Menlo Park Chess Club

February "Mud Month" Mini-Marathon, Round 4
2023-02-23 19:00 - 20:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Arrillaga Family Recreation Center, 700 Alma Street, Menlo Park, CA, 94025, United States
The Menlo Park Chess Club will hold our first rated tournament of 2023 beginning Thursday, February 2nd, at 7pm, a four round USCF-rated Swiss-system event over four weeks using the dual-rated G/45 d/5 time control. This tournament is suitable for experienced players as well as newer US Chess members seeking to establish an over-the-board rating. (“Mud Month” comes from the Old English “Solmonath,” another name for February—it may also signify “Hearthcake Month” if you prefer Bede, though the former is more apropos to the Bay Area at present.) Details follow:

Format: Four round Swiss-system tournament in one section, one game per evening
Rounds: February 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd—games begin promptly at 7:00pm
Control: G/45 d/5 (dual-rated game of 45 minutes for each player plus a 5-second delay per move)
Entry Fee: $5 (PayPal: mark@drury.com; Venmo: @Mark-Drury-12), entire entry fee goes to the prize fund.
Prizes: Players will be divided into 3 or more groups based on rating and number of participants; the top scorer in each group wins the group’s share of the prize fund (any ties will split the cash prize).
Byes: Half-point byes are available for any round except the last
Register: Registration closed after the start of Round 2
Boards, sets and clocks will be provided by the Menlo Park Chess Club (bring a clock if you own one)
All tournament participants must be current US Chess members
Our tournament chess rules summary is worth perusing if you’re new to tournament play
For more information please send email to info@menloparkchess.club or tweet @MenloParkChess
Join our Facebook group to stay abreast of future club tournaments and events

February "Mud Month" Mini-Marathon, Round 3
2023-02-16 19:00 - 20:30

February "Mud Month" Mini-Marathon, Round 2
2023-02-09 19:00 - 20:30
The Menlo Park Chess Club will hold our first rated tournament of 2023 beginning Thursday, February 2nd, at 7pm, a four round USCF-rated Swiss-system event over four weeks using the dual-rated G/45 d/5 time control. This tournament is suitable for experienced players as well as newer US Chess members seeking to establish an over-the-board rating. (“Mud Month” comes from the Old English “Solmonath,” another name for February—it may also signify “Hearthcake Month” if you prefer Bede, though the former is more apropos to the Bay Area at present.) Details follow:

Format: Four round Swiss-system tournament in one section, one game per evening
Rounds: February 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd—games begin promptly at 7:00pm
Control: G/45 d/5 (dual-rated game of 45 minutes for each player plus a 5-second delay per move)
Entry Fee: $5 (PayPal: mark@drury.com; Venmo: @Mark-Drury-12), entire entry fee goes to the prize fund.
Prizes: Players will be divided into 3 or more groups based on rating and number of participants; the top scorer in each group wins the group’s share of the prize fund (any ties will split the cash prize).
Byes: Half-point byes are available for any round except the last
Register: Registrations are now closed for this tournament
Boards, sets and clocks will be provided by the Menlo Park Chess Club (bring a clock if you own one)
All tournament participants must be current US Chess members
Our tournament chess rules summary is worth perusing if you’re new to tournament play
For more information please send email to info@menloparkchess.club or tweet @MenloParkChess
Join our Facebook group to stay abreast of future club tournaments and events

February "Mud Month" Mini-Marathon, Round 1
2023-02-02 19:00 - 20:30
The Menlo Park Chess Club will hold our first rated tournament of 2023 beginning Thursday, February 2nd, at 7pm, a four round USCF-rated Swiss-system event over four weeks using the dual-rated G/45 d/5 time control. This tournament is suitable for experienced players as well as newer US Chess members seeking to establish an over-the-board rating. (“Mud Month” comes from the Old English “Solmonath,” another name for February—it may also signify “Hearthcake Month” if you prefer Bede, though the former is more apropos to the Bay Area at present.) Details follow:

Format: Four round Swiss-system tournament in one section, one game per evening
Rounds: February 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd—games begin promptly at 7:00pm
Control: G/45 d/5 (dual-rated game of 45 minutes for each player plus a 5-second delay per move)
Entry Fee: $5 (PayPal: mark@drury.com; Venmo: @Mark-Drury-12), entire entry fee goes to the prize fund.
Prizes: Players will be divided into 3 or more groups based on rating and number of participants; the top scorer in each group wins the group’s share of the prize fund (any ties will split the cash prize).
Byes: Half-point byes are available for any round except the last
Register: Please sign up in advance using the ‘Register’ button above
Boards, sets and clocks will be provided by the Menlo Park Chess Club (bring a clock if you own one)
All tournament participants must be current US Chess members
Our tournament chess rules summary is worth perusing if you’re new to tournament play
For more information please send email to info@menloparkchess.club or tweet @MenloParkChess
Join our Facebook group to stay abreast of future club tournaments and events

Casual, Blitz, Bughouse Chess Evening
2023-01-26 18:00 - 21:45
Our regular weekly club meeting now occurs Thursday evenings from 6:00-9:45pm in the Oak Room of the Arrillaga Family Recreation Center. Casual, blitz and bughouse chess are in the offing and we’ll discuss details of the next tournament, tentatively scheduled for February 2nd.

G/3+2 Blitz Tournament in Two Sections
2023-01-19 19:00 - 20:30
We’ll hold our first blitz tournament of 2023, a free 4- or 5-round G/3+2 unrated event in two sections, assuming there are sufficient entries. Clock move (as opposed to touch move) and all other US Chess blitz rules apply. First place in each section wins a $25 Kepler’s gift certificate; ties will be settled with a G/3+0 playoff. The first round will begin promptly at 7:15–please register ahead of time via the button, above, or arrive no later than 7:00 to register on-site. Entries are limited to 32 players so register early if you plan to play.

Casual, Blitz, Bughouse Chess Evening
2023-01-12 18:00 - 21:45
Our regular weekly club meeting now occurs Thursday evenings from 6:00-9:45pm in the Oak Room of the Arrillaga Family Recreation Center. Casual, blitz and bughouse chess are in the offing and we’ll discuss details of the next tournament, tentatively scheduled for January 19th or 26th.

First Thursday Club Meeting of 2023
2023-01-05 18:00 - 21:45
Our regular weekly club meeting now occurs Thursday evenings from 6:00-9:45pm in the Oak Room of the Arrillaga Family Recreation Center. Casual, blitz and bughouse chess are in the offing and we’ll discuss details of the next tournament, tentatively scheduled for January 12th.

Holiday Season: No Club Meeting
2022-12-28 18:00 - 21:45, 2022-12-21 18:00 - 21:45
The Arrillaga Family Recreation Center will be closed December 21st and 28th so our club will not meet on those Wednesdays and, as a reminder, we will begin meeting on Thursdays in 2023, starting January 5th, from 6:00-9:45pm. Enjoy your holiday season and we hope to see you after the New Year!

Year-End Blitz Ouroboros
2022-12-14 18:00 - 21:45
Our final meeting and tournament of 2022, we’ll play 5 or 6 rounds of G/3+2 blitz in a single Swiss section or, depending upon turnout, we may hold 4- or 6-person round robins based on rating (or some estimation thereof). We’ll begin promptly at 7:15pm so please register ahead of time via the button on this page or arrive no later than 7:00pm Wednesday if you plan to play in this event. Registration is free, the tournament will be limited to 36 players and prizes include Kepler’s Books gift certificates.

Casual 5-Round G/3+2 Blitz Tournament
2022-12-07 18:00 - 21:45
We’ll hold a casual 5-round G/3+2 blitz tournament as something of a warmup for our club’s blitz championship, to occur the following Wednesday, December 14th. Tomorrow’s event will either be one single Swiss section or, depending upon turnout, we may hold 6-person round robins based on rating (or some estimation thereof). We’ll begin “promptly” at 7:15pm so please show up no later than 7:00 if you plan to play in this event. There should also be people on hand for informal or other non-tournament games.

Casual, Blitz, Bughouse Chess Evening
2022-11-30 18:00 - 21:45
Our regular weekly club meeting occurs Wednesday evenings from 6:00-9:45pm in the Cypress Room of the Arrillaga Family Recreation Center. Casual, blitz and bughouse chess are in the offing and we’ll discuss details of the next blitz tournament, tentatively scheduled for December 7th.

No Club Meeting November 23rd, 2022
2022-11-23 18:00 - 21:45
The club will not meet the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, November 23rd. We’ll be back in action the following week, of course!

Casual, Blitz and Club Championship Playoffs
2022-11-16 18:00 - 21:45
Our regular weekly club meeting occurs Wednesday evenings from 6:00-9:45pm in the Cypress Room of the Arrillaga Family Recreation Center. Casual, blitz and bughouse chess are in the offing and we’ll also hold the blitz playoffs for our recently-completed club championship.

Menlo Park Chess Club Championship, Round 5
2022-11-09 19:00 - 21:00
The Menlo Park Chess Club will hold our club championship beginning Wednesday, October 12th, at 7pm, a four- or five-round USCF-rated Swiss system event using the dual-rated G/60 d/5 time control over four or five weeks (the number of rounds will depend on the number of players). This tournament is suitable for experienced players as well as newer US Chess members seeking to establish an over-the-board rating. Details follow:

Format: Four- or five-round Swiss-system tournament in one section, one game per evening
Rounds: October 12th, 19th, 26th, November 2nd, 9th—games begin promptly at 7:00pm
Control: G/60 d/5 (dual-rated game of 60 minutes for each player plus a 5-second delay per move)
Entry Fee: $0 (the MPCC will pay for prizes and the US Chess rating fees for this event)
Prizes: Collector Series Plastic Chess Pieces (quadruple-weighted, 4″ King) with MPCC logo mousepad chessboard to 1st-3rd, top under 1500, top under 1000
Byes: Half-point byes are available for any round save the last
Register: Registrations closed after round 3 of the tournament
Boards, sets and clocks will be provided by the Menlo Park Chess Club (bring a clock if you own one)
All tournament participants must be current US Chess members
Our tournament chess rules summary is worth perusing if you’re new to tournament play
For more information please send email to info@menloparkchess.club or tweet @MenloParkChess
Join our Facebook group to stay abreast of future club tournaments and events

Menlo Park Chess Club Championship, Round 4
2022-11-02 19:00 - 21:00
Note: Registrations are now closed for the championship given the maximum number of players (40) signed up for and played in the first round. Feel free to send email to the club if you wish to play in later rounds as we may see a withdrawal or two.
The Menlo Park Chess Club will hold our club championship beginning Wednesday, October 12th, at 7pm, a four- or five-round USCF-rated Swiss system event using the dual-rated G/60 d/5 time control over four or five weeks (the number of rounds will depend on the number of players). This tournament is suitable for experienced players as well as newer US Chess members seeking to establish an over-the-board rating. Details follow:

Format: Four- or five-round Swiss-system tournament in one section, one game per evening
Rounds: October 12th, 19th, 26th, November 2nd, 9th—games begin promptly at 7:00pm
Control: G/60 d/5 (dual-rated game of 60 minutes for each player plus a 5-second delay per move)
Entry Fee: $0 (the MPCC will pay for prizes and the US Chess rating fees for this event)
Prizes: Collector Series Plastic Chess Pieces (quadruple-weighted, 4″ King) with MPCC logo mousepad chessboard to 1st-3rd, top under 1500, top under 1000
Byes: Half-point byes are available for any round save the last
Register: Registrations closed after round 3 of the tournament
Boards, sets and clocks will be provided by the Menlo Park Chess Club (bring a clock if you own one)
All tournament participants must be current US Chess members
Our tournament chess rules summary is worth perusing if you’re new to tournament play
For more information please send email to info@menloparkchess.club or tweet @MenloParkChess
Join our Facebook group to stay abreast of future club tournaments and events

Menlo Park Chess Club Championship, Round 3
2022-10-26 19:00 - 21:00
Note: Registrations are now closed for the championship given the maximum number of players (40) signed up for and played in the first round. Feel free to send email to the club if you wish to play in later rounds as we may see a withdrawal or two.
The Menlo Park Chess Club will hold our first club championship beginning Wednesday, October 12th, at 7pm, a four- or five-round USCF-rated Swiss system event using the dual-rated G/60 d/5 time control over four or five weeks (the number of rounds will depend on the number of players). This tournament is suitable for experienced players as well as newer US Chess members seeking to establish an over-the-board rating. Details follow:

Format: Four- or five-round Swiss-system tournament in one section, one game per evening
Rounds: October 12th, 19th, 26th, November 2nd, 9th—games begin promptly at 7:00pm
Control: G/60 d/5 (dual-rated game of 60 minutes for each player plus a 5-second delay per move)
Entry Fee: $0 (the MPCC will pay for prizes and the US Chess rating fees for this event)
Prizes: Collector Series Plastic Chess Pieces (quadruple-weighted, 4″ King) with MPCC logo mousepad chessboard to 1st-3rd, top under 1500, top under 1000
Byes: Half-point byes are available for any round save the last
Register: Please sign up using the ‘Register’ button, above
Boards, sets and clocks will be provided by the Menlo Park Chess Club (bring a clock if you own one)
All tournament participants must be current US Chess members
Our tournament chess rules summary is worth perusing if you’re new to tournament play
For more information please send email to info@menloparkchess.club or tweet @MenloParkChess
Join our Facebook group to stay abreast of future club tournaments and events

Menlo Park Chess Club Championship, Round 2
2022-10-19 19:00 - 21:00
Note: Registrations are now closed for the championship given the maximum number of players (40) signed up for and played in the first round. Feel free to send email to the club if you wish to play in later rounds as we may see a withdrawal or two.
The Menlo Park Chess Club will hold our club championship beginning Wednesday, October 12th, at 7pm, a four- or five-round USCF-rated Swiss system event using the dual-rated G/60 d/5 time control over four or five weeks (the number of rounds will depend on the number of players). This tournament is suitable for experienced players as well as newer US Chess members seeking to establish an over-the-board rating. Details follow:

Format: Four- or five-round Swiss-system tournament in one section, one game per evening
Rounds: October 12th, 19th, 26th, November 2nd, 9th—games begin promptly at 7:00pm
Control: G/60 d/5 (dual-rated game of 60 minutes for each player plus a 5-second delay per move)
Entry Fee: $0 (the MPCC will pay for prizes and the US Chess rating fees for this event)
Prizes: Collector Series Plastic Chess Pieces (quadruple-weighted, 4″ King) with MPCC logo mousepad chessboard to 1st-3rd, top under 1500, top under 1000
Byes: Half-point byes are available for any round save the last
Register: Please sign up using the ‘Register’ button, above
Boards, sets and clocks will be provided by the Menlo Park Chess Club (bring a clock if you own one)
All tournament participants must be current US Chess members
Our tournament chess rules summary is worth perusing if you’re new to tournament play
For more information please send email to info@menloparkchess.club or tweet @MenloParkChess
Join our Facebook group to stay abreast of future club tournaments and events

Menlo Park Chess Club Championship, Round 1
2022-10-12 19:00 - 21:00
The Menlo Park Chess Club will hold our club championship beginning Wednesday, October 12th, at 7pm, a four- or five-round USCF-rated Swiss system event using the dual-rated G/60 d/5 time control over four or five weeks (the number of rounds will depend on the number of players). This tournament is suitable for experienced players as well as newer US Chess members seeking to establish an over-the-board rating. Details follow:

Format: Four- or five-round Swiss-system tournament in one section, one game per evening
Rounds: October 12th, 19th, 26th, November 2nd, 9th—games begin promptly at 7:00pm
Control: G/60 d/5 (dual-rated game of 60 minutes for each player plus a 5-second delay per move)
Entry Fee: $0 (the MPCC will pay for prizes and the US Chess rating fees for this event)
Prizes: Collector Series Plastic Chess Pieces (quadruple-weighted, 4″ King) with MPCC logo mousepad chessboard to 1st-3rd, top under 1500, top under 1000
Byes: Half-point byes are available for any round save the last
Register: Please sign up ahead of time using the ‘Register’ button, above
Boards, sets and clocks will be provided by the Menlo Park Chess Club (bring a clock if you own one)
All tournament participants must be current US Chess members
Our tournament chess rules summary is worth perusing if you’re new to tournament play
For more information please send email to info@menloparkchess.club or tweet @MenloParkChess
Join our Facebook group to stay abreast of future club tournaments and events

Casual, Blitz, Bughouse Chess Evening
2022-10-05 18:00 - 21:45
Our regular weekly club meeting occurs Wednesday evenings from 6:00-9:45pm in the Cypress Room of the Arrillaga Family Recreation Center. Casual, blitz and bughouse chess are in the offing and we’ll discuss details of the rated, five-round club championship beginning October 12th.

Burgess Park Double-Blitz G/3+2
2022-09-28 19:00 - 20:30
Based on conversations at the club last week and on a few online interactions over the past couple days it seems that another Blitz tournament is what people most wish to partake of this week, so we’ll hold another free, unrated double-blitz tournament of four rounds and a G/3+2 time control. A double-blitz event entails playing two games with each opponent, one as black and one as white. The tournament will begin promptly at 7pm so please register and check in before that time, if at all possible. Prizes will be yet more gift certificates to Kepler’s or Feldman’s Books.

Casual, Blitz, Bughouse Chess Evening
2022-09-21 18:00 - 21:45
Our regular weekly club meeting occurs Wednesday evenings from 6:00-9:45pm in the Cypress Room of the Arrillaga Family Recreation Center. Casual, blitz and bughouse chess are in the offing and we’ll discuss details of the next tournament tentatively scheduled for September 28th.

Fischer Random (Chess960) Tournament
2022-09-14 19:00 - 20:30
The Menlo Park Chess Club will hold its first Fischer Random (Chess 960) tournament Wednesday, September 14th, beginning at 7pm sharp. The event will be unrated and will occur over one evening with a time control of G/8 d/2, there will be three or four rounds depending upon the number of entries, entry is free and prizes will be gift certificates to Feldman’s Books in Menlo Park.
The starting positions used for the event will be announced before the beginning of each round in an attempt to rein in those who might overprepare. Everyone is encouraged to play in this tournament, even if you’ve never played a game of Chess960 before. As long as you can play ‘regular’ chess with a clock and understand the castling eccentricities involved with this variant you’ll be fine, though some may suggest playing a game or two on one of the online chess services to get a feel for Chess960.
Please register ahead of time using the button on this page so we have some idea how many people to expect — you may cancel your registration at any time.

Casual, Blitz, Bughouse, Chess960
2022-09-07 18:00 - 21:45, 2022-08-31 18:00 - 21:45
Our regular weekly club meeting occurs Wednesday evenings from 6:00-9:45pm in the Cypress Room of the Arrillaga Family Recreation Center. Casual, blitz and bughouse chess are in the offing and we’ll discuss details of the Chess960 tournament tentatively scheduled for September 14th.

Casual, Blitz, Bughouse Evening
2022-08-24 18:00 - 21:45, 2022-08-17 18:00 - 21:45, 2022-08-10 18:00 - 21:45, 2022-08-03 18:00 - 21:45
This evening we’ll play casual, blitz, bughouse or other chess variants — whatever people wish to do — and our next tournament (rated or unrated) will likely occur in September (quite a few people are on vacation in August).
