Southern California Chess Federation

 

Where To Play Chess
Southern California Chess Club Directory

The SCCF wants to maintain a directory that is as complete and as up-to-date as possible. If you spot a mistake, or think we should add a site, please let us know.


Last updated April 19, 2010

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. Dues: $10/year. Call Mel Clark at (626) 447-9355. Web site: www.arcadiachessclub.com.

BAKERSFIELD: The Bakersfield Chess Club meets 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Thursdays in the Golden State Mall, 3201 F. St. Rated tournaments, rated games, casual play, blitz, lessons. Dues: $35/year for adults, $25/year for youth. Call Kenneth J. Poole at (661) 304-7468. Web site:  www.bakersfieldchessclub.com.
 
BEVERLY HILLS: The Beverly Hills Chess Club meets daily (hours vary) in Suite 210 of 8950 Olympic Blvd. Wide variety of rated and non-rated tournaments, adult and scholastic lectures, blitz, simuls, many other events planned. Inquire about membership. First lecture free. Call Isabelle Minoofar at (888) 91-CHESS (888-912-4377) or write to bhchessclub@hotmail.com. Web site: www.bhchessclub.com.

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. No dues. Call (818) 238-5353.

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. Call Emil Klimach at (818) 845-1104.

CARLSBAD: A group meets 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Mondays in the Carlsbad Senior Center, 799 Pine Ave. Casual play. Most attendees are over age 50, but younger adults are welcome. No dues. Call (760) 602-4650.

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 at (909) 824-2132.

COSTA MESA: The Chess Center, 2482 Newport Blvd, hosts separate tournaments for children and adults on Thursday evenings, plus instruction for children. Saturday tournaments may resume soon. Call Al Massip at (949) 646-6696 or (949) 422-1186. Web site: www.chess-center.com.

ESCONDIDO: The Escondido Chess Club meets at 7 p.m. Thursdays at 2427 S. Centre City Parkway. Continuous rated adult and children’s tournaments. Dues: $20/year. Call the club at (760) 317-1744 or Alex Goddard at (760) 500-3417 or write to admin@escochess.com. Web site: www.escondidochess.com.

ESCONDIDO: A group meets noon to 4 p.m. weekdays in the Joslyn Senior Center, 210 Park Ave. Casual play, ages 50 and up. No dues. Call (760) 839-4688.

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! Dues: $20/year, $10/year for students, women, and those who live outside Fresno County. Contact Bob Rasmussen at (559) 708-8100. Website: www.fresnochessclub.org.

GARDEN GROVE: Chess Palace is open 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays, and 9:00 am to 5:00 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, at 12872 Valley View, Suite 5. 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. Dues: $3/day or $169/year. Call the club at (714) 899-3421 or Alfred Ong at (310) 594-3475. Web site: www.chesspalace.com.

GLENDALE: The chess park at 227 N. Brand Blvd. is open day and night for casual play. Speed tournaments, occasional weekend tournaments.

HEMET: The Hemet Chess Club meets 2:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Sundays in Steve's Burgers West, 240 S. Sanderson Ave. Rated tournaments, casual play. Free. Call Marcos Montes at (951) 252-5926 or write to hemetchessclub2009@gmail.com. Web site: www.hemetchessclub.blogspot.com.

HUNTINGTON BEACH: The Hanley Chess Academy Chess Club meets 7:00 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Fridays at 7390 Center Ave. Weekly rated tournaments at 7:30 p.m., Action chess, blitz tournaments, casual play. No dues. Bring your own equipment. Contact Joe Hanley at (714) 925-3195 or refchess@gmail.com. Web site: www.hanleychessacademy.org.

HUNTINGTON BEACH: The HB Chess Café meets 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Fridays in Café Enchante, 328 11th St. Casual play, free chess lesson from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Bring your chess set. No dues. Web site: hbchesscafe.com.

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. Contact David Zechiel at david@zechiel.com.

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. Free. Call (949) 724-6800.

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. Contact Mark Muller at (760) 367-2311 or at muller29@roadrunner.com.

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. Entry fees: $45 for three months of rated tournament play or $25 per tournament, $5 less to La Palma residents. Call Mike Henebry at (562) 370-2146 or Leigh Hunt at (714) 635-0448 or write to mhenebry@aol.com. Web site: www.lapalmachess.741.com.

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. Dues: $5/year plus $5/tournament, $2.50/year for juniors. Call Richard Meller at (310) 227-2873. Web site: www.geocities.com/alondra_park_cc.

LAGUNA BEACH: People gather to play chess at the permanent chess table on the boardwalk.

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. Free. Call (949) 457-0290. Website: www.gamecenteronline.com.

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. Call John Griffin at (949) 462-0722 or Stan Kahan at (949) 830-6699.

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 at (562) 434-2625.

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 at (323) 733-1196.

LOS ANGELES: The Exposition Park Chess Club meets 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sundays in the Exposition Park branch of the public library, 3900 S. Western Ave. Casual play, lectures, simuls, instruction, free tournament on the first Sunday of every month. No dues. Call the library at (323) 290-3113 or send a message to the club secretary at expochess07@yahoo.com. Web site: http://chess.expoparkla.com.

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. Dues: adults $120/year, juniors/seniors $100/year or $5/visit for non-members, first visit free. Call Mick Bighamian at (310) 795-5710 or send a message to Mick@LaChessClub.com. Web site: www.lachessclub.com.

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. Dues: $60/year, free to women and juniors. Call Pete Savino at (310) 827-2789. Web site: www.santamonicabaychessclub.sports.officelive.com.

LOS ANGELES: Tang’s Donuts, 4341 W. Sunset Blvd., welcomes chessplayers for casual play and speed chess, especially late at night.

LOS ANGELES: A group meets from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays in the public library, 4591 Santa Monica Blvd. Casual play. Free. Call the library at (323) 664-6418.

LOS ANGELES: Metropolitan Chess meets at 7 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays and at 11 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays in the penthouse (13th floor) of California Market Center, 110 E. Ninth St. Variety of tournaments planned, quick chess, blitz, scholastic events, instruction, lectures, exhibitions, chess books and equipment for sale, free parking in building. Dues: $120/year or $5 per tournament. Contact Michael Belcher at td@chess.com or Ron Morris at asst_td@chess.com or at (562) 587-1152.           

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. Call Eugene Arcamonte at (805) 528-4079 or Fred Brown at (805) 772-7074.

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. Dues: $75/year, first two visits free. Contact Mihai Harabor at (951) 461-7578. Web site: www.murrietachessclub.com.  

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. Dues: none, but small donation welcome. Call Jorge Balares at (619) 477-3118 or (619) 788-8395. Web site: www.nationalcitychessclub.com.

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. Free. Call Jay Stallings at (661) 288-1705 or write to coachjay@cycl.org.

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.

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. Free. Call Norman Abadilla at (818) 571-6295.

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 at (760) 346-6552.

 

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. Dues: $25/year. Call Neil Hultgren at (818) 243-3809. Web site: www.tim-thompson.com/pasadena.html.

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. No dues. Call the Senior Center at (909) 798-7550.

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. No dues. Contact Dwight Morgan at (760) 377-0034 or at dmorgan178@yahoo.com.

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. Free. Bring equipment. Call the café at (951) 784-0800.  Web site: www.back2thegrind.com

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. Dues: $60/year, discounts for seniors, juniors and active military. Call the club at (619) 239-7166 or e-mail Chuck Ensey at chucnglo@aol.com. Web site: http://sdchessclub.multiply.com.

SAN DIMAS: Home Brew Coffee, 661 W. Arrow Highway, welcomes chessplayers. Bring your chess set. Call (909) 394-1964.

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. Dues: $5/year. Contact: Barbara McCaleb at (805) 544-0717 or bmccaleb@calpoly.edu.

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. No dues.

SIMI VALLEY: The YMCA Chess Club of Simi Valley meets 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Mondays at the YMCA, 3200 Cochran St. Casual play, instruction, rated and non-rated tournaments. Dues: $15 for 7 weeks, free to YMCA members. Contact John Williams at (805) 529-1816 or leventhfish@hotmail.com.

VENTURA: The Ventura County Chess Club meets on the first Tuesday, the second Monday, and the later Tuesdays each month in the Church of the Foothills, 6279 Foothill Rd. Rated tournaments, casual play. Dues: $35.00/year, $17.50/year for juniors and military. Call Jimmy Sweet at (805) 659-0356. Web site: www.vcchess.com.

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. No dues. Write to DonCotten@aol.com.

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! Call Richard Williams at (626) 966-6311.

WEST HILLS: The West Valley Chess Club meets 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Thursdays in the West Valley Jewish Community Center, 22622 Vanowen St. Open to all, continuous rated tournaments, blitz, casual play. One of the largest local clubs. Contact Jerry Yee at (818) 915-5572 or at jyee6@socal.rr.com. 

More information about local clubs, tournaments, and state championship titles is available from the Southern California Chess Federation, the official state chapter of the US Chess Federation. An annual SCCF membership, which includes a subscription to the magazine "Rank and File," costs $18.00 for adults, $10 for juniors under 19. Write to SCCF Membership Secretary Randy Hough, P.O. Box 205, Monterey Park CA 91754, call him at (626) 282-7412, or send an e-mail message to him at randallhough@yahoo.com.

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