CHESS this Sunday, March 1st and Wednesday, March 4, 2026 at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone!

Last Sunday's session drew up around 30 players plus friends that made the fun and challenge of playing chess over the boards at our regular Starbucks venue in the Clayton Shopping Center even more welcoming for players of all ages and skill levels. Several players also came by for our regular Wednesday session, and the matches were just as much fun and challenging.

We certainly will meet again, as usual, this coming Sunday, March 1 and Wednesday, March 4th, 2026, same place, same time (from 3pm thru closing time, come and go anytime). There are no dues, and 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! Irakli won the prize last Sunday, and Alexander won it by being the first to solve Wednesday's puzzle on the first try!

Last Sunday's highlights included welcoming new players to the club, and welcoming back players we haven't seen for quite a while! We welcomed Arav, Pravin and Magdu; we also welcomed David back from a short absence; and, from a very, very long time away, Tom H. who was there with Jackie! National Master Rich K. was also there, and he bested several of the club's top players who put up some very good games. Among players over the chess boards in Starbucks and the tables outdoors (good weather!) were Daniel C., Matt, Irakli, Sam, Anghel, Alexander, Mark S., Samuel and Alex, our other Samuel, new player Jim, as well as Andrew, Jacob, Shevin, Chiru, and Mike T. . . . Who did I miss?

With the weather warming up and Daylight Savings Time coming within a week or so, our Sunday and Wednesday sessions are the perfect times for enjoying chess as opportunities also arise for making new friends, and even renewing old friendships! See you there!

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

CHESS this Sunday, Feb. 22nd and Wednesday, Feb. 25th, 2026 at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone!

Despite the chill and some wet weather, the turnout of players of all ages and skill levels for our last two sessions was indeed impressive. Additionally, even more new players came by and introduced themselves and were quite welcomed by the more regular players. Among the players there for the first or second time were Jay, Aiden, Charlie, Mark S., Robert and Mike, and Jim along with about three others whose names I did not catch. Several regular players brought smiles to the group for playing instructive chess with newcomers like Angel, Mayume, and Malaia. Jacob stood out by taking the initiative to help two others new to the scene.

We meet every Sunday and Wednesday afternoon from 3:00 p.m. on through closing time at our regular Starbucks venue, located in the Clayton Shopping Center. We certainly meet again this Sunday, January 22nd and next Wednesday, January 25, 2026, same place and time as 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 player who solves it on the first try wins a free tall Starbucks drink of choice! Last Sunday's prize was won by Patrick, and last Wednesday's prize was won by Matt. Who will solve this week's puzzles (which will be a challenge, for sure!)?

In closing, so very many thanks and much appreciation must go to all those who wished yours truly, still in slow motion in the slow lane of life, a speedy and lasting recovery from a recent surgery. See you soon, to make new friends and perhaps even to renew old friendships!

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

CHESS this Sunday, February 15 and Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026 at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone...!

Last week's sessions drew more newcomers to our club, as we welcomed Aiden, Jonathan, Robert and Mike, among a couple of other new players that came by to play and/or observe the fun and challenge of chess over the boards in a community coffeehouse setting!

Players of all ages and skill levels were there, and credit goes to club regulars such as Ben C., Benoit, Andrew, Matt, Irakli, Tony, Lou, Diego, and several others, including Jacob, Angel, Mayume and Malaia for helping make the new and newer players feel at home.

We meet every Sunday and Wednesday afternoon at our regular Starbucks venue located in the Clayton Shopping Center. Players can come and go anytime from 3:00 p.m. through to closing time. There are no dues. There usually is a chess puzzle to solve, and the first player who solves it on his or her first try wins a free tall Starbucks drink of choice! Ben won the prize a couple sessions ago, and holds bragging rights for solving last Wednesday's puzzle, albeit on his second try!

Looking forward to seeing you this coming Sunday, Feb. 15th and Wednesday, Feb. 18th, and be open to making new friends and renewing old friendships!

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