Rain or shine under the tiki
Sunday, 20 September 2026 · Kava Social Club, 540 13th St W, Bradenton
“It poured, so we moved under the tiki and kept playing.”
Harold Gonzalez · Club director
The sky opened up on Sunday night, and nobody went home. ☔ We carried the boards under the tiki on the back patio at Kava Social, the rain came down on the thatch, and the games carried on like nothing was happening. Rain or shine, we play chess.
It was a free play night, which means anything goes, and the room went a little bit everywhere. Chess960 made a proper appearance, with the back rank shuffled at random so nobody's opening prep survives past move one. Rapid on one end of the table, blitz on the other, and a few social games that were more conversation than calculation. ♟️⚡
And a big welcome to Mel, our newest member, pictured here deep in thought over the board. Every regular at this club started exactly where Mel is now: one Sunday, one board, one game. 🤝
Tuesday is study night, and next Sunday is a league night, so ratings are back on the line. See you under the tiki. 🌴
Every Sunday and Tuesday at eight. Say it's your first night.
About the club
Kava Social Chess Club is a chess club in Bradenton, Florida, meeting Sundays and Tuesdays from 8PM to midnight on the back patio at Kava Social Club, 540 13th St W in downtown Bradenton. It is the most active chess club in Manatee County and half an hour from Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch, Palmetto and Ellenton. Every level plays here: beginners, casual players, adults who have not played since school, and US Chess rated tournament players. An in-house chess league every other Sunday, study night on Tuesdays, US Chess rated tournaments a few times a year. 21+, no dues, alcohol-free, in English and Spanish. Established 2021, 586 club nights on record.
If you are looking for where to play chess in Bradenton, or a chess club near you on Florida's Gulf Coast, this is your first night.