Where To Play Chess In The Capital District
This is a list of the local chess clubs. It includes USCF-affiliated clubs (affiliate number in parentheses after their name) as well as informal clubs and organizations promoting chess in the area. Please try to contact someone active in the clubs or organizations mentioned as mistakes and omissions are inevitable. This site was last updated on May 24, 2023. Please email corrections (including typographical errors), suggestions, additions, etc. to josh.kuperman@gmail.com. At least some information about affiliate clubs was harvested by using this link: https://new.uschess.org/club-search-and-affiliate-directory?display_name=&club_directory_affiliate_type_89%5BC%5D=C&club_directory_affiliate_type_89%5BG%5D=G&proximity%5Bcity%5D=&proximity%5Bstate_province_id%5D=&proximity%5Bvalue%5D=12203&proximity%5Bdistance%5D=60&proximity%5Bdistance_unit%5D=miles
Saratoga Staunton Club (A6017039)
Saratoga Springs, New York
Website: https://saratoga-staunton.club
The Saratoga Staunton Club meets on Sundays from approximately 7 PM to 10 PM. Saratoga Springs United Methodist Church, 175 Fifth Avenue, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866. For more info, you can call or text (518) 290-0045 or email info@saratoga-staunton.club
Albany Area Chess Club (A6007204)
LATHAM, New York
The Albany Area Chess Club meets Wednesday from 7:30 PM at the Shelly Studio of Bridge and Games, 6 British American Blvd Latham NY 12110. They maintain a Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/AlbanyAreaCC Email: hawkphil2@aol.com
Schenectady Chess Club (A5003199)
The Schenectady Chess Club meets on Thursdays at 7:30 PM at the Niskayuna Community Center, 2682 Aqueduct Road, Niskayuna, NY 12309m Email: rchu@nycap.rr.com
Blind Squirrels Chess Club (Salem, NY)
The Blind Squirrels Chess Club meets Saturday from 10 AM to 2 PM at the Bancroft Library, 181 South Main Street, Salem, NY, 12865
Finn Chess Club
The Finn Chess Club holds one-day chess tournaments with too many rounds in one day at the Shelly Studio of Bridge and Games, 6 British American Blvd, Latham, NY, 12110. You can see the past announcements at https://us5.campaign-archive.com/home/?u=8fc69961877fbc89710ef7977&id=c5840cfead or join their Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/FinnChessClub or email finnchessclub@gmail.com
Chess in the City
Chess in the City is a summer program (after July 4 before Labor Day) every Tuesday from 11:30 AM to 1 PM under the marquee of Proctors,432 State Street, Schenectady, NY. For more info email ashokaaronchess@gmail.com
Make The Right Move
Make The Right Move http://www.chesstrm.org/ runs free tournaments throughout the school year concentrating on scholastic players. They are unique in their ability to have sections for players that are not members of the USCF as well as those who are. You can contact them at rightmovechess@gmail.com
Previous groups no longer active:
For many years there was the website of the Eastern New York Chess Association, which is now defunct. They had a list of places to play chess in the area which was widely circulated and inspired the format of this list. I mention them because you might see references to enyca.org but the website and email addresses are no longer active.
The East Greenbush Chess Community is no longer active but for now, their website remains up at https://www.chesscommunity.org/
There was a group that used to meet at Crandall Library in Glens Falls. They are no longer active.