Chess Clubs

Y'know, over the board, face to face, intimidatory stares, squirming in
seats, 3-dimensional people and pieces.

There must be a few people out there who partake in such activities.

Just wondered what it was like, for instance do clubs offer coaching or
is it all hardcore competition? Do I have to be of a minimum standard,
ie am I good enough? Most importantly, is it expensive to join?

Or do all clubs differ and it just depends on the club? What's your club
like?

Thanks,

Mark
The Squirrel Lover

The club I'm interested in say that I can go along for a couple of
weeks before deciding if if I want to join. If the charges are anything
like the two bridge clubs I belong to it's usually about £10 a year for
membership and £1.50 - £2.00 a week (but come top and you win
your table fees back).
I suppose it all depends on how plush and expensive the club's
premises are.

Rhymester

thanks, as always, for the input Dave. I just looked up a local club
and plan to join this week. I also just joined uscf...baby steps but
very exciting for me.

I joined USCF sometime in April I think and have been playing in a
tourney every Tuesday at a little German Community Center.....it's a
very good time! Everyone is willing to analyze your games after and
play some......players of all kinds.........We have master Bill
Wright.......and occasionally other masters show up..........Every so
often they also hold speed chess tourneysin which the big dogs show
up........more masters and such.......good thing is it doesn't cost
anything to go there but it costs 5$ to enter the tourney but I most
always walk out of there with 12 bucks in hand and a gleaming smile.
Until they found out I wasn't am newbie then I got stuck in the highest
quad with some state champ.......he put me down pretty quick!

Tony, maybe you could explain what a 'quad' is, exactly. I think I
have some idea, but would rather have you clarify it a little....

I think it's four players, who play one black and one white against
each of the other players. But maybe I'm thinking of something else.

regards, Marc

You almost got it! You only play one game against each guy! So it's 3
games total in your quad......the one with the most points takes home
the cash!

OK. Maybe I was thinking of something called a double quad or
double round robin or something like that.

Hmmm. Maybe you should set up some quad matches here, after the
current tournaments are over.

Don't know about the 'taking home the cash' part, but otherwise it
might be interesting.

Thanks for the information, anyway!

Marc

Trathnona Maith Agat:

I have played in one club or another for a long time now. I started in
primary school...at about age 7; i don't know what primary school
would be in the states!! I never learn't that much back then...well,
apart from basic concepts such as pins, forks, skewers...you know the
score!! I remember in my junior school club, that i had a fetish for
Rooks...i just loved wielding them out, and losing them before too
long!! That was before i realised that each piece is just as valuable;
never ever, favour a piece!! That could be your downfall!!

It wasn't until my next club in Secondary School, that the serious
business started; we would stay behind after school, and the teacher
would have the full size explanation boards hanging on the wall, and
video's...we would learn various openings, and how to play them.
Middle game was also a very big part of it. We would practise endings
with King and Queen, versus the same, or King and Rook, or
whatever. My favourite has to be opening traps and things like that...it
is good when you know how!! Not that i have ever used any here; i just
play for fun; i did want to play xeno though...that would have been
good!! Love him or hate him, he knew what he was talking about!!

I have been in a few Clubs since then...but it was mostly Club versus
Club...things like that. I do have a rating in the real, but, that is for
me to know, and you to find out!!

Slan go foill...

Imp..