Where to find Chess and bridge in Aberdeen, Inverness and the Highlands: chess and bridge clubs, plus Go, mahjong and backgammon groups.
We list 4 venues where you can play or buy chess, bridge and other classic games across Aberdeen, Inverness and the Highlands, in 3 towns and neighbourhoods. Between them they run 11 regular sessions, most often on Wednesdays and Mondays. Six of those are marked as beginner friendly. All of them have tables to play on site. Two of the 4 are in Aberdeen itself, and we list them first below.
Aberdeen Bridge Club has played at 14 Rubislaw Terrace since 1933, with face-to-face sessions on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, a Wednesday afternoon tournament and Relaxed Bridge on Thursday afternoons. New members and visitors are welcome, and it is a teaching club with a beginners' course and a Wednesday supervised duplicate for developing players.
Founded in 1853, Bon Accord meets at Aberdeen Bridge Club on Rubislaw Terrace on Wednesday evenings and Friday evenings from September to the end of June, with coaching from 6pm on Fridays. It is open to players of any age or standard, from newcomers to league and national team players.
Ness Bridge Club meets at the Caledonian Thistle Social Club on Greig Street, Inverness, with club nights on Monday and Thursday evenings and a learners and improvers evening on Tuesdays. New members and visitors are welcome, and learners' classes start each October.
Stonehaven Chess Club meets on Wednesday evenings at the Sea Cadets Unit on Marischal Street, welcoming players of all ages and abilities. Members play casual games, internal championships and team chess in the North East League and SNCL, and non-members can drop in on a Pay & Play basis.
The weekly line-up. Times and formats can change, so check with the venue before you travel.
Aberdeen Bridge Club, Aberdeen. Face-to-face duplicate bridge
Ness Bridge Club, Inverness. Duplicate pairs and teams
Aberdeen Bridge Club, Aberdeen. Face-to-face duplicate bridge
Ness Bridge Club, Inverness. Supervised play for learners and improvers
Aberdeen Bridge Club, Aberdeen. Duplicate pairs tournament
Bon Accord Chess Club, Aberdeen. Club night: league matches, club championship and casual games
Stonehaven Chess Club, Stonehaven. Club night: casual games, club championships and league matches
Aberdeen Bridge Club, Aberdeen. Face-to-face duplicate bridge, with a separate supervised duplicate for developing players
Aberdeen Bridge Club, Aberdeen. Relaxed bridge
Bon Accord Chess Club, Aberdeen. Coaching 6pm to 7pm, then club play
The venues with the most regular nights are Aberdeen Bridge Club in Aberdeen (5 nights), Ness Bridge Club in Inverness (3 nights) and Bon Accord Chess Club in Aberdeen (2 nights). We list 4 venues in all across Aberdeen, Inverness and the Highlands.
Wednesdays and Mondays have the most regular sessions. Eleven sessions run every week. The Aberdeen calendar shows what's on from today.
Yes. Six regular nights are marked as welcoming new players, including sessions at Bon Accord Chess Club, Stonehaven Chess Club and Aberdeen Bridge Club. Staff at most venues are happy to teach, so mention it when you arrive.
A free weekly email of what's on in your area: tournaments, pre-releases, launch events and new regular nights. Plus a monthly round-up of new shops, clubs and game releases.
