Whether you’re a seasoned strategist or just learning the basics, our club offers a welcoming and engaging environment to sharpen your skills, enjoy friendly competition, and connect with fellow players. We meet regularly for casual games, tournaments, and strategy discussions, fostering a community that values learning, camaraderie, and the timeless game of chess.
Come join us and make your next move with the Dirigo Chess Club!
August TBA: Club Meeting and Casual Play Session. Rivalries, 2 Hat Trick Drive, Falmouth, Maine.
Black to move and checkmate!
SOLUTION:
29…Qg2+
The black queen deflects White’s rook away from protecting the square f1. Opening the line from f8 to f1.
30.Rxg2 Rf1+
31.Qxf1 Rxf1#Arabian mate
(July, 2025) The initial meeting and casual play session for the Dirigo Chess Club was a huge success! More than 14 attendees of all ages enjoyed food, drink, and chess! Special thanks to the Maine Chess Association and everyone that came out to join us for the festivities. Join our mailing list and be at the next event in August — dates and details coming!
(July, 2025) We are pleased to announce the club’s first meeting and casual play session, Wednesday, July 23rd from 5pm to 7pm. Our meeting will take place in the back room (known as the “Mafia Room”) at Rivalries restaurant in Falmouth, Maine. Rivalries is located at 2 Hat Trick Drive in Falmouth (just across the way from the Walmart). We will have complimentary appetizers and soft drinks — yes, FREE FOOD! So tell your chess-loving friends and colleagues and come down to play and socialize. If you have a chess set, please bring one as we will have limited extra sets to borrow. If you have any questions, please email us!
(February, 2025) Looking for a new home for chess in Greater Portland, Maine? Look no further — the new Dirigo Chess Club welcomes you. We are currently scouting locations in Falmouth, and will update this website, as well as email subscribers, with all the latest news and details. This club will be a bit more “formal” than others locally, but still fun and friendly! We welcome anyone interested in chess to join, and there are currently no dues or direct costs of any kind. Use the contact form at the bottom of the website to ask additional questions or join our mailing list. We will apply to be an official USCF affiliate organization, and will host guest speakers, skills workshops, open gaming, fun tournaments, and socialization. Any ideas or suggestions, let us know! We are excited to launch the Dirigo Chess Club, and appreciate your support!
(March, 2025) We are pleased to announce that we have worked out a “deal” with Rivalries Sports Pub in Falmouth, Maine, for monthly Club meetings and game play! They have a semi-private room in the back affectionately known as “The Mafia Room” that will be the perfect place to launch the Club. We are planning on starting with one Wednesday per month, probably 5pm to 8pm, but stay tuned for additional details! 2 Hat Trick Dr, Falmouth, ME 04105
(March, 2025) Our Fair Play Policy exists to support clean and fair chess play for our members and guests.
All club members and guests, by coming to the club, agree to never engage in any deceitful, dishonest, fraudulent, or similar conduct when playing at the Dirigo Chess Club or any sponsored events. This will include, but not be limited to, the following:
All of your moves must be your own.
Do not cheat in any way.
Do not get help from any other person, including parents, friends, coaches, or another player.
Do not use chess engines, software of any kind, bots, plugins, browser extensions, or any tools that analyze positions during play.
Do not use table-bases or any other resources that show the best move.
Do not perform any automated analysis or “blunder checking“ of your games in progress.
Do not artificially manipulate ratings, matches, or game outcomes.
Do not interfere with the gameplay of other members.
Suspecting your opponent of using outside help is not an excuse to do the same. If you suspect someone is cheating, report the player to the Board of the Dirigo Chess Club.
Zero tolerance policy for cheating of ANY kind. The first time we find credible evidence that a member or guest has cheated or violated any of the customary rules of fair play in chess, that person will be kicked out of the club and banned permanently. Period. If you have any questions about this policy, feel free to email us or discuss in person at club event or meeting. We appreciate your cooperation in keeping the game fun and fair for all!
Coach Kestony
[email protected]
Coach Kestony is a dedicated long-term chess mentor with 13+ years of coaching experience and over 15,000 hours delivered online. With 24 years of competitive chess behind him, he offers highly interactive one-on-one online lessons focused on game analysis, concept exploration, and real-time decision-making.
Known for his clear, enthusiastic, and empathic teaching style, Kestony makes complex ideas easy to understand and apply. His sessions are dynamic, student-centered, and designed to drive consistent improvement through active engagement.
As an additional support tool, he also provides tailored training plans based on each student’s unique strengths, weaknesses, and goals—ensuring structured progress between sessions.
Kestony has coached a wide range of players, from complete beginners to master-level competitors, including national youth champions and aspiring professionals. His coaching draws on cognitive psychology and the science of learning, which he also applies in workshops for global organizations.