Introduction
Do you want to start playing chess, but don’t know how to choose the perfect board? This step-by-step guide will help you find the best board for your needs. There are a few things to consider when making your purchase, such as size, materials, and style.
Whether you are a beginner or an experienced chess player, choosing the right chess board is important. The wrong board can make the game more difficult and frustrating than it needs to be. In this blog post, we will discuss the different factors you need to consider when choosing a chess board, as well as some of the best boards on the market today.
Let’s get started!
How to Choose the Perfect Chess Board?
While choosing a chess set may be partly based on preferences, it’s also important to consider the practicality of your decision. Do you prefer wooden or vinyl? By knowing precisely what you want, the decision will be much easier.
Some of the criteria that you might want to keep in mind are
- Serious gameplay or purely decorative?
- Travel Vs Home
- Size
- Material
- Design
- Budget
Let’s take a closer look at each one of them
● Serious gameplay or one that is purely decorative?
When purchasing a chess set, you might not think to ask yourself whether the set is for play or decoration. However, it’s an important question with a surprising answer – some sets are made purely for decoration and aren’t meant to be played with at all. While all of our sets are beautiful, some don’t play as well as others. For example, take a look at our “Slightly Imperfect Chessboard Series“– they are all stunning! However, because the pieces aren’t easily identifiable, it can be tough to play a game with them.
● Is the chessboard meant for home use or travel?
One of the most important steps in choosing a chessboard is whether you want a portable set or one for your home. If you plan to travel with it, make sure it’s not too heavy or delicate. You wouldn’t want it taking up valuable space in your luggage either.
Usually, portable versions of anything come with some sort of sacrifice in quality. For example, cheaper boards are likely to be less aesthetically pleasing than their sleeker counterparts that stay at home.
For those wanting a more convenient option, consider purchasing a folding board or small wooden chessboard with designated hollow spaces to keep all the pieces in one place.
A magnetic chessboard is a great option for pieces that are less likely to get lost on long trips. This way, you can also play while traveling without the risk of losing pieces.
Check out our Travel Series Chessboard.
● Size of the Chessboard
The size of your chessboard will affect both the cost and accessibility, with larger boards being more expensive but easier to play on if you have bad eyesight.
If you buy the board and pieces separately, make sure that the size of the pieces fits 75% of a square on the chessboard. If you buy them together, don’t worry as they come sized correctly for one another.
● Material of the Chessboard
There are a few things you should take into consideration when deciding what type of chessboard to buy. Ask yourself how important the material is to you, and weigh that against other factors such as price and durability.
For example, materials like wood or marble might be more attractive but they’re also usually more expensive and less durable. Wooden chess boards can easily get scratched, and marble can chip fairly easily as well.
If you don’t travel with your chess board, however, this shouldn’t be an issue. Otherwise, plastic chess sets are both affordable and durable; though they lack the feeling of authenticity that often comes with hand-crafted pieces.
● Design of the Chessboard
There are endless possibilities when it comes to choosing a design for your chessboard. If you buy the board and pieces together, they will usually match in color and style.
Some people prefer a more classic look while others prefer something more modern or even whimsical.
One important thing to consider is how good you are with chess notations.
If you can easily recognize a square without having the letters “a to h” and numbers “1 to 8” printed on the edge of the board, you should probably go with one that doesn’t have them.
On the other hand, if you’re just starting or need a little help keeping track of where each piece goes, it might be worth getting a chessboard with these notations.
● Budget
Your budget is, of course, a major factor when choosing any type of chess set. If you’re looking for a high-quality board with beautiful pieces, you can expect to pay more.
If you’re just starting, however, there are plenty of chess sets available at a lower price point. You can always upgrade later on as your skills improve.
Consider these factors when choosing a chess set and you’re sure to find the perfect one for you!
Shop CB Genuine Black Leather Sling Bag for Wooden Chess Board Fits up to 21″ or 54 cm Square Chessboards
Conclusion
So, what’s the best chessboard for you? It depends on your needs and preferences. We hope this article has helped make the process a little less daunting.
If you’re still stuck or have any questions, feel free to leave a comment below and we’ll do our best to help.
Happy shopping!
