CHESS this Sunday, June 1, 2025 at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone!

June is almost upon us, and some rather warm weather is going to make chess over the boards in the cool environment of our regular Starbucks venue a fair pleasure along with the fun and challenge of the game. As we meet every Sunday and Wednesday afternoon from 3:00 pm through to closing time, we get together again this Sunday, June 1st, at the Starbucks located in the Clayton Shopping Center, at 1536 Kirker Pass Rd., just up from the corner of Ygnacio Valley Rd. and Clayton Rd. Players can come and go anytime, there are no dues, and all ages and skill levels are quite welcome.

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! See you there, perhaps to also make new friends, even renew old friendships!

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

CHESS this Wednesday, May 28, 2025 at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone...!

Sunday's session drew some 20 players to our regular Starbucks venue, located in the Clayton Shopping Center. Ivan was new to the club and may soon be a regular. Among the players enjoying the game of chess over the boards were Ben, Anh, Lou and Rose; David, Mike T., Reza, Patrick, Nicholas, Daniel C., Benoit, Red; a younger Daniel along with his parents; and, Adam and son Logan; Steve with daughter Cecilia.

Solving the puzzle of the day and winning the prize of a free tall Starbucks drink of choice was... Rose, who figured out the key 1st move!!

We meet again this Wednesday, May 28th, same place, same time (3pm to closing), with players of all ages and skill levels welcome to come and go anytime...! See you soon there for the fun and challenge of the game of chess, as well as to make new friends, and perhaps even to renew old friendships!

--- Mike T.
Contra Costa Chess Club
US Chess Federation
Affiliate Club ID# A6027426

CHESS this Sunday, May 25, 2025 at Starbucks!

Hello Everyone...!

More than a dozen players came by last Wednesday to enjoy the challenge of chess over the boards at our regular Starbucks venue! The chess puzzle that day was another tough one, and once again it was Irakli who eventually figured it out (along with Will this time) to share bragging rights! At the chess tables that day were Will, Irakli, Matthew, Nathan and Ethan, Luke and Jacob, Patsara, David, Ben, Bert, Daemon, Mike T., and Lou!

We meet again this Sunday, May 25th, at our usual place, Starbucks, in the Clayton Shopping Center, at our usual time, from 3:00 p.m. to closing, as players of all ages and skill levels are welcome to come and go anytime. There are no dues. 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!

Enjoy the Memorial Day weekend, and see you very soon, as we make new friends, and perhaps even renew old friendships!

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

CHESS this Wednesday, May 21, 2025 at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone!

Our session this past Sunday saw at least a dozen players come by to enjoy chess over the boards at our regular Starbucks venue, in the Clayton Shopping Center. One of the players there was Anh, whose father came by and offered to treat us (and a new friend, Michaela), to delicious smoothies next door, at Munchy's. Several of us were quick to accept the offer, and it so happens that Anh's family owns Munchy's! Another highlight of the session was that, once again, Irakli earned bragging rights by being the player who eventually solved the day's fairly difficult mate-in-two chess puzzle!

We meet again this Wednesday, May 21st, as we do every Wednesday and Sunday afternoon, same place, same time (3:00 p.m. to closing time). Players can come and go anytime, there are no dues, and players of all ages and skill levels are welcome, from beginners to masters and all in between! See you soon, and be ready to make new friends, and perhaps even renew old friendships!

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

CHESS this Sunday, May 18, 2025 at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone!

Our chess club meets every Sunday and Wednesday afternoon, from 3 p.m. through to closing time, at our regular Starbucks venue located at 1536 Kirker Pass Rd., in the Clayton Shopping Center, just a couple of driveways up from the intersection of Ygnacio Valley Rd. and Clayton Rd. There are no dues, players can come and go anytime!

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! Last Wednesday's puzzle was a tough one, but Irakli earned the bragging rights when he eventually solved the mate-in-two mystery!

(We haven't seen Tony in a while, but we hope to see him again very soon!)

See you soon, and be open to making new friends across the boards, and perhaps even to renewing old friendships!

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

CHESS this Wednesday, May 14, 2025 at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone!

Just a short note reminder that we meet again, as we do every Wednesday and Sunday afternoon, this Wednesday, May 14, 2025 at our regular Starbucks venue, from 3pm on through closing time, in the Clayton Shopping Center, for fun, challenging chess over the boards!. All ages and skill levels are welcome, there are no dues, and players can certainly come and go anytime! 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!

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

CHESS this Saturday May 10th, then Sunday May 11th at Two Starbucks Shops!

Hi Everyone!

There's lots of chess over the boards and even other games this weekend for players of all ages and skill levels at a couple of Starbucks coffee shops this weekend! Players can come and go anytime from 3:00 p.m. through to closing time.

On Saturday, May 10th, it's on at the Starbucks located at 1900 Contra Costa Blvd. in Pleasant Hill. I'll be there to get at least a couple of games in, how about you?

On Sunday, May 11th, we're at our regular Starbucks located at 1536 Kirker Pass Rd., in the Clayton Shopping Center. We meet there every Wednesday and Sunday afternoons from 3:00 p.m. on. See you there!

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

CHESS this Wednesday, May 7, 2025 at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone!

It was so nice to see a full table and more of friends enjoying the fun and challenge of chess over the boards last Sunday at our regular Starbucks venue located at 1536 Kirker Pass Rd., in the Clayton Shopping Center. We meet there every Sunday and Wednesday afternoon from 3:00 p.m. to closing time, as players of all ages and skill levels are welcome to come and go anytime. There are no dues, and there's usually a chess puzzle to solve, with the first to solve it on the first try winning a free tall Starbucks drink of choice! We will certainly meet again this Wednesday, May 8th, same time, same place.

Looking ahead, in response to an invite from Starbucks, we will once again have an extra session this coming Saturday, May 10, 2025, at the Starbucks located at 1900 Contra Costa Blvd., in Pleasant Hill. Players of all ages and skill levels are welcome, as above, to enjoy chess as well as any other board games they wish to play in a coffeehouse atmosphere, also from 3:00 p.m. to closing time.

We will try to schedule a USCF-rated club tournament later this month or sometime in June, at our usual tournament venue, the Carl's Jr. Restaurant across the side parking lot from our regular Sunday/Wednesday Starbucks. What's holding up the schedule is that venue's restrooms, which seem to be unpredictably out of service lately. Stay tuned, hopefully it's been fixed.

So then, see you very soon, and along with chess and perhaps other games (there was some Scrabble last Sunday), don't be surprised if you happen to make new friends and/or renew old friendships!

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