​♟️ Chess Café Haarlem

​​​A relaxed chess evening in a cozy café in Haarlem. Easy to reach. Easy to join. Everyone welcome.

​​​🥤 Order what you like – tea, coffee, beer, or even a sandwich or light dish while you play.

​​​😌 No pressure – not a chess club, no judgement, no competition.

​​​If you can bring your own board, please do—and mark it in the registration form so we can plan to have enough.

​​​If we happen to run short, we’ll rotate or use phone/tablet boards as a backup.

​​🎉 Just a friendly, easygoing evening with chess, snacks, drinks, and good company.

​​👋 Socialising

​From 8:00 PM onwards, while some of us continue or finish their last tough game, others may grab a drink and have a break together.

​​Like any community, this is about you. No pressure to stay!

​​❓ FAQ

​​Can I come at any time?

​​Yes, but you will have to wait for the current games to end before playing. No problem, order a drink, watch & learn!

​​How do I pay for my orders?

​​You will be given a unique number tag when you arrive. Use this to order anything you like. Whenever you want to leave just surrender the tag to the staff and pay your own bill.

​​How do we keep time?

​​During the games, you may decide to use the Chess Clock app (Android - iOS) to ensure fair time allocation between the players.

​​How can I learn the basics?

​​Before joining, you can of course watch YouTube videos, but the best way to learn how the pieces move is to play on an app on your phone like Chess.com.

​​What if my partner and I have very different levels?

​​In terms of etiquette:

• ​​if you are the better player, please try to be patient. You can suggest moves and ask your opponent to think out loud.

• ​​if you are the weaker player, focus on learning. This is a great opportunity to learn from your mistake. Ask questions if you are stuck. It isn't a tournament.