CHESS Next Wednesday, January 3rd, 2024 at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone!

Happy New Year, and may 2024 be a joyful one for you!!

Our next session for fun, challenging chess over the boards will be next Wednesday, 3:00 p.m. to closing, on January 3, 2024 at our usual Starbucks venue --- after which we will return to our regular Sunday and Wednesday afternoons of chess, same place, same time (3:00 p.m. through to closing. come and go anytime). Our first Sunday afternoon session will therefore be on the 7th of January.

Our session this past Wednesday (Dec. 27) was a lively one, with Yancy, Red, Sam, Tony, Lou, Irakli, Meredith, Will, Carl, Daniel, and Mike T. Many thanks to Sam for his thoughtfulness in bringing in a large box loaded with the variety of Girl Scout Cookies, not only for the players, but for the Starbucks baristas, as well!

Our club tournament will be scheduled for either late January or early February of 2024. We will also be forming up a couple of chess teams, in the event the opportunity to compete with other clubs comes along, so stay tuned, see you soon!!

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

CHESS this Wednesday, December 27, at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone!

Yes, we've got chess over the boards for you this Wednesday, December 27, 2023 at our usual Starbucks venue as we continue to enjoy the holiday season!

Last Wednesday saw several players up to the fun and challenge of the game. Sam, Red, Ben C., Chris B., Tony, Irakli (who solved the chess puzzle on his first try to win the prize), Matthew, and Mike T. were there, and there will more than likely be more players this Wednesday!

All ages and skill levels are welcome, from 3:00 p.m. through to closing, come and go anytime, make new friends, renew old friendships, and wish each other a very, very, happy new year!!

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

CHESS Wednesdays December 20th & 27th, 2023 at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone!

Our next sessions of fun, challenging chess over the boards will be on the next two Wednesdays, December 20th of this week, then Wednesday December 27th of the following week at our usual Starbucks venue. We won't start meeting again on Sunday afternoons until Sunday, January 7, 2024. We will continue meeting every Sunday and Wednesday afternoon in 2024, same time, from 3:00p.m. to closing, come and go anytime, etc., and there usually is a chess puzzle to solve, with the first player solving it on the first try winning a free tall Starbucks beverage of choice!

Our session this past Sunday saw about 19 players and family members enjoy an afternoon and early evening of chess at our usual Starbucks venue. We welcomed two new players, Rayden there with his Dad John, and Daniel, there with his Mom Lisa! Welcoming Rayden and Daniel were Kevin, Red, Yancy, Ben C., Mike T., Sam, Samuel, FBen, Tony, and Irakli, with IMRonald coming by to work with Paige's sons Ian, JJ, and Kayen on their chess games! In addition, the day's chess puzzle was finally solved on the first try by Yancy, after several players gave it a go!

A very special thanks goes to Kevin for presenting the chess club's organizer with quite a unique memento in recognition of the 15th full year of the founding of the Contra Costa Chess Club!! Many, many thanks also to all those that were there that shared in the enjoyment of the surprise!

So then, come on by these next two Wednesday afternoons, get your chess game up, make new friends, renew old friendships, and smile along with the happy holidays!!

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

CHESS this Sunday, December 17th at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone!

We're expecting several players of all ages and skill levels, from beginners to perhaps a master or two, this coming Sunday, December 17, 2023 at our usual Starbucks venue, located at 1536 Kirker Pass Rd., in the Clayton Shopping Center, just a couple driveways up from the corner of Clayton Rd. and Ygnacio Valley Rd.! As we do every Sunday and Wednesday afternoons, we start at 3:00 p.m. and finish at closing time. 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 player to solve it on the first try wins a free tall Starbucks beverage of choice! Last Wednesday's puzzle once again could not be solved on the first try, but Irakli did figure it out and got bragging rights! Along with Irakli last Wednesday enjoying chess over the boards were Vishwa and his nephew Advite, Tony, new player Erik, Paul, George, Red, Sam, FBen, Ben C, and Mike T.!

So then, perhaps see you very soon this holiday season, join us, get your game up, make new friends, renew old friendships, tis the season to be jolly...!

--- Mike T.
Contra Costa Chess Club
US Chess Federation
Affiliate Club ID #A6025746

CHESS this Sunday, December 10th at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone!

A great group of players came by last Wednesday at our regular Starbucks venue to enjoy an afternoon and evening of chess over the boards. (Sam, Ben C., FBen, Bert, Red, Mike T., Irakli, Morgan, Will, and a new player, also named Will) Interestingly, most of the players had a chance to solve a chess puzzle on the first try to win a free tall Starbucks beverage, but no player was able to solve it! (It was that tough, mate in two moves, solved only after the key first move was given.)

We meet again this Sunday afternoon, December 10, 2023, as we do Wednesdays, from 3:00 p.m. through to closing time. Come and go anytime; all ages and skill levels are welcome. There is no purchase required (but it would be nice), and... there are no dues! There usually is a chess puzzle to solve, and the first one to do so on the first try wins a free tall drink!

See you there to enjoy the fun and challenge of chess over the boards, and to make new friends and renew old friendships!

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

CHESS this Wednesday (Today), December 6th at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone !

At least a dozen players met the challenge and the fun of competing over the chess boards this past Sunday, and it was Red who solved the chess puzzle on his first try, to win a free tall Starbucks drink! Along with Red at our usual Starbucks venue were Ben C., Reza, Will, Lou, Yancy, Sam, Kevin, Alex, Mark, Mike T., and Irakli (who had the added fun of having his lovely family there).

The Contra Costa Chess Club meets every Sunday and Wednesday afternoon from 3:00 p.m. through to closing time, with our next sessions slated for today, December 6, 2023 and next Sunday, December 10, 2023: same place; players of all ages and skill levels welcome; come and go anytime; no purchase required (but it would be nice); and, there are no dues! There usually is a chess puzzle to solve, and the first one to solve it on the first try wins a free tall Starbucks beverage of choice!

So then, see you there, have fun, make new friends, renew old friendships!

-- Mike T.
Contra Costa Chess Club
1536 Kirker Pass Rd., in the Clayton Shopping Center
US Chess Federation
Affiliate Club ID #A6024746

CHESS this Sunday, December 3, 2023 at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone!

Last Wednesday was quite active at our regular Starbucks venue, with more than a dozen players enjoying an afternoon and evening of chess over the boards. The players were: Bert, Sam, Ben C., FBen, Matthew, Tony, Will Mike T., Red, new player Sri, Diego, and two of our club's founding fathers, Hossam and John S.! It was Sam who solved the chess puzzle on the first attempt!

We meet again this coming Sunday, December 3, 2023, and this month will complete the first 15 years of the Contra Costa Chess Club! Any suggestions as to how to celebrate or otherwise observe the 16th anniversary of its founding this coming January will be welcome. As usual, all ages and skill levels, from raw beginners to masters and all in between, are welcome. 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 player to solve it on the first try wins a free tall Starbucks drink of choice!

So then, do drop in for a game of chess, make new friends, and renew old friendships!

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