CHESS this Wednesday, Sept. 25th and Sunday, Sept. 29th at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone!

We meet again for fun, challenging chess over the boards this Wednesday, September 25, 2024 as we do every Wednesday and Sunday afternoon from 3:00 p.m. on through closing time (8:30 p.m.) at our regular Starbucks venue, located at 1536 Kirker Pass Rd., in the Clayton Shopping Center, just up from the intersection of Ygnacio Valley Rd. and Clayton Rd., right on the border of Clayton and Concord!

Players can come and go anytime; all ages and skill levels are welcome; there are no dues; and there's no purchase required (but it would be nice to buy something). There usually is a chess puzzle to solve, and the first to solve it on the first try wins a free tall Starbucks drink of choice!

Last Sunday's session saw at least 30 players enjoy the afternoon at the chess boards and/or simply making new friends, and yes, renewing old friendships! We welcomed Natan and his Dad Gene; and, Arian and his parents Arun and Leni; and another new player to the club, Matt -- all no strangers to chess. We also welcomed back, from a long absence, Vishwa (who solved the day's tricky chess puzzle, on first try!), there with spouse Tias! There to welcome them all were Benoit and son Luca; Dylan with Mom Ann and Dad Jonathan; Max, Mike T., Tony, Lou, Anh (with Dad Hanh), Ben C., Alex S., Daniel C., Jackson, David T., Red, Adam M.; Cowen and his Dad and friend; plus Jesse and Eddie (both scouting for extras to be background chess players in their movie)! Did I miss anyone?

Looking ahead, our club will hold a USCF-rated tournament either late October or no later than early November, stay tuned for details! So then, perhaps we'll see you this Wednesday and next Sunday, game for chess and to make new friends, and yes, perhaps even renew old friendships!

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

CHESS this Sunday September 22, 2024 at Starbucks!

Hello Everyone!

Our chess session last Wednesday saw at least a dozen or more players having fun with chess over the board, and this Sunday, September 22, 2024 will more than likely draw even more players to the game at our regular Starbucks venue, as we go from 3:00 p.m. on thru closing time as players can come and go anytime!

As I've mentioned, Jesse will be directing a short film involving chess for a film festival in the Bay Area in the near future. If you are interested in being an accredited extra in the film, by all means let me and especially Jesse and Eddie know. Jesse and Eddie will also be at this Sunday's session to be available to answer any questions you may have. Jesse is planning on filming with extras on Saturday, October 5th in Concord. He will also have the event catered with food and drinks that day for all involved.

See you this Sunday, ready to play, make new friends and maybe even renew old friendships!

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

CHESS this Wednesday, September 18, 2024 at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone!

As we do every Sunday and Wednesday, we meet again this Wednesday, September 18th, at our regular Starbucks venue, in the Clayton Shopping Center, near the intersection of Clayton Rd. and Ygnacio Valley Rd., right on the border of Clayton and Concord CA. There are no dues, and there's no purchase required (but it would be nice to buy something). All ages and skill levels are welcome, and there's usually a chess puzzle to solve, with the first one solving it on the first try winning the prize of a free tall Starbucks drink of choice!

Last Sunday saw at least 16 or more players enjoy a very nice afternoon of chess over the boards: Daniel C., Reza, Meredith, Kevin, Tony, Jonathan, Dylan, Lou, David T., Jackson, Benoit (with Luca), Red, Mike T., and Takrem, Jesse, and Eddie! Dan G. was also there early on, and passed out nice little reminders of his new Lamorinda Chess Club event scheduled for Saturday, October 19th, from 3:00 p.m.-5:30 p.m. at the Europa Hofbrau restaurant in Orinda.

See you this Wednesday or Sunday both, and just know you'll have fun with chess and more likely also make new friends and renew old friendships!

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

CHESS this Sunday, September 15, 2024 at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone!

Last Wednesday's session of chess over the boards saw at least a dozen players come by for the fun and challenge of the game. We welcomed yet another player new to the club, and he is Amar. There to welcome Amar and get him into several games were Ben C., Meredith, Benoit, Tony, Irakli, Mike T., Bert, Alex S., Matthew, Mark, and Willie! This time it was Ben C. who was first to solve the day's chess puzzle on the first try!

We meet again this Sunday, September 15, 2024, as we do every Wednesday and Sunday afternoon. Many more players of all skill levels, from beginners to masters, are expected to come by to play all kinds of chess games, on or off the clock, at our regular Starbucks venue at 1536 Kirker Pass Rd., in the Clayton Shopping Center, very near the intersection of Clayton Rd. and Ygnacio Valley Rd.

Our sessions start at 3:00 p.m. and go through closing time (8:30 p.m.) as players can come and go anytime; there are no dues; there's no purchase required (but it would be nice); and, there usually is a chess puzzle to solve, and the first to solve it on the first try wins a free tall Starbucks drink of choice! You will at least win new friends, and perhaps even renew old friendships --- see you there!

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

CHESS this Wednesday, Sept. 11th, at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone!

We meet again this Wednesday, September 8th, at our regular Starbucks venue located in the Clayton Shopping Center at 1536 Kirker Pass Rd., just a couple of driveways up from the nexus of Clayton Rd. and Ygnacio Valley Rd. We go from 3:00 p.m. through to closing time, as players can come and go anytime; there are no dues, nor is there a purchase requirement (but it would be nice to buy something). All ages and skill levels are welcome, from beginners to masters (and lately on Wednesdays, we've had a chess master drop in)!

We meet every Sunday afternoon as well, same place, same time, etc.!

Last Sunday's session was once again quite active, with at least 20 players at the fun and challenge of chess over the boards, with even a foursome finishing up a "Brain & Hand" match right at closing time! Seen at the chess boards were Kevin, David T., Ben, Daniel C., Suhas with sister Suhasra and mom Vandana and dad Pudri; Ranen with son Noah; Reza, Tony, Jackson, Irakli, Red, Alex S., Meredith, Matthew, Mike T., and Max, who solved the day's puzzle on his first try!

So then, stop by this Wednesday, get your game up, make new friends, even renew old friendships! There's usually a chess puzzle to solve, and the first to solve it on the first try wins a free tall Starbucks drink of choice!

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

CHESS this Sunday, September 8, 2024 at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone!

Come by anytime from 3:00 p.m. on through closing time to join us for the fun and challenge of chess over the boards at our regular Starbucks venue this Sunday, September 8, 2024! Players come and go anytime, all ages and skill levels are welcome, there are no dues, and there's no purchase required (but it would be nice).

Last Sunday's session saw at least 29 players and supporters enjoy the afternoon, with lots of chess, including "laser-beam chess," and even a side-game of Scrabble! In and around all the action were: Alex S., Matthew R., Dan G., Dylan, Jonathan, Anna, Daniel U., Mike T., Red, Trey, Kassy, new player Ryan, Ben C., Jackson, new player Archana, Reza, Tony, Max, Aaron, Fernando, Dan K., Ernie, David T., Cowan and Kaden with Erin and Pat; and, new players Jessie and Eddie... did I miss anyone?

This past Wednesday's afternoon of chess saw at least 8 players (Tony, Ben C., Red, Meredith, Matthew R., Mike T., and Alex S.) plus an extended visit by Nat'l Master (NM) Rich K.! Rich played a few games, and is always glad to analyze any part of your game. Rich works Sundays, but can join us on Wednesdays, so come by sometime on that day, and maybe get a friendly match in with a master and gentleman!

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 of choice! So then, perhaps we'll see you this Sunday or Wednesday or both, and as usual don't be surprised if you make new friends and even renew old friendships!

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

CHESS this Sunday, September 1st at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone!

Have a great long Labor Day weekend, and safe travels to all...! However, if you decided, like so many others, to enjoy where you are, by all means enjoy a Sunday afternoon of fun and definitely challenging chess over the boards in a bright, social atmosphere! Just come by our regular Starbucks venue this Sunday, September 1, 2024 anytime from 3:00 p.m. through to closing time. Last Sunday saw nearly 30 players and family members in, on and around the games of chess, so you just might want to come by early (plus we may have a visitor who will want to chat with players about filming a documentary on Bay Area chess clubs, to possibly feature our Contra Costa Chess Club)!

We meet every Sunday and Wednesday afternoon, same time, same place. As always, players can come and go anytime, there are no dues, and there's no purchase required (but it would be nice). All ages and skill levels are welcome, and there usually is a chess puzzle to solve, with the first one solving it on the first try winning a free tall Starbucks drink of choice! You had to have been there at last Wednesday's session, because you would never have guessed who was first to find the solution to that day's puzzle on the first try! (The answer is in next paragraph below...)

Last Wednesday's session saw at least a dozen players over the chess boards: Tony, Meredith; Dylan and mom Anna; Ranen and son Noah; and, Benoit, Irakli, Alex S., Diego, Mike T., and Dan K. with his "Laser-Beam Chess Set." So then, who's your guess regarding who solved the puzzle on the first try? It was someone who didn't play a game of chess but chose to watch games, make some new friends, and then decided to try the chess puzzle, only to solve it on the first try: that was Anna, Dylan's mom!!

So then, perhaps we'll see you this Sunday, we'll have fun with games of regular chess, check out more of Laser Beam Chess, even throw in a "Brain & Hand" contest, and certainly feature the day's chess puzzle (but you may have to beat Anna to the solution). And, with all that, you'll probably make new friends and maybe even renew old friendships!

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