Do I have to be a member to play?
Yes and no. We offer one time, non-member access to events at various charges depending on the event. Occasionally events will be free to the public. For a limited time casual chess on Thursday evenings will be free. Just check the event calendar for the latest information.
For participation in rated tournaments, you will absolutely need a USCF membership, but not a Chess Refinery club membership.
i.e. For tournament players, non-members of the chess club pay an additional $7 registration fee per tournament which is waived for current Chess Refinery members.
For participation in rated tournaments, you will absolutely need a USCF membership, but not a Chess Refinery club membership.
i.e. For tournament players, non-members of the chess club pay an additional $7 registration fee per tournament which is waived for current Chess Refinery members.
What is USCF membership versus membership to The Chess Refinery?
You have to have a USCF membership in order to play in USCF rated tournaments anywhere in the nation. USCF is the organization that keeps track of everyone's ratings and they are the ones that calculate it and publish a monthly supplement rating on all tournament players.
Membership to the club, The Chess Refinery, is needed to financially support the organization and its nonprofit programs that help the Houston chess community. Dues are needed to help pay costs of overhead such as rent, instructors and nonprofit program expenses.
Membership to the club, The Chess Refinery, is needed to financially support the organization and its nonprofit programs that help the Houston chess community. Dues are needed to help pay costs of overhead such as rent, instructors and nonprofit program expenses.
Where do I find USCF tournament rules?
Check out this link, latest 7th edition for the most frequently used chapters (or the entire rule book - 6th edition).
FAQ about your Rating
See this link from USCF: http://www.uschess.org/msa/FAQ.php
How do we do the pairings?
1. We use SwissSys pairing software - pairings are computer generated, not manually manipulated.
2. You may not choose to "play up" a section.
3. The cutoff for section placement is determined by the tournament director. It is the TD's judgment call to make.
4. We use SUPPLEMENT ratings for pairings and section placement. WE DO NOT USE POST EVENT LIVE RATINGS. There are very few exceptions, i.e. provisional or unrated or international FIDE rated players, etc.
2. You may not choose to "play up" a section.
3. The cutoff for section placement is determined by the tournament director. It is the TD's judgment call to make.
4. We use SUPPLEMENT ratings for pairings and section placement. WE DO NOT USE POST EVENT LIVE RATINGS. There are very few exceptions, i.e. provisional or unrated or international FIDE rated players, etc.
Casual Chess Spots in Houston
There are several casual groups all over houston - for info check out these links here:
http://www.meetup.com/Houston-Chess/about/
http://www.cypresschess.com/p/map.html?m=1
For the below spots, you will need to call the location or just visit on the day of and see if you run into players there - I do not have phone numbers or contact names for all of these locations - it's just a place where we know people used to and might currently gather in a group to play usually on evenings.
Mondays: heard of some players meeting off and on at the Phoenix Bar (https://www.yooying.com/chessaholics)
Tuesdays: possibly at Notsuoh or at Agora which i think is organized by this person: https://www.instagram.com/hernanroberty/
Wednesdays: older senior group at Cafe Express off of West Gray; also another group at Slowpokes bar near Heights area
Thursdays: Sheraton hotel bar off of clay and Beltway 8 (https://www.meetup.com/Houston-Chess/)
Fridays: Brewingz off 59 near sharpstown/gessner also the bellaire chess group at Starbucks near Stella Link
There's also a blitz group (5 min per person speed chess) that hangs out usually every Saturday and Sunday afternoon around 430pm -730pm at the Starbucks on 10001 Westheimer Rd 77042.
http://www.meetup.com/Houston-Chess/about/
http://www.cypresschess.com/p/map.html?m=1
For the below spots, you will need to call the location or just visit on the day of and see if you run into players there - I do not have phone numbers or contact names for all of these locations - it's just a place where we know people used to and might currently gather in a group to play usually on evenings.
Mondays: heard of some players meeting off and on at the Phoenix Bar (https://www.yooying.com/chessaholics)
Tuesdays: possibly at Notsuoh or at Agora which i think is organized by this person: https://www.instagram.com/hernanroberty/
Wednesdays: older senior group at Cafe Express off of West Gray; also another group at Slowpokes bar near Heights area
Thursdays: Sheraton hotel bar off of clay and Beltway 8 (https://www.meetup.com/Houston-Chess/)
Fridays: Brewingz off 59 near sharpstown/gessner also the bellaire chess group at Starbucks near Stella Link
There's also a blitz group (5 min per person speed chess) that hangs out usually every Saturday and Sunday afternoon around 430pm -730pm at the Starbucks on 10001 Westheimer Rd 77042.
