It’s time again for an offbeat topic. Thanks to my son’s unbridled passion for chess, I had the pleasure of chaperoning him to a tournament at the Berkeley Chess School. Situated on San Pablo Avenue in Berkeley, the school beckons anyone passing by with its unique chessboard facade.

Here, “facade” is indeed a misnomer, for the front of the building introduces what is its main raison d’être: promoting chess to all interested, regardless of age or culture.

The hallway upstairs was lined with bookshelves filled with chess books. We arrived an hour before the tournament, and my son, who had been there before, guided me to a large hall filled with, well, you guessed it—chess tables. Photographs of tournaments, posters of chess legends, and awards adorned the walls.

The person conducting the tournament greeted us amicably. My son challenged me to a game to help him warm up and then proceeded to completely annihilate me.

Later, more players of varying ages arrived. I was impressed by the cultural diversity, reminiscent of many martial arts schools where I’ve trained and visited, both in Massachusetts and California. Many youngsters were accompanied by parents, one of whom told me how the place had once been unassuming but was later renovated to give it an inviting appeal. The other parents and I conversed in hushed tones, in the waiting room downstairs, while our children matched their wits at the tables in the main hall, at the first floor. Many, like me had driven more than an hour, to bring their children to the event.

The school is a nonprofit that offers many opportunities to play and practice chess. Besides organizing tournaments, the school offers classes and camps for both adults and kids. There are events on both weekdays and weekends, all taught by proven expert chess players, champions, masters, and even grandmasters.

I’m certain that I’ll be making more trips here over the coming weekends and would encourage anyone who lives near the school and has a passion for chess to visit.

Website: https://www.berkeleychessschool.org/

Address: 2622 San Pablo Ave, Berkeley, CA 94702
Hours:
Sunday 10 AM–5 PM
Monday 10 AM–5 PM
Tuesday 10 AM–5 PM
Wednesday 10 AM–5 PM
Thursday 10 AM–5 PM
Friday 10 AM–5 PM
Saturday 10 AM–5 PM

Phone: (510) 843-0150