Chess Earth
Cincinnati Chess Services
Online Chess Resources

Where To Play Chess In Cincinnati

Where To Play Chess In Cincinnati

Discover the Cincinnati Chess Scene.

Below are casual places to play: chess clubs, meet-ups, and chess hot spots.

We list weekend tournaments that are approximately a 2-hour drive from Cincinnati.

THIS WEEK IN CHESS

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Monday
August 25

Highland Coffee House
2839 Highland Ave
Cincinnati, OH
6:00pm – 1:00am

Tuesday
August 26

Clermont Chess Club
Every 4th Tuesday. Play One Rated USCF Game.
Withamsville Church, 846 Ohio Pike
Cincinnati, OH
4:00pm – 10:00pm

Wednesday
August 27

Seniors Chess Class
The Carnegie Center, 3738 Eastern Ave
Cincinnati, OH
11:00am – 12:00pm

William Durr Library
1992 Walton Nicholson
Independence, KY
4:30pm – 6:00pm

Thursday
August 28

Cincinnati City Championship – 4th Round
7640 Plainfield Rd
Cincinnati, OH
Games start at 7:00pm
Casual chess moved to Deer Park Library during the city championship.
cincinnatichessclub.com

Friday
August 29

Chess Breakfast
Panera Bread, 8420 Winton Rd
Cincinnati, OH
9:00am – 2:00pm or later

Friday Quads at Wendy’s – Chess Tournament
Columbus, OH
uschess.org/friday-quads-wendys

80th Ohio Chess Congress. State Championship – Weekend Tournament
Newark, OH – Day 1 of 3
uschess.org/2025-ohio-chess-congress

Saturday
August 30

Labor Day Weekend Tornado – Chess Earth's Monthly Tournament
Wyoming Baptist Church, 170 Burns Ave
Cincinnati, OH
chessearth.com/tornado-registration

80th Ohio Chess Congress. State Championship – Weekend Tournament
Newark, OH – Day 2 of 3
uschess.org/2025-ohio-chess-congress

Sunday
August 31

80th Ohio Chess Congress. State Championship – Weekend Tournament
Newark, OH – Day 3 of 3
uschess.org/2025-ohio-chess-congress

NEW SEASON STARTING SOON!

2025 Fall Series Dates:

  • Saturday, August 9

  • Saturday, September 13

  • Saturday, October 11 

  • Saturday, November 8

Chess Days In Roselawn 1Chess Days In Roselawn 2

  • FREE ENTRY – 12 NOON Blitz Tournament with Prizes from our Sponsors!
  • ROCURC Garden – Corner of Section & Reading Rd.
    7405 Reading Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45237
  • Casual outdoor chess gathering.
    Relaxed neighborhood vibe from 11am to 2pm. All are welcome and anyone can play in the Blitz Tournament.
  • Rain/bad weather: Event moves to Bond Hill Library
    1740 Langdon Farm Rd.

Cincinnati Tornado – Labor Day Weekend Tournament 

August 30, 2025. Last Saturday of Month

Tornadoes are Monthly Chess Tournaments 

10:00am – First Round Game

Wyoming Baptist Church, 170 Burns Ave. 

Click for More Info/Register:  Cincinnati Tornado


“Sunday Chess” Tournament

September 21, 2025. 3rd Sunday of the Month

Monthly Chess Tournament & Community Casual Play (FREE)

10:00am – First Round Game

The Carnegie Center, 3738 Eastern Ave. 

Click for More Info/Registrations:  Sunday Chess

Live Chess Games

GM. Grandmaster Games

And  

IM. International Master Games

Puzzle Of The Day

Sundays 10am

Monthly Sunday Chess G/60 Tournament  & Open Casual Play

  • The Carnegie Center of Columbia Tusculum, 3738 Eastern Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45226

Enjoy Sunday playing FREE casual chess or play in the Sunday Chess Tournament.

Check out the Sunday Chess Webpage or Register for the Tournament 

Once a Month on Sundays:  Open Casual Play starts at 10am to 7:00pm. 

  • 1st Round Game starts at 10am
Carnegie Center
Sunday Chess Tournament & Open Casual Play
  • This is a monthly USCF-rated chess tournament.  Entry Fee: $30.
  • 3-Round Swiss. Play 3 games. 
  • 8 Player Sections. 1st – $90    2nd – $50
  • 6-Player Sections. 1st – $75    2nd – $30
  • 4-Player Sections. 1st – $60    2nd – $30
  • G/60 d/5.  Each player receives 60 minutes with a 5-second delay.
  • All chess sets are provided for the tournament.
Carnegie Center of Columbia Tusculum
Sunday Chess Tournament & Open Casual Play
  • Open casual play starts at 10am to 7pm held in the Skittles Room.
  • All chess sets are provided for open casual FREE play.
  • The Bengal game will be on the TV. 
  • Daylily Bodega Coffee Shop is across the street. Bring Lunch. We sell light snacks.
  • Chess sets and chess merch available for purchase. 

Sundays 1pm

 Lake Lakengren Chess Club

  • 210 Norwegian Dr, Eaton, OH 45320

1:00pm. Free meal provided to chess players. It’s worth the drive. Best Wings and Pizza. Limit one large pizza per person. NFL and Bengals on the TV. Organized by Bob Unruh.

  • Every Sunday – 1:00pm to 3:00pm
Lakengren Chess Club
Sundays 1pm. Lakengren Chess Club
Lakengren Chess Club
Sundays 1pm. Lakengren Chess Club

Mondays 6pm

Highland Coffee House

  • 2839 Highland Ave. (University and Highland Ave) Cincinnati, OH 45219

Casual Play, great music, good coffee and beer, and Tim Lake; we’ve been playing chess here for over 25 years and still going strong. 

  • Every Monday – 6:00pm til close 2am.
Highland Coffee House
Mondays 6:00pm - Highland Coffee House
Highland Coffee House
Mondays 6:00pm - Highland Coffee House

Tuesdays 7pm  

Oddfellows Bar

  • 2014 Elm St, Cincinnati, OH 45202
  • It’s a great meet-up for local chess.  Indoor and outdoors. Play chess with the neighborhood. A good crowd every Tuesday. 
  • Every Tuesday – 7:00pm to 1pm
oddfellows bar
Tuesdays 7:00pm - Oddfellows
oddfellows bar
Tuesdays 7:00pm - Oddfellows

Tuesdays 6:30pm  

Symmes Library Chess Club has moved to Blue Ash Library.

3rd Tuesday of the Month

  • Blue Ash Library. 4911 Cooper Rd., Cincinnati, Ohio 45242

6:30pm to 8:30pm.  The Symmes Library branch will be closed because the current building will be replaced. Our meetings are held on the 3rd Tuesday of the Month.  People of any age can drop in to play casual free chess games, get some coaching from more experienced players or learn the game from scratch. 

  • Third Tuesday of the Month – 6:30pm to 8:30pm
Symmes Library Chess Club
3rd Tuesday of Month. Meeting at Blue Ash Library
Cincinnati Public Library logo
3rd Tuesday of Month. Meeting at Blue Ash Library

Tuesdays 5pm  

Clermont Chess Club

Members develop new chess skills, sharpen their memory and improve social skills with a great group of guys, the chess is good too. 

  • Every Tuesday – 5:00pm to 10pm
Clermont County Chess Club
Tuesdays 5:00pm - Clermont Chess Club
Clermont County Chess Club
Tuesdays 5:00pm - Clermont Chess Club

Wednesday 4:30pm

William Durr Library. Kenton County Library in Northern Kentucky

  • 1992 Walton Nicholson Rd, Independence, Kentucky 41051

Our weekly chess club is fun, friendly and open to all skill levels. Each meeting consists of  enlightening lessons from a certified chess instructor.

  • Every Wednesday – 4:30pm to  6:00pm
Kenton Library Kentucky
Wednesdays 4:30pm Kenton County Library, Kentucky
Kenton County Library
Wednesdays 4:30pm - Kenton County Library, KY

Wednesdays  

UC Chess Club

  • University of Cincinnati; Swift Hall Level 516. 2842 Campus Way, Cincinnati, OH 45221. 

UC Chess Club Webpage

Discord.gg/9sy4mdf

UC Chess Club
Wednesdays - UC Chess Club

Thursdays 11am

Morning Chess at the West End Library

  • 805 Ezzard Charles Dr, Cincinnati, OH 45203

Play or learn chess in a welcoming group environment while sipping free coffee. Any experience level is welcome. 

  • Every Thursday – 11am til 1:00pm
Morning Chess at West End Library
Thursdays 11am Morning Chess West End Library
Cincinnati Public Library logo
Thursdays 11am Morning Chess West End Library

Thursdays 6:30pm

Cincinnati Chess Club

The Cincinnati Chess Club is the city’s most active (30-50 people on Thursdays) and oldest Cincinnati club going back to 1950.

  • Every Thursday – 6:30pm til 11:00pm
Cincinnati Chess Club
Thursdays 6:30pm - Cincinnati Chess Club
Cincinnati Chess Club
Thursdays 6:30pm - Cincinnati Chess Club

Fridays 9:00am

Chess Breakfast. Organized by Chess Earth

Chess Breakfast Panera Bread Winton Rd
Friday 7:30am - Chess Breakfast Panera Bread

 Great for seniors, retired, and players who love morning chess. A good turnout every Friday morning and a popular chess gathering for the chess community.

Chess Breakfast Panera Bread Winton Rd
Friday 7:30am - Chess Breakfast Panera Bread

Saturday 10am to 2pm

Chess Earth

  2025 Chess Days In Roselawn

2025 Fall Series – 2nd Saturday of the Month 

  • Saturday, August 9, 2025 
  • Saturday, September 13, 2025    
  • Saturday, October 11, 2025 
  • Saturday, November 8, 2025   
  • Check out Chess Days In Roselawn Webpage for more info
  • ROCURC Garden. Corner of Section & Reading Rd. 7405 Reading Rd. Cincinnati, OH 45237.
  • Casual outdoor chess gathering.  Relaxed neighborhood chess. From 10am to 2pm.  All are welcome. 
  • ***Rain/bad weather; Event moves to Bond Hill Library, 1740 Langdon Farm Rd.***

Free Blitz Tournament – 12noon with merch prizes and gift certificates from local businesses. 

4-Rounds/Play 4 games. G/5 – Game in 5 minutes. Free Entry Fee.

Organized by ROCURC and Chess Earth

Chess Days In Roselawn
Chess Days In Roselawn
Free Blitz Tournament - 12noon with merch prizes and gift certificates from local restaurants

Chess Breakfast at Panera Bread Winton Rd

Chess Earth has brought back the popular chess breakfast at a new Panera Bread. A good turnout every Friday morning.

We analyze games from recent tournaments, play bughouse, and enjoy chess. Organized and hosted by Chess Earth, LLC.

Chess Earth

Organized by Chess Earth

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