Newcastle club offers a friendly welcome

BIG or small, the best chess clubs are welcoming to everyone.

- 

The game does not discriminate on the grounds of age, gender, disability or sporting prowess. Anyone can play, and it's something that you can take up at any stage of life.

For children, chess helps with spatial calculation, decision-making and logic.

For adults, chess with its fair and clear rules can be an absorbing hobby that can both make sense of (and provide a haven from) all the craziness of the world.

And for the elderly, many facing the threat of cognitive decline from Alzheimer's and vascular dementia, chess can be a great way to stimulate the little grey cells and enjoy a social game with friends and family.