CHESS this Wednesday Dec. 30th at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone . . . !

. . . and a Happy New Year to all !

We meet again over the boards this Wednesday evening, December 30, 2015, from 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m., at Starbucks, located at 1536 Kirker Pass Rd., Clayton, Calif., come by anytime, the earlier the better for the best tables, more matches, and some really interesting company!

Last week saw a pretty good turnout considering the chilly weather, and we welcomed new players to the club, namely Josh and John and Dan the Dad . . . !  On hand to welcome the avid chess gamers were fellow chessers Chris B., Chris Th., Rich K., Anthony, Mike T., Tony, Hans, Bob C., Kitty, and Sevien . . . !

With less than a month to go before the 7th Annual Golden State Open set to run at the Concord Crowne Plaza Hotel from January 15 - 18, 2016 (7 rounds, 7 divisions, all skill levels, from novice to master, options to play over 4 or 3 or even 2 days), several players will be practicing their openings and defenses and tactics and end games and even how to recover from any blunders, or how to draw, concede and win gracefully, etc., etc., over our next couple of sessions, with lots of kibbitzing fun in a coffeehouse atmosphere . . . !  So, whether you're playing in the tournament or not, come by and practice with us, renew friendships, even make new ones for the coming new year 2016 !

See you soon,

-- Mike T.

Contra Costa Chess Club
USCF Affiliate Club ID #A6024746

CHESS this Wednesday Dec. 23rd at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone . . . !

Yes we will meet again this Wednesday evening, December 23, 2015, from 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. at Starbucks, located at 1536 Kirker Pass Rd., Clayton, Calif., as we take a breather from the holiday rush to enjoy the game of chess . . . come by anytime, the earlier the merrier for the best tables, more games, and some really nice and interesting company!

Last week saw a pretty good turnout, with Anthony, Priya, Chris Th., Tom, Sevien, Mike T., John S., Ron H., Bob C., and Rich K. among the players . . . highlights included Rich giving tournament pointers for those interested in playing in the Golden State Open in January . . . and Sevien won a G/30 match with Tom to win a choice on the Starbucks menu, something he has yet to collect on before the holiday season is over . . . !

More G/30 matches this Wednesday, to win a choice of what's on the Starbucks menu!  See me for details or requirements (there's no cost to players) . . . or just come by and say hello to old friends, or make new ones with the season's greetings!

-- Mike T.

Contra Costa Chess Club
USCF Affiliate Club ID #A6024746

CHESS this Wednesday Dec. 16 at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone . . . !

. . . and Season's Greetings as we meet again for some fun over the boards, from 6:00 p.m. - 9:00p.m. at our usual venue, Starbucks, located at 1536 Kirker Pass Rd., Clayton, Calif., come by anytime, the earlier the better for the best tables, more games, and some really interesting company!  . . . or just drop by and kibbitz, meet some old friends and make some new ones!

Last week saw lots of chess action, from matches to speed chess to chess puzzles!  On hand were Hans, Ron H., Mike T., Anthony B., Rich, Lorenzo, Priya, Chris Th. with Charlie Brown, Alex T., Anthony L., Chris B., and Tom, recently from London and the newest player with the club, and long-time-no-see Bob C., with probably the best hardwood chessboard on which to have a chess match!

For this week, winner of any fun match set up by Mike T., G/30 d5, wins a Starbucks drink, plus anything on the menu !

See you soon,

-- Mike T.

Contra Costa Chess Club
USCF Affiliate Club ID #A6024746

CHESS this Wednesday Dec. 9th at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone . . . !

There's more chess over the boards this Wednesday, December 9, 2015 at Starbucks, located at 1536 Kirker Pass Rd., Clayton, Calif., from 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m., come by anytime, the earlier the better for the best tables, more games, and some really interesting company!

Last week saw Anthony, Tony, Rich, Hans, Chris B., Chris Th., Rich K., and Mike T. have fun with the game of chess, with at least half the players slowly but surely starting to get ready for that Golden State Open, with several skill divisions, ranging from the unrated and novice to the masters, just a little over a month from now at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, in Concord, Calif.  However, whether you'll be competing in it or not, drop by, play some, say hello to old friends, even make new ones . . .

. . . see you soon, we're here every Wednesday evening, and every last Sunday afternoon of each month.

-- Mike T.

Contra Costa Chess Club
USCF Affiliate Club ID #A6024746

CHESS Wednesday Dec. 2nd at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone . . . !

There's chess as usual this Wednesday, December 2, 2015 at our usual venue, Starbucks, located at 1536 Kirker Pass Rd., Clayton, Calif.,, at our usual times, from 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m., come by anytime, the earlier the better for the best tables, more games, and some really interesting company!

Last week saw 9 players enjoying the chilly evening, and it was nice to see Albert again after way too long, and Rich, Chris B., Chris Th. who brought UnderDog with him; Mike T.,  Lorenzo, Tony, and Anthony were on board for some interesting match-ups!  Our last Sunday of the Month session featured Marc S., another player we haven't seen in ages, in a match with Chris Th., with Anthony and John S. locked in a duel of their own, while Mike T. was caught up in some academics at a nearby table . . . .

. . . So, it's now December, and if you're game to have chess on your challenging and fun agenda, come join us, -- maybe even get some good practice in with the clock and jotting down the moves,  for players setting up for the Golden State Open scheduled for the long Martin Luther King Weekend in mid-January.

See you soon,

-- Mike T.

Contra Costa Chess Club
USCF Affiliate Club ID #A6024746

CHESS this Wednesday Nov. 25th at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone . . . !

Starbucks was simply jammed last week, but mainly with academics studying or getting tutored so much so that only Hans and Ron were able to get tables for a chess match, while other players simply went across the lot to Carl's Jr. to get several games in, as Lorenzo and Rich went at it over speed chess, and Mike T. and Marcin traded victories and blunders at a nearby table!

That was certainly unusual at Starbucks last Wednesday, with another unusual event there, a fight, yes a noisy slug fest, between two high school ladies that had to be broken up by Starbucks staff!  Nobody was hurt, though all the patrons at the coffeehouse were certainly surprised  . . .

. . . well, anyway, we meet again, same place, same time (6:00p.m. - 9:00 p.m.), come by anytime, the earlier the better for ringside seats, I mean the best tables, more games, and some really interesting company!

See you soon,

-- Mike T.

Contra Costa Chess Club

USCF Affiliate Club ID #A6024746

CHESS this Wednesday Nov. 18 at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone . . . !

Just a short note to say the chess club meets as usual this Wednesday evening, November 18, 2015, at our usual venue, Starbucks, located at 1536 Kirker Pass Rd., Clayton, Calif., from 6:00 p.m.- 9:00 p.m., come by anytime, the earlier the better for the best tables, more games, and some pretty nice company!

Last session saw Rich and Tony, Priya and Marcin, and me with Chris Th. who came later enjoy an evening of matches and conversation along with Starbucks beverages on a fairly chilly evening, looks like summer's definitely over.

See you soon,

-- Mike T.

Contra Costa Chess Club
USCF Affiliate Club ID #A6024746

CHESS this Wednesday, Nov. 4th at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone . . . !

Once again we meet this Wednesday evening from 6:00 p.m.. - 9:00 p.m. at our usual venue, Starbucks, located at 1536 Kirker Pass Rd., Clayton, Calif., for fun over the boards!  Come by anytime, the earlier the better for the best tables, more games, and some very nice company!

Last weekend saw a couple players we haven't seen in a while, Chris B., and Bill K., along with Anthony, Tony, Chris Th., Priya, Andrew, Lorenzo, and Mike T. -- a good turnout considering there was a World Series game going on along with the latest debate among presidential candidates on television . . .

We had regular chess, along with speed chess, and "960 chess" games . . . and once again a request or two floated along whether we should have a club tournament along any of those lines . . . rated, of course, but how about an unrated section for the shy, or those not inclined to be stressed over winning or losing rating points?  Let me know.

-- Mike T.

Contra Costa Chess Club
USCF ID #A6024746

CHESS this Wednesday Oct. 28th at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone . . . !

There's more chess over the boards at our usual venue, Starbucks, located at 1536 Kirker Pass Rd., Clayton, Calif., from 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. this Wednesday evening, October 28, 2015. Come by anytime, the earlier the better for the best tables, more games, and some really nice company!

About a dozen players and observers were on hand last Wednesday, as were this past Sunday, including chess masters Ronald C. and Manny P. . . . featuring speed chess and "960 chess" along with regular chess games in the mix, plus a novel way of asking for a draw . . . if you weren't there, well, there's always another afternoon of chess next month, as the next Sunday session will be Sunday, November 29, 2015, from 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m., same place.

In the meantime, our weekly Wednesday evening sessions continue, and the Contra Costa Chess Club will soon be celebrating its 10th anniversary . . . !

-- Mike T.

Contra Costa Chess Club
USCF Affiliate Club ID #A6024746

CHESS Wednesday Oct. 21st & Sunday Oct. 25th at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone . . . !

Just a short note reminder that there's lots more chess over the boards this week!  We meet Wednesday evening October 21, 2015 as usual from 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 PM.

And don't forget -  we'll also be playing this Sunday afternoon, October 25th, from 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 PM.

As always, we'll be at Starbucks located at 1536 Kirker Pass Rd., Clayton, Calif.. Come by, the earlier the better, for the best tables, more games, and some really nice company! 

See you there, 

-- Mike T.

CHESS this Wednesday Oct. 14th at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone . . . !

Have challenging fun over the boards with us this Wednesday evening, October 14, 2015 at our usual place, Starbucks, located at 1536 Kirker Pass Rd., Clayton, Calif., from 6:00p.m. - 9:00 p.m., come by anytime, the earlier the better for the best tables, more games, and some great company!

Last week saw at least 10 players plus observers enjoy an evening of chess, and we welcomed back John H. and John S. after a while away, as Hans, Marcin, Hanza, Chris,Tony, and Mike T. were also on hand for the action, later reviving the age-old debate over whether it is better to have a bishop(s) or knight(s) during the end game . . .

. . . and don't forget, we're having a regular session on the afternoon of Sunday, Oct. 25, 2015 from 2:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m., same place, as our club begins to add the last Sunday of every month to our schedule of set sessions!  For our first Sunday, we'll have a special guest chess master . . . any guess as to who it will be?

See you soon,

-- Mike T.

Contra Costa Chess Club
USCF Affiliate Club ID #A6024746

CHESS Wednesday Oct. 7th at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone . . . !

There's chess as usual over the boards this Wednesday evening, October 7, 2015 at our usual venue, Starbucks, located at 1536 Kirker Pass Rd., Clayton, Calif., from 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m., come by anytime, the earlier the better for the best tables, more games, and some really interesting people!

Last week we welcomed Marcin and Ella to our group, and on hand to make them feel welcome were Rich, Tony, Chris, Priya, Hanza, John M., Mike T., and Bernard.  Mike T. played his first ever Chess 960 game, and weird as that version is, he just might be looking forward to playing more of it . . . Speed Chess 960, anyone?  How about a Chess 960 tournament?  If you're wondering what that's all about, drop by sometime.

Due to growing popular demand, we're bringing back club chess on Sundays, but only on the last Sunday of each month, starting October 25, 2015, same place, from 2:00p.m. - 5:00 p.m.  If there's a need for more space, we can always go across the parking lot to Carl's Jr.!

If you enjoy chess, regular players can tell you we have it at all skill levels, and we have some fun with it, so if you haven't been by in a while, come on and join us, say hello, tell us how you've been.

-- Mike T.

Contra Costa Chess Club
USCF Affiliate Club ID #A6024746

Chess this Wednesday Sept. 30 at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone . . . !

There's chess as usual over the boards this Wednesday evening, September 30, 2015, from 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. at our usual venue, Starbucks, located at 1536 Kirker Pass Rd., Clayton, Calif., come by anytime, the earlier the better for the best tables, more games, and some really nice company!

Starting next month, on October 25, 2015, we're adding a session to take place 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. on the afternoon of the last Sunday of each month at the Starbucks above, or if there is a need for more space, we can always move to the Carl's Jr. across the parking lot.

See you soon,

-- Mike T.

Contra Costa Chess Club
USCF Affiliate Club ID #A6024746

CHESS this Wednesday Sept. 23rd at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone . . . !

There's more chess over the boards at our usual venue, Starbucks, located at 1536 Kirker Pass Rd., Clayton, Calif., this Wednesday evening,  September 23, 2015, from 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m., come by anytime, the earlier the better for the best tables, more games, and some really nice and interesting company!

CHESS EXHIBITION

Last Sunday afternoon, September 20, 2015, despite some notable no-shows, more than a dozen chess players and rooters enjoyed a special chess exhibition put on by International Master Ronald Cusi.  Ronald gave an interesting short lecture with a large demo-chess board to show how a queen sacrifice worked in a past tournament game.  He then engaged about 8 or 10 players in a simultaneous chess exhibition, winning on all boards and taking the time to give each player an analysis of his or her match with him.  After the simul, Ronald and several challengers had fun at speed chess, wherein each challenger got 5 minutes while Ronald gave himself just 1 minute . . . !  Kudos go to Lorenzo for squeezing out the only win against Ronald by some seconds as Ronald's time expired for the first and only time!!

The Contra Costa Chess Club's  thanks and appreciation go to IM Ronald Cusi and fellow chess master Manny Perez for making the afternoon fun and a success, as well as to all who were there to enjoy the afternoon, such as Hanza, Andrea, Lorenzo, Giselle, Tony T., Priya, Ron H., Sevien, Tamara, Alex, Mike T., Maria, Ariel, and Sebastian . . . !

SUNDAY CHESS ?

Several club players would like to continue to meet Wednesday evenings, and expressed a desire to meet on a Sunday afternoon from time to time.  As a result, beginning next month, October 2015, our club will meet every Wednesday evening as usual, and every Last Sunday of the Month from 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. also at Starbucks, with Carl's Jr. across the parking lot available if more space is needed.  Therefore next month, we'll have a session on Sunday, October 25, 2015 . . . !

Any comments, questions, need more info?  Let me know, and thanks again!

-- Mike T.

Contra Costa Chess Club

USCF Affiliate Club ID #A6024746

CHESS Wednesday Sept. 2nd at Starbucks!

Hi Everyone . . . !

Chess over the boards continues every Wednesday evening at Starbucks, located at 1536 Kirker Pass Rd., Clayton, Calif., from 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m., and so it does this Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015, come by anytime, the earlier the better for the best tables, more games, and some really nice, interesting company!

Our session last week drew quite a crowd, including onlookers, starting with our newest player, Ron Howard, welcomed by our regular and returning players, some of whom we haven't seen in a while, like . . . Washington, who played Mike T. to a draw in quite an interesting match . . . and Christopher Y., who engaged Lorenzo in a couple speed games, then gave FM Rich K. quite a complicated game before giving in at the end, as did Tony earlier . . . and Hans edged Andrew in their match, while Young and Chris Th. both blundered their way into a hard-fought draw!  Priya got a game or two in along with her knock-knock jokes, and Bernard joined in to learn some chess basics from Chris Th. . . . yes it was a busy evening, complete with rumors about Howard Stern being Donald Trump's Vice President, and if that ever happens, well you heard it here first . . . !

Don't forget, Sunday Sept. 20th, at 2:00 p.m. at Carl's Jr. Restaurant across the lot from our Starbucks venue, IM-elect Ronald Cusi will be giving a brief chess lecture then will play as many players as possible in a simul . . . !  Space is limited, already 8 players have signed up or let me know, there's at least a dozen or so more spots still open, come join the fun. let me know ahead of time to assure you a spot in the simul, thanks!

See you soon,

-- Mike T.

Contra Costa Chess Club

USCF Affiliate Club ID #A6024746