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.