CHESS this Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026 and Wednesday, Sept. 2nd at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone...!!

Chess players of all ages and skill levels, from beginners to masters, are welcome to come and go anytime from 3:00 p.m. on through closing time to enjoy the fun and challenge of the game at our regular Starbucks venue! There usually is a chess puzzle to solve, and the first player to solve it on his or her first try wins a free tall Starbucks drink of choice!

We're located at 1536 Kirker Pass Rd., in the Clayton Shopping Center, which is just a couple driveways up from the intersection of Clayton Road and Ygnacio Valley Road.

See you there very soon, and along with enjoying the game of chess (and perhaps even other games) in a friendly community coffeehouse atmosphere, don't be surprised if you find yourself making new friends, and perhaps even renewing old friendships!

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

CHESS this Sunday, Aug. 23 and Wednesday, Aug. 26th at Starbucks!

Hello Everyone...!

We meet every Sunday and Wednesday afternoon from 3:00 p.m. through to closing time, as players of all ages and skill levels are welcome to come and go anytime to enjoy the fun and challenge of chess over the boards at our regular Starbucks venue in the Clayton Shopping Center! As an added feature, there usually is a chess puzzle to solve, and the first player to solve it on his or her first try wins a free tall Starbucks drink of choice!

Last Sunday's session drew the most players we've seen this year, as there must have been between thirty to forty or more players, along with family, including several kids eager to play and get their game up, by the time it was time to go home!

Looking ahead, our next USCF-rated club tournament will be scheduled for Sunday, September 20, 2026 and will most likely be at the Carl's Jr. Restaurant, which is located just across the side parking lot from our Starbucks venue. Stay tuned for all the details!

See you soon, and as always don't be surprised as you play chess in our friendly community coffeehouse atmosphere that you're likely 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, August 16, 2026 and Wednesday Aug. 19th at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone!

We meet every Sunday and Wednesday afternoon from 3:00pm through to closing time at our regular Starbucks venue, in the Clayton Station Shopping Center! Last Sunday was a bit unusual, as we had our USCF-rated club tournament at the Carl's Jr. Restaurant across from Starbucks. It was a pleasure to meet, as we do virtually every session, players new to the club, as we did Carlos and Diane and Tyler with his friend Alina! My thanks to all who made the tournament a success, and to all those who came to visit and stayed to play after the tournament!

There are no dues, and we welcome players of all ages and skill levels, from beginners to masters and all in between, to come and go anytime to enjoy the fun and challenge of chess over the boards in a friendly community coffeehouse atmosphere! In fact, last Sunday and Wednesday, several kids were there with their parents to play the game and make new friends. To add to the fun, two chess masters visited and got some games in with us: National Master (NM) Rich K. two Sundays ago; and, last Sunday, International Master (IM) Ronald C. who stayed after our USCF-rated club tournament to play several matches of speed chess, of course winning them all...!

Results of our Sunday, August 9, 2026 USCF-rated Club Tournament, featuring two Quads (Q1 & Q2), in the required round-robin format, are as follows:

In Quad 1, First Place went to Mark, who won all 3 of his matches! The other three Q1 players -- David, Irakli, and Ben -- each won 1 match, and split the Second Place three ways!

In Quad 2, First Place went to Zach, who won all 3 of his matches, including his third match which was with Tony, who wound up in Second Place after having won his first two matches! Rounding out Q2 were young Bennet, who won his last match, which was against Doug, who was there for his first time with our chess club, welcome, Doug!

Our next rated club tournament will likely be on Sunday, September 20, 2026. Stay tuned for the details, such as format, time control, etc. as we'll keep in touch, and perhaps see you soon to include making new friends and perhaps even renewing old friendships!

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

CHESS this Sunday August 9, 2026 and Wednesday Aug. 12th at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone!

We usually meet for fun, challenging chess over the boards from 3:00pm through to closing time every Sunday and Wednesday afternoon at our regular Starbucks venue, located in the Clayton Station Shopping Center.  Players of all ages and skill levels are welcome to come and go anytime, and there are no dues! 

However, this Sunday, August 9, 2026 will feature another USCF-rated club tournament!

Players participating in this our second club tournament of the year will need to be at our Starbucks venue before 12:15 p.m. to register and pay the entry fee of $30.  Depending on the number of players, the tournament may have to be moved to the Carl's Jr. Restaurant, located across the side parking lot from our Starbucks.  The following are the requirements and format details of the tournament:

1. All participating players must be current members of the US Chess Federation.

2.  Players must have, or have access to, a chess set and chess clock.

3.  Players will be placed in either groups of four (Quads) or groups of six or more, depending on current ratings or the number of players, rated or unrated, registering.

4.  Number of Rounds: 3.  

5.  Time Control:  G/40;d5

6.  Entry Fee:  $30 in cash (with cash prizes for 1st and 2nd Place in Quads; and for 1st, 2nd and 3rd Place for groups of six or more players.  All prizes will be paid from entry fees, with enough left over to pay USCF for ratings adjustments, and maybe the TD might have enough left for a cup of green tea.

7.  Start Times: Rd 1 at 12:30pm; Rd2 NLT ("no later than") 2:15pm or sooner if all players are ready; Rd 3 NLT 4:00pm or sooner if all players are ready.

8.  Venue:  the Starbucks located at 1536 Kirker Pass Rd., in the Clayton Station Shopping Center.  However, depending on the number of participating players, we may have to move to Carl's Jr. Restaurant, which is located across the side parking lot from Starbucks.  This has already been cleared and approved by Carl's Jr. management.

Chess players not participating in the tournament are welcome to play each other or to observe the tournament, but are not to disturb or comment on the matches in progress.

We continue to welcome players new to the club!  See you soon, Sundays and Wednesday afternoons into the evenings, come and go anytime, and be open to making new friends, and perhaps to renewing old friendships as well!

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

CHESS this Sunday, August 2, 2026 and Wednesday, Aug. 5th at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone!

Players of all skill levels, from beginners to masters and all in between, are welcome to join us for fun, challenging chess over the boards every Sunday and Wednesday afternoon from 3:00 p.m. through to closing time at our regular Starbucks venue in the Clayton Station Shopping Center!  Players can come and go anytime; there are no dues, and there usually is a chess puzzle to solve, with the player who solves it on his or her first try winning a free tall Starbucks drink of choice!  Last Wednesday's puzzle looked easy but was tricky, however Red managed to solve it to earn bragging rights!

We're always welcoming players new to the club, and just last week we welcomed Pete and Michael; and, as well as Pete and Kane!  A Sunday or two ago, we welcomed Fahima to the club!

Looking Ahead: Another USCF-Rated Club Tournament Sunday, August 9, 2026...!

While there will be our usual fun chess afternoons and evenings this coming Sunday, Aug. 2nd and Wednesday Aug. 5th, players will be polled as to their interest in participating in yet another USCF-rated club tournament that will be scheduled for Sunday, August 9, 2026 starting no later than ("NLT") 12:30 pm.  Participants are asked to be at the venue at least 15 minutes early for the pairings.

Participants must be current members of the US Chess Federation.  I will need players' USCF ID# if I don't already have it.

Players must have chess sets, and a chess clock or access to one.

Format:  3 Rounds; Quads, or Groups of 6 or more players.

Time Control:  G/40;d5.  Entry Fee:$30 (with cash prizes to 1st and 2nd Place in Quads; and for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place in groups of 6 or more players).

Start Times:  Rd1 at 12:30pm; Rd2 NLT 2:15pm (or sooner if all players are ready); and, Rd3 NLT 4:00pm (or sooner if all players are ready).

Venue:  Either at our regular Starbucks or at the Carl's Jr. Restaurant located across the side parking lot from the Starbucks.  Venue will be determined within a few days and sent out to all by email and posted to the club's website.

Chess players who are not participating in the tournament are welcome to play each other as well, but are not to disturb or otherwise comment on the tourney matches in progress.  Any questions or need more info?  Let me know.  

See you soon, and be ready to make new friends, and perhaps even to renew old friendships! 

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