WELCOME TO MARPLE & DISTRICT  CHESS CLUB PAGE

A big HELLO to everyone visiting this page, especially if you're here because you've seen one of our posters scattered around Marple District, or visited our Marple Carnival/Locks Festival tent. The main point of this page is to give you some info about Marple & District Chess Club so that you can visit us and play chess – so here we go!

WHERE
The club plays at the NAVIGATION pub at the top end of Stockport Rd, Marple (opposite the cinema) in the upstairs function room.

DIRECTIONS
If travelling from Stockport into Marple, use the main road until you reach the traffic lights by the parade of shops on your left, opposite Somerfields. You will need to take the middle road of the three that face you. This is Stockport Road. Carry on through two sets of lights and the NAVIGATION is on the right hand side. Parking is alongside the pub and at the rear. Enter the pub by the front entrance and the stairs to the function room are right in front. Marple appears in the A-Z Manchester Guide.

WHEN
This coming season the club will meet every Thursday evening from mid September, 2007 to end-May, 2008.

We start at 7:30 and finish at 11:00 but that doesn't mean that you have to be there for the whole time. You can arrive later and go earlier if you like, but chess does take time so allow enough for a few games.

To keep us going through the summer months we continue to play at the Navigation, but often downstairs in the rear room. This is completely informal and definitely not serious play, where all sorts of weird games are played over a pint or two - I wonder why?! It is also a good chance to chat about chess generally, so pop in if you can. Thanks to Duncan for putting up with us!

THE CLUB
The club is a friendly, fairly small one with around 25 members of all strengths, from beginner ("what's that funny move again?") to strong ("of course this ending's won!"). Our strongest players have a National Grade of around 200. One of us is nominated each evening to be available to greet any new players who arrive on the night and everyone is made to feel very welcome – we won't drag you into a game straight away! We give advice and tuition to new starters or rusty players freely and will chat about all aspects of chess.

CLUB TOURNAMENTS
We have a thriving in-house tournament which runs throughout the season with two trophies up for grabs, plus a chance to improve your national grading. One of them uses a handicap system which gives everyone a chance, and the other is a straight one point for a win/ half point for a draw competition. Other tournaments occur throughout the year.

LEAGUE CHESS
The club plays in the Stockport & District League where we will be running three teams in different divisions. This means that everyone can play league chess if they choose.

Last season was interesting, with our 1st team finishing in the bottom two, but fortunately avoiding relegation from Division 1, and our 2nd team narrowly missing promotion from the Second Division. The 3rd team continued to give players experience in the Third Division. So, we will still have teams in all three divisions this coming season. The club once again lost to Stockport in the Charnley Knock-out Cup. 

Overall, the club have won Division 1 six times, Division 2 three times - the last one was in 2004, and Division 3 three times - the last in 2000.

Once again several of our players improved their grading significantly, through league and club chess, which confirms that the club is still doing something right!

We have also played league chess during the summer, and will consider doing so again, although this is decided on a season by season basis.

MEMBERSHIP FEES
The current cost of membership is only £20 per person per year, with concessions for juniors and players unable to come every week. This covers cost and use of equipment, league fees, grading fees, etc and also covers play during the summer. Basic tuition is at no extra cost.

CLUB HISTORY
The club was established in 1946 as the Marple Bridge and District Chess Club and originally met at the Congregational Hall, Marple Bridge. After changing its name and moving to the Carver Institute 1966/ Carver Playhouse 1967/ Carver Theatre 1971, the club played its last season at the Theatre in 1976/77. The club moved to the Marple Recreational Centre, (now 6th form College), Hibbert Lane, on Tuesday, 25th April 1978. In September 2005 the club moved to the Navigation.

QUIZ CORNER
White played Queen takes Queen, Black replied Queen takes Queen and White played Queen takes Queen again! What has happened? Answer at the club!

CONTACT
So, if you're a chess nut, a returning player or just interested please contact the club secretary Terry on 0161 449 7008, e-mail him at marplechess@aol.com or simply turn up on the night for a stress free game or two.