CHESS this Wednesday, May 31st at Starbucks!

Hello!

Despite the long Memorial Holiday weekend, this past Sunday saw at least a dozen players enjoy the challenge and fun of chess over the boards at our usual Starbucks venue! There to welcome Dhara, our newest player, to the club were Tony, Juliana, Meredith, Nancy, Red, Jordy, Myles, Mike T., Sam S., and Rafael . . . !

We meet again this Wednesday, May 31, 2023 from 3:00 p.m. through to closing time, same place, as we do every Sunday and Wednesday afternoon. Players of all ages and skill levels are welcome, come and go anytime, there are no dues, and there's no purchase required (but it would be nice). There usually is a chess puzzle to solve, and the first one to solve it on the first try wins a free tall Starbucks drink of choice!

See you soon!

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

CHESS this Sunday, May 28th at Starbucks!

Hello!

It's our long Memorial Day weekend! If you're in the area and would like to enjoy an afternoon and even an early evening of fun, challenging chess over the boards at our usual Starbucks venue this Sunday, May 28, 2023, by all means come on by! We're there from 3:00 p.m. on through closing time! We welcome players of all ages and skill levels, come and go anytime, there are no dues, there's not even a purchase required (but it would be nice). There usually is a chess puzzle, and the first one to solve it on the first try wins a tall Starbucks drink of choice!

We meet every Sunday and Wednesday afternoon, same time, same place (Starbucks at 1536 Kirker Pass Rd., in the Clayton Shopping Center, just a couple driveways up from Concord's corner of Ygnacio Valley Rd. and Clayton Rd.).

Last Wednesday saw about a couple dozen players and supporters enjoy the game of chess: First timers Reuben, Sochie, Mark, and Luis were welcomed and made many new friends! It sure was fun to see young Zachary and Sammy, two of Ronald and my chess students, along with their grandparents Igor and Zhanna! Not to be out done were young gamers Ian and JJ, along with mom Paige! And there was Meredith, a graduating senior from Clayton Valley High, congratulations! Certainly on hand to enjoy the company and all that chess has to offer were Hossam, Red, Matthew, Nando, Bert, Mike S., Tony, Ben, Angel, and of course, Mike T.!

That's it, come on by, make new friends, renew old friendships, play chess! See you soon!

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

CHESS this Wednesday, May 24th at Starbucks!

Hello!

Well more than a dozen players enjoyed the afternoon and early evening of chess over the boards at our usual Starbucks venue! It was so nice to see Keko there with Ona, and that chess masters Ronald and Manny were there too, along with Mike T., Farbod, Reza, Ron, Tony, Kevin, Meredith, Balraj, Yancy, Red, Olaf, and new player Leo!

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 corner of Concord's Ygnacio Valley Rd. and Clayton Rd. All ages and skill levels are welcome, and players can come and go anytime. There are no dues, and there is no purchase required (but it would be nice). There usually is a chess puzzle to solve, and the first one to solve it on the first try wins a free tall Starbucks drink of choice (no player was able to solve last Sunday's puzzle on the first try).

So then, the weather's just fine, come on by and enjoy the game of chess over the boards, make new friends, renew old friendships! See you soon.

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

CHESS this Sunday, May 21st at Starbucks!

Hello!

It's going to be quite a nice day for chess over the boards this Sunday, May 21, 2023 at our usual Starbucks venue!

We meet every Sunday and Wednesday afternoons from 3:00 p.m. through closing time at our Starbucks (1536 Kirker Pass Rd, in the Clayton Shopping Center). We welcome players of all ages and skill levels, from beginners to masters! Players can come and go anytime, there are no dues, and there's no purchase required (but it would be nice). There usually is a chess puzzle to solve, and the first to solve it on the first try gets a free tall Starbucks drink of choice!

Our session last Wednesday saw most players enjoying chess in the shade outside of Starbucks! Having fun with chess that day were Farbod, Tony, Red, Mike T., Bert, Samuel, Matthew, Adrian, Yancy, Irakli, Ian (who solved the puzzle!), and FIDE Master Rich K.!

So then, come on by, enjoy the fun and challenge of the game of chess, make new friends, and renew old friendships!

See you there,

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

CHESS this Wednesday, May 17th at Starbucks!

Hello!

It's always so nice to have new players join us and see them interact with our regular players as well as those who come by time to time, and those who return after a long absence from the chess-over-the-boards scene at our usual Starbucks venue!

We continue to meet every Sunday and Wednesday afternoon, from 3pm through to closing time, with players coming and going anytime. We welcome players of all ages and skill levels, there are no dues, and there is no purchase required (but it would be nice). There usually is a chess puzzle to solve: first one to solve it on the first try wins a free tall Starbucks drink of choice!

Last Sunday's session, despite the observance of Mother's Day, saw about 10 players enjoy the afternoon of fun, challenging chess! There to welcome new players Samuel and Jordy were Farbod, Chris N., Red. Kevin, Tony, Mike T., Keko, and -- long time no see -- David T.! We certainly can't predict the number of players who will come by for chess, whether it be on a Sunday or Wednesday afternoon: it could be six, or twenty-six or more! So then, see you soon or when you can make it! Here's to making new friends, and renewing old friendships!

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

Hello!

It's Mother's Day this Sunday, May 14th, and if you have the opportunity to join in the fun and challenge of chess over the boards later in the day, we meet as usual from 3:00 p.m. on through closing time at our usual Starbucks venue!

We meet every Sunday and Wednesday afternoon, same time, same place. Players of all ages and skill levels are welcome, there are no dues, players come and go anytime, and there is no purchase required (but it would be nice). There usually is a chess puzzle to solve, and the first one who solves it on the first try wins a free tall Starbucks drink!

If anyone noticed that I wasn't around much the last two sessions, it was only because I got jammed with certain pollen allergies that turned into a nasty case of sinusitis (and that's all it was, per tests and visit to doctor's office). So then, here's looking forward to seeing many of you this Sunday or whenever you can make it to our regular sessions!

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

CHESS this Wednesday, May 10th at Starbucks!

Hello!

Just a short note to say we meet once again this Wednesday afternoon, May 10, 2023, at our usual Starbucks venue for fun, challenging chess over the boards! The first one to solve a certain chess puzzle on the first try wins a free tall Starbucks drink of choice!

We meet every Sunday and Wednesday afternoon from 3:00 p.m. on through closing time. All ages and skill levels are welcome; come and go as you wish, there are no dues, and there is no purchase required (but it would be nice).

Last Sunday, we welcomed yet another new player to the club. On hand to welcome Luis (and wife Ona) to the club were Tony, Mike T., Kevin, Sam N., Suhas and his Dad, and Yancy (who solved that day's chess puzzle on his first try)!

If you're up for USCF-rated Quads competition next Sunday and Wednesday, let me know.

See you soon!

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

CHESS this Sunday, May 7th at Starbucks!

Hello!

There's chess over the boards every Sunday and Wednesday afternoon at our usual Starbucks venue, from 3:00 pm on through closing time! We welcome players of all ages and skill levels, from beginners to masters! Come and go anytime, there are no dues, and there is no purchase required (but it would be nice). This Sunday, May 7th, is no exception, and we can expect to see more new players! There's usually a chess puzzle to solve, with a free tall Starbucks drink for the one who is the first to solve it on the first try!

Last Wednesday's session saw about a dozen players, and we welcomed our newest player, Ben, to the club! There to welcome him were Maria, Mike T., Mike S., Bert, Tony, Sam C., Irakli, Manuel, Ernie, and Yancy (who, once again, solved the day's chess puzzle on the first try!). Did I miss anyone?

For those interested in rated competition (especially those who still have provisional ratings), on either or both Sundays, May 14 and 21, 2023, we can have USCF-rated Quads, to be played over 2 sessions at either Starbucks or Carl's Jr (which is just across the side parking lot from Starbucks). These matches would also be good matches for those planning to compete in the Las Vegas Chess Festival this coming June! For our Quads, Time Control=G/45;d10. EF=$15. Starting time: 2:00 p.m. 1st Place=$30; 2nd Place=$25. Let me know if you're up for this, see you soon!

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

CHESS this Wednesday, May 3, 2023 at Starbucks!

Hello!

There's lots of chess over the boards this Wednesday afternoon, May 3, 2023 from 3pm on through closing time at our usual Starbucks venue, located at 1536 Kirker Pass Rd., in the Clayton Shopping Center, just up from the Concord corner of Ygnacio Valley Rd. and Clayton Rd. We meet every Sunday and Wednesday afternoon, same time, same place! We welcome players of all ages and skill levels, there are no dues, there is no purchase requirement, and there's usually a chess puzzle to see who will be the first player to solve it on the first try, to win a free tall Starbucks drink of choice!

Last Sunday several players enjoyed the afternoon of chess, and we also concluded our club's April fun, USCF-rated tournament. There for the games were Ohm and his family, along with Myles, Juliana, Kevin, Tony, Mike T., Red, Sam C., Jay, Vin, Vin Sr., and Roman!

Our USCF-rated club tournament concluded with Red once again taking 1st Place (and it's noted that he has won two club tournaments in a row, having now won 7 straight USCF-rated matches! Coming in a clear 2nd was Tony T., and tied for 3rd Place were Matthew and Trenton!

Our next club tournament may be for 3 rounds or matches, either in Quads or groups of six, all scheduled for Sunday, May 14, 2023, same time control (G/45;d10), with a first match starting time of 11:00 a.m. and an Entry Fee of only $25 (as, usual, at least 90% of entry frees are returned as cash prizes). Let me know if you're up for it! See you soon!

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