The author is a chess player himself.

It was not our intention to offend anyone.

Disclaimer2: The following article contains several affiliate links to Amazon.com, meaning that if you go to Amazon and buy the recommended product (or some other product in an allotted period of time), the author of these lines will get a commission % from the purchase

It is that time of the year again.

When streets get overdecorated, overcrowded and too cold for anyone to leave the house and enjoy it.

When radio stations smother us with Mariah Carey, Chris Rea and Wham songs! When TV stations repeat the Home Alone movie for the 213432th time.

When we spend two weeks hanging out with our family and stuffing ourselves with food only to regret it and make a radical „I-am-going-to-a-gym-and-losing-weight New Year’s Eve decision“ at the end of it.

Also known as Christmas time!

As the reader might have figured out by now, I am not a big fan. And I haven’t yet mentioned the worst thing: the realization that we don’t really know people around us that well.  The realization we don’t have the slightest idea what to put under the tree for them. The realization we have to spend a big amount of time, money and nerves to get them a present.

Buying presents for ordinary people is difficult enough. But buying them for those nerds who think they are incredibly smart – who call themselves chess players – is a nightmare.

I mean, what can you get for someone who spends their whole days in front of their computer screen flagging opponents on Lichess? Who is not interested for anything else apart from studying open and closed pawn structures and 65 moves of the Najdorf Sicilian? Who thinks receiving a gift is when your opponent overlooks a knight fork that wins their queen?

There’s a limit to how many times you can get them a brand new chess clock or a brand new chess set. And don’t they already own every chess book that has ever been written. What is there to do?

Well, don’t despair. We have previously assembled a list of 10 gift ideas for chess players. In this article, we will extend that and make another list with 14 creative gifts you can get for your favourite woodpusher.

Hope you will find it useful.

Merry Christmas, you filthy animals!

Oh Yeah Men’s Funny Chess Socks

In the first book about the Boy-Who-Lived, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, the following conversation between Harry and Dumbledore, regarding the Mirror of Erised – a mirror that shows the deepest wishes of our heart – takes place:

“Professor Dumbledore. Can I ask you something?”

“Obviously, you’ve just done so,” Dumbledore smiled. “You may ask me one more thing, however.”

“What do you see when you look in the mirror?”

“I? I see myself holding a pair of thick, woolen socks.”

Of course, Dumbledore wasn’t telling the truth. But we can learn something from his witty remark. One never has enough socks. Especially during cold December nights. Getting a pair of socks with a chess motif is bound to cheer up a chess player even if he recently lost a game.

P.S. If you think yellow is too girly, you can always consider getting the black and white version instead.

Chess Tie

Nowadays, more and more chess tournaments introduce a formal dress code. It is a huge problem for chess players. Most of them don’t follow fashion. And don’t have a style.

Fortunately, for every problem, there is a solution. If you want to help a fellow chess player look sharp and get him something he might like, a chess tie might be a good choice.

A word of caution is required, though. Please make sure the chess player in question is not a follower of the „NO DRAW“ policy.

Because they would never like a tie.

Chess Cufflinks

A famous fashion quote states that:

„A trinket is what separates boys from men“

Okay, I might have just invented that. But after the socks and the tie, getting a chess trinket should be your final step on the path toward chess modeling.

These cufflinks might be an ideal choice. Not only are they beautiful and affordable. But a chess player can also execute everyone’s favourite chess tactical element with them.

He can PIN them.

Chess Solitaire

Chess players usually don’t have the need to play other games. Why would they waste time with something as primitive as checkers? Or something exotic and oriental as Go? Or Shogi – a cheap Chinese replica of our perfect game?

Even so – there is an exception to every rule. Sometimes it is useful to take your mind for chess and indulge in a game for the masses. Especially if it is somehow connected to chess.

This chess solitaire combines the rules of the peg solitaire and chess. It is an ideal present for the members of the younger generation.

Members you’d like to hook on chess in a fun and engaging manner.

Chess Rook Piggy Bank

It is well known pursuing chess as a career is difficult. A common notion is that chess players are poor. It has something to do with the fact it is difficult to win prize money in tournaments. But it also has something to do with the fact chess players handle their finances like they handle their losses.

Not very well.

If you wish to come to the rescue, you might consider buying a chess rook piggy bank for a fellow chess player. Then you can tell him he has to put a penny for every blunder he commits. After some time, he should have a whole lot of pennies.

I guess you could say it protects him against being … brooke.

I will show myself out.

Chess Bookend

Have I mentioned already that chess players own too many chess books they don’t have time to read? Let me also point out that they usually own physical copies, because reading chess books in digital format is difficult and probably useless.

Chess players are also often disorganized and untidy. Due to all that, they often have trouble with books falling off their shelves.

That’s where these chess bookends come in handy. They held everything in order. And they might motivate the chess player to pick up a chess book and actually read it.

Instead of wasting time playing blitz chess online.

Lunarable Board Game Apron

An ideal gift to buy if you are a misogynist. And if you intend to buy it for a female chess player. As scarce as they are.

It has a dual functionality. When you hand it over, you can first say that it will help her stay in the kitchen, where she belongs. Then, if she objects, you can use the eternal “But women can’t play chess anyway” argument.

(Before you start chastising me because I am not funny and am insulting women, please read the following interview with Tijana Blagojevic in which we talked in great detail about women in chess and in which I expressed my opinion about the problems and difficulties women face)

 Chess Salt and Pepper Shakers

Since we have already mentioned kitchen–

Everybody knows there is nothing worse than unsalted and insufficiently peppered food. Especially when you are a chess player attending a tournament. After a 6-hour long battle at the board, there is only one way you can stop being hangry.

Chess salt and pepper shakers solve this problem effectively. Everybody will look at you weirdly if you take regular shakers in a fancy restaurant. Nobody will look at you weirdly if you take chess shakers during a chess tournament.

Besides, there is another benefit they provide chess players with.

They also help to make them even more salty.

Kidac Wine Stoppers Novelty Chess Bottle Set

Once you ate salty and peppered food, you will be thirsty. Everybody who has ever visited a chess tournament in Croatia knows how much alcohol chess players can drink. Every chess club in Croatia has at least one story about one of the members getting wasted beforehand and then winning an official game.

As mentioned above, chess players are also rather poor. Which means they can’t afford bottles of fine wine on a regular basis. Therefore, once they DO get one, it would be a pity to drink it all at once.

This is where a Wine Stoppers Chess Set comes in handy. It allows the player to preserve the leftovers before putting them in the refrigerator.

And you can also use them as a substitute if a piece from your set ever goes missing.

Chess Christmas Ornament

Decorating a Christmas tree is the most typical Christmas tradition.

And also the most competitive one. If you have zero ambition to have the most beautifully decorated Christmas tree in your neighbourhood, you might as well not celebrate Christmas.

With the help of these beautiful Chess Christmas Ornament, you may finally succeed in making your neighbours jealous.

And having the nerdiest Christmas Decorations at the same time.

What more can a chess player want?

Black King White Queen Chess Pieces Pillow Case

This simple but affordable chess pillowcase is another good gift idea for a chess player. It may help him sleep better after a dramatic game he lost. Or an overly extended online blitz session.

There is only one exception. It is not a great gift for World Champions. They apparently don’t have trouble sleeping.

Even during the game.

Creative Art Fantasy Chess Shower Curtain

Chess tournament halls are probably the smelliest places I have ever had the misfortune to spend my time in. It is not uncommon to feel an unpleasant scent, especially during hot summer months.

If your fellow chess player fits the description, you might consider getting him this chess shower curtain. Even if they don’t get the hint, you may tactfully try to tell him he might sometimes use it.

I may sound arrogant, but let’s be frank – many chess players are painfully neglecting their personal hygiene.

Skyline New York Chess Set

In the introduction to this article, I wrote that chess sets are not the most creative chess gift ever. Being a fraud and the flagger I am, I naturally decided to include a chess set on this list (Remember kids – never trust someone who flags in rook vs rook positions).

However, I have a good reason for that. Only recently did I get acquainted with the Skyline Chess, a company which crafts specialized chess sets based on iconic city skylines. They currently have London, New York and San Francisco chess sets.

Out of the three, I liked the New York one the most. At least more than London.

 I hate the London System.

Frenchi Home Furnishing Chess Table

Even though chess is played mainly over the Internet today, many chess player stil like real life encounters. There is something appealing and romantic in touching the pieces or seeing your opponent completely lost with your own eyes.

The basic requirements for real-life games are a chess clock and a chess set. However, for the full experience, a chess table is an ideal gift. This Frenchy Chess Table has an elegant design and two drawers for piece storage. It allows a fellow chess player to invite a friend over for a couple of games, wine and cigar.

Or at least it would have allowed.

If chess players had any friends.

The post Another 14 Chess Gift Ideas For Chess Players appeared first on Chessentials.

There are many advantages of being a chess player.

Apart from high intelligence, fantastic sense of humour, humbleness and distorted outlook on reality, the main one is probably the amount of equipment you need to buy. In order to become a chess player, you need just two things – a chess clock and a chess set.

Perhaps not even that.

As we have elaborated in a previous post – in the 21st century, chess is accessible. Even without the chess set, you can go online, visit one of the popular chess websites, find a suitable opponent and become a typical blitz online player. There are strong players who learned to play via the Internet who don’t even own a chess set.

However, if you plan to play chess in the real world as well, you can’t manage without one. Many amateur tournaments run into difficulties because of the lack of chess sets (and chess clocks). The organizers often ask players to bring their own equipment. Having a chess set sometimes makes the difference between participating and kibitzing.

Also, owning a chess set allows you to call your friends and play chess in person. You are able to look them in the eye while you make a winning move. You are able to provoke them. You are able to taunt them. You are able to trash-talk them.

You are able to call them too weak and too slow.

Besides, is there a greater joy than the feel of a wooden piece between your fingers? Especially if your opponent has just blundered it?

In this article, we will mention factors we consider important when buying a chess set. Then, we will wrap things up with our own list of best chess sets.

HOW TO CHOOSE A CHESS SET?

Buying a chess set is a difficult task.

The first problem we encounter is the psychological phenomenon known as the paradox of choice. When confronted with an abundance of possibilities, we often decide against choosing any of them.

There is a dozen chess vendors nowadays, who offer thousands of possible piece-and-board configurations. It is often confusing to orientate yourself in this dense forest. There is so much to choose from that often we don’t know what to do, get irritated, give up and go solve tactics instead.

How should one go about choosing a chess set then? The best advice we can come up with is –  it depends. When buying a chess set, we need to consider a number of factors. The decision is highly individual – factors someone considers important are completely irrelevant for others.

There is no straightforward answer to the question which chess set is best for you. In order to help you with the selection process, we have singled out some factors we consider crucial.

• PRICE

As expected, the number one factor is the depth of your wallet.

Ultimately it all revolves around money. If I may paraphrase J.R.R.Tolkien, money is the: „Master factor to rule them all“. As Scott W. Adams has beautifully described in one of his Dilbert comics, we chess players live in a „one-variable world.“

Every factor we mention later in this post depends on the price. Buying a chess set is a game of trade-offs between money and quality. In general, the more money you spend  – the higher quality of the chess set you get.

There are two important caveats, though.

First of all, the positive correlation between money and quality is valid…but only up to a certain point. Buying a chess set can become an expensive sport. Past a certain threshold, you stop paying for quality and start paying for luxury. There are outrageously pricey chess sets out there which don’t offer anything substantial.

Secondly, the quality doesn’t always play an important role. Sometimes it makes sense to buy a chess set of a LOWER quality. It all depends on its purpose.

• PURPOSE

Before spending a huge amount of money on a chess set, you might consider what you want to do with it.

If you intend to compete in tournaments, functionality is more important than aesthetics. You might get standard tournament chess sets which are usually not that expensive – but which serve their purpose. On the other hand, if you need one to play friendly games at home, you are a chessboard collector or are looking for an ideal gift for a chess player, you might go for something fancier.

You might even prefer getting a customized chess set over a standard one.

• CUSTOMIZED OR NOT

In the 19th century, there was a great need for a standardized chess set with universally recognized pieces. In 1849, the so-called Staunton chess set, named after one of the strongest players of that time, Howard Staunton, was invented. To this day, it is a standard chess set used in chess tournaments.

However, apart from standardized chess sets, vendors offer a number of customized chess sets, with motifs from popular culture, history, mythology, etc. Customized chess sets are not practical – the pieces are sometimes difficult to recognize and the dimensions of the pieces often don’t match with the size of the board.

But, they ARE beautiful. If you are attached to a certain historical era or movie saga and you don’t need a chess set for tournament play, you might find them more attractive. That’s why, apart from the list of best tournament chess sets, we also assembled a list of best customized chess sets at the end of this article.

• DIMENSIONS

After dealing with the ‘philosophical’ aspect of buying a chess set, let us turn our attention to the physical characteristics of a chess set. The dimensions of a chess set are important. Especially if you are not purchasing your first chess set and are lacking space on your shelves. In general, the bigger the chess set, more practical (but also pricey) it is.

Like everything else, the relevance of dimensions tightly connected to the purpose. If you plan to participate in chess tournaments, a tiny pocket chess set is probably a terrible idea. On the other hand, if you are traveling by train, you probably won’t manage without one.

Unless you live in Russia the chess country.

• MATERIAL

Throughout the history, different raw materials, such as ebony, ivory and marble, have been used for the manufacture of chess sets. Today, plastic and wood are most commonly used for chess pieces, while plastic, wood and carton are used for chess boards. In FIDE chess tournaments, chess pieces should be made out of wood or plastic (or imitation of these materials). Chess boards should be wooden for elite events, and wooden, plastic or card for regular events.

(Source: Fide Handbook: Standards Of Chess Equipment)

In general, plastic chess sets are cheaper, but of lower quality. Wooden chess sets are more expensive, but more durable (and more beautiful). Choice of the material is once again a trade-off between the price and the quality.

There is also a fair number of chess sets made out of glass. Glass chess sets are not only useless in FIDE events, but in friendly games as well – the transparency of the pieces and the board makes it more difficult to keep track of what’s going on. Also, glass chess sets are very fragile and more expensive.  The only real advantage is their beauty – glass chess sets are usually very artistic and ornamental. We would recommend them if you are a passionate collector who can afford it – for regular chess players they are not an optimal choice.

 (You can read more about the manufacturing process of chess sets here)

• VENDOR

Last, but not the least – the choice of chess vendor is important. The number of chess vendors is increasing on a daily basis and unfortunately, not all of them offer high-quality products. Although we are not against the open-mind policy, in general, big and old vendors are more reputable than small, unknown ones. In a niche saturated with competition, large companies have not remained large by coincidence. It is, thus, worth keeping in mind who are you buying from.

Some of the notable chess vendors are:

• House of Staunton

The biggest, oldest and most reputable name out there. The variety of their products is astonishing. and the quality is guaranteed. The price range of the products varies, but if you are on a tight budget, perhaps you want to consider other options.

• Chess House

Originally a small, Kansas-city chess company has become House of Staunton’s main competitor. It offers an even wider variety of products at somewhat more affordable prices. Although buying at House of Staunton is never wrong, Chess House seems like a decent alternative.

• The Chess Store

A third very big name, which seems to lag a bit in every aspect compared to House of Staunton and ChessHouse. The offer is not so wide, the prices are not so much cheaper and according to some reviews, the customer service is not as efficient.

• Chessbazaar

A relatively new company, whose products are extremely affordable. Chessbazaar offers free shipping worldwide. A unique advantage in the world of chess vendors.

• Wholesale Chess

Another company with the similar philosophy as Chessbazaar. Wholesale Chess offers you a unique deal – a price match policy. If you find the same product elsewhere for a lower price, they will reduce their price to match it. Primarily for people on a tight budget.

• Caissa Chess Shop

This Polish-based chess company led by Grandmaster Jurij Zezulkin is the cheapest of them all for chess schools and clubs – it offers massive discounts when you order 10 or more products.

(Of course, there are other respectable vendors not mentioned on this list. We have covered only the most common ones. There is a number of smaller, local-oriented chess vendors, such as Spanish vendor Rechapados Ferrer, who offer high-quality products).

With the choice of vendor, we have covered all the important aspects of buying a chess set. Hopefully, the reader is now what he needs to pay attention and is able to answer the question: How to buy a chess set.

Before we jump to the final part of the article, let us share the advice of the legendary American Grandmaster Larry Evans:

Make sure the one you buy is easy on the eye, felt-based, and heavy (weighted). The men should be constructed so they don’t come apart. … The regulation board used by the U. S. Chess Federation is green and buff—never red and black. However, there are several good inlaid wood boards on the market. … Avoid cheap equipment. Chess offers a lifetime of enjoyment for just a few dollars well spent at the outset.

(Source: Larry Evans – Evans on chess)

In the remainder of the post, you will find our list of best chess tournament and customized chess sets.

LIST OF BEST TOURNAMENT CHESS SETS

We will start with the list of best tournament chess sets, which are in general more durable and more suitable for practical play.

Analysis Chess Set

Board Dimensions                   34.925 x 34.925 cm

Square Dimensions                  3.810 x 3.810 cm

Board Material                          Vinyl

King Height                               6.35 cm

Piece Material                           Plastic

Price                                        5.95 $

House of Staunton’s analysis chess set is the basic and the most affordable chess set on the list. As its name suggests, it is suitable mainly for the analysis. It can be used to follow chess games, to read a chess book, or to teach children the basic rules. It can be used as a tournament chess set, although its dimensions and quality aren’t ideal for that purpose.

Regulation Tournament Chess Set

Board Dimensions                    50.8 x 50.8 cm

Square Dimensions                   5.70 x 5.70 cm

Board Material                           Vinyl

King Height                                9.53 cm

Piece Material                            Plastic

Price                                          9.95 $

Another House of Staunton’s chess set, suitable for chess tournaments. In contrast to the analysis chess set mentioned above, regulation tournament chess set has a bigger board, bigger and heavier pieces and comes in different colours. If you are a regular tournament player, this set is a much better option.

It also comes with a small case or with a big case for your pieces.

Tournament No 5 Staunton Chess Set

Board Dimensions                    48 x 48 cm

Square Dimensions                   5 x 5 cm

Board Material                           Beech, Birch, Mahagony, Sycamore Wood

King Height                                9 cm

Piece Material                            Hornbearn

Price                                           52.48 $

A wooden chess set, more suitable for travelling, playing and participating in tournaments than for keeping at home. Reviews vary from catastrophic to excellent. It is definitely not top-notch quality, but on the other hand, it is relatively affordable.

Kavi Black Inlaid Wood Chess Set

Board Dimensions                     45.72 x 45.72 cm

Square Dimensions                   4.50 x 4.50 cm

Board Material                            Inlaid Maple and Ebony Wood

King Height                                8.89 cm

Piece Material                            Inlaid Maple and Ebony Wood

Price                                          109.98 $

A set by California retail company Best Chess Set, manufactured and assembled in China. Pieces are weighted and padded on the bottom to protect the board. If you are into a heightened board, this is a choice for you.

The House of Staunton Grandmaster Chess set

Board Dimensions                     44.45 x 44.45 cm

Square Dimensions                   4.50 x 4.50 cm

Board Material                           Ebonized Bookwood

King Height                                8.26 cm

Piece Material                             Ebonized Bookwood

Price                                          188.89 $

Another gem by House of Staunton. A handcrafted wooden chess set of considerable quality which is not luxurious by any means, but still has considerable quality. By their own admission:

„We at the House of Staunton understand that not everyone can afford one of our luxury Chess sets, so we proudly offer the Grandmaster Series Chessmen for your consideration – A high-quality wooden Chessmen at a reasonable price!“

British Staunton Chess Set

Board Dimensions                      54.61 x 54.61 cm

Square Dimensions                     5.5 x 5.5 cm

Board Material                 Black Stained Wood and Ash Burl Veneer and Wood Materials

King Height                                  10.16 cm

Piece Material                              Ebony and Boxwood

Price                                            459.00 $

This beauty by the Spanish vendor Rechapados Ferrer attracted our attention mainly due to its visual quality. A perfect match between golden and dark colours creates a sharp and appealing contrast. The pieces and the board are hand-made and polished. Their dimensions are suitable both for tournament play and for keeping the board at home. The only drawback of this board is, as expected, somewhat higher price.

·        The Burnt Zagreb ’59 Series Chess Set

Board Dimensions                     57.15 x 57.15 cm

Square Dimensions                   5.7 x 5.7 cm

Board Material                           Blackwood, Maple, Mahagony

King Height                               9.84 cm

Piece Material                           Boxwood

Price                                         629.00 $

Considering I come from Croatia, I may be a little biased, but this chess set immediately attracted my attention. This hand-made set is an adaptation of the popular chess set used in Major International Tournaments in the 1950s, most notable World Championship Candidates Tournament in 1959, held in Bled, Zagreb and Belgrade (hence its name).

The pieces are extremely beautiful and the box that comes with the chess set is an extra touch. The set is a bit pricey, but the purchase is well worth the money.

The Savano Series Luxury Wood Chess Set

Board Dimensions                     60.325 x 60.325 cm

Square Dimensions                   6.4 x 6.4 cm

Board Material                           Elm Burl and Bird’s Eye Maple

King Height                                9.84 cm

Piece Material                            Wood

Price                                          1399.00 $

Since any list would be incomplete without at least one Luxury Set, we have decided to feature House of Staunton Savano Luxury Set. This heavily weighted set is hand-crafted. It is visually beautiful, but also functional for practical play. It also comes with the box which contains a separate compartment for every piece.

The only drawback – the price. As the word luxury in its name suggests, Savano Chess Set requires the depth of the wallet. But for those who are able to afford it, it is well worth the price.

QuadPro Magnetic Travel Chess Set

Board Dimensions                     25 x 24.79 cm

Square Dimensions                   N/A

Board Material                           Plastic

King Height                                4.98 cm

Piece Material                            Plastic

Price                                          10.94 $

The last two chess sets on the list of regular chess sets will be magnetic chess sets. The QuadPro Magnetic Chess Set is the cheaper option. Made out of high-quality plastic, it is a perfect choice to kill boredom during your trips. The reviews on Amazon are unanimously positive.

Wooden Magnetic Travel Chess Set

Board Dimensions                     30.48 x 30.48 cm

Square Dimensions                   3.15 x 3.15 cm

Board Material                           Wood

King Height                                6.35 cm

Piece Material                            Wood

Price                                          79.95 $

Compared to QuadPro Magnetic set, Wooden Magnetic Travel Chess Set is better in all aspects. The board is bigger, the product is made of wood and the height of the pieces is greater. We are not completely sure eight times higher price is worth it, but if you are constantly travelling and playing chess, you might prefer quality over funds.

LIST OF BEST CUSTOMIZED CHESS SETS

In general, customized chess sets are more suitable for collectors than players. They are usually made out of glass, not designed for practical play and usually slightly more pricey.

With that being said, we may conclude the article with a list of best customized chess sets.

Harry Potter Wizard Chess Set

Board Dimensions                     47 x 47 cm

Square Dimensions                   N/A

Board Material                           Plastic

King Height                               11.5 cm

Piece Material                           Plastic

Price                                         45 $

If you remember how you used to wait for Harry Potter books to come out, if you cried when Harry finally kissed Cho Cheng or if you screamed when Ron sacrificed himself in order to let Harry and Hermione advance in the movies that butchered the book, this set is for you. A reconstruction of the wizard chess set featured in the Harry Potter saga is a must for every Harry Potter fan out there.

Batman Chess Set Dark Knight Vs Joker

Board Dimensions                     18.5 x 18.5 cm

Square Dimensions                   N/A

Board Material                           Cardboard

King Height                                10.16 cm

Piece Material                            Plastic

Price                                          44.90 $

What would a list of chess sets be with at least one Batman Chess Set. And which villain is more iconic for the Batman Saga than the Joker, especially after Heath Ledger breathed him immortality in the Dark Knight.

This cartoon-like set is suitable for youngsters. It is officially authorized by the Warner Brothers. It is not ideal for playing, but it is ideal for teaching your kids how to play.

Oh, and have you checked the price?

Carribean Pirate Chess Set

Board Dimensions                     29.845 x 29.845 cm

Square Dimensions                   N/A

Board Material                           Glass

King Height                                N/A

Piece Material                            Resin

Price                                          114.99 $

If you are a fan of CAPTAIN Jack Sparrow, you might consider this glass Caribbean Pirate Chess Set. I will have to disappoint you – it does not contain a piece of Mr. Sparrow himself. But it does contain 32 distinctive pieces  – 16 Carribean Pirates and 16 British Royal Navy  Officers – you are able to put in separate compartments the set comes up with.

The price is acceptable as well.

Egyptian Chess Set

Board Dimensions                     55.88 x 55.88 cm ( 36.5125 x 36.5125 cm playing area)

Square Dimensions                   N/A

Board Material                           Glass

King Height                                7.62 cm

Piece Material                            Polystone

Price                                          168.00 $

From the distant Carribean, let’s switch to Ancient Egypt. This Egyptian Chess set is arguably the best buy on this list. It is visually remarkable. The board is decorated with four golden Sphinxes in the corners and with Scarabs and Hieroglyphics within squares. The price is not too high and the set is very durable. The only drawback is the height of the pieces.

Renaissance Knight Chess Set

Board Dimensions                    38.1 x 38.1 cm

Square Dimensions                  N/A

Board Material                          Glass

King Height                               5.08 cm

Piece Material                           Pewter

Price                                         216.49 $

In the same price range as the Egyptian chess set, the Renaissance chess set is another beautiful chess set ideal for history aficionados. With durable pewter pieces evoking the spirit of the Renaissance, it is guaranteed to attract views from the guests in your house.

Greek Roman Mythology God Chess Set

Board Dimensions                    38.1 x 38.1 cm

Square Dimensions                  4.76 cm

Board Material                          Wood

King Height                               9.68 cm

Piece Material                           Solid Resin

Price                                         199.95 $

If you prefer the mythology over the history (even though these areas often overlap), perhaps you might consider buying Greek Roman Mythological chess set instead.  If you ever wanted to lead Zeus into battle or capture the enemy Hera, this is an ideal choice for you.

Dragon Chess Set

Board Dimensions                     34.29 x 34.29 cm

Square Dimensions                   N/A

Board Material                           Glass

King Height                                6.98 cm

Piece Material                            Pewter

Price                                          199.99 $

If you were always jealous of Daenerys Targaryen because she was Mother of Dragons or if you loved Spyro the Dragon Saga, now you have the opportunity to set that injustice straight. This beautiful Dragon Chess Set features 32 pewter pieces shaped in form of different dragons. Reviews suggest this set is not durable or suitable for practical play, which is expected, since it is made out of glass. However, it is an incredibly beautiful and unique chess set.

Roman Gladiators Chess Set

Board Dimensions                     34.29 x 34.29 cm (40.64 x 40.64 cm is whole arena)

Square Dimensions                   3.81 x 3.81 cm

Board Material                           Glass

King Height                                6.98 cm

Piece Material                            Resin

Price                                          249.87 $

Another historical chess set is probably the best rated set on this list, with 94% 5-star reviews of Amazon, this gladiator chess sets made out of glass depicts Roman Gladiators in the Coliseum. Its base is a resin replica of the ancient amphitheatre and the board is made out of glass. A must have for any history buff and Roman Era devotee.

The Lord Of The Rings Collector Chess Set

Board Dimensions                     38.1 x 38.1 cm

Square Dimensions                   N/A

Board Material                           Glass

King Height                               N/A

Piece Material                           Pewter

Price                                         495.00 $

What would a list of chess set be without everybody’s favourite – the Lord Of The Rings. And what a chess set it is. Officially authorized by Warner Brothers, it contains 32 pieces which are precise miniature sculptures of the actual cast members, an ancient map of Middle Earth below the playing surface and the whole board resembles the city of Minas Tirith.

Of course, these benefits come with a sufficient amount of zeros. The Lord Of The Rings chess set is the second most expensive set on the customized chess sets list.

Gotham City Batman Chess Set

Board Dimensions                     50.8 x 50.8 cm (playing surface)

Square Dimensions                    N/A

Board Material                            N/A

King Height                                12.7 cm

Piece Material                            N/A

Price                                          1,119.00 $

Allow us to conclude this article with another chess set featuring a hero without superpowers – the Gotham City Batman chess set. This luxury chess set features Batman’s friends like Robin and Catwoman, but also his enemies like the Joker or Mr. Penguin. It is illuminated with 50 LED lights which circle the playing area. Buildings of the Gotham City can be found in four corners.

Of course, the price is an issue, but if you are as rich as Bruce Wayne, you won’t make a mistake if you go for it.

The post Best Chess Sets – The Ultimate Guide To Buying A Chess Set appeared first on Chessentials.

A chess clock, along with a chess set, represents the main equipment of a chess player.

Chess clocks are used in chess (and other board games, such as checkers or backgammon) to keep track of the time each players spends during the game.

To be completely honest, possesion of a chess clock and a chess set isn’t as important as it was in the past, because of the great availibility of chess in the 21st century.

However, there is still much joy in playing the opponent in real life instead over the computer screen.

Whether it is just a friendly evening blitz , or a serious tournament game, the sound of piece movement, clock ticking and old men coughing their lungs out represent an integral part of chess culture (note: for the sake of this article we consider that “friendly blitz games” do exist).

Also, if chess clocks never existed, the list of greatest chess blunders would probably be much shorter.

Most importantly, certain tournament organizers require the players to bring their own equipment to the tournament.

Therefore, I believe that anyone who considers him a chess player should own a chess clock of his own.

How to choose a chess clock?

The choice of ideal chess clock depends largely on your preferences as a chess player.

And the depth of your wallet.

Manufacturers of chess equipment really DO offer something for everyone nowadays.

From cheap clocks that offer basic functionality to more advanced chess clocks that have abundance of possible time controls preprogrammed.

However, even though chess clocks offer more possibilities than ever before, for an average chess players there are two basic characteristics of primary importance:

• Is a clock analog or digital?
• What time controls does a clock offer?

We will examine these characteristics in turn.

Analog or digital chess clock?

Before the birth of the digital era, analog chess clocks dominated the chess scene.

Analog chess clocks use mechanical buttons and are equipped with a flag that falls once a player’s time runs out.

That’s where the well known chess term of “flagging“ comes from.

However, analog chess clocks have a very serious drawback, since their functionality doesn’t include time controls with increments (see below).

Therefore, they have gradually been supplemented with the digital chess clocks, that are uniformly used today in chess tournaments.

Apart from being much more versatile and offering the options of time controls with increment, digital chess clocks are also much more practical overall.

Due to the ability of displaying both minutes and seconds, they are much more precise.

During my chess career, I have witnessed people making a move with just one second left on their clock. With analog chess clocks such scenario is virtually impossible.

One might be wondering what is the point of mentioning analog chess clocks in the first place.

Well, apart from the price factor, some chess players of older generation find it hard to adjust to new technologies.

And if you happen to be related to one, there is high probability that you will make your grandpa happy by agreeing to play a game using these old fashioned clocks.

Time increment or delay?

For the most part of the 20th century, chess tournaments were played on time controls that didn’t include increments.

It all changed when former World Champion Robert James Fischer applied patent number US 4884255 A.

The patent is a digital chess clock that adds a predetermined amount of time to each player after they make their move.

This clock gained international recognition after Fischer’s 1992 rematch against Boris Spassky. Nowadays, the so called Fischer clock is a standard clock used in chess tournaments held outside the USA.

Important variant of the Fischer clock is the so called Bronstein clock, named after the Grandmaster and former World Championship Challenger, David Bronstein.

Bronstein’s clock also uses increment as Fischer’s clock, with the key difference that maximum increment is not always added. If a player plays a move faster, he gains the same amount of seconds he spent when making a move.

This prevents players from gaining more time than they had at the start of the game. (You would be surprised to know how often this happens with Fischer’s clock in the local tournaments).

Another variation of digital chess clocks, used in chess tournaments held under the auspice of USCF (Unites States Chess Federation), introduces the idea of time delay instead of increment.

With the time delay, the time on the clock is paused instead of added. In principle, time delay is the same as time increment according to Bronstein, although digital chess clocks displays these two time controls differently.

In order to explain the difference between Fischer’s clock, Bronstein’s clock and time delay more clearly, let us look at two examples.

First, let’s consider that the time control is 5 minutes with 3 seconds increment, and that a player plays a move after 2 seconds:

• Fischer’s clock – The clock starts at 5:03, runs down to 5:01 and after the move ends up on 5:04
• Bronstein’s clock – The clock starts at 5:03, runs down to 5:01 and returns to 5:03 after the move
• Time delay – The clock is paused at 5:03 and nothing changes after the move

Secondly, let’s consider that the time control remains the same, but the player makes a move after 5 seconds:

• Fischer’s clock – The clock starts at 5:03, runs down to 4:58 and returns to 5:01
• Bronstein’s clock – Same as Fischer’s clock
• Time delay – The clock is held at 5:03 for 3 seconds, than runs down to 5:01 and remains at 5:01 after the move is made

One final word is required. Since there is a number of time controls that are used more often in tournaments, various chess clocks have a number of those time controls preprogrammed.

Although one can always adjust the clock manually, the automatic choice of time control often comes in handy.

By now you might be wondering how on Earth you ended reading about different time controls when all you wanted was a information on specific clocks.

But I think it is important to know the subtleties about different time controls when buying a chess clock. Different chess clocks offer various possibilities regarding the time control they have implemented.

Based on the criteria above, but also taking the wide array of price ranges into account, we have assembled a list of best chess clocks that are well established in the tournament practice.

List of best chess clocks

1. Ckeyin174 Digital  Chess Clock

Let us start with the most primitive chess clock out there. Ckeyin174 Digital Chess Clock is basically a simple timer.

It is probably not very suitable for serious tournament play since the timer is accompanied with alarm when the time starts running low.

However, if you are a casual player you might consider Ckeyin174 as a choice, because compared to other chess clocks, its price is considerably lower.

For more details and reviews, click here.

2. ZMF II Digital Chess Clock

ZMF II Digital Chess Clock is a product that finds itself in the category between the Ckeying174 and digital chess clocks examined below.

This clock incorporates both increment and delay time controls. It’s comparable advantages are that it is quite intuitive to handle (only three buttons) and that it offers most thing an average chess players needs for a reasonable price.

On the other hands, the clock does have somewhat limited capabilities and perhaps aesthetically it is not the most appealing (although it is a matter of taste).

For more details and reviews, click here.

3. Chronos GX Digital Chess Clock

The Chronos GX Digital Chess Clock can be regarded as the mother of all chess clocks. Both by it’s price and it’s capabilities.

Chronos offers virtually everything a digital chess clock can offer. Time delay, increments, preprogrammed time controls, high quality aluminium casing and tight electronics.

There are pitfalls, though. Compared to the DGT clocks examined below, the design is not as appealing. Additionally, users claim it is not very user-friendly; certain time controls tend to be very complicated to set.

Chronos is more common in the United States, although it is a regular clock according to the FIDE rules as well.

In the terms of pure quality and possibilities, you can hardly go wrong with Chronos if you are willing to say farewell to the somewhat larger sum of money.

For more details and reviews, click here.

4. DGT North American Chess Clock

In Europe,chess clocks made by Digital Game Technologies, or DGT, dominate the chess tournaments.

Out of the broad assortment of chess clocks they offer, there are three flagships that are especially worth mentioning.

The first is the DGT North American Chess Clock, the cheapest option primarly intended for players participating in USCF tournaments (as the most perceptive readers probably deduced after reading the name of the clock).

Compared to the other two models examined below, DGT North American has the least array of functions.

Its 23 preprogrammed options include all three time controls examined above. However, the main emphasis remains on time delay, making it very suitable for tournaments held under time delay time controls (like USCF official events).

DGT chess clocks have very pleasing aesthetics. North American’s blue frame with orange buttons is particularly attractive.

The main drawback of DGT chess clocks is lack of robustness. They get broken quite easily.

I still remember when a couple of years ago my friend FM Matej Blazeka borrowed his DGT chess clock to IM Milan Mrdja and late GM Krunoslav Hulak. 

The duo engaged in a heated blitz session with money stakes that lasted the whole night.

You can imagine that they weren’t very gentle with the clock. Indeed, the very next day IM Mrdja approached Matej with guilt written all over his face and murmured the words: “I fear we have some bad news. You might have suffered a loss yesterday.”

But as long as you don’t mash the buttons like a titled player, DGT chess clocks ARE an excellent choice.

For more details and reviews, click here.

5. DGT 2010 Chess Clock

The second DGT clock that definitely deserves its place on the list of best chess clocks it the DGT 2010 Chess Clock.

DGT 2010 is the most common clock one encounters in FIDE tournaments (at least in Europe).

DGT 2010 is much more powerful than the DGT North American (as the photo above confirms). It doesn’t have that many preprogrammed time delay functions, but the possibility of choosing between Fischer and Bronstein clock compensates for that drawback.

It’s colours are slightly more conservative, but it still looks rather elegant.

The combination of attractive visual identity, acceptable number of functions (36 options) and reasonable price make it a best buy on this list in my personal opinion.

The photo below is probably the most accurate description of my own thoughts related to this clock.

I have had my own DGT 2010 for almost 4 years now, and apart from regular  battery changes, I haven’t had any serious issues.

For more details and reviews, click here.

6. DGT 3000 Chess Clock

Everything we have said about the DGT Chess Clocks is also true for the DGT 3000 Chess Clock as well.

This model is the most expensive chess clock DGT has to offer. The reasons for somewhat higher price are as follows:

• Compared to DGT 2010 which shows seconds only for the last 20 minutes of the game, DGT 3000 shows seconds from the very start of the game.
• DGT 3000 has most flexible programming possibilities.
• DGT 3000 can be connected with the electronic boards and used in live broadcasts of the games.

This last factor is especially important. Although I don’t know a  chess player in Croatia that owns a DGT 3000, in many tournaments I have played, games on the first boards were transmitted live.

Therefore, this clock is a must have for a tournament organizer. But if you are willing to invest a fistfull of dollars more in a product of the highest quality, you probably won’t regret buying DGT 3000.

For more details and reviews, click here.

7. Analog Wood Chess Clock 

This list would be incomplete without at least one analog chess clock.

Since I haven’t used an analog chess clock for ages, I had to do some research to find a clock that I can recommend with full confidence.

I think that Analog Wood Chess Clock is a reasonable choice for the nostalgic chess players out there.

For the relatively modest price you receive a clock that has both frame and timer made out of wood.

For more details and reviews, click here.

The post Best chess clocks appeared first on Chessentials.

As a devoteed Big Bang Theory fan, I can’t avoid remembering a classic Sheldon quote at least once every December.

Because I think that the art of the gift giving is one of the most complicated life tasks there is. I think I would rather spend dozen of hours trying to understand Seinfield’s jokes than trying to figure out what the ideal present for my friend/relative/family member is.

And just in case you wondered why I haven’t added /girlfriend in the above description, the reason is that my girlfriend is very much the same as humour in Seinfield’s jokes.

Nonexistent.

Um…Anyway.. That’s how I got the idea to write this post. If you happen to know a chessplayer, it is probably not a bad idea to buy something related to chess as a gift.

And if you would like to get a LITTLE more creative and go with something other than conventional chess book/chess set choice, here is a brief list that might hopefully give you an idea or two.

I’ve also tried to take the different sizes of the budget into account. Because naturally, buying gifts with a big cheque in the hand is like playing the game on the “easy” mode.

1. CHESS CHOCOLATE CANDY MOLD

When the battle heats up during a chessgame, or when the time trouble approaches, taking some chocolate to relax the nerves is always a nice option to have. With these Tifan Silicone Candy Mold it is possible to make your own chocolate pieces. Just be careful during the game, because the phrase “eating the pieces” gets a whole new dimension.

2. CHESS WRIST WATCH

Time is definitely one of the most imporant factors in the life of every chessplayer. Many of us (unfortunately myself as well), are terrible at time management, not only during the chessgame, but also in life. Therefore, with a nice wrist watch such as Vintage Rook Collectible Wrist Watch you may help your colleague to avoid both time trouble during his chess escapades, and trouble during his life.

Especially if he is married.

3. COLOUR CHANGING CHESS MUG

Recently I have become aquainted with the colour-changin-mug phenomenon. Apparently, when you pour a hot beverage into these mugs, they start changing their decoration. To be honest, I haven’t studied the mechanicsm behind it, but for illustration you can check this youtube video.

Since we are limiting ourselfs to chess-related content, these IRocket Heat Changing Mugs are something I would definitely recommend.

Although I would like to own every possible colour changing mug on the world, from the moment I heard something like that exists.

4. CHESS MEMORY STICK

Chess memory stick is probably somewhat more conventional, but nevertheless very usefull tool for every chessplayer.  Since studying chess in modern times is unavoidably connected with the computers.

The Aneew Black Pendrive USB Flash Drives come in different size (from 8 to 32 GB). It will definitely come in handy, for instance to store a growing data with analysis, or simply just to have a backup in case of emergency.

5. CHESS BOTTLE STOPPER

This is the gift where i hesitated the most to give my recommendation.

Because judging from the tournaments held in my home country of Croatia, rarely does a bottle need a stopper when a chessplayer lays his hands on her.

Even so, these Chess Bottle Stoppers are not that expensive and are nice addition to have when the guests arrive.

Because nothing will get the dinner conversation going as a simple: “Oh, nice stopper.. You play chess?”

6. CHESS CUFFLINKS

Since I am not a very big jewerly fan, I avoided digging deeper into any necklaces or rings related to chess.

But this little cufflinks in the shape of the pawn and the knight have caught my attention.

They are best described as “cute” and seem like a nice addition to show your love of the game.

7. HARRY POTTER CHESS SET

I know I have talked against chess sets at the beginning of this post, but I think there are sets, and there are SETS.

This Harry Potter Chess Set is an ideal gift for people who like Harry Potter and who also play chess. All the pieces are identical as in the famous Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone chess scene.

I might  be  quite subjective here, since I am a HUUUGE Harry Potter fan.  But reminds me very much of the days when we were waiting impatiently for the new book to be written and than translated to Croatian.

Of the days when Emma Watson wasn’t the love of my life yet.

8. STAR WARS AWAKENING CHESS SET

Is any further commentary required? The things every NERDVANNA should incorporate. Is there anything better than playing with the Darth Vader as a king or Han Solo as a knight in this Star Wars Chess set?

9. MILLENIUM CHESSGENIUS CHESS COMPUTER

Nowadays, due to the apperance of the modern chess engines, chessplayers spend the majority of their chess time in front of the computer screen.

However, it is true that playing chess online is almost a different sport than playing chess over the board. However, it is not often possible to find a companion willing to spend a couple of minutes or even hours for a mere game of chess.

Therefore, the table top chess computers have made their appearance. Millenium ChessGenius is definitely the most affordable. With the playing strength of 2400 UCSF / 2000 ELO, it is a great gift for a novice chess player. Additionaly, if your kid is as inseparable from his SmartPhone as my brother, maybe this is a possibility to turn his attention to something a bit more useful than the typical click-click-click phone games.

10. NOVAG CITRINE CHESS COMPUTER

Finally, the mother of all gifts. The chess computer of all chess computers. The House of Staunton’s Novaq Citrine Chess Computer.

This computer is definitely the one with most possibilities. The maximum playing strength reaches IM- level, with estimated 2350 ELO rating.

Furthermore, the user can choose between 64 different playing levels. Meaning it will suit players of very broad playing strengths.

Additionaly, the board uses magnetic sensors to interpret your moves and LED lightning to indicate computer’s moves.

Naturally, as expected,  the only downside is the price.

You know I can’t avoid saying that once you get the CHECK, it might mean the MATE to your liquidity.

If you have any opinions, remarks, criticism, insults or jokes, feel free to comment below

The post 10 gift ideas for a chessplayer appeared first on Chessentials.