Who are you?
We are the Westport Chess Club of Kansas City, Missouri. We've been going strong since 1986. We get together once a week to play chess, either casually or in a tournament. We're mostly over age 21, but students of all ages are welcome.

How much does it cost?
Your first visit to our chess club is free. After that, it's $1/visit for kids and students and just $2/visit for everyone else. There is no membership fee to join our club.

You play chess at the Westport Flea Market Bar & Grill?
The Westport Flea Market, located at 817 Westport Rd., Kansas City, MO 64111, is a pretty cool, casual bar & grill south of downtown Kansas City, Missouri. We play chess in the room that has a window to Westport Road (It's on the north side of the building). They give us food and drink specials, too. Did you know they've been rated best burger in KC since 1987? They also have more than 40 beers on tap. Please don't drink and drive.

When do you play?
-We meet in person every Tuesday evening (barring major holidays) from 6:30 - 10:00 in the room that has a window to Westport Road. It's on the north side of the building.
-We also meet each Wednesday virtually at 7:00 at our club on Chess.com.
Check our calendar for event information.

Do I have to bring anything?
Nope! We provide classic club-style chess pieces (weighted plastic) and chess mats (roll-up vinyl). We also have a few analog chess clocks available if you want to use one. If you're playing in one of our rated tournaments, please know your USCF ID. Thanks!

Can I bring my child?
Of course! Kids ages 6 and up are welcome. That said, we would like to make you aware that most of us are over 21. We meet in a room in a restaurant that serves food and alcoholic drinks. Most members don't drink while visiting, but some will have a beer. We've never had an issue with anyone related to alcohol, but as it's your child we're talking about, we'd like to be clear about our environment.

What if I'm not very good or I'm new to chess?
Most people aren't good at chess. Really, and that includes me. Besides, playing with stronger players is a great way to learn and improve. We have members of all abilities who are happy to play chess with you.

How do I play chess? What are the rules?
Chess.com has created a page to help learn chess. It includes pictures and videos, and it's a free resource. Check it out: Chess.com - How to play chess

Do you have any suggestions for improvement?
You bet! Here are some general guidelines:

• Study tactics. A large part of chess is tactics, so do puzzles often and understand the themes.
• Study endgames. Absolutely critical. You need to know the basics. You can practice them for free thanks to an opensource project.
• Study positional chess. Strategy is what you do when there's nothing to do.
• Don't spend much time on openings theory. Read that again; don't bother memorizing opening moves.
• Play as much chess as you can. Playing online can help.
• Consider teaching materials. Books, YouTube, videos by Chessbase, etc.
• Record your games & go over them with a stronger player. Log every move of every game and go over them with someone stronger than you. If you don't know somebody like that, use a free chess engine or have the Chess.com servers assist.
• Study others' games. Consider a book like Irving Chernev's "Logical Chess: Move by Move: Every Move Explained"
• Don't kick yourself when you lose. It's a game, not a reflection of your worth. Win or lose, you're awesome.

If you like videos, check out @ChessCoachAndras on YouTube. He's not affiliated with us, but we love his content from a teaching perspective. Grandmasters Hikaru Nakamura and Anish Giri also give him props--whoa!

If you prefer to learn by books, consider books by Jeremy Silman, Yasser Seirawan, John Watson, John Nunn, Garry Kasparov, or any of the Polgars. Jeff Coakley is good for kids.

Where do I park?
There is parking in the lots to the east and south of the Westport Flea Market. There is also street parking on the north side of the building.

How can I be notified of upcoming events?
Easy! You can:

• Join our club email list. Just send a message to moc.liamg@bulCssehCtroptseW and tell us you want to be on our list. (We will hit your inbox maybe once or twice per month.)
• Join our club on Chess.com. We chat, have members-only tournaments, and play team Vote Chess against other clubs. Join in! This is the best way to keep in touch.
• Follow our club on Twitter.
• We have a Facebook presence but are not very active there.
• We also have an Instagram presence, but we aren't very active there either.

I'd like to have my own chess set. Where can I buy one?
Many types of chess sets are available at House of Staunton or Wholesale Chess.

Do I have to play in your tournaments?
No, not at all. There are always people ready to play casual, non-tournament chess.

Can I register to become a USCF member at one of your tournaments?
Sorry, no. Would you please register to become a USCF member at their site? It's much easier for you and us. Thanks.

Do you play other games, like Checkers or Go?
We're a chess club, and we stick to chess and chess variants like "Bughouse" or "Chess960". Some of us like to play around with computer chess, too.