The Cuntiest Chess Club in Los Angeles

This nightlife-infused chess scene is your next Thursday night move

Written by

Partiful Co.

Rookie Chess League isn’t just another Los Angeles chess club—it’s where friendly, competitive play meets cocktails and curated chaos. Born from a dramatic club split (lore incoming 👀), RCL brings a nightlife energy to the 64 squares, drawing everyone from national masters to total beginners (and even a cat named Dante).

Every Thursday, players gather for fast-paced games, free one-on-one lessons, and outfits as sharp as their strategies. Whether you’re here to play or just soak up the scene, there’s always a seat waiting.

Give us the origin story—how did Rookie Chess come to life?

The origins of RCL are quite unique. As co-founders, we previously ran a well-known chess club in the area. However, after a falling out with its founder, we decided to start our own free event. Many community members joined us in the transition, and their support has meant a lot. 🫶🏽 Our longtime supporter and homegirl, Jessie, actually gave us the name “Rookie” when we asked everyone what their favorite chess piece was!

Who actually shows up? Is it mostly beginners, or are all levels welcome?

We have a great mix of newbies and advanced players every week, and all levels are welcome. We have had 5 national masters show up for a single event, which isn’t super common for most clubs. They tend to frequent as well.

If someone’s never played chess before but is curious, how would you encourage them to come to a meetup?

We tell all new players to come and sign up for a free 1-on-1 lesson if they are totally new. It helps them learn chess and get to meet someone right away. Mateo, one of our cofounders, leads the lessons, so it’s a nice introduction to the community and the game.

Okay, set the scene: What’s the vibe at your events?

It's Thursday night, you walk into our event, and you hear great music playing, people mingling, drinks flowing, and the occasional stop clock being slapped. It’s exciting, organized chaos! We like to get our weekends started early, which is why our events are always on Thursdays. And if you aren’t all that into chess, we always have amazing DJs spinning during the event, or there are other activities at each establishment that people can do if they need a chess break.

Seems like a good place to find a new crush…

We have had a few meet their s/o at the event, but no one has tied the knot yet. We are awaiting those invites when they happen, tho 👀 We also recently had our first chess couple breakup and are patiently waiting to see who gets custody of us. We also have someone who brings their cat, Dante, almost whenever he comes.

How many games run at once?

We normally bring about 40 boards, so that's around 80 people playing at once. This seems to be the best number for a good mix of mingling and chess.

In your professional opinion, is there any correlation between skill level and swag?

There is no real correlation between the two; HOWEVER, many of our attendees LOVE to show out at each event. Some come in chess-themed clothes, suits and ties, veils, gloves, dramatic trench coats, office siren core, heels— we’ve seen it all. We like to think our attendees dress for the occasion, and everyone looks great in what makes them feel the most confident.

What’s a chess stereotype that tends to be true?

Everyone who plays has an ego; it’s completely true; however, it's a playful ego. We’re all just self-righteous nerds who found each other and created a community around this super dorky game that we all take a little too seriously.

What’s a chess stereotype that’s completely false?

You can’t be good unless you’ve been playing your whole life! Some of the best chess players that attend have only been playing for a year or so. Anyone can learn chess at any age and still become a great chess player.

Describe Rookie Chess in one word.

CUNT (this is literally our tagline for C U Next Thursday)

Why do people keep coming back?

People love IRL games, and it’s a great way for people to connect. Chess encourages people to chat and helps break the ice by being a mutual interest. It’s really hard to meet like-minded people in the wild (outside in the real world), and chess allows people with a shared interest to connect.