Purchase Chess Sets

If you are purchasing a chess set for a friend or a loved one and you do not know about the different styles, designs, history or themes of chess sets it can be a daunting task. Listed here are some key elements to consider when choosing a chess game so you can make an educated decision.

The chess player likes and dislikes in terms of art or decor.

The chess player's skill level.

The chess player's preference of wood or metal.

The chess player's overall knowledge of chess history.

Whether or not the chess player is a tournament player.

The first order of business would be to try and match the set to the person's likes dislikes regarding art or decor, you would not want to purchase a marble set if the person has a major dislike of stone figures. If he or she likes history then a themed chess set that recreates an event in history would be an excellent choice, as an example they may be Civil War buffs or American history fans. Another idea is if they are sports fans there are a large variety of chess sets that cater to the baseball, football or golf fans. There are a large variety of themes and styles to choose from including sets from the Renaissance period, medieval era, movie themes and many more.

Another consideration is the skill level of the player this is important because if he or she is just getting started with the game then it will be to their advantage if you purchased an electronic chess set or a chess trainer. There are chess computers that will help improve their game by challenging them at various skill levels and teach strategy regarding opening moves, a middle game and an endgame. Another advantage of a chess computer is you can play the game anytime because they do not require an opponent. Many of these sets have famous games of the Grandmasters programmed in them so that the player can relive the moment and learn from the experience.

When you are purchasing a chess set for the first time it is also important to decide on whether to invest in a metal set or a wooden chess set, the type of board will also play into this consideration.

It is important to know if the player has knowledge of chess history because if they do it will more than likely influence their preferences in terms of the style and look of the chess pieces and the chess board.

Finally another factor to consider is if the player participates in chess tournaments, the reason for this is they will know what type of chess sets are considered as tournament quality sets, in terms of make, size and other tournament requirements. It is a known fact that the Staunton chess set is the preferred set for tournament play and more than likely they would not settle for anything less.

It is also very important that the chessmen and the chess board are properly matched, however if you purchase your set from a game store that has a large inventory and a section dedicated to chessmen, chess boards and chess sets they will have matched the set for you or will be able to give you the necessary insight to make the right investment.

Chess players for the most part take great pride in their sets and their skill so investing in a quality chess set is like investing in a fine piece of art.

Choosing The Right Size Of Chessmen and Chess Boards

There are many options when deciding which chessmen or chess boards to invest in. There is stone, metal, wood or plastics to choose from and the choice is strictly one’s own preference. However if you prefer to use chess tournament standards here are some guidelines:

The size of your chess board squares should be approximately 1.25 to 1.3 times the diameter of your king’s base.

As an example chess board squares that are approximately 2 ¼” would be matched well with a king that is approximately 4”.

The height of your king should be 3.35” to 4.13” the preferred height by most players is 3.75” to 4”.

The diameter of your king should be 40 to 50 percent of its height.

The Staunton chess set is the standard and is usually made of plastic or wood.

When you are deciding which chess set to invest in the chooses are strictly up to you in terms of material, color and size, the most important factor to consider is the king base size versus the board you are placing it in. You would not want a king that has a 1” diameter base on a chess board that had ¾” squares.

You can feel safe purchasing a set that has both chessmen and chess board because the set has already been matched for you. However if you are purchasing your chessmen and the board separate then the guidelines here would apply. You can always get consultation from the chess merchant you are getting you set from as well.

Already own your chessmen and just need the right board size? Here is a quick tip, take 4 of your chess pawns and place them together to form a square, this is the size your new chess board squares should be.