Tournaments, Clubs, Stores Cater to the Games People Play

Finding the right game and a suitable circle of friends to play it with can be harder than landing the letter X on a Scrabble triple-word score box. To help hunt down venues, a partial listing of tournaments, game clubs and game specialty stores follows:

* The Los Angeles Science Fantasy Society has gaming sessions from 8 p.m. to midnight Fridays. Gaming days are from 2 to 11 p.m. the second Sunday of the month. Fantasy and war role-playing games are played, along with assorted board games. Regular players must join the society ($5 initiation plus $2 for each club meeting attended), but non-members can play on a temporary basis. 11513 Burbank Blvd., North Hollywood. (818) 760-9234.

* The Fact & Fantasy club meets from 6 p.m. to midnight Fridays at Cal State Northridge, Sierra Hall South, Room 241. Fantasy and war role games are played. 18111 Nordhoff St. (818) 709-7424.

* The Scrabble Club meets from 6:45 to 11 p.m. Mondays at the North Valley Jewish Community Center. Players pay $2 for an evening’s refreshments. 16601 Rinaldi St., Granada Hills. (818) 702-9218.

* A Scrabble tournament will be held Sept. 19 and 20 in Los Angeles. Entry fees range from $25 to $50, depending on the level of play. Call (818) 702-9218.

* The Bring Back Canasta Club meets from 7 to 10 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month and from 3:30 to 6 p.m. every third Tuesday. Players pay $1 for an evening’s refreshments. Members meet at the Glendale Federal Bank’s community room, 2350 Honolulu Ave., Montrose. (818) 352-5192.

* The Gym for the Mind offers assorted “thinking” games, such as chess, Go, Conquest and Abalone, played each Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from noon to 10 p.m. A full range of gym equipment is also provided to “exercise the body after you’ve exercised the mind,” owner David Esser said. Speed chess tournaments are each Wednesday night, and Conquest tournaments are Saturdays. The public can attend free at 1 p.m. Sundays. A six-month membership costs $50. 4907 Topanga Canyon Blvd., Woodland Hills. (818) 710-4263.

* The Game Zone sells fantasy war games and assorted science-fiction board games. 10309 De Soto Ave., Chatsworth. (818) 709-4263.

* The Last Grenadier stocks fantasy and war games and carries military and fantasy miniatures, military history books and gaming magazines. 335 N. San Fernando Blvd., Burbank. (818) 848-9144. 8823 Reseda Blvd., Northridge. (818) 886-3639.

* The Game Keeper stocks adult and children’s board games, fantasy and war games, and various accessories. A referral board is posted for customers who wish to organize gaming sessions at private homes or clubs. Northridge Fashion Center, 9301 Tampa Ave., (818) 701-1646. 2148 Glendale Galleria. (818) 242-1700.

Coffeehouses have long been a favorite venue for game players. The following Valley establishments stock a full range of games for patrons who are also welcome to bring their favorites:

* Cobalt Cafe, 21622 Ventura Blvd., Woodland Hills. (818) 348-3789.

* Common Grounds, 9250 Reseda Blvd., Northridge. (818) 882-3666.

Joe Cafe, 12232 1/2 Ventura Blvd., Studio City. (818) 760-7563.

Iguana Cafe, 10943 Camarillo St., North Hollywood. (818) 763-7735.