CHESS this Sunday, July 27, 2025 at Starbucks!

Hello Everyone!

We meet again for fun, challenging chess over the boards this Sunday, July 27th, as we do every Sunday and Wednesday afternoon! As usual, we go from 3:00 pm through to closing time at our regular Starbucks venue, in the Clayton Shopping Center. We welcome players of all ages and skill levels, from beginners to masters. There are no dues, and players can come and go anytime.

There usually is a chess puzzle to solve, and the prize of a free tall Starbucks drink of choice goes to the first one who solves the puzzle on the first try!

Rated QUADS, Anyone?

Questions have come up as to whether we will be having a USCF-rated club chess tournament or contest. If there are players interested in playing rated matches in Quads, please let me know and I will be happy to form up the foursome(s), and schedule accordingly. I will need to make sure, based on established ratings, that no player in a Quad is unnecessarily overmatched. Time Control = G/30;d5 and the Entry Fee = $25. When and where? Quad players are to agree on a day and time; and, location will be at either our regular Starbucks, or across the side parking lot at Carl's Jr. (where we have had larger tournaments), or at a nearby residence (where Quads have been held in years past).

Once again, let me know if you are interested in playing rated Quad matches. Cash prizes go to the 1st ($50) and 2nd ($40) Places, with most of the rest of entry fees going to the USCF.

In the meantime, we'll see you at our Starbucks venue, ready for chess and to make new friends as well as perhaps renewing old friendships!

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

CHESS this Wednesday, July 23, 2025 at Starbucks!

Hello Everyone!

Our next session is this Wednesday, July 23rd at our regular Starbucks venue in the Clayton Shopping Center, as usual from 3:00 p.m. through to closing time. Players of all ages and skill levels are welcome to come and go anytime to enjoy the fun and challenge of the game of chess. There are no dues, and there's usually a chess puzzle to solve, with a free tall Starbucks drink of choice for the first player to solve it on his or her first try!

We meet every Sunday and Wednesday afternoon, same place, same time, etc. Our session last Sunday drew 20 or more players, and it looks like the attendance at both Sunday and Wednesday sessions are gaining more new players with each session! Join us also for the fun and joy of making new friends, and even for the pleasure of renewing old friendships! See you there!

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

CHESS this Sunday, July 20, 2025 at Starbucks!

Hello Everyone!

More than a dozen players, of all skill levels, came by to enjoy chess over the boards this past Wednesday, including returning players and players with us for the first time! We welcomed Brandon to the club early on, and later in the afternoon we welcomed Bert's friend Robert. We also got acquainted with Elizabeth, who along with son Aaron will be with the club in the near future, possibly even at our next session. We also welcomed back Meredith, who is home from her university for much of the remainder of this summer!

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 at will). We're located in Starbucks at 1536 Kirker Pass Rd., in the Clayton Shopping Center. 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!

See you soon, for the game of chess and the opportunity to make new friends and perhaps even renew old friendships!

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

CHESS Wednesday, July 16, 2025 at Starbucks!

Hello Everyone!

About twenty chess players came by this past Sunday to enjoy the challenge and fun of chess over the boards at our regular Starbucks venue located in the Clayton Shopping Center! We meet again this Wednesday afternoon, as we do every Sunday and Wednesday afternoon from 3:00 p.m. through to closing time.

As usual, we welcome players of all ages and skill levels, from beginners to masters! There are no dues, and 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 Sunday, it was Max who won the prize!

See you over the boards, and ready to make new friends, and perhaps to renew old friendships!

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

CHESS this Sunday, July 14, 2025 at Starbucks!

Hello Everyone...!

Join the fun and challenge of chess over the boards at our regular Starbucks venue this Sunday, July 14, 2025...! We're there from 3:00 p.m. through to closing time every Wednesday and Sunday afternoons. Players can come and go anytime, and there are no dues. There's a chess puzzle to solve, and the first to solve it on the first try wins a free tall Starbucks drink of choice! All ages and skill levels are welcome.

So then, get a game up this Sunday, and as usual be open to making new friends, and even to renewing old friendships!

See you there!

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

CHESS on Wednesday, July 9th at Starbucks!

Hello Everyone!

We meet again, and we may have an IM (Int'l Master) drop by, at our regular Starbucks venue located in the Clayton Shopping Center today, Wednesday, July 9, 2025.

As usual, chess players of all ages and skill levels (from beginners to masters) are welcome to enjoy the game of chess over the boards.

Players can come and go anytime from 3:00 p.m. on through closing time. 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!

As a precious byproduct, there's always new friends to make, and perhaps even old friendships to renew! See you there...!

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

CHESS on Sunday, July 6, 2025 at Starbucks!

Hello Everyone!

Lots of chess over the boards is brewing at our regular Starbucks venue this Sunday, July 6, 2025, from 3:00 p.m. through to closing time, as players of all ages are welcome to come and go anytime to enjoy the fun and challenge of the game of chess!

We meet at the Starbucks located at 1536 Kirker Pass Rd., in the Clayton Shopping Center, every Sunday and Wednesday afternoon, starting at 3:00p.m. Players of all ages and skill levels, from beginners to masters, are quite welcome. 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!

See you there, and do be open to making new friends and/or renewing old friendships!

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

CHESS this Wednesday, July 2, 2025 at Starbucks!

Hello Everyone!

Chess players of all ages and skill levels are welcome to enjoy the fun and challenge of the game over the boards every Wednesday and Sunday at our regular Starbucks venue in the Clayton Shopping Center, which is just up from the corner of Ygnacio Valley Rd. and Clayton Rd., right on the border of Clayton and Concord! We go from 3:00 p.m. to closing time, as players can come and go anytime. There are no dues, and there usually is a puzzle to solve, and the player who solves it on the first try wins a free tall Starbucks drink of choice (Irakli won the prize last Sunday)!

Our next session is therefore this Wednesday, July 2nd, and it should be noted that last Sunday we welcomed two more players new to the club: Nawie and Justin! We always expect to make new friends, and/or even renew old friendships at each session! See you soon!

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

CHESS this Sunday, June29, 2025 at Starbucks!

Hello Everyone!

Stay cool from all that summer heat and enjoy the fun and challenge of chess over the boards at our regular Starbucks venue in the Clayton Shopping Center, just up from the corner of Ygnacio Valley Rd. and Clayton Rd., right on the border of Clayton and Concord!

We're there from 3:00 p.m. through to closing time every Sunday and Wednesday afternoon, as players can come and go anytime; there are no dues; and, all ages and skill levels are welcome, from beginners to masters and all in between! 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. (Red T. solved last Wednesday's puzzle to win the prize)!

So then, perhaps we'll see you there this Sunday, June 29th, game to play and meet new friends, and even renew old friendships!

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

CHESS this Wednesday, June 25, 2025 at Starbucks!

Hello Everyone!

Chess players meet again to enjoy the fun and challenge of the game this Wednesday, June 25th at our regular Starbucks venue in the Clayton Shopping Center, just up from the intersection of Clayton Rd. and Ygnacio Valley Rd. All ages and skill levels (from beginners to masters!) are welcome; there are no dues; and, players can come and go anytime from 3:00 p.m. through to closing time. We meet every Sunday and Wednesday afternoon, same place, same time.

There usually is a chess puzzle to solve, and the first to solve it wins a free tall Starbucks drink of choice! Last Sunday's puzzle was a tough one, with no player able to solve it on the first try. However, it was Patrick who got bragging rights for eventually solving it...!

See you there, and be open to making new friends and/or renewing old friendships!

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

CHESS today, Sunday June 22, 2025 at Starbucks!

Hello Everyone...!

It's officially summertime, and we continue to enjoy the fun and challenge of chess over the boards at our regular Starbucks venue every Sunday and Wednesday afternoon from 3:00pm through to closing time. We're at 1536 Kirker Pass Rd., in the Clayton Shopping Center. 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!

In our last session, amid the sharp group of chess players who were there was a player we have not seen in many, many years. He is Tom H., who recently turned 93 and has overcome a serious injury that has kept him away for so long a time. Welcome back, Tom!! ... And here's to all our chess players who are also game to meet new friends, and yes, to renew old friendships!

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

CHESS this Sunday, June 15, 2025 at Starbucks!

Hello Everyone...!

Just a short note to say we continue to meet every Sunday and Wednesday afternoons from 3:00 p.m. on through closing time at our usual Starbucks venue in the Clayton Shopping Center. All ages and skill levels are welcome to come and go anytime to enjoy the fun and challenge of chess over the boards with us. There usually is a chess puzzle to solve, and the first to solve it on the first try wins a free tall Starbucks drink!

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

CHESS this Wednesday, June 11, 2025 at Starbucks!

Hello Everyone...!

Our chess session this past Sunday saw a slow business day at our regular Starbucks venue, yet several players came by to enjoy the fun and challenge of the game, over the boards. We even had (NM) Rich K. drop in for a game, and quite a match it was, as Patrick was able to battle Rich to a draw! Another highlight of the session was Daniel C.'s ability to be the first to solve the day's chess puzzle on his first try!

We meet again this Wednesday, June 11th, as we do every Sunday and Wednesday afternoon from 3:00 p.m. through to closing time, at our Starbucks located in the Clayton Shopping Center. All ages and skill levels, from beginners to masters, are welcome. Players can come and go anytime, and there are no dues. There usually is a chess puzzle to solve, and the first to do so on the first try wins a free tall Starbucks drink of choice!

See you soon!

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

CHESS this Sunday, June 8, 2025 at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone!

There's lots of chess over the boards this Sunday, June 8th, at our regular Starbucks venue in the Clayton Shopping Center, and if last Sunday's session is an indicator, it could be quite active, with chess matches spilling out onto the outside tables! All ages and skill levels are welcome, and players can come and go anytime, from 3:00 p.m. through to closing time!

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! We'll see you there, and do be open to making new friends (we welcomed Merritt, a collegiate, to the club last week), and even to renewing old friendships!

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

CHESS this Wednesday, June 4, 2025 at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone...!

Last Sunday's session drew quite a few players, and the chess games spilled out onto the outside tables due to the number of chess players and customers at our regular Starbucks venue, located in the Clayton Shopping Center, which is just up from the corner of Clayton Rd. and Ygnacio Valley Rd. Max aced every chess puzzle that came his way, being the first to solve them, and easily won the prize of a free tall Starbucks drink of choice!

We meet again today, Wednesday, June 4th, same place, from 3:00 p.m. through to closing time, with players of all ages and skill levels welcome to come and go anytime for the enjoyment and challenge of chess over the boards, and perhaps to make new friends, and even renew old friendships! See you there...!

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