Chess is played by a diverse range of people for many different reasons, they enjoy the companionship it offers, the skill and logical thinking it involves, the fact it can be played anywhere, and it’s a lot of fun and extremely challenging.

The main advantage of chess is that it allows you to make new friends and meet interesting people, whatever your age or wherever you live you are never alone if you can play. Popular with retirees as they have a lot of free time, it gives them a chance to exercise their brains and maintain mental alertness but doesn’t require too much physically.

Like many other games it’s a great way to wind down after a hard day at work and to relieve stress, having to concentrate and think about strategies takes away all thoughts of what happened that day and has a particularly soothing and calming effect. Said to improve thinking skills it can help you to reach a decision that might have felt unsolveable previously, and get your thoughts under control.

There are chess clubs all over the country that attract people from all walks of life, and just go online and you’ll find forums for the game where like-minded people have the chance to get together and talk about strategy and technique as much as they like. Carry a chess set with you when travelling and guaranteed you won’t be alone a lot – people will see the board and either strike up a conversation or challenge you to a game and soon you’ll have company and may even make a new friend or two!

Chess buffs are more than happy when they meet a fellow enthusiast as they can talk about their favourite subject for hours on end, and then some more! They love the structure of the game, the rules, and ruminating over strategies of famous games, they will invariably know every well-known player there is, what games they played, their opponents and the sequence of moves in famous games. An enthusiast is lively and logical, interested in lots of things, and they love a challenge particularly if it involves using the brain.

Professional players form chess clubs start off competing in local and then national competitions and tournaments, if they’re good enough they’ll end up travelling the world to participate in international matches. The best players have the capability to visualize the board in anticipation of moving the pieces, some are lucky enough to have a photographic memory which makes it easy for them to calculate the next move. Many hope to one day become grandmasters and they dedicate a lot of spare time to learning the inspired moves of past grandmasters and developing their own distinctive approach to the game. Try a folding chess board for easy transportation and take it with you wherever you go.

With online games becoming so popular it’s becoming increasingly popular with the younger generation, in some schools chess is now included on the timetable due to its known positive advantages including improving the reasoning process, ability to assess situations, increased self-motivation and self-confidence. Chess clubs are also common in universities particularly with mathematics students, it makes people feel part of a team and so encourages friendships, and as it’s known to develop both social skills and self-confidence it’s a game you should be encouraging your kids to learn.

When buying chess sets make sure it’s practical and sturdy, particularly if you are planning on carrying it from place to place regularly.  Take a look online as there’s a broad range of chess boards and pieces available, compare prices and quality by checking a few websites before making any decision. Sets are made from all kinds of materials such as rubber, plastic, glass and even stone, wood sets are generally the most popular as many are designed to be folded in half so you can safely store the pieces inside which is convenient for travelling, some also have an added handle letting you carry it around like a briefcase. Wood lasts for a long time and grows more beautiful with age. Choose from pine, walnut or oak, or pay a little bit more and get a set in ebony or rosewood.

Buying a chess set makes a great gift for anyone and can open up a whole new area of interest by allowing you to acquire new skills and make new friends with the same interest. There are clubs, internet sights and chat rooms where you can discuss games and moves until the sun comes up if that’s what you wish to do.

Buying a chess set that will be located at home means you can choose whatever size you like and made from whatever kind of material you prefer as it will be staying in one place. Although wooden chess sets are generally the most popular there are also lots of lovely products made from marble and glass to look out for if you want something more ornate. They look great displayed on a table or sideboard with all the pieces set up enticing those who see it to play a game.

Teaching your kids to play chess can train them to use a lot of skills that will come in handy throughout their life; it teaches them to focus, increases developmental thinking skills, and helps with logical thinking, decision-making, mathematics, problem solving and critical thinking. It is great practice for improving alertness and concentration and helps with memory retention – kids that play chess are liable to do well in their exams.

Take a visit to a chess store and you’ll be amazed at the sheer amount of choice on sale, particularly for kids which can be a lot of fun as there are many designs produced in creative and imaginative themes. You can find hand painted or plain wood styles designed with kids in mind as they are made specifically for those with a smaller arm span, plastic and wooden sets can be more durable and longer-lasting. Toy stores also have a selection of sets to check out that are fun and economical and are a great way to introduce chess to youngsters.

Choose a theme that appeals to your child, for boys’ dragons and dinosaurs are always popular, check out dragon knights riding motorbikes, dragon castles carrying surf boards or dinosaur pawns in all kinds of humorous poses. The characters of Peter Rabbit are super cute and sure to inspire younger kids to learn how to play. Or for older kids Robin Hood and his merry men battling the sheriff of Nottingham to save maid Marion across the chess board is a great historical and fun way to play.

If you’re shopping for a daughter then check out Alice in Wonderland, a timeless classic that comes complete with the chess pieces as the characters of the story. You can get it in either colourful painted figures or carved in plain wood design.  Or Winnie the Pooh chess pieces, a classic character that will be treasured by every child even when they’re grown up.

Buying a luxury set for your children can mean a gift for life that they can then hand down to their own kids when the time comes. Invest in a quality product and it will stay in the family for years to come, educating generations of kids and providing endless hours of amusement.

Order your set online and get it delivered for free within the UK. With express shipping available on the mainland you won’t have to wait around for your gift to arrive – it will be there the very next day and the fun can begin.

If you head into most town centers looking for buy a chess clock you will hopefully have some good walking boots and plentiful provisions. Essentially they have become specialist items and the only place to buy them now is chess specialists, which usually limits your shopping experience to the Internet. There are some key brands in the chess clock market, mostly European companies who have an interest in chess strategy and advanced tournament play.

DGT have emerged as the leaders in the digital chess clock arena whereas the German company Garde still represent some of the best analogue clocks (as well as digital) available. Of course there are plenty of generic clocks on the market, many will be hastily branded accordingly for the retailer selling them. Then there are the many Chinese cheap  chess clocks that are great for bulk school purchases, just don’t expect them to last as long as their European counterparts.

A good quality chess clock shouldn’t be expensive, expect to be able to buy something good for well under £80, remember that these things are not produced in mass quantities like cheap sunglasses and razor blades, so don’t expect anything too cheap!

A new movement is taking the chess world by storm in the USA. The Hip Hop Chess Federation is using chess to promote unity, strategy and non violence among young people in America. The Federation combines chess with music and martial arts to encourage young people to develop skills and attributes that will help them to avoid crime.

The process of playing chess develops peoples sense of strategy, decision making and realizing the consequences of their actions. It develops patience and skill and is a universal game that can be played accross cultures, language barriers and different social groups. Irrespective of ones race, gender or background, playing chess can unite people and develop an understanding of other peoples needs.

The Hip Hop Chess Federation was Founded by award wining lecturer and author Adisa Banjoko and Leo “Blast” Libiran.

“Despite the school system’s best efforts and intentions, and the efforts of overworked parents, the past generations have suffered from lack of suitable education and essential resources required for a successful life,” states co-founder Adisa Banjoko

It is hoped that the young people of America will benefit socially from the good work done by the federation. By creating a culture where a chess set takes the place of drugs or weapons on the streets of America a more prosperous future will lie ahead. The federation has received huge support from various well known artists. By aligning itself with iconic institutions of youth culture it makes itself accessible to young people who may have previously associated chess with the privileged & wealthy.