user11629: I often see this phrase being used in chess articles, apparently used to distinguish these players from professional chess players, grandmasters, etc.
But what exactly are they?

What Elo range?
Only players associated with a club?
Why not call them amateurs?


user11245: In general, the notion of a club player denotes some level of seriousness about approach to the game, including studying (at least some opening preparation, and certainly tactics practice, and possibly endgame theory), and occasional tournament play, which may or may not be limited to club tournaments.  There are certainly patzers in clubs, and amateurs who don't really care about improving, but that's not what the term is intended to describe.  See, for example, Kostyev's "40 Lessons for the Club Player", by which he clearly means instruction for improving intermediate players.

user17: By definition, a "club player" is someone who follows "organized" chess at a club.
They attend lectures by professional players, follow their games, read their books, and play (occasional) simultaneous games with the pros, and more often games with other, similarly inclined players.
While the pros are technically "club" players, the term is used to describe people who are below pro, or at least master, level; that is below ELO 2200 or so. These are "serious" players, usually intermediate to strong, because they play "organized" chess at clubs, that are "amateurs" who are not good enough to make a living at chess.

user4362: If you call somebody a club player, you not only distinguish him from professionals and masters (though those obviously play in clubs too), but also from hobbyists. And that distinction makes some sense, because hobby players usually don't reach a strength beyond 1500 Elo or so. 
So a club player is somebody who is serious about chess, plays rated games regularly and knows something about the game. He is only implicitly not a master (otherwise you'd call him that). Depending on which distinction you want to stress, you might also call him a "rated player" or an "untitled player". 
The term amateur is also often used, but of course, depending on context, an amateur can also be a hobbyist or even a non-professional world class player (like, Euwe, McShane, Malakhov …).

11629: <p>I often see this phrase being used in chess articles, apparently used to distinguish these players from professional chess players, grandmasters, etc.</p>

<p>But what exactly are they?</p>

<ul>
<li><p>What Elo range?</p></li>
<li><p>Only players associated with a club?</p></li>
<li><p>Why not call them amateurs?</p></li>
</ul>
 11245: <p>In general, the notion of a club player denotes some level of seriousness about approach to the game, including studying (at least some opening preparation, and certainly tactics practice, and possibly endgame theory), and occasional tournament play, which may or may not be limited to club tournaments.  There are certainly patzers in clubs, and amateurs who don't really care about improving, but that's not what the term is intended to describe.  See, for example, Kostyev's "40 Lessons for the Club Player", by which he clearly means instruction for <em>improving</em> intermediate players.</p>
 17: <p>By definition, a "club player" is someone who follows "organized" chess at a club.
They attend lectures by professional players, follow their games, read their books, and play (occasional) simultaneous games with the pros, and more often games with other, similarly inclined players.</p>

<p>While the pros are technically "club" players, the term is used to describe people who are below pro, or at least master, level; that is below ELO 2200 or so. These are "serious" players, usually intermediate to strong, because they play "organized" chess at clubs, that are "amateurs" who are not good enough to make a living at chess.</p>
 4362: <p>If you call somebody a club player, you not only distinguish him from professionals and masters (though those obviously play in clubs too), but also from hobbyists. And that distinction makes some sense, because hobby players usually don't reach a strength beyond 1500 Elo or so. </p>

<p>So a club player is somebody who is serious about chess, plays rated games regularly and knows something about the game. He is only implicitly not a master (otherwise you'd call him that). Depending on which distinction you want to stress, you might also call him a "rated player" or an "untitled player". </p>

<p>The term amateur is also often used, but of course, depending on context, an amateur can also be a hobbyist or even a non-professional world class player (like, Euwe, McShane, Malakhov …).</p>
