Lakeforest Mall
directions, etc.
U.S. Chess
Federation
(USCF)
www.uschess.org USCF Player Ratings
www.uschess.org/msa USCF is the official sanctioning body for over the board tournament play in the US. With over 90,000 members, USCF offers something for every player, from beginner to Grandmaster! In addition to rating tournaments, the USCF supports and promotes chess activities throughout the US and publishes Chess Life, and Chess Life for Kids, two national magazines for members. ...and much more.
Catonsville Chess Club
Near Baltimore. They run regular USCF-rated tournaments. Chessville.com
http://www.chessville.com/
A great web site
for beginners!
Chessville.com was created by and for the aspiring chess amateur. They are also devoted to providing instruction at a variety of levels, from explaining basic rules to the total beginner, to teaching higher-level chess theory and offering playing- and study-advice to the more advanced player. A great site!The Chess Cafe
http://www.chesscafe.com/ A terrific web site
for serious players! "The will to win means nothing without the will to prepare!" This site can be overwhelming to beginners, but is one of the core chess sites on the Internet. Each week, as a service to their readers, they send out an e-mail newsletter, This Week at The Chess Cafe. Check it out if you are serious about your chess. American Go
Association
(AGA)
www.usgo.org
The national organization of go players in the US. Go is an ancient Asian board game which combines simple rules with the basic elements of line and circle, black and white, wood and stone, to create a game even older than chess. Like chess, "go" (or "weiqui") has analogies with life which allow it to transcend being merely a game. Area Go Links
John Goon's link page for all those looking for local Go action . |
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The Chess Club
at Lakeforest Mall
Lakeforest Mall, directions, etc.
701 Russell Avenue
Montgomery Village
in Gaithersburg, MD
The Chess Club at Lakeforest Mall.
Chess players meet in the food court,
"Cafes In the Forest"
Mon. through Fri. 6 - 9:00 PM, Sat. 12 Noon - 9:00 PM, and Sun. 12 - 5:00 PM
GENERAL INFORMATION
This USCF affiliated club is the only place in Montgomery County which is both centrally located and available at no charge to everyone seven-days-a-week. It is the largest free chess club in the state of Maryland. Lakeforest Mall (LFM) permits us to utilize space in their food court which is located on the lower level by the "blue snowflake" mall entrance (between Sears and Lord & Taylor). The chess club area is located next to the windows, adjacent to Central Newsstand. The club's activities are sponsored by the C&O Family Chess Center and players like you.
It's not always fun losing to a girl! ...but it's fun watching!
Currently, the official club hours are Monday through Friday, from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM, and Saturday/Sunday from 12:00 noon to 4:00 PM, but players are welcome any time during regular mall hours (the mall closes at 9:30 PM Monday through Saturday, and at 6:00 PM on Sunday). Players may not stay after mall hours. There are several after-hours locations nearby where chess players are welcomed.
A few chess sets are available for inexpensive rental from the adjacent News Stand. However, most players bring their own sets and if you have your own equipment we recommend that you bring it . If you set up your equipment in our area at most times, it should not be long before an opponent arrives (or bring a friend). Feel free to read a book, have a snack or a drink, etc., but be patient. People do come and go all the time. Players of all ages and levels are welcome and play is not limited to chess. Please understand and remember that we are primarily organized as a "family friendly" club, with children frequently in attendance. Please remember to dress and behave appropriately at all times. For those who are interested in supporting these activities, membership in the sponsoring parent organization is available. See Membership.
VOLUNTEERS & SUPPORT
C&O Family Chess Center volunteers are often at the mall for 20 hours per week, or more. They may provide help, free lessons and some study materials to those who cannot afford them, and spend many additional hours maintaining the club ratings and database. There is no charge to play, but donations to the club are encouraged. Donations of used chess equipment, clocks, Chess Life magazines, books, or other materials are also welcomed …and appreciated. Donations may be sent to the center or dropped of at the mall on Friday evenings or Saturday afternoons when coach Pancoast is there. Volunteers who can set-up early and/or pack-up at the end, or who attend on a regular basis and make an effort to welcome newcomers are also appreciated. Ask how you can help or see the Membership page for more information.
Saturday is a great day for chess kids!
LADDER & TOURNAMENT
COMPETITION An evaluation is offered to all new members who wish to compete in the club Seasonal Chess Ladder tournaments. The initial "provisional" club-rating is an estimate based on the evaluator's experience over thirty years of teaching and coaching. Our club-rating system is analogous to official USCF national ratings, and allows club and scholastic members to see how they compare with the rest of the country and the world. After about twenty "ladder" games the club-rating becomes "established" and has been shown to have a high degree of correspondence to regular USCF ratings.
The C&O Family Chess Center sponsors both club-rated and USCF-rated (national) tournaments for those who want to experience this exciting aspect of chess. An inexpensive entry fee is charged for these events, and covers the cost of prizes, tournament administration, and rating charges.
 Regular players come from all over the world. Here anyone can relax and have fun.
CHESS LESSONS & EQUIPMENT Free introductory inter-active on-line instruction is available to everyone through our partnership with the Chess Magnet School (CMS). Inexpensive, professional chess lessons (for beginner and intermediate strength players) and reasonably priced, "tournament quality" chess sets, clocks, and some books, are available through coach Omar Pancoast and the C&O Family Chess Center. See the Instruction page for details, or contact him by E-mail OPancoast3@chesscenter.net or at the LFM club.
"Cafes In The Forest" The LFM food court offers a number of choices for food and drink at reasonable prices and we hope you will patronize them. Restaurants include Charley's Steakery (Subs, Fries), Panda Express (Chinese), McDonald's (opens for breakfast at 8:00 AM, 9:00 AM Sun.), Sbarro (Pizza & Pasta), Subway, Texas Barbeque Factory and others. The mall has many other food sources, such as Pollo Camparo, Cinnabon, Starbucks, Silver Diner, the American Cafe, Red Robin, Chick-Fil-A, Dairy Queen, etc. The food court is accessible for players and patrons daily from 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM and Sunday from 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM
Last Update July 03, 2009
For further information:
Omar Pancoast, Club Coordinator
OPancoast3@chesscenter.net
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