CHESS & BEERS · PONTE VEDRA
Feel like yourself. Leave knowing someone.
A free chess night every Thursday, 6 to 9 PM. All ages. All levels. Curiosity is enough.
- 6 people on night one. 40+ by week four.
- Ages 8 to 80.
- 113 neighbors in the group.
“Some people never feel more like themselves than when they're playing chess.”
About half of American adults say they feel lonely. Friendship takes time: roughly 50 hours together to become casual friends, 200 to become close ones. We have screens for everything except that.
So we built a table. Once a week, strangers sit across from each other, agree on a time control, and start talking. Some come for the game. Most stay for the people. A 12 year old beats a grown man and he laughs. Someone who quit chess thirty years ago remembers how the knight moves.
Chess is the excuse. Connection is the point.
1 in 2
adults report loneliness
50 hours
to make a casual friend
3 hours
every Thursday
Sources: US Surgeon General advisory on loneliness; Jeffrey Hall, University of Kansas.
Chess & Beers. Every Thursday.
No Clock
Relaxed. Talk it through.
3 min
Fast and furious.
5 min
The classic blitz.
10+ min
Time to think.
Bughouse
Four players, two boards, pure chaos. Great to watch.
& Beers
No board needed. Just good people.
House rules.
- Takebacks?
- Agree together before you start.
- Win two in a row?
- Switch opponents.
- Advice?
- Only if asked.
- Never played?
- We'll teach you.
- Just here to hang out?
- No need to play to belong.
Thursdays · 6 to 9 PM · Ponte Vedra / Nocatee · Free · Kids welcome with a parent.
Chess & Tea
Our YouTube channel. Clara teaches. Avery learns. You play along.
Clara is a 1700 rated player and a natural teacher. Avery is 12 and just getting started. Every week you watch her get better, learn the same ideas, and play along at home.
- EPISODE 1I'm 12. Can Clara make me good at chess?
- EPISODE 2The 4 move trap every beginner falls for
- EPISODE 3Bughouse explained in 60 seconds
- EPISODE 4Clara plays 10 people at once
What's your &?
Chess never changes. The word after the & always does. Chess is the constant. What you bring is the point.
Thursday nights
Family and learning
Food Truck Fridays
Write your own
Where this goes next.
- 1A Chess & Academy for kids and adults, where chess is a way to think, focus and make friends.
- 2Chess & After School programs.
- 3Community events: one player against many, blindfold duels, the Bughouse Cup, Night of 100 Boards.
- 4More Thursday nights in more towns.
The people behind the boards.
Adam
Founder and host
Started Chess & Beers with six people and a few boards.
Clara
Head coach and Instagram
1700 rated, teaches with patience and humor.
Avery
Star of Chess & Tea
12, learning in public, and teaching beginners.
Nick
Community and photography
Runs the Facebook group and captures the nights.
Aidan
Video
Produces Chess & Tea through idea2result.
Ivan
Events
The reason Food Truck Friday is happening.
Thursday nights, in pictures.
FOUNDING SUPPORTERS
- advisor.TV · Nobody Builds Alone.
- Mabbly
- idea2result