on, (come and go anytime), I'll see you there! (If some players are interested, I'll preview a 4-way chessboard tournament, something that can be played for a nominal cash prize at next Sunday's session!)

See you soon,

-- Mike T.
Contra Costa Chess Club
US Chess Federation
Affiliate Club ID #6024746