Why Chess?
There have been numerous international studies of the benefits of chess. These include, but are not limited to::
- You are 50% less likely to develop dementia.
- Utilizes both sides of brain.
- Helps your brain to grow.
- Chess players usually have better grades.

It can be played by almost everyone to include:
- Any economic social group.
- Disabilities.
- From a child to the elderly.
- Any gender.​
​Think about it. Universally people assume you are smart if you play chess or they even think that you can. Can't learn? There are more rules to Monopoly than Chess. I bet you can play Monopoly. Have you ever been told you are smart because of it? Bet not.
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Online Chess Club and Team

Daily  Chess Tournaments
Arena Tournaments (M-Th). Start at 7pm (cst) for 1.5 hr. 
Go when you want.  Why Arena? You only wait for pairings, which means you possibly may get more chess play time in. Generally, the more players in the tournament, the faster the pairings. Arena tournaments end exactly at a specific time. We found this is preferred by students and those who have jobs the next day.

Swiss Tournaments (Fri-Sun). Start at 2pm (cst). 
You need to play all rounds.  Why Swiss? Uses rounds. Folks who play in most tournaments are used to this format. Tournaments and rounds end when all the games are played.

To register go to www.chess.com/club/chess-vets-1. Registration opens for all tournaments 1 hour prior to tournament and end by the chess server at the start. Tournaments start promptly at 7pm or 2pm (cst).  Important Note - Clubs do not work on mobile devices currently.

If you have issues registering, or want a Zoom invite link sent to you, call 773 606-8142.

Important. If at least 1 game has not started on time, the tournament is automatically cancelled by the chess server.

We open Zoom for those who wish to chat and see their opponent during a game. We post 15 min prior to tournament with a link in tournament chat. We end the Zoom meeting 15 min after the tournament is fully finished.  Players in a game will be moved to their own Zoom room, if requested or anyone in the main room is discussing their game in progress.

Tournament results will be published on the team FB page. www.facebook.com/ChessVetswww.facebook.com/ChessVets

Chess Vets Online Club Rules
  1. No Politics discussion.
  2. No Religion discussion.
  3. No Profanity.
  4. No Kibitzing (discussing ANY part of ANY chess game), unless in specified breakout room.
  5. Be polite.
  6. Be humble if you win or lose a game.
 
Breaking any of the specified rules may lead to banishment from a zoom session. Continued abuse may lead to Chess Vets online club membership revocation. These rules are designed so that everyone can enjoy a fun and relaxing club atmosphere.

Visit and Like our Facebook page for up to date events, pictures and results.
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$150 dollars donated along with 375 magnetic chess sets to HelpUSATroops. for postage of care packages to deployed US Troops.
Want to help us with our mission?
​Donate to our organization for FREE with your Amazon purchases! Just click the link below!

Operation: Play Chess

​Please help our 501(c)(3) Nonprofit organization supply Tri-fold magnetic checkbook chess sets and our VA Chess Recreational Therapy Instruction Sheet to veterans. Our goal is to provide 1700 sets which 200 have been ordered for manufacture. We supplied 700 sets Feb 2020 and stopped due to COVID-19. These sets were delivered with care packages this year. Why 1700? This is the goal for the amount of care packages to be sent by Help USA Troops.
 

Community and Veteran Only Events

IMPORTANT NOTICE: ALL CHESS VETS SPECIAL AND ONGOING EVENTS, MEETUPS AND CLUBS HAVE BEEN CANCELLED UNTIL FUTHER NOTICE DUE TO CORONA VIRUS MEASURES. 
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Kindle eBook
Want to learn how to play chess? Want to help someone to learn how to play? We created this manual to instruct veterans in our VA Hospital Chess Recreational Therapy Programs. It contains not not only the rules of the game, but pointers on how to win. The manual utilizes a quick step-by-step learning process that is required for our traumatic brain injury program participants. This makes it ideal for anyone to learn the game. 100% of book profits goes to helping Illinois Veterans and their families.
Paperback

Learn

Arrange a workshop. We can teach you to play and improve. Chess is  easy to learn, but hard to master!

Play

Chess can be played in small or large tournaments, casually or even online. The choice is yours!

Enjoy

A game of chess can be enjoyed with friends, family, other vets and even strangers in another country!

Service Disabled Veteran Non-Profit

Our not for profit organization  is a proud member of the Veteran Owned Business Project. VOB is the leading FREE network portal of over 300,000 supporters and 30,000 businesses owned by military veterans (VOB), active duty military, reservists, service disabled veteran owned businesses (SDVOSB) and military spouses of the United States Army, Air Force (USAF), Marines (USMC), Navy (USN), Coast Guard (USCG) and National Guard. Join us in showing your support for our armed forces by proudly searching for products and services that are all made by, sold by or serviced by past/present members of the United States military community!