Southern California Chess Club Directory
Where To Play Chess
The SCCF strives to maintain a complete, up-to-date chess club directory in the southern California area. Submit updates or corrections by emailing us here.
| City | Activities | Contact | Dues | WWW | FB |
| ARCADIA | The Arcadia Chess Club meets at 6:30 p.m. Mondays in the Senior Citizens building, 405 S. Santa Anita Ave. Continuous rated tournaments, casual play. | Mel Clark 626.447.9355 |
$10/year | X |  |
| BAKERSFIELD | The Bakersfield Chess Club meets 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Thursdays in the East Hills Mall, 3000 Mall View Rd. Rated tournaments, rated games, casual play, blitz, lessons. | Kenneth J. Poole 661.304.7468 |
35/year for adults, $25/year for youth | X |  |
| BEVERLY HILLS | The Beverly Hills Chess Club meets in Suite 210 of 8950 Olympic Blvd. All levels of players welcome. Monthly open, member-only, and scholastic tournaments. Classes on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, private lessons, camps, social events, blitz, simuls and many other events. | Isabelle Minoofar 310.274.7873 |
$125/month, $1,200/year, one-time registration fee of $50 (waived for SCCF members) | X | |
| BURBANK | A group meets Wednesdays from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Joslyn Center, 1301 W. Olive St. (at Griffith Park Drive). Casual play, ages 55 and up only. | Call 818.238.5353 | Free | - | - |
| BURBANK | A group meets Fridays from 5:15 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. in McCambridge Park, 1515 N. Glenoaks Blvd. Casual play, tournaments possible. | Emil
Klimach 818.845.1104 |
Free | - | - |
| CAMARILLO | The Camarillo Chess Club meets 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Sundays in the Sportsman Restaurant  , 4426 Central Ave. Casual play, possibly rated tournaments in the future. Snacks and refreshments. |
Joseph Larievy 805.415.7640 |
Free | - | - |
| CARLSBAD | A group meets 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Tuesdays in the Carlsbad Senior Center, 799 Pine Ave. Casual play. Most attendees are over age 50, but younger adults are welcome. | Call 760.602.4650 | Free | - | - |
| COLTON | A group meets at 9:00 p.m. Friday nights in a private room at Denny's restaurant, 160 W. Valley Blvd. Casual play, blitz. | Call Denny's 909. 824.2132 |
Free | - | - |
| ESCONDIDO |
The North County Chess Club meets at 7:00 p.m. Thursdays at 2427 S. Centre City Parkway. Continuous rated tournaments, all ages welcome. No dues, but $25 entry fee per tournament. | Andrew Norman | Free | X | - |
| ESCONDIDO | All adults are invited for casual play Wednesdays from noon to 4:30 p.m. in the Escondido Senior Center, 210 Park Ave. | Call 760.839.4688 | Free | - | - |
| FRESNO | The Fresno Chess Club meets 6:00 p.m. to midnight Mondays and Fridays in Carl's Jr. restaurant, 6767 N. First St. (at Herndon). Rated tournaments, non-rated quick chess quads, casual play, lectures, chess library, newsletter, new website. More than 200 members! | Bob Rasmussen 559.708.8100 |
$20/year, $10/year for students, women, and those who live outside Fresno County. | X | - |
| GARDEN GROVE | Chess Palace is open 12:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays, and 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, at 5246 Lampson St. Closed Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. Wide variety of rated tournaments, Action chess, youth tournaments, scholastic chess camps, blitz, occasional lectures and simuls, large selection of chess books, computers, and equipment for sale, lending library of chess videos, excellent website. | Call the club at 714.899.3421 or Alfred Ong at 310. 594.3475 | $3/day or $25/month | X | |
| GLENDALE | The chess park at 227 N. Brand Blvd. is open day and night for casual play. Speed tournaments, occasional weekend tournaments. | - | Free | - | - |
| HEMET | The Hemet Chess Club meets 4:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Sundays in Steve's Burgers West, 240 S. Sanderson Ave. Rated tournaments, casual play. | Marcos Montes 951.252.5926 |
$20/year | X | |
| IRVINE | The Hanley Chess Academy Chess Club meets 7:00 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Fridays at 2091 Business Center Drive. Weekly rated tournaments at 7:30 p.m., Action chess, blitz tournaments, casual play. No dues. Bring your own equipment. | Joe Hanley 714.925.3195 |
Free | X | |
| IRVINE | A group meets at lunch time (11:45 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.) Fridays at Knowlwood Restaurant, 14952 Sand Canyon Ave. Speed chess, analysis. Bring equipment. | David Zechiel | Free | - | - |
| IRVINE | A group meets 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Fridays at the Rancho Senior Center, 3 Ethel Coplen Way. Casual play, mostly seniors. | Call 949.724.6800 | Free | - | - |
| JOSHUA TREE | The Joshua Tree Chess Club meets 6:00 p.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays at Faith Lutheran Church , 6336 Hallee Rd. in Joshua Tree. Casual play, occasional tournaments, some instruction, junior chess program. | Mark Muller 760.367.2311 |
Free | - | - |
| LA PALMA | The La Palma Chess Club meets 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Fridays in Central Park, 7821 Walker St. Continuous rated tournaments, blitz, casual play, free coffee, boards and sets provided. | Brian Scanlon 714.523.2550, Leigh Hunt 714.635.0448, or Mike Brady 562.867.8248 | For entry fee see website, $5 less to La Palma residents | X | - |
| LAGUNA BEACH | People gather to play chess at the permanent chess table on the boardwalk. | - | Free | - | - |
| LAGUNA HILLS | A group meets 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Wednesdays in the Game Master, Suite 1530 of the Laguna Hills Mall. Casual play. | Call 949.457.0290 | Free | X | - |
| LAGUNA WOODS | The Leisure World Chess Club meets 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Mondays and 1:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Thursdays in the Community Center building in Leisure World. Guests are welcome. Casual play, ladder competition, occasional simul. | John Griffin 949.462.0722 or Stan Kahan 949.830.6699 |
? | - | - |
| LANCASTER |
A group meets 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Thursdays in the Antelope Valley Senior Center, 777 West Jackman St. Casual play. | Email Excell Peoples Or call the Senior Center at 661.726.4400 |
Free | - | - |
| LANCASTER | Casual players meet at random times at Starbucks, 1845 W. Ave. I. | John Buck 661.816.1423 |
Free | - | - |
| LANCASTER |
Chessplayers ages 21 and older are welcome for casual play 7:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Mondays in BeX Bar & Grill, 705 W. Lancaster Blvd. Bring chess equipment. | Morgan Mahowald | Free | - | - |
| LANCASTER | Check Chess Club meets 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays in the Antelope Valley Chess House, 3710 Neola Way. Casual play, instruction. All ages and all levels welcome. Chess sets provided. Please park across the street from the building. | daa@mahowald.org | Free | F | - |
| LAWNDALE | The Alondra Park Chess Club meets 6:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Tuesdays at 3850 Manhattan Beach Blvd. Rated six-round tournaments at 7:00 p.m., speed chess or extra rated games on seventh Tuesday, no smoking. | Richard Meller 310.227.2873 |
$5/year plus $5/tournament, $2.50/year for juniors. | X | - |
| LONG BEACH | The chess room in Bixby Park, 130 Cherry Ave., is open for casual play from noon to 5:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and noon to 4:00 p.m. Saturdays. | - | Free | - | - |
| LONG BEACH | Players gather for casual play at Golden Burger, 2301 E. 4th St., after the chess room in Bixby Park closes. | Call the restaurant 562.434.2625 |
Free | - | - |
| LOS ANGELES |
A unique club, L.A. Chess Ladder, offers the chance to play opponents at a time and place of your choosing. Rules are posted at the club’s website. | Darren Himeles 310.729.7721 |
Free | X | - |
| LOS ANGELES | A group meets at 5:30 p.m. Mondays in the Baldwin Hills branch of the public library, 2906 S. La Brea Ave. Casual play, instruction for beginners. All ages welcome, especially children and teenagers. | Call the library 323.733.1196 |
Free | - | - |
| LOS ANGELES | A group meets from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Saturdays in the Cahuenga branch of the public library, 4591 Santa Monica Blvd. Casual play. | Call the library 323.664.6418 |
Free | - | - |
| LOS ANGELES | The Los Angeles Chess Club (LACC) meets on the second floor of 11514 Santa Monica Blvd., above Javan restaurant. Variety of tournaments and instruction for children and adults on Saturdays, Sundays and Tuesday evenings. | Mick Bighamian 310.795.5710 |
Adults $180 / year, juniors/seniors $150 / year or $5/visit for non-members, first visit free. | X | - |
| LOS ANGELES | Metropolitan Chess, Inc. meets in the California Market Center, 110 E. Ninth St. Frequent invitational events for masters, variety of side events and amateur tournaments planned (quick chess, blitz, scholastic events, simultaneous exhibitions, instruction, lectures, scholastic camps), special benefits for club members. | Ankit Gupta | $120/year, $90/year for students and seniors | X | |
| LOS ANGELES | The Santa Monica Bay Chess Club meets 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Mondays in St. Andrew's Lutheran Church, 11555 National Blvd. Variety of rated tournaments, casual play, simuls, over 50 years in business. | Pete Savino 310.827.2789 |
$60/year, free to women and juniors | X | - |
| LOS ANGELES | Starbuck's, 5301 W. Centinela Blvd., welcomes chessplayers for casual play, speed chess, bughouse and occasional serious events. Daily until 10 p.m. | Call 310.338.1297 | Free | - | - |
| LOS ANGELES | Tang's Donuts, 4341 W. Sunset Blvd., welcomes chessplayers for casual play and speed chess, especially late at night. | - | Free | - | - |
| MORRO BAY | A group meets 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays at the big chess board on Embarcadero at Morro Bay Blvd. Chess pieces may be checked out weekdays from the Parks and Recreation Dept. | Eugene Arcamonte 805.528.4079 or Fred Brown 805.772.7074 |
Free | - |
- |
| MURRIETA | The Murrieta Central Park Chess Club meets 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Tuesdays at 38884 Cherry Point Lane. Rated and non-rated tournaments, instruction for children and adults, chess library, casual play on most Wednesday evenings. All ages welcome. | Mihai Harabor 951.461.7578 |
$75/year, first two visits free | X | - |
| NATIONAL CITY | The National City Chess Club meets 2:00 p.m to 10:00 p.m. daily at 1341 E. 8th St. Casual play, chess videos available, free instruction for scholastic members ages 7 to 12, informal atmosphere. | Jorge Balares 619.477.3118 or 619.788.8395 |
No dues but small donations welcome | - | - |
| NEWBURY PARK | A new club, the Conejo Valley Chess Club, has started in Scrapbook Blessings at 300 Giant Oak Ave, Suite E. Instruction for all ages, scholastic and adult events planned. | - | ? | X | - |
| NEWHALL | The California Youth Chess League conducts a scholastic chess club 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Mondays, except holidays, in Vincenzo's Pizza, 24504 ½ Lyons Ave. Casual play, blitz, bughouse, free instruction for total beginners. Parents or guardians must stay with kids. | Jay Stallings 661. 288.1705 |
Free | X | |
| ONTARIO |
Donut Palace, 442 N. Mountain Ave., welcomes chessplayers for casual play, especially in the evenings. Open 24 hours. | - | Free | - | - |
| ORANGE | The Orange Senior Club meets from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Tuesdays in the Orange Senior Citizens Community Center, 170 S. Olive St. in Orange. Casual play, all ages welcome. | Call 714.538.9633 | ? | - | - |
| PALM DESERT | A group meets 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Sundays in the public library, 73-300 Fred Waring Drive. | Call the library 760.346-6552 |
Free | - | - |
| PALMDALE | Players meet on alternating Sunday and Monday afternoons at Starbucks, 39570 Lowes Drive. | John Buck 661.816.1423 |
Free | - | - |
| PANORAMA CITY | Master's Piece Chess Club meets at 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays in Suite #105, 9612 Van Nuys Blvd. Casual play, rated tournaments. | Norman Abadilla 818.571.6295 |
Free | - | - |
| PASADENA | The Pasadena Chess Club meets from 6:45 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Fridays in the Boys and Girls Club, 3230 E. Del Mar Blvd. Continuous tournaments at 7 p.m. Fridays. | Neil Hultgren 818.243.3809 |
$25/year | X | - |
| RANCHO CUCAMONGA |
Chessstart meets 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Sundays in the Rancho Cucamonga Community Center, 11200 Baseline Rd. Weekly rated tournaments for adults and scholastics, casual play, blitz. | Taras McKey 909.292.7522 |
Free | - | - |
| REDLANDS | The Redlands Chess Club meets 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Fridays in Redlands Senior Center, 111 W. Lugonia Ave. Casual play, blitz, all ages welcome. | Call the Senior Center at 909.798.7579 |
Free | X | |
| REDLANDS | The Joslyn Center Chess Club meets 11:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Wednesdays in the Joslyn Senior Center, 21 Grant St. Casual play, non-rated tournaments. | Call the Senior Center at 909.798.7550 |
Free | - | - |
| RIDGECREST | The Ridgecrest Chess Club meets 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Saturdays in the Kern County Library (west entrance), 131 E. Las Flores Ave. Casual play, occasional scholastic and club tournaments. | Dwight Morgan 760.377.0034 |
Free | - | - |
| RIVERSIDE | A group meets for casual play and blitz at 6:00 p.m. Thursday evenings in Back to the Grind Café, 3575 University Ave. Bring equipment | Call the café 951.784.0800 |
Free | X | - |
| RIVERSIDE | The Riverside Chess Club meets 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Thursdays in Room 172 of the Surge building at University of California Riverside. Casual play, blitz, rated tournaments. | Steve Morford 951.682.2965 or Chris Gribbon 951.684.0930 |
Free | X | - |
| SAN DIEGO | The San Diego Chess Club opens for casual play at 2:00 p.m. weekdays, 10:00 a.m. Saturdays and noon Sundays in Balboa Park at 2225 6th Ave. (between Ivy and Juniper). Tournaments Wednesday evenings and Saturdays, Jedi Knights children's club with Bruce Baker at 7:00 p.m. Fridays, lessons available. | Call the club 619.239.7166 or email Chuck Ensey |
$60/year, discounts for seniors, juniors and active military | X, Pics | |
| SAN LUIS OBISPO | The San Luis Obispo Chess Club meets 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Thursdays in Carl's Jr., 195 N. Santa Rosa St. Casual play, lectures, occasional tournaments. | Barbara McCaleb 805.544.0717 |
$5/year | X | - |
| SANTA MONICA | Chess tables are available from sunup to sundown daily at the Santa Monica International Chess Park, on the promenade just south of the Santa Monica pier. Casual chess, blitz, chess bulletin board, large demonstration board, occasional summer tournaments. | - | Free | - | - |
| TEMECULA |
The Temecula Chess Club meets Tuesdays at Hillcrest Academy, 29275 Santiago Rd. Kids program (for grades 1-8) from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., adult chess club after 6:30 p.m. Rated tournaments, casual play, instruction, lectures, exhibitions. |
Call 951.327.1000 or emailinfo@temeculachess.com |
Free | X | - |
| THOUSAND OAKS |
The Thousand Oaks Chess Club meets 6:00 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. Mondays at the Goebel Senior Adult Center, 1385 E. Janss Rd. Casual play, all ages welcome. | Cindy Garcia 805.990.0136 |
Free | - | - |
| VENTURA |
A group meets noon to 4:00 p.m. Saturdays in Bank of Books bookstore, 748 E. Main St. Casual play, instruction. | Rob Radford 805.204.7154 |
Free | ||
| VENTURA | The Ventura County Chess Club meets at 7 p.m. Mondays in Grace Lutheran Church, 6190 Telephone Rd. Rated tournaments, casual play, free chess instruction. | Norman Coats 805.701.0010 |
$30/year for adults, $20/year for seniors over 60, $15/year for students and military | X | - |
| VICTORVILLE | The Victor Valley Chess Club meets noon to 4:00 p.m. Saturdays in the Victor Villa Clubhouse, 13393 Mariposa Rd. Casual play, non-rated quad tournaments most months, instruction. | Don Cotton | Free | - | - |
| VICTORVILLE | A group meets from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays at Starbuck's, 14848 Bear Valley Rd. Casual play. | - | Free | - | - |
| WEST COVINA | The West Covina Chess Club meets 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays in the Senior Center, 2501 E. Cortez St. All ages welcome. Casual play, rated and non-rated tournaments on Tuesdays. Bring chess equipment. No speed chess! | Richard Williams 626.966.6311 |
? | - | - |
| WEST HILLS | The West Valley Chess Club meets 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Thursdays in Shomrei Torah Synagogue, 7353 Valley Circle Blvd. Continuous rated tournaments, blitz, casual play, handicap accessible. One of the largest local clubs. | Jerry Yee 818.915.5572 |
$20/year | - | - |
|
WHITTIER
|
The Whittier Chess Club meets at various times, including two Thursdays per month at 6:00 p.m. in the library of Whittier High School, 12417 Philadelphia St. Free rated tournaments, non-rated tournaments, casual play, blitz. | Kele Perkins 626.664.2484 |
Free | - | - |
| WILDOMAR | The Inland Valley Chess Club meets 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Tuesdays at 33122 Grape St. Rated tournaments, casual play, “fun evenings.” | Gert Lykke 714.469.1188 |
$48/year, $38/year for juniors and seniors | X | - |