The DeKalb Chess Club held a casual open play chess event Monday night.

The club holds open play events twice weekly, 3 p.m. every Monday and Wednesday in the basement of First Congregational United Church of Christ, 615 N. First St. in DeKalb.

“It’s very informal,” said Sycamore resident Don Reyes.

Players of any skill are welcome to participate in open place.

“Everyone is welcome to come,” said club coordinator Bill Feldman. “You don’t need any equipment or even need to know how to play. We will teach you.”

The club aims to spread the hobby of chess in the DeKalb and Sycamore area.

“Our goal is to further the education and enjoyment of chess all over the local area,” Feldman said.

The club also participates in various tournaments.

“We do United States Chess Federation sanctioned tournaments,” Feldman said. “And we participate in other tournaments around the area.”

The club has outreach programs which attempt to increase interest in chess.

“Over the summer, we held several free chess camps to try to get kids interested,” Feldman said. “Now we’re trying to work with DeKalb and Sycamore Public Schools.”

The club holds events for families as well as children.

“Family chess night is the first Thursday of every month,” said Feldman. “We meet at the Hy-vee in Sycamore at 7 p.m. [located at 2700 DeKalb Ave. in Sycamore] and play.”

The club meets in the church basement, but was not originally located there.

“We used to meet at Borders before it closed,” said Sycamore resident Al John. “We definitely miss the participation we’d get from people seeing us and joining in.”

The DeKalb Chess Club’s next event is a tournament for players ages 50 and up at 9 a.m. on Oct. 23 at the American National Bank of Dekalb County, 1985 DeKalb Ave. in Sycamore.

For more information about the DeKalb Chess Club, visit www.dekalbchess.com.