Chess is a game enjoyed by people of all ages and types and finding the right set to suit your personality is important as, hopefully, it’s going to be in the family for years to come and used on a regular basis. You can buy quality products from any chess specialist store, in many department stores or online where you’ll find a wide range of choice.
Chess boards are made from a variety of materials including marble, plastic, veneer and glass. For many players wood is the first choice due to its durability and beauty, even if just used for display purposes sets carved from sandalwood, ebony, walnut, maple, boxwood or rosewood when polished and varnished to bring out the grain of the wood are beautiful items to be admired.
Wooden chess sets come in all shapes and sizes and you can buy them in very plain designs, with elaborate etchings, or carved in exquisite detail with moulded edgings. Some sets have wooden boards with the pieces manufactured from a different material such as steel or marble for an interesting contrast, whilst others use the same material throughout to complement each other.
Wooden boards vary in size, buy a miniature folding board convenient for taking on holiday or your travels, you can even play in the car if you opt for a magnetic board. A large 21 inch tournament standard sized board is recommended if you’re a serious player, or for kids a 16 inch junior board is made specifically to accommodate their shorter arm length.
Prices start from under £10 to over £1000, and then some more! Obviously it all depends on the material and amount of craftsmanship that has gone into every chess piece. Wood is the traditional material to produce a quality chess set and you will find some that date back centuries still in existence and a testament to their durability. Whilst many are mass produced others have been lovingly carved by craftsmen and are very detailed in their design.
Luxury products come from all over the world and made by the finest chessmakers in Italy, Spain, Poland, Holland, Germany, India and the USA.
You can buy a chess set in a combination of ways, either buy the board and pieces together as a set, or buy a board and then the pieces as a separate purchase, the choice is yours really. There are plenty of places that sell boards and pieces separately and the mix and match can give it a totally unique look.
Before you decide to buy consider the following questions; where you will be playing – at home or whilst travelling around the country; the ability of the player – are they beginners or seasoned players; and your budget. If you are looking for a set for children who haven’t played before then investing in a simple lower-priced set makes more sense as they may lose interest in a few weeks. However if you are skilled and keen to play regularly then go ahead and spend more on a quality product, the amount of detail in the workmanship, the type of wood it’s made from and the size will all have an effect on the total cost.
Of course, when it comes to playing a game of chess it really isn’t important how much your chess set cost or how detailed the pieces are or what your chess board is made from! Chess is an academic game and what is important is acquiring the skills and knowledge required to win your opponent.
A beautifully finished, handcrafted chess set can make a stunning gift for a good friend, member of the family or even for you. As well as entertaining you for hours a quality piece of merchandise can also make a bold and elegant statement in your home – invest in a luxury item today and it will last you a lifetime.