ifdef(`BA', `include(ba-chess-head.m4) include(ba.style.m4)') ifdef(`CL', `include(cl-chess-head.m4) include(cl.style.m4)') Chess in the San Francisco Bay Area 9 March 2007

Good People,

I've found the following venues for both casual and organized chess in the San Francisco Bay Area. Casual chess includes informal coffeeshop play, and organized chess includes club and tournament play. Please send additions, updates, and corrections to the email address below; if you wish to be attributed, please include your initials. I aim to keep this list current to within 3 or 4 months.

Towns represented are:
Burlingame, Campbell, Cotati, Cupertino, Foster City, Fremont, Oakland (4), Pacifica, Palo Alto (1), Pleasanton, San Francisco (3), San Jose (3), San Mateo (2), Santa Cruz (2), Stanford, Sunnyvale (2), Vallejo, and Walnut Creek.

Recent changes:

2007.03.09: Benjamin Russack chessplayer list now defunct and removed from this list. Benjamin, thank you for your public service maintaining your list.
2007.02.24: Added MAAT Science Village Chess Club, Oakland, CA.
2007.01.21: Reconfirmed Santana Row, San Jose, CA.
2007.01.15: Delisted Avenidas Senior Center Chess Club, Palo Alto, CA, upon request; reconfirmed and updated Cotati Cotati Chess Club, Cotati, CA (with slightly earlier ending time).
2007.01.08: Reconfirmed Peninsula Chess Center, Cupertino, CA; reconfirmed San Mateo Senior Center Chess Club, San Mateo, CA.
2007.01.07: Reconfirmed Sun Chess Club, Saratoga, CA; reconfirmed Willows Senior Center Chess Club, San Jose, CA; reconfirmed and updated American Tournament Chess Club, Pacifica, CA; reconfirmed Borders Books & Music, Santa Cruz, CA; and reconfirmed Vallejo Chess Club, Vallejo, CA.
2007.01.06: Reconfirmed and updated Bean Scene (with slightly later time), Sunnyvale, CA; reconfirmed Chess Rules! Kids Chess Club, San Jose, CA; reconfirmed and updated Friday Night Chess, Sunnyvale, CA; reconfirmed Happy Donuts Chess Group, Palo Alto, CA; reconfirmed Chess and Go Players at UCSC, Santa Cruz, CA; reconfirmed Cafe La Boheme, San Francisco, CA; reconfirmed Mechanics' Chess Club, San Francisco, CA; reconfirmed Royal Ground Coffee, San Francisco, CA; reconfirmed Adams Point Chess Salon, Oakland, CA; reconfirmed and updated East Bay Chess Club, Oakland, CA; reconfirmed Fremont Chess Club, Fremont, CA; reconfirmed and updated Lakeview Chess Club (with changed weekday), Oakland, CA; reconfirmed Pleasanton Chess Club, Pleasanton, CA; and reconfirmed and updated Walnut Creek Chess Club (with slightly later time), Walnut Creek, CA.
2007.01.05: Reconfirmed Burlingame Chess Club, Burlingame, CA; and reconfirmed Stanford Chess Club, Stanford, CA.
2007.01.04: Reconfirmed and updated Kolty Chess Club (with new web site), Campbell, CA; reconfirmed Foster City Chess Club, Foster City, CA; and reconfirmed Peninsula Chess Club, San Mateo, CA.
2006.12.14: Peninsula Chess Center, Cupertino, CA (formerly Clocktower Coffee Roasting Company chess club, Mountain View, CA), scheduled to re-open on Friday, 2007.01.12.
2006.11.23: Updated listing for Friday Night Chess, Sunnyvale, CA.
2006.11.11: Sun Chess Club, Saratoga, CA, on hiatus until further notice.
2006.11.10: Added Pleasanton Chess Club, Pleasanton, CA. Clocktower Coffee Roasting Company chess club, Mountain View, CA, perhaps now named "Peninsula Chess Center", relocating and on hiatus until December.
2006.11.06: Added chess.meetup.com, listing chess meetups and chess players, by city, in California.
2006.11.05: Added Happy Donuts Chess Group, Palo Alto, CA. Updated schedule for Peninsula Chess Club, San Mateo, CA. Updated listing for Fremont Chess Club, Fremont, CA.

Regards and thank you,
Eric De Mund <ead-ba-chess AT ixian DOT com>

South Bay Bean Scene, Sunnyvale, CA
    weekdays starting at 2:00 or 3:00pm casual play Bean Scene, 186 South Murphy Avenue, Sunnyvale, CA 94086 no contact point or web site yet; Bean Scene telephone number is (408) 738-4523 reconfirmed 2007.01.06 (EDeMund)
Chess Rules! Kids Chess Club, San Jose, CA
    Friday evenings, 6:00-10:00pm; pizza at 7:00pm, lecture at 7:30pm tournament, ladder, and casual play for kids aged pre-school through 18 years old (currently, most are ages 6-13) Willows Senior Center, 2175 Lincoln Avenue, San Jose, CA 95125 contact Tony Pabon at (408) 866-4815, or email <tpabon AT earthlink DOT net> (make sure to put the word "chess" in the Subject line) 40+ active members; founded July 2005 reconfirmed 2007.01.06 (TPabon/EDeMund)
Friday Night Chess, Sunnyvale, CA
    first Friday of the month, 6:00-8:00pm unrated tournament and casual play; chess sets provided "This no cost, monthly event is open to young and old of all ages. Lessons will be available, tournaments will be conducted and we will all have fun playing chess together." --Mike Jones Crosswalk Community Church, 445 South Mary Avenue, Sunnyvale, CA 94086 contact Mike Jones at <fridayknightchess AT yahoo DOT com> reconfirmed and updated 2007.01.06 (MJones/EDeMund)
Kolty Chess Club, Campbell, CA Peninsula Chess Center, Cupertino, CA
    Friday evenings, 7:30pm-9:00pm unrated tournament and casual play focus is on scholastic chess, but all players are cordially welcome Monta Vista Community Center, 22601 Voss Avenue, Cupertino, CA 95014; room is Room 1. contact Dr. Rene Ochoa at <reneochoa AT comcast DOT net> reconfirmed 2007.01.08 (ROchoa/DGertmenian/EDeMund)
Santana Row, San Jose, CA
    daily casual play, played at the outdoor chess tables median strip of Santana Row between Olin Avenue and Olsen Drive, San Jose, CA 95128 see map at <http://www.santanarow.com/> reconfirmed 2007.01.21 (EDeMund)
Sun Chess Club, Saratoga, CA
    periodic; check club web site for news rated tournament play Amundson Hall, Immanuel Lutheran Church, 14103 Saratoga Avenue, Saratoga, CA 95070 club web site is <http://sunchessclub.googlepages.com/> reconfirmed 2007.01.07 (CSun/EDeMund)
Willows Senior Center Chess Club, San Jose, CA
    Tuesday and Friday afternoons, 12:00-4:00pm casual play Willows Senior Center, 2175 Lincoln Avenue, San Jose, CA 95125 contact Jerry Marshall at <marshalljerry AT msn DOT com> or (408) 267-1574; also, Willows Senior Center phone number is (408) 448-6400 reconfirmed 2007.01.07 (JMarshall/EDeMund)
Peninsula Burlingame Chess Club, Burlingame, CA
    Thursday evenings, starting at 7:00pm rated tournament and casual play Lions Hall Building, 990 Burlingame Avenue, Burlingame, CA 94010 club web site is <http://www.burlingamechessclub.com/> reconfirmed 2007.01.05 (EDeMund)
Foster City Chess Club, Foster City, CA
    Saturday afternoons, 3:00-6:00pm casual play Peninsula Jewish Community Center, 800 Foster City Boulevard, Foster City, CA 94404 contact Yan Kudevitsky <kudevitsky AT sbcglobal DOT net> reconfirmed 2007.01.04 (YKudevitsky/EDeMund)
Happy Donuts Chess Group, Palo Alto, CA
    Friday evenings, 7:00pm-12:00am casual play Happy Donuts, 3916 El Camino Real, Palo Alto, CA 94306; on El Camino Real between Page Mill Road and West Charleston Road, at Ventura Avenue no contact point or web site yet; Happy Donuts's telephone number is (650) 843-0658 reconfirmed 2007.01.06 (AMorrow/EDeMund)
Peninsula Chess Club, San Mateo, CA
    Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons, 1:00-5:00pm casual play San Mateo Public Library, 55 West 3rd Avenue, San Mateo, CA 94402 contact Sidney Schieber at (650) 345-8603 or <sid-sd3 AT sbcglobal DOT net>; San Mateo Public Library telephone number is (650) 522-7802 reconfirmed 2007.01.04 (SSchieber/EDeMund)
San Mateo Senior Center Chess Club, San Mateo, CA
    Wednesday afternoons, 1:00-4:00pm casual play San Mateo Senior Center, 2645 Alameda de Las Pulgas, San Mateo, CA 94403 no contact point or web site yet; San Mateo Senior Center telephone number is (650) 522-7490 reconfirmed 2007.01.08 (EDeMund)
Stanford Chess Club, Stanford, CA
    Sunday afternoons, 2:00-5:00pm casual play at outside tables next to Jamba Juice at Tresidder Union Tresidder Union, 459 Lagunita Drive, Stanford, CA 94305 club web site is <http://www.stanford.edu/group/chess/> reconfirmed 2007.01.05 (YYang/EDeMund)
Santa Cruz/Coastside American Tournament Chess Club, Pacifica, CA
    Sunday afternoons starting at 12:30pm; Wednesday, and Thursday evenings starting at 7:00pm casual play Sundays and Thursdays (classes upon request on Thursday evenings): Vista Del Mar Baptist Church, 1125 Terra Nova Boulevard, Pacifica, CA 94044 Wednesdays: Denny's, 500 Linda Mar Boulevard, Pacifica, CA 94044 club web site is <http://www.atcc.us/>; contact John Galpin at <johngalpin AT atcc DOT us>, or phone (650) 355-6787 reconfirmed and updated 2007.01.07 (JGalpin/EDeMund)
Borders Books & Music, Santa Cruz, CA
    Thursday evenings; registration at 6:30pm, play starts at 7:10pm unrated tournament play (3 round quad system, G/25, no entry fee; bring sets, clocks, and boards) Borders Books & Music, 1200 Pacific Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 contact Jim Parker at <jimcheck AT pacbell DOT net> or (831) 662-0587 reconfirmed 2007.01.07 (JParker/EDeMund)
Chess and Go Players at UCSC, Santa Cruz, CA San Francisco Cafe La Boheme, San Francisco, CA
    most evenings after 6:00pm, though Thursday evenings are best casual play Cafe La Boheme, 3318 24th Street, San Francisco, CA 94110 (between Valencia Street and Mission Street) description at
    <http://calchess.org/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=60> no contact point or web site yet; Cafe La Boheme telephone number is (415) 643-0481 reconfirmed 2007.01.06 (EDeMund)
Mechanics' Chess Club, San Francisco, CA
    casual play Monday through Friday, 11:00am-9:00pm; and weekends 11:00am-5:00pm; Tuesday Night Marathon until 10:30pm rated tournament and casual play 57 Post Street, San Francisco, CA 94104 club web site is <http://www.chessclub.org/> reconfirmed 2007.01.06 (EDeMund)
Royal Ground Coffee, San Francisco, CA
    Monday and Friday evenings starting at 8:00pm casual play Royal Ground Coffee, 2216 Polk Street, San Francisco, CA 94109 "Royal Ground Coffee at Polk and Vallejo (in SF) has a regular Chess & Scrabble night on Mondays starting around 8:00pm. Plus, impromptu chess can be found most other days, including a less rigourously attended Friday night session."
         "Also, it is important to note that the cafe is at Polk & Vallejo as there is another cafe with the same name nearby at Polk & Sacramento. People often go the wrong cafe and get disappointed." --TXY no contact point or web site yet; Royal Ground Coffee telephone number is (415) 474-5957 reconfirmed 2007.01.06 (TXY/EDeMund)
North Bay Cotati Chess Club, Cotati, CA
    first and third Mondays of the month, 6:00-10:00pm casual play Cotati Community Center, Classroom #2, 216 East School Street, Cotati, CA 94931 contact Paul Bishop (email address pending) or telephone the Cotati Community Center at (707) 792-4600, ext 640; also, a description of the chess club may be found on page 9 of the PDF document "City of Cotati Recreation Schedule Fall 2006/Winter 2007", available at <http://www.ci.cotati.ca.us/sections/services/fall-rec-2006.pdf> reconfirmed and updated 2007.01.15 (PBishop/EDeMund)
East Bay Adams Point Chess Salon, Oakland, CA
    Thursday evenings, 7:00-10:30pm casual play "We meet in a private home in the Adams Point neighborhood of Oakland, CA, near Lake Merritt. We average 8-10 players, and have been meeting since July 2002. Beginners welcome. Casual lessons free. No sore losers, no trash talkers and no whiners." contact Richard 'S' Lee at <tripkit AT aol DOT com> reconfirmed 2007.01.06 (RSLee/EDeMund)
East Bay Chess Club, Oakland, CA
    open daily; 5:00-11:00pm on weekdays and see the tournament schedule for weekend hours rated tournament and casual play 7994 Capwell Drive, Oakland, CA 94621 club web site is <http://www.eastbaychess.com/> updated and updated 2007.01.06 (EDeMund)
Fremont Chess Club, Fremont, CA
    Friday evenings, 7:00-11:00pm rated tournament and casual play Fremont Community Activity Center, 3375 Country Drive, Fremont CA 94536 club web site is <http://www.fremontchessclub.org/>; see also the California Classic Friday Night Chess page at <http://www.geocities.com/sfchessclassic/FCC.html> for info regarding the weekly tournament contact Jason Gurtovoy <sfchessclassic AT yahoo DOT com> for info regarding California Classic Friday Night Chess reconfirmed 2007.01.06 (JGurtovoy/EDeMund)
Lakeview Chess Club, Oakland, CA MAAT Science Village Chess Club, Oakland, CA
    twice monthly on Saturdays, 1:00-6:00pm (2007Q1-Q2: Jan13+27, Feb3+24, Mar10+31, Apr14+28, May5+19, Jun2+23) casual play, unrated tournament play, lessons, training, and lectures Museum of African American Technology (MAAT) Science Village, 408 14th Street, Oakland, CA 94612 contact Kimani Stancil at <gmkimanis AT gmail DOT com> or telephone the Museum of African American Technology (MAAT) Science Village at (510) 893-6426 added 2007.02.24 (KStancil/EDeMund)
Pleasanton Chess Club, Pleasanton, CA
    Friday evenings, 7:00-10:00pm casual play please phone for location; this is a club trying to form contact Robert David at (925) 249-1896 or <robert.a.david AT sbcglobal DOT net> reconfirmed 2007.01.06 (RDavid/EDeMund)
Vallejo Chess Club, Vallejo, CA
    Friday evenings, 7:30-11:30pm casual play Vallejo Senior Center, 333 Amador Street, Vallejo, CA 94590 contact Larry Whitlow at (707) 642-4725; also, Vallejo Senior Center telephone number is (707) 643-1044 reconfirmed 2007.01.07 (LWhitlow/EDeMund)
Walnut Creek Chess Club, Walnut Creek, CA
    Tuesday evenings, 6:30-10:30pm casual play Walnut Creek Senior Center, 1375 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek, CA 94596 contact Bob Nace at (925) 939-7937; also, Walnut Creek Senior Center telephone number is (925) 943-5851 reconfirmed and updated 2007.01.06 (EDeMund)
Other California Chess Clubs Casual Chess Scenes Chess Meetups and Chess Players in California
    Lists chess meetup groups and individual chess players wishing to play over-the-board games, by city, in California. Site also has a message board. Visit <http://chess.meetup.com/cities/us/ca/>. reconfirmed 2007.01.06 (EDeMund)
San_Francisco_Bay_Area_Chess_Club Mailing List The master version of this document lives at URL <http://www.ixian.com/ead/chess/ba-chess.html>.
Please send additions and corrections to <ead-ba-chess AT ixian DOT com>.

$Id: ba-chess.m4,v 1.77 2007/03/09 12:03:43 ead Exp $

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ifdef(`BA', `include(ba-chess-foot.m4)') ifdef(`CL', `include(cl-chess-foot.m4)')