New To Chess
If you are completely new to chess, or if you are thinking of joining a chess club for the first time, it is sometimes difficult to find a useful starting point, when searching for information on 'chess' or 'chess clubs'.
Here at Brentwood Chess Club, we recognise that you may have a number of initial questions about our Club, or about 'chess' in general. On these pages, we hope to provide a some answers to a few of the questions you may have. Should you have any further questions that are not explicitly answered here, please feel free to contact our Club directly or post a question a question on our club bulletin board here.
Click Here for Top 10 Frequently Asked Questions...
| Question | Answer | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | What nights do you meet? | We meet on Thursday Evenings between 7.30pm -11.00pm (Additionally, League Matches are often played on Wednesday evenings) |
| 2. | Where do you meet? | We meet at the Bardeswell Social Club www.bardeswellsocialclub.com, Bardeswell Close, Brentwood. Essex CM14 4TJ. |
| 3. | Map/Directions? | Our venue is located just off Weald Road, and is just a few minutes walk from Brentwood High Street. Ample car parking is available. Directions from the M25 From the Brook Street roundabout (Junction 28 of the M25), head towards Brentwood town centre for 1.5 miles. Just before the High Street, turn left into Weald Road. Go straight over the mini-roundabout. Weald Close is the first turning on the right. As you turn into Weald Road, the Bardeswell car park is immediately on the left. Inside the Bardeswell Club, go through the second door on the left. The Chess Club will be found behind the the wood paneled doors, which are to the right of the bar area. |
| 4. | How much is it to join the Club? | Initially, no charge levied on visitors
to the club. The club offers a significant period of grace to allow vistors the time to decide whether or not
they feel suited to the club. However, the Club does incur a fee for any player who registers to play in league matches and so Club Membership would be required before a vistor is able to play in any 'match' competition. For 2011/12 Annual Club Subscriptions are as follows :- Annual Club Subscription --- Junior - £ 5.00 Annual Club Subscription --- Adult - £12.00 North Essex Chess League Registration - (Optional) - £ 6.50 Essex Chess League registration - (Optional) - £ 6.50 Additionally, Chess Club Members are also required to become members of the Bardeswell Social Club (Visitors to the club may be signed in by club members). The 2011/12 fee is currently set at:- £12 |
| 5. | Do I need to bring a Set/board? | No, Brentwood Chess Club is able to provide all necessary playing equipment. |
| 6. | Who should I Contact if I wish to come along? | You may simply 'turn up' on the night, However, it is always helpful to know know if a guest is due visit the club. Sending an email to the Club Secretary will help to ensure someone is expecting you on the night. |
| 7. | Will the chess club teach me the rules/teach me how to play chess? | Having a reasonable understanding of the basic rules of chess is advised before joing any chess club. Club members will generally offer advice to lesser experienced players and within the club there are players of all strengths and ages. For those who are completely new to Chess we recommend that they begin by studying the rules of the game (Soon to be available on our "Academy" pages. |
| 8. | Is Coaching/Tuition available? | Brentwood Chess currently has plans to run some Junior Coaching sessions over the Summer period. Further chess coaching/tuition may be available but it is advisable to contact the club directly at this time. |
| 9. | Will I be a good enough Standard? | Brentwood chess Club welcomes players of all strengths and ages. In total, the club has seven teams and is able to cater for the needs of all players, irrespective of strength. Should they wish, all Club members are afforded the opportunity to play competitive chess. |
| 10. | Do I need to know how to use a chess clock? | No - Clocks are used in chess to ensure that a particular game is completed within an agreed time limit. They are used in formal match play but are quite simple to operate. A Club Captain will always be available to explain chess clock procedures to new member, prior to a match. |
Chess Academy
Brentwood Chess Club plan to devote a significant part of their club website to chess tuition and coaching.
Junior Chess
Read about Junior Chess initiatives in Essex, The Chess for Schools project and more
Benefits Of Chess
Read some of the research explaining about the mental benefits of chess.