What we're about

This group is for people are interested in local casual (unrated) chess games, rated games, online games with people you actually have met, and chess lessons by FIDE Master Luke. All ages and abilities are welcome. (The younger you start chess, the better! Chess develops logical thinking capabilities and is beneficial outside of chess.)

All of our events are free or done on a cost-recovery basis. So, while a normal USCF tournament might cost $200, we offer one for $10. The USCF fee is $45/year, but, excluding that, you can become rated for $1-$10, <5% of the traditional cost! (FIDE ELO ratings are more impressive, but they are inherently much more expensive to obtain than USCF due to their exclusive certification program. It's unclear if they are more useful.)

We have a non-exclusive and supportive outlook, so we try to alert members of other local chess events that they might be interested in attending, like Bishops and Beers (not hosted by us). If you know of a worthwhile chess event not currently listed in the calendar please contact me (Jason Arthur Taylor) and let me know what's missing.

Some of the places we communicate are as follows:

https://chat.whatsapp.com/Eru4qI8q7cf6OoQreTl8zy
https://www.chess.com/club/rockville-chess-meetup
https://www.chess.com/club/rockville-chess-club
https://lichess.org/team/rockville-chess-meetup

Access to these resources is not guaranteed.

Their theory behind the the last three links is that we could all be playing another team online, where we vote on next moves of slow games or something. However, our idea is to have members who know one another be able to find actual people to play online that they know or can know. So, if you want to see who is up for an online game you can go to lichess or chess.com and see who in our club is online.

We invented Baby Blind Chess, a handicapping system that allows good players to play bad players while growing your visualization memory brain cells (allowing you to think deeper into potential lines), but at present, to use it you do need a Lichess account. So do please click on the last url.

Upcoming events (4+)

Saturday Afternoon Chess (Silver Spring Maryland)

Needs a location

Location:
US Chess[masked]nd Ave, Suite 118
Silver Spring, MD

The entrance is on 2nd Avenue.
Time: Saturday afternoons from 1:00 – 5:00pm
Players of all abilities and ages are welcome.

  • Non-Members: $5.00/player table fee for the day.
  • Chess Center Members always play for FREE ($0.00).

Check out their social media (Twitter / Facebook) for closure announcements: The Chess Center is closed on major holidays.
They also have chess sets, clocks, and used chess books for sale.

Hosted by US Chess staff.

Chess on Tap (DC, Adam's Morgan, The Boardroom)

1737 Connecticut Ave NW

If you're looking for a casual game of chess in a fun atmosphere, this event is for you!
Members range from beginner to expert level, and games are played both with and without time controls.
They meet upstairs, on the mezzanine. Upon arrival, fill out a name tag and indicate your relative skill, to help facilitate match-ups.
Club sets are available, though members are welcome to bring their own as well. They don't have club clocks, but most people use the Chess Clock app from Chess.com to play timed games.

More info at https://www.meetup.com/chess-on-tap/
Hosts: Leith W. and Ryan C.

Chess and chess lessons at the Rockville Science Center

Rockville Science Center Storefront

Rockville Science Center Chess Night and Lessons by FIDE Master Luke
Time/Date: Monday evening, 6:30 to 9:00 PM
Join us as FIDE Master Luke delivers a chess lecture with notes. He begins teaching at 7:15pm.
Location: RSC "Storefront" Location, 36C, Maryland Avenue, Rockville, MD 20850
Parking: First two hours free at Parking Garage "A", 20 Maryland Ave #450, Rockville, MD 20850

  • Casual Chess - Everyone is welcome.
  • You do not have to know how to play chess(!!!!)
  • Chess sets available on a first come - basis.
  • Wonderful chess sets provided, BYOC (bring your own clock)

Host: Howard Lichtman

More information about the RSC is at https://www.rockvillesciencecenter.org/

Bishops and beers (Silver Spring, Maryland)

8401 Colesville Rd #150

Bishops + Beers @ Silver Branch Brewing Co.
Hosted by the U.S. Chess Center

Time: 6:00 PM-8:30 PM

Where: Silver Branch Brewing Company

Address:

8401 Colesville Rd #150
Silver Spring, MD 20910

For parking details go to https://www.silverbranchbrewing.com/contact/

Past events (308)

Rockville Go

355 Linthicum St