The club

A social club that happens to play chess

Some of us walked in after years away from the game. Some of us play rated every month. There's a space here for every level — casual, intermediate, or full-on sweats.

Social first

Friendships and working relationships have started at these tables. Plenty of people come as much to talk as to play.

Every level, taught cooperatively

Stronger players teach instead of dominate. A National Master plays here regularly and will sit down with a beginner.

Serious when you want it

Study nights, lectures, simuls from FIDE Masters, and nationally rated US Chess tournaments several times a year.

Three members laughing over a board on a club night

Girls' night chess study.

Two members mid-game on a club night, one with his head in his hands, both grinning

Losing, and enjoying it.

Your first night

You walk in. Four minutes later you're playing.

“Come in after eight, order something, and head to the back patio. Say it's your first night — someone will get you a game.”

Harold Gonzalez · Club director

Read the full beginner's guide →Where to park →

Sets and clocks providedOrder one item — not necessarily kavaNo membership, no duesScan the QR at the door

Sunday

8PM – 12AM · Alternating weeks

One Sunday is social: free play, hang out, talk. The next is league night, part of a three-month season. Either way, just walk in.

Study night: a member reading at the board

Tuesday

8PM – 12AM · Study night

A group session guided by director Harold Gonzalez, Socratic style: he asks, the room works it out. Books, puzzles and grandmaster games.

What's on

This month at the club

Sundays alternate between social and league. Tuesdays are study night. Thursdays are a harder study night at Adobe Kava for intermediate players and up — message Harold first, it isn't a drop-in. Tournaments, lectures and simuls are added as they're booked.

See the full calendar Add the club to your calendar

Watch

Sixty-eight seconds

What a Sunday actually looks like

Alcohol-free venue — kava, coffee, teas and soft drinksThatched-roof back patio, string lights, boards on every tableOpen until midnight, twice a week, since 2021

League & tournaments

The club league · in-house

Take it as seriously as you like

Every other Sunday is league night, and a season runs three months. Players sit in brackets — over 1400, under 1400, under 1000 — so you're matched with people around your own strength. The standard is respect, sportsmanship, and a handshake either way.

The league is our own: in-house ratings that only count here, played for fun. US Chess tournaments are separate special events, a few times a year.

Three-month seasons

3,400+

Games recorded

See this season's standings Hall of fame

US Chess tournaments · special events

Nationally rated, a few times a yearOfficial affiliate A8712949 · Bradenton, Florida

Run as special events, separate from the league — on the calendar as tournamentsOpen to 18+ · US Chess membership needed for these onlyResults submitted to US Chess after every event

View our listing on uschess.org →

Private lessons

Structured coaching, if you want it

Club nights are free coaching and always will be. Lessons are the optional one-on-one version — over the board in Bradenton and Sarasota, or online, in English or Spanish. All ages.

Beginner$40/hrUSCF Tournament$55/hr

See lessons Book on Chess67

Photos