Menlo Park Chess Club

Fischer Random (Chess960) Tournament
2022-09-14 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 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 (America/Los_Angeles)
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 (America/Los_Angeles)
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).

MPCC Surfeit of Blitz Marathon: 3+0
2022-07-27 19:00 - 21:00 (America/Denver)
The Menlo Park Chess Club seeks to answer a simple question: How much blitz chess is too much? Over four consecutive Wednesday evenings in July we will hold four separate unrated blitz tournaments of ever-shortening time controls (5+3, 5+0, 3+2, 3+0), each with free entry and modest cash prizes. Where this event differs from most, however, is that players may optionally contribute $5 to an overall prize fund, to be awarded based on one’s performance through all four individual blitz tournaments (the marathon).
Every dollar contributed to the overall prize fund will be returned in marathon prizes. Additionally, any ties for cash prizes in the individual tournaments will see that money placed in the overall/marathon prize fund, to bolster existing and add new place prizes. For example, if two people score a perfect 4-0 to tie for first in the 3+0 event and one person takes sole third with 3.5-0.5, $40 will be added to the overall prize fund (the 1st-2nd tie, $25 + $15) while the person in 3rd place would take home $10 (see Prizes, below). If three or more people tie for first place then the entire $50 (1st-3rd prizes) will be added to the overall/marathon prize fund. The same applies to the under-17 prizes.
Note that each individual tournament is a standalone event and you may play in 1, 2, 3 or 4 of these tourneys as you please, with no obligation to chip in $5 unless you wish to take part in the marathon. Details follow:

Format: Four separate Swiss-system tournaments in one section over four consecutive Wednesday evenings
Dates: July 6th, 13th, 20th and 27th — games begin at 7:00pm
Control: July 6th, 5+3; July 13th, 5+0; July 20th, 3+2; July 27th, 3+0
Rounds (#): July 6th, 4; July 13th, 4; July 20th, 5; July 27th, 5
Entry Fee: $0 (MPCC will sponsor the prizes)
Prizes: Each event will offer 1st, $25; 2nd, $15; 3rd, $10; Under-17 1st, $15, 2nd, $10
Ties: If there is a tie for any cash prize the associated funds will be rolled into the overall purse mentioned above (yes, this is unusual but we think it may prove interesting and, given the entry fee is $0, there should be little complaint)
Byes: Zero-point byes available any round
Register: Click the Register button, above
Boards, sets and clocks will be provided by the Menlo Park Chess Club (bring a clock if you own one)
U.S. Chess Rules for Blitz Chess will be followed for all play in this event
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

MPCC Surfeit of Blitz Marathon: 3+2
2022-07-20 19:00 - 21:00 (America/Denver)
The Menlo Park Chess Club seeks to answer a simple question: How much blitz chess is too much? Over four consecutive Wednesday evenings in July we will hold four separate unrated blitz tournaments of ever-shortening time controls (5+3, 5+0, 3+2, 3+0), each with free entry and modest cash prizes. Where this event differs from most, however, is that players may optionally contribute $5 to an overall prize fund, to be awarded based on one’s performance through all four individual blitz tournaments (the marathon).
Every dollar contributed to the overall prize fund will be returned in marathon prizes. Additionally, any ties for cash prizes in the individual tournaments will see that money placed in the overall/marathon prize fund, to bolster existing and add new place prizes. For example, if two people score a perfect 4-0 to tie for first in the 3+2 event and one person takes sole third with 3.5-0.5, $40 will be added to the overall prize fund (the 1st-2nd tie, $25 + $15) while the person in 3rd place would take home $10 (see Prizes, below). If three or more people tie for first place then the entire $50 (1st-3rd prizes) will be added to the overall/marathon prize fund. The same applies to the under-17 prizes.
Note that each individual tournament is a standalone event and you may play in 1, 2, 3 or 4 of these tourneys as you please, with no obligation to chip in $5 unless you wish to take part in the marathon. Details follow:

Format: Four separate Swiss-system tournaments in one section over four consecutive Wednesday evenings
Dates: July 6th, 13th, 20th and 27th — games begin at 7:00pm
Control: July 6th, 5+3; July 13th, 5+0; July 20th, 3+2; July 27th, 3+0
Rounds (#): July 6th, 4; July 13th, 4; July 20th, 5; July 27th, 5
Entry Fee: $0 (MPCC will sponsor the prizes)
Prizes: Each event will offer 1st, $25; 2nd, $15; 3rd, $10; Under-17 1st, $15, 2nd, $10
Ties: If there is a tie for any cash prize the associated funds will be rolled into the overall purse mentioned above (yes, this is unusual but we think it may prove interesting and, given the entry fee is $0, there should be little complaint)
Byes: Zero-point byes available any round
Register: Click the Register button, above
Boards, sets and clocks will be provided by the Menlo Park Chess Club (bring a clock if you own one)
U.S. Chess Rules for Blitz Chess will be followed for all play in this event
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

MPCC Surfeit of Blitz Marathon: 5+0
2022-07-13 19:00 - 20:30 (America/Denver)
The Menlo Park Chess Club seeks to answer a simple question: How much blitz chess is too much? Over four consecutive Wednesday evenings in July we will hold four separate unrated blitz tournaments of ever-shortening time controls (5+3, 5+0, 3+2, 3+0), each with free entry and modest cash prizes. Where this event differs from most, however, is that players may optionally contribute $5 to an overall prize fund, to be awarded based on one’s performance through all four individual blitz tournaments (the marathon).
Every dollar contributed to the overall prize fund will be returned in marathon prizes. Additionally, any ties for cash prizes in the individual tournaments will see that money placed in the overall/marathon prize fund, to bolster existing and add new place prizes. For example, if two people score a perfect 4-0 to tie for first in the 5+0 event and one person takes sole third with 3.5-0.5, $40 will be added to the overall prize fund (the 1st-2nd tie, $25 + $15) while the person in 3rd place would take home $10 (see Prizes, below). If three or more people tie for first place then the entire $50 (1st-3rd prizes) will be added to the overall/marathon prize fund. The same applies to the under-17 prizes.
Note that each individual tournament is a standalone event and you may play in 1, 2, 3 or 4 of these tourneys as you please, with no obligation to chip in $5 unless you wish to take part in the marathon. Details follow:

Format: Four separate Swiss-system tournaments in one section over four consecutive Wednesday evenings
Dates: July 6th, 13th, 20th and 27th — games begin at 7:00pm
Control: July 6th, 5+3; July 13th, 5+0; July 20th, 3+2; July 27th, 3+0
Rounds (#): July 6th, 4; July 13th, 4; July 20th, 5; July 27th, 5
Entry Fee: $0 (MPCC will sponsor the prizes)
Prizes: Each event will offer 1st, $25; 2nd, $15; 3rd, $10; Under-17 1st, $15, 2nd, $10
Ties: If there is a tie for any cash prize the associated funds will be rolled into the overall purse mentioned above (yes, this is unusual but we think it may prove interesting and, given the entry fee is $0, there should be little complaint)
Byes: Zero-point byes available any round
Register: Click the Register button, above
Boards, sets and clocks will be provided by the Menlo Park Chess Club (bring a clock if you own one)
U.S. Chess Rules for Blitz Chess will be followed for all play in this event
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

MPCC Surfeit of Blitz Marathon: 5+3
2022-07-06 19:00 - 20:30 (America/Denver)
The Menlo Park Chess Club seeks to answer a simple question: How much blitz chess is too much? Over four consecutive Wednesday evenings in July we will hold four separate unrated blitz tournaments of ever-shortening time controls (5+3, 5+0, 3+2, 3+0), each with free entry and modest cash prizes. Where this event differs from most, however, is that players may optionally contribute $5 to an overall prize fund, to be awarded based on one’s performance through all four individual blitz tournaments (the marathon).
Every dollar contributed to the overall prize fund will be returned in marathon prizes. Additionally, any ties for cash prizes in the individual tournaments will see that money placed in the overall/marathon prize fund, to bolster existing and add new place prizes. For example, if two people score a perfect 4-0 to tie for first in the 5+3 event and one person takes sole third with 3.5-0.5, $40 will be added to the overall prize fund (the 1st-2nd tie, $25 + $15) while the person in 3rd place would take home $10 (see Prizes, below). If three or more people tie for first place then the entire $50 (1st-3rd prizes) will be added to the overall/marathon prize fund. The same applies to the under-17 prizes.
Note that each individual tournament is a standalone event and you may play in 1, 2, 3 or 4 of these tourneys as you please, with no obligation to chip in $5 unless you wish to take part in the marathon. Details follow:

Format: Four separate Swiss-system tournaments in one section over four consecutive Wednesday evenings
Dates: July 6th, 13th, 20th, and 27th — games begin at 7:00pm
Control: July 6th, 5+3; July 13th, 5+0; July 20th, 3+2; July 27th, 3+0
Rounds (#): July 6th, 4; July 13th, 4; July 20th, 5; July 27th, 5
Entry Fee: $0 (MPCC will sponsor the prizes)
Prizes: Each event will offer 1st, $25; 2nd, $15; 3rd, $10; Under-17 1st, $15, 2nd, $10
Ties: If there is a tie for any cash prize the associated funds will be rolled into the overall purse mentioned above (yes, this is unusual but we think it may prove interesting and, given the entry fee is $0, there should be little complaint)
Byes: We don’t need no stinkin’ byes (zero-point byes available any round)!
Register: Click the Register button, above
Boards, sets and clocks will be provided by the Menlo Park Chess Club (bring a clock if you own one)
U.S. Chess Rules for Blitz Chess will be followed for all play in this event
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

Game Analysis with Jim Eade
2022-06-29 18:30 - 19:15 (America/Los_Angeles)
Jim Eade, FIDE Master, club supporter and head of the Eade Foundation (https://eadefoundation.org/), a non-profit organization dedicated to expanding chess literacy and chess excellence around the world, will analyze one or two games from our recently-completed June Mini-Marathon. Note that Jim’s lecture is tentative given he has a very busy week leading up to Wednesday evening, so we may need to postpone (this event will be updated asap if that’s the case). Please arrive before 6:30pm so we may begin on time. Casual and blitz chess will take place once the lecture is complete, and a sincere thank you to Jim in advance for offering to do this for the club!

MPCC June Mini-Marathon Round 4
2022-06-22 18:30 - 20:00 (America/Denver)
The Menlo Park Chess Club will hold another rated mini-marathon beginning Wednesday, June 1st, at 6:30pm, a four-round Swiss system event of G/45 d/5 over four weeks and one suitable for experienced players as well as new or newer US Chess members seeking to establish an over-the-board rating. Details follow:

Format: Four-round Swiss-system tournament in one section, one game per evening
Rounds: June 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd — games begin round 6:30pm
Control: G/45 d/5 (Game in 45 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: Bookstore gift certificates and/or mousepad chessboards to the top three finishers, top three under 17 years of age
Byes: Half-point byes are available for any round save the last
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
Sign up for the tournament by clicking the “Register” button directly above
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
Join our Facebook group to stay abreast of future club tournaments and events

MPCC June Mini-Marathon Round 3
2022-06-15 18:30 - 20:00 (America/Denver)

MPCC June Mini-Marathon Round 2
2022-06-08 18:30 - 20:00 (America/Denver)
The Menlo Park Chess Club will hold another rated mini-marathon beginning Wednesday, June 1st, at 6:30pm, a four-round Swiss system event of G/45 d/5 over four weeks and one suitable for experienced players as well as new or newer US Chess members seeking to establish an over-the-board rating. Details follow:

Format: Four-round Swiss-system tournament in one section, one game per evening
Rounds: June 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd — games begin round 6:30pm
Control: G/45 d/5 (Game in 45 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: Bookstore gift certificates and/or mousepad chessboards to the top three finishers, top three under 17 years of age
Byes: Half-point byes are available for any round save the last
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
Sign up for the tournament by clicking the “Register” button directly above
Our tournament rules summary is worth perusing if you’re new to tournament play
For more information please send email to info@menloparkchess.club
Join our Facebook group to stay abreast of future club tournaments and events

MPCC June Mini-Marathon, Round 1
2022-06-01 18:30 - 20:00 (America/Denver)

MPCC Burgess Park Blitz #2
2022-05-25 19:00 - 20:30 (Asia/Krasnoyarsk)
The Menlo Park Chess Club will hold a free, unrated blitz chess tournament Wednesday, May 25th, beginning at 7pm. There is no entry fee and no US Chess membership is required to play in this one-section Swiss system event using the G/5+2 time control. Chess sets, boards and clocks will be provided but if you have a digital timer please feel free to bring it with you. Prizes for this event will be Hypermodern Chess books donated by the Jim Eade of the Eade Foundation and all are welcome to play!

Wednesday Night Chess
2022-05-18 19:00 - 20:30 (Asia/Krasnoyarsk)
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 a few members will be making up tournament games from our previous quads event. Next week we will hold a free, informal, unrated Swiss system blitz tournament with the G/5 d/2 time control of 4-5 rounds, something which was very popular the last time we did this.

MPCC Spring Quads Round 3
2022-05-11 19:00 - 20:30 (Asia/Krasnoyarsk)
The Menlo Park Chess Club will hold our first rated quads over three weeks from April 27th – May 11th, 2022, with a make-up round to be held May 18th, if needed. The time control will be the same as that used for our earlier Swiss tournament, the dual Quick- and Regular-rated G/30 d/5, while quads will be based on a factor of rating/skill level and age. Chess sets, boards and clocks will be provided but please feel free to bring your own digital timer if you wish. Entry fee will again be $0 and prizes for first place in each quad will be $20 gift certificates for Kepler’s Books in Menlo Park (https://www.keplers.com/) with ties being decided by a blitz chess playoff. More information can be found in our TLA here.

MPCC Spring Quads Round 2
2022-05-04 19:00 - 20:30 (Asia/Krasnoyarsk)

MPCC Spring Quads Round 1
2022-04-27 19:00 - 20:30 (Asia/Krasnoyarsk)

MPCC Burgess Park Blitz
2022-04-20 19:00 - 20:30 (Asia/Krasnoyarsk)
The Menlo Park Chess Club will hold a free, unrated blitz chess tournament Wednesday, April 20th, beginning at 7pm. There is no entry fee and no US Chess membership is required to play in this one-section Swiss system event using the G/5+2 time control. Chess sets, boards and clocks will be provided but if you have a digital timer please feel free to bring it with you. Prizes for this event will be Hypermodern Chess books donated by the Jim Eade of the Eade Foundation and all are welcome to play!

Wednesday Night Mini-Marathon (cont.)
2022-04-06 18:30 - 20:30, 2022-03-30 18:30 - 20:30, 2022-03-23 18:30 - 20:30 (Asia/Krasnoyarsk)
The Menlo Park Chess Club will hold its first rated tournament beginning Wednesday, March 16th, at 6:30pm, one intended for new or newer US Chess members seeking to establish OTB regular and quick ratings (though more experienced players are certainly welcome to join). The tournament is modeled after the revered Mechanics Institute Tuesday Night Marathons (https://www.milibrary.org/tuesday-night-marathon) and will run over four successive weeks, ending on April 6th, with one G/30 d/5 game played each evening. There is no entry fee given we are hoping to foster US Chess membership in the club and chess books will be offered as prizes to the top three finishers. Please feel free to invite anyone who may be interested in rated chess play and do share our tournament announcement with any and all in your chess community:
https://new.uschess.org/menlo-park-chess-club-wednesday-night-mini-marathon
See https://menloparkchess.club/wednesday-night-mini-marathon/ for complete details.

Wednesday Night Mini-Marathon
2022-03-16 18:30 - 20:30 (Asia/Krasnoyarsk)

Wednesday Night Chess
2022-03-09 18:00 - 21:45, 2022-03-02 18:00 - 21:45, 2022-02-23 18:00 - 21:45 (Asia/Krasnoyarsk)
Our regular weekly club meeting occurs Wednesday evenings from 6:00-9:45pm in the Cypress Room of the Arrillaga Family Recreation Center.

Fun/Informal Rapid Tournament
2022-02-16 18:30 - 20:30 (Asia/Krasnoyarsk)
We’ll hold the club’s first informal, unrated rapid tournament beginning around 6:30pm Wednesday, February 16th. This is a good opportunity for people new to tournament chess and/or to the use of a chess clock to get a feeling for what it’s all about. Everyone is welcome–experienced tournament players and newcomers alike. We’ll cover all of the following before the start but please let us know if you have questions in the meantime.

Details
Date: February 16th (one evening)
Location: Arrillaga Family Recreation Center, Cypress Room
Format: Individual Swiss system in one section
Rounds: 3 or 4, depending upon number of players
Time Control: Rapid 10+5 (10 minutes per player per game, plus a 5-second increment)
Rating: Unrated (we may use Lichess Rapid ratings for pairing purposes for those who have them)
Start Time: First round starts at 6:30pm
Byes: Late arrivals may be given one or more half-point byes
Cost: Tournament is free ($3 to enter Arrillaga Family Recreation Center)
Equipment: Boards, sets and chess clocks provided by the club

Standard US Chess rules apply (simplified to the following):
– Touch move: you must make a legal move with the touched piece unless you make clear beforehand that you were adjusting it (“adjust”)
– Same hand moves the piece and stops the clock
– Player of the black pieces selects on which side of the board the clock is placed
– Player of the black pieces starts the clock
– After your game ends feel free to analyze together but keep your voices down
– Keeping a game score is optional
– Tournament Director may intercede in clearly drawn games
– While observing other games in progress (games in which you are not playing):
– – No kibitzing
– – No pointing out time expired (only the players should do so)
– – No pointing out illegal moves or offering any other advice
– – No pointing out failure to stop the clock by one player or the
