Chess is a game that can be enjoyed at home or on the go. At a park or even in the pub. Here are just 10 of the best chess sets for any venue.
Chess is one of the most popular games in the world, played by people from all cultures and backgrounds.
The history of chess goes back around 15 centuries, and the game itself originally started life in Northern India.
Although we’re not sure exactly when the first game of chess was played, experts believe that it was somewhere in the 6th century.
Since then, the humble chess board has seen a wide range of evolutions. Today, you can purchase a chess set in just about any shape or size.
There are sets designed to mimic popular franchises and television shows, and sets that look just like a work of art.
Here are just some of the best chess sets available on the market today, ranging from most affordable, to a few more luxurious options.
1. The Royal European International Chess Set
The Royal European International Chess Set from Wegiel is evidence that an item doesn’t have to be expensive to be beautiful.
This attractive wooden set comes with pieces hand-crafted from sycamore and hornbeam.
The board itself is made from a combination of birch and beach wood too. Great for taking with you when you travel, this board will fold closed, with enough felt-lined space inside for all of your pieces.
This is a great kit for people looking for a chess set that has plenty of traditional charm, as well as just a hint of stylish flair.
The hand-carved king pieces are particularly impressive.
2. Amerous Chess Set
If you’ve ever worried about losing your chess pieces before, then this Amerous chess set could be ideal for you.
Small enough that it’s easy to store anywhere, this unique chess set still has plenty of big appeal.
The magnetic surface keeps all of your pieces rooted in place, so you can walk away from a game for a while without losing your place.
The board itself is beautiful, with a lacquered wood finish that shines in the light, and beautifully polished pieces.
The compact design of the board combined with its folding hinge means that it’s easy to take this board with you when you travel too.
What’s more, there’s an anti-scratch surface at the bottom of each piece to help your kit last longer.
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3. Continental Portable Chess Board
Priced at a little over $25 dollars, this awesome chess set from Continental features Polish craftsmanship.
The board is made from beech and birch wood, with magnetic pieces that stick to the surface in play.
Each piece is made from hornbeam and sycamore wood, to give you that authentically traditional finish.
Like many of the budget-friendly chess sets on the market today, this option comes with a foldable board that features enough interior space to store all of your pieces when you’re on the move.
It’s also a small enough board that you’ll have no problem whipping it out to play when you’re traveling with your friends.
4. Harry Potter Wizard Chess Set
Ramping up a little bit in pricing, this Harry Potter-themed chess set comes it in at a cost of just over $40 – although that’s a small price to pay for such a beautiful homage to the book and movie franchise.
Officially authorized by the Warner Bros company, the kit comes with all of the classic features that Harry Potter lovers will recognize from the official “wizard’s chess” game in the book.
Although the board in this kit is relatively simple, the 32 chess pieces are incredibly detailed, making this set a perfect gift for a true HP fan.
Though the pieces are plastic instead of wood, they still look surprisingly good.
5. Husaria Wooden Three-Person Set
If you’re a true lover of a good chess game, then you’ll know that you don’t have to play with just two people.
There’s also the option to upgrade your challenge to a three-person game too.
This Husaria Wooden three-person chess set is excellent for people who want to take their chess habit to the next stage.
The folding hexagonal board is handcrafted from beech and birch wood.
Despite the large surface area of the board, it’s still compact enough to take with you when you travel when folded down.
The chess pieces in this kit are made from hornbeam and beech to give the kit a more traditional appeal.
Additionally, everything is lined with felt to reduce your risk of scratching the board.
If you’re looking for a unique chess kit, this is a great option for under $50.
6. Wegiel Ambassador Chess Board
Another beautiful chess set from the Wegiel brand, this Ambassador European kit is a little over $50, but it’s well worth the extra money.
The hand-carved board contains plenty of intricate details that might make you appreciate the game even a little more. You might not want to put this kit away when you’re finished playing.
The unique design makes it feel as though chess set should be on display somewhere at all times.
With a board made from beech and birchwood and pieces that were crafted by hand in Poland, it’s easy to tell that a lot of passion went into this unique kit.
The board does fold and offers plenty of space for storing your pieces if you do decide to put it away.
7. RADICALn Marble Chess Set
If you’re tired of wooden and plastic chess sets and you’ve decided that you’re ready for something different, then you’ll love this stunning marble kit from RADICALN.
This hefty kit weighs over 6kg, so you’re probably not going to want to haul this set around with you.
However, there’s a good chance that you wouldn’t want to take something this beautiful out of the house anyway.
Made from a striking combination of marble and onyx, this kit comes with green and white pieces, all beautifully carved and polished into the perfect shape.
For a little less than $60, you do get a beautiful looking board with all the “wow” factor you could want.
8. Helen Chess Inlaid Wooden Chess Set
Going back to something with a more traditional edge, this beautiful Helen Chess Inlaid wooden set comes with weighted wooden pieces that feel valuable in your hands.
The board itself is 15 by 15 inches in size, with an elevated platform that has been carved with unique shapes and details, to give your chess kit that extra touch of elegance.
The chess pieces are cut out of two different shades of boxwood, and the board is made from inlaid beech, taken from wood grown in Romania.
One unique thing about this particular kit is that all the wood that went into making it is sourced from eco-friendly environments. So, you know that your love of chess isn’t having a negative impact on the environment.
The box-shaped board opens up to reveal a padded interior where you can store your pieces when they’re not in use.
9. Abigail Chess Inlaid Wood Folding Board
Probably tone of the most expensive folding boards you’ll see on the market today, this Abigail chess set may be portable, but for a price of over $120, you might not want to take it out of the house very often.
This full-sized chess board is made from inlaid walnut and maple wood. All of the woods sourced for the kit are taken from ethical environments.
However, the chess pieces themselves aren’t made from wood in this kit. Instead, they’re polymer plastic with a base of padded leather.
Despite the chess pieces not being made out of wood, the Abigail board looks genuinely stunning.
It opens up to provide a padded storage area where you can keep your pieces safe between games.
10. RADICALn Chess Set in Marble and Onyx
If you’re looking for a genuinely stunning chess set, and price is no object to you, then you can’t go wrong with this beautiful RADICALn marble and onyx kit.
Priced at around $150, this set is going to set you back a bit of extra cash, but it comes with a truly beautiful selection of hand-carved marble pieces to admire.
Weighing around 22lbs, you’re not going to be able to take this kit with you to local park games, or play it on the train, but it’s a splendid piece of décor, and a great game to have displayed in your home.
Every aspect of this stone, onyx, and marble chess board has been carefully designed down to the last detail.
You’ll need to make sure that you find a safe place to store the pieces when you’re not using them!
