1) Two chess nights. Lichfield Chess Club is one of the largest chess clubs in the Midlands which enables us to offer the enthusiast chess on two nights of the week, Thursdays in the Guildhall from September to April and most Mondays in the Kings Head, both in the city centre.


2) Tuition Having a computer chess grading of 1000 or more makes joining Lichfield a seamless experience but while we are not able to teach from scratch a new initiative will help those with a good basic knowledge to advance their skills. Peter Rose, a senior team captain has volunteered to spend some of his time at the club specifically helping new members to become confident players.


3) Development teams.Over the years new members have experienced difficulty in getting more than the odd opportunity to play league chess. Lichfield are determined to overcome this obstacle. Next season the vision is that there will be at least one recognised development team consisting entirely of new or weaker players which will play in the bottom tier of the Cannock League. Whether there is also a second development team may depend of recruitment during the next few months.

4) Newcomers Tournament.In the first year of membership Lichfield now offers a Newcomers Tournament designed to give match experience to those players who wish to progress to league matches. They play one match a month over a six month period, choosing the venue for each game amongst themselves between the Guildhall and the Kings Head, or even at a home venue.

5) Season long internal tournament ECF rated .Another new initiatve providing keen competition and helping players to improve their ratings outside the four major Midlands leagues is an ECF rated,season long internal tournament which has been hailed as an outstanding success. There are six rounds with one round completed each month.

For these five reasons Lichfield believe it is an unbeatable incentive to join. The club has a discounted subscription rate for thoses who wish to only play social chess and also for members who join in the second half of the season. There is a special rate for juniors which allow them to play league matches at no further cost.

Both Monday and Thursday venues are in the city centre and within 200 yards of each other,The Guildhall is iin Bore Street and the Kings Head in adjoining Bird Street at the western end of Bore Street. There is a car park behind the Kings Head at the eastern end of Stamford St and a free car park in the evenings in the indoor car park in The Friary.

None of the city’s car parks are more than a few hundred yards away.One of the nearest car parks is the indoor car park on the street called ‘The Friary’ which is actually free of charge after 6-30pm. There is also a car park immediately behind the Kings Head but the access is from the west of Bird St rather than the street itself.

Chess at both venues starts at 7-15pm. See the Membership section for more details and who to contact.