Finds Under $40: Balanced Rook Chess Club builds community with free weekly meetups

The Balanced Rook Chess Club meets Thursdays at Wackadoo Brewing in Colorado Springs, is free and open to the public, and saw attendance rise after moving there in October 2025.

The Balanced Rook Chess Club began at Library 21c in 2024 and relocated to Wackadoo Brewing in October 2025. The group is free and open to the public and aims to make chess accessible while also creating social connections. Attendance rose notably after the move and media attention in early 2026. Meetings are held weekly on Thursdays from 6:00 to 9:00 pm. Key details: - Founded in 2024 at Library 21c near Chapel Hills Mall in Colorado Springs. - Relocated to Wackadoo Brewing in October 2025; the brewery provides the meeting space without charge. - The club meets every Thursday from 6:00–9:00 pm and is free and open to the public. - Reported weekly attendance grew from about nine visitors at the library to roughly 19 after the move, then to the high 30s in early 2026, a change the organizer attributed to a Gazette article. - Organizer Lloyd Gauthier connects players and facilitates matches, and Wackadoo founder Steven Fuller describes the venue as intended to act as a community hub. Summary: The club's relocation and subsequent media attention corresponded with increased participation, and it continues to offer free weekly gatherings at Wackadoo Brewing. The venue's founder has described the space as a community hub and does not charge the club for use. The group's regular Thursday meetings remain the next recurring activity.