CHESS this Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026 at Carl's Jr. & Starbucks in Clayton!

Hi Everyone! 

This Sunday, September 27, 2026, there will be a USCF-rated club tournament at the Carl's Jr. Restaurant located just across the side parking lot from our regular Starbucks venue, in the Clayton shopping center!  For those interested, there will be at least 16 different coupons available, while they last, to be used towards Carl's Jr. special offers!

The competition is set to start at 12:30 p.m. 

Participating players must be current members of the US Chess Federation and are requested to be there at least 20 minutes before the starting time to register, pay the entry fee of $30 in cash (as all prizes are given in cash); and, be ready to start the chess clocks on time.  Players must have, or have access to, a chess set and chess clock.

Format:  Groups of 6 or more players and/or Quads.

Rounds: 3 (Swiss Pairing for Groups of 6 or more; Standard Pairing for Quads)

Time Control:  G/40;d10. (40 minutes each player; with 10-second delay per turn).

Start Times:  1st Rd 12:30pm; 2nd Rd 2:00pm; and, 3rd Rd 3:30pm.  All rounds may start earlier, as often happens, if all players are ready.

Entry Fee:  $30 (in cash, please).  Almost all entry fees are returned as cash prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place in groups of 6 or more; and, for 1st and 2nd Place in Quads.  A small amount is set aside for the USCF rating adjustments.

Note:  Visitors and players not participating in this USCF-rated competition are welcome to observe and/or play chess among themselves either at Carl's Jr. or, after 3:00pm, at our regular Starbucks venue, and are requested to not distract or disturb tournament players during their tournament matches.  

Thanks!

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

CHESS this Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026 and Wednesday, Sept. 22nd at Starbucks!

Hi 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 chess over the boards in a friendly community coffeehouse atmosphere!

Last Sunday we welcomed at least 11 new players and family members to our club.  It was a pleasure to meet and greet Fred R.; Griffin G.; Angela; Al and Katie and their son August and daughter Dana and their kids' pal, Hajuri; and, Jorge and Columba and their son Jorge Jr.!  As always, when you join us for the afternoon, do be open to making new friends and perhaps even to the surprise of renewing old friendships!

The following Sunday (September 27,2026), we will have another USCF-rated tournament!  Participating players must be current members of the USCF.  Let me know ahead of time if you will be competing in the tournament, so that time can be saved in setting up the venue and initial pairings, using the established Swiss System.  

Here are the specifics:

Format:  Quads and/or Groups of six or more players.  

3 Rounds.  

Time Control: G/40;d10.

Entry Fee:  $30.00

Cash Prizes:  for 1st, 2nd and 3rd Place winners in groups of 6 or more players; and, for 1st and 2nd Place winners in Quads.  Allocated amounts depend on the number of entries, as almost all entry fees are returned as cash prizes, with a small amount left for the USCF rating adjustments, with perhaps any amount left over for the TD's cup of tea.

Venue:  the Carl's Jr. Restaurant, located just across the side parking lot from our regular Starbucks venue.

Start Times: (possibly earlier than times stated below if all players are ready). 

1st Rd at 12:30p.m.. 

2nd Rd NLT (no later than) 2:00p.m.

3rd Rd NLT 3:30p.m. 

Note: Players not participating in this USCF-rated competition are welcome to observe and/or play chess among themselves either at Carl's Jr. or at Starbucks, but are requested to not communicate or otherwise distract or disturb tournament players during their tournament matches.  Thanks!

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

CHESS this Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026 and Wednesday, Sept. 16th at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone!

We welcome players of all ages and skill levels, from beginners to masters, to join us and enjoy playing chess over the boards in a friendly coffeehouse atmosphere! Just last week, we welcomed Ilicia and Bangu to the club, as we did Raul and another gentleman!

We're located at the Starbucks in the Clayton Shopping Center, just a couple driveways up from the intersection of Clayton Rd. and Ygnacio Valley Rd. Come and go anytime after 3:00 p.m. through to closing time. There are no dues, and there usually is a chess puzzle to solve, and the player who solves it on his or her first try wins a free tall Starbucks drink of choice! Let me know if you have any questions, just know that when you come by to play some chess, and sometimes even other kinds of games, you are likely to make new friends, and perhaps even renew old friendships!

And by the way...

Our next USCF-rated club tournament has been rescheduled for Sunday, September 27, 2026. Depending on the number of players participating, the venue will either be at our regular Starbucks, or at the Carl's Jr. Restaurant which is just across the side parking lot from Starbucks. Format of the tournament will be either Quads or groups of six or eight players playing 3 rounds of chess, with the first round starting at 11:00 a.m. Time control is expected to be G/40;d10. Entry fees: $30. Almost all entry fees are used as cash prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners of groups of six or more; and, for 1st and 2nd placers in Quads. A small amount is set aside for the USCF ratings, and if anything is left over, the TD (who might also be competing) might get a free cup of tea!

Please note: All participating players at the time of the tournament must be current members of the US Chess Federation. New members can join online at uschess.org

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

CHESS this Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026 and Wednesday, Sept. 9th at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone...!

Join the fun and challenge of chess over the boards this Sunday, September 6, 2026 as part of the long Labor Day weekend at our regular Starbucks venue, where we meet every Sunday and Wednesday afternoon from 3:00 p.m. on through closing time!

Come and go anytime, and there are no dues as we welcome players of all ages and skill levels, from beginners to masters and all in between!

There usually is a chess puzzle to solve, and the first to solve it on his or her first try wins a free tall Starbucks drink of choice! Feel quite free to drop in, make new friends, perhaps even renew old friendships!

Looking ahead, we'll be having another USCF-rated club tournament soon, stay tuned!

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