chess
How Chess can improve your Analytical skills?
There are numerous of ways by which you can enhance your analytical skill and brainy cleverness by playing chess- the game of the kings!Understand How It Can Improve Your Analytical SkillsYou can learn to play chess at any group. It is beneficial for everybody especially for teenagers as it improves the memory of the player. Chess is regarded as a great exercise for the brain. Creativity also increases as you learn how to make moves by brewing up your own ideas. It lets you build up interest in future planning as it clear that by playing chess you got to be prepared surely in advance. Inner ideas develop repeatedly as your brain is active. Problem-solving expertise is also enhanced as the game of chess is like a big puzzle, where you need step by step sorting.The biggest benefit of playing a game of chess is it improves concentration level. Mental clarity also develops. Focusing your mind on your aim is most important and vital while lack of concentration like looking away or thinking about something else even for a single moment can result in the loss of a match similarly in real life not aiming for your target may lead to failures. Playing chess has loads of advantages. After every game you seem to learn a lesson or you can say you construct a new vision/outlook to see things. Chess is played between two players and each player is independent to compose the pattern of the game. In other words you are forced to make crucial decisions on your own. It is a very challenging game and one gains a lot of confidence by playing it. All you need is focusing power which builds up with practice. As you all know “practice makes a man perfect”.Chess is very useful for children. With physical exercise, mental exercise is also needed. So chess is a game to challenge one s brain. It involves lots of calculation work which enhances the quick response ability. The child gains presence of mind. He becomes responsible and disciplined.To better understand how chess can improve your analytical skill. We would love to include here the various reasons explaining how chess helps train the brain:Put You on the Path to Getting More FocusedWhen we are playing a game of chess, our mind is engaged with the chess board. And this ability of concentration especially on the problem solving task automatically allow us to think deeply which is the key components of analytical skill. With a complete focused mind one can easily comes up with a logical and accurate solution. Still not convinced? Indulge yourself in the strategic game, and this will help understanding what we are pointing out here. Get Yourself Engaged in a Strategic Game | Photo: chessbazaarHelp Discover New IdeasChess helps us realize the importance of the small soldiers' value and the impact they can have on the chessboard. It's a problem-solving task where you need to analyze the position to find the best move. Have you ever wondered where the idea of making the best moves comes from? It stems from creative solutions, which, in turn, can help discover new ideas or strategy in a broader context. To name a few, the fishing pole trap in chess can be considered a one of the creative tactic. Do watch out this interesting video, where player checkmating their opponent with chess tactic - fishing pole trap. Watch the dedicated video below:https://www.youtube.com/embed/jHyjI3S6k9gStay tuned with us for new arrivals, interesting facts on our social media channels: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Youtube. We welcome your queries on custom chess sets through our dedicated online form.
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What is Staunton Chess Designs? Its Evolution and a Bit of History!
When something is not working a loud cry hails for a new invention, this is exactly how world-renowned Staunton chess sets design came into existence, which later became the official international standard. Staunton chess sets design refer to a particular style of chess pieces that were first introduced by Nathaniel Cook and designed by John Jaques of London in 1849. These pieces are now the standard design for tournament play and are recognized by chess players and enthusiasts worldwide. The Staunton design features a particular set of distinctive, hand-carved chess pieces with specific characteristics, including a king that is 3.75 inches tall, a queen that is 3.25 inches tall, and knights that are 2.75 inches tall. The pieces are designed to be both functional and aesthetically pleasing, with a simple yet elegant appearance that is easy to distinguish on the board. The Staunton chess design was named after Howard Staunton, an English chess player, and writer who was regarded as the leading chess player of his time. Staunton was a strong advocate for standardizing the design of chess pieces, and he endorsed the design that now bears his name. The Staunton design quickly became popular and has since become the standard design for chess sets used in tournaments and matches around the world. Img1: 3.5" unweighted set in Carton Pierre Casket 1849 "Cook knights" Problems in Earlier chess sets: In the first half of the 19th century there were English Barleycorn chess sets, the St. George chess sets, the French Regence chess sets. The problem with existing chess sets was that they were tall with less weight which resulted in falling or tipping of chess pieces while playing the game. Intricate designs, and light weighted chess sets were a turn-off for the players. Another major disadvantage was the similarity of the pieces within a set, player's unfamiliarity with an opponent's set could alter the outcome of a game with one wrong move. In addition they had decorative features which made them fragile and created a possibility of breakage. About Staunton Chess set The set was revolutionary as it solved most of the problems chess players faced while playing. It didn’t have messy decorative features most likely to damage and also had wide bases. Also, there was lead added the wooden chess pieces for better weight and stability. Made without frills, the Staunton sets were also the low cost which made them accessible to the masses and made them more popular. The style was stable and simple and not at all fragile in any sense. Some distinct features of Staunton chess pieces: King being tallest piece, and a cross on his head, Rook’s top shown as a castle, Knight being depicted with a horse head attracted many around the world. The distinctive features of Staunton chess designs include: Balanced design: The Staunton design features a well-balanced set of chess pieces, with the pieces being proportionate to each other in terms of size and weight. Simplified design: The design is simple yet elegant, with each piece having a distinctive shape and size that is easy to distinguish from the others. Standardized design: The Staunton design has become the standard for tournament play and is recognized by chess players worldwide. King and Queen design: The king and queen are the tallest pieces on the board, with the king standing at 3.75 inches tall and the queen at 3.25 inches tall. They both have a rounded crown, with the king having a cross on top and the queen having a coronet. Knight design: The knight is represented by a horse's head and neck, with one ear pointing forward and the other pointing backward. The knight is the only piece that can jump over other pieces. Bishop design: The bishop has a mitre-shaped head and a long, narrow body that distinguishes it from the other pieces. Rook design: The rook is represented by a castle-shaped tower, with a crenellated top that gives it a distinctive appearance. There are 17 variants of the original 1849 Staunton Chess Set classified as follows: 1) Wedgewood chess set (1849) 2) Leuchars chess set (1849) 3) Cooke chess set (1849–1850) 4) Morphy chess set (1851) - characterized by "Morphy" knights, which have pronounced jowls versus other designs of knights 5) Harrwitz chess set (1852–55) 6) Paulsen chess set (1853–1855) 7) Anderssen chess set (1855–65) 8) Steinitz chess set (1865–70) 9) Tarrasch chess set (1870–1875) 10) Zukertort chess set (1875–80) 11) Lasker chess set (1880–85) 12) Pre-Hartston chess set (1885–1890) 13) Hartston chess set (1890–1900) 14) Marshall chess set (1900–15) 15) Broadbent chess set (1925–37) 16) Nimzovitch chess set (1927–1937) 17) Lessing chess set (1927–1937)Img2: Group of early and later Jaques knights. Naming the Revolutionary Chess Set The Chess design is named after Howard Staunton who was a notable strong chess player at the time. He was an English chess master who is generally regarded as having been the world's strongest player from 1843 to 1851. Nathaniel Cook (editor in the Illustrated London News) urged & convinced the champion to endorse and give his name to the newly invented chess design, the Staunton Design.Later, Howard Staunton not only endorsed the product but promoted it to an exceptional degree including the remonstration and ridiculing of any other design of chessmen then proposed. The Staunton style soon became the standard on which most tournament-playing pieces have been made and used around the world ever since. The low cost of the Staunton set allowed the masses to purchase it and helped to give mass appeal to the game of chess. Today's Jaques Chess Reproductions chessbazaar with inputs from famous chess restorer Mr. Alan Dewey have collaborated on a number of reproductions. These reproductions have been applauded by the chess collector community around the world. Reproduced 1849 Original Staunton Pattern Triple Weighted Chess Pieces 1. 1849 Chess Set Reproduction: chessbazaar is proud to announce the version 3 of 1849 available in three variant, the 4.4" King size 1849 in an antique finish, the 4.4" King size 1849 in a red and ivory white finish and the 3.75" King tournament size 1849 in boxwood and genuine ebony. The knights and rooks of all the variants come with kingside stamping. Reproduced 1851 Morphy Chess Pieces Only V2.0 2. Reproduced 1851 Morphy Chess Set: We reproduce 1851 Staunton Pattern Chess Set with "Morphy" knights in 4.4" king size. A rook and a knight on each side come with kingside stamping which was a norm with Staunton chess sets at that time. All the pieces are heavily weighted which gives them extra stability on the chess board and feels good to hold and play with them. Thick green felt has been fixed on the base of the pieces which protects the board, minimizing noise while playing and looks classy on the rim of the base of pieces. The boxwood has been given antiqued finish by a special secret process which makes the set look like an original time chess set and the set weighs approx 2000 grams. Reproduced Circa 1852 Harrwitz Staunton Pattern Chess Pieces 3. Reproduced 1852 Harrwitz Chess Set: The original antique 1852 Harrwitz set in the playable condition is very very hard to find and may cost thousands of dollars if available. Our Repro Circa 1852 Harrwitz Staunton Chess Set is a humble try to bring this legendary design to life and to let chess enthusiasts experience the game with this beautiful chess set which hitherto was not possible. The King proudly stands 4.5" tall with a base diameter of 2 inches. The set comes with free extra queens for pawn promotion. Reproduced Antique 1860 Anderssen Drop Jaw Staunton Pattern Chess Pieces 4. Reproduced Antique 1860 Anderssen Drop Jaw Chess Set: The original 1860 Anderssen Drop Jaw Staunton Pattern Chess Set in playable condition is very hard to find and may cost thousands of dollars if available. The King in this set stands 4.5" tall with a base diameter of 1.8 inches. It comes with antique finish and king-side stamping. Reproduced Antique 1865-70 Steinitz Staunton Pattern Chess Pieces in Ebony / Box Wood 5. Reproduced Antique 1865-70 Steinitz Chess Set: Reproduced Antique 1865-70 Steinitz Staunton Pattern chess set is handcrafted in genuine ebony wood and boxwood. The King is 3.75" (Tournament Size) with a base diameter of 1.65 inches. The set comes with free extra queens for pawn promotion. Pieces have unique rings and thick green felts. Reproduced Antique 1885 Pre-Hartston Staunton Pattern Chess Pieces in Ebony / Antiqued Box Wood 6. Reproduced Antique 1885 Pre-Hartston Chess Set: The reproduction of 1885 comes in 4.4" King size with antique finish and king-side stamping. The Knights are somewhat similar to the 1900 Marshal knights, vertical miter of the bishops is charming. All chess pieces have a very wide base. The King in the set is 4.5" tall with a base diameter of 1.92 inches. 7. Reproduced Antique 1900 Marshal Chess Set: Our repro of 1900 Marshal Staunton pattern chess set is a humble try to bring this legendary design to life and to let chess enthusiasts experience the game with this beautiful chess set. Reproduced Antique 1900 Marshal Staunton Pattern chess set is handcrafted in genuine ebony wood and antiqued boxwood. The King is 3.75" high (Tournament Size) with a base diameter of 1.69 inches. The set comes in Antique finish and king-side stamping. Did You Know! Staunton chess sets by Jaques of London are also believed to be used in World War 2 by MI9 (the British Directorate of Military Intelligence Section 9). Chess pieces and sets were hollowed out to hold secrete maps, currency, documents, hacksaw blades and swinger compasses”, constructed to help British and American prisoners of war.This famous set was made available to common public on September 29, 1849, & is now popularly called “The Staunton” and the rest is history. In today’s world, available Staunton designs may be fake or of low quality as there are very few people in the industry who can match the finish of Staunton sets, finding the right Staunton chess set may be a little difficult for a new budding chess player. We here at chessbazaar.com provide the exact replicas of Staunton chess designs. Some Interesting Facts about Staunton Chess Sets The Staunton chess design was named after Howard Staunton, a prominent English chess player and writer who lived in the 19th century. He was a strong advocate for standardizing the design of chess pieces. The original Staunton chess set was designed and manufactured by John Jaques of London in 1849. Jaques was a well-known maker of high-quality games and sports equipment. The Staunton design quickly became popular and is now the standard design for tournament play. The World Chess Federation (FIDE) recommends the use of the Staunton design for official chess tournaments. Staunton chess sets are made from a variety of materials, including wood, plastic, and metal. Some of the most expensive sets are made from rare and exotic materials, such as ivory or ebony. Staunton chess sets have been used in many famous chess matches throughout history, including the famous "Match of the Century" between Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky in 1972. Some Staunton chess sets are considered works of art and are highly collectible. Rare and antique sets can fetch high prices at auction, with some selling for tens of thousands of dollars. The Staunton design has been adapted for use in many different types of chess sets, including travel sets, magnetic sets, and giant outdoor sets. Overall, the Staunton chess set is an iconic design that has become synonymous with the game of chess. It has a rich history and continues to be popular among chess players and collectors around the world.
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MONTHLY ROUND-UP - MAY 2016
A beginning of the new financial year 2016 and tradition dictates that once again we take a look at the new arrivals section and round up the most interesting chess sets of the past few weeks. If you have missed the launches or are simply looking for an orderly recap, the table below should be for your interest. The 20th Century Historical Staunton Triple Weighted Chess Set (Based on Frank Camaratta Set) The Sher-E-Punjab Series Chess Set Combo of Repro Old Antique Edinburgh Upright Chess Pieces in Bud Rose / Box Wood & Red Ash Burl Maple Wooden Chess Board The 20th Century Historical Staunton chess set definitely managed to stand out, thanks to its Frank Camaratta based knight. The superlative historical chess set is made up of ebony / bud rose wood and boxwood. The King proudly stands at 4.5 inches and its base is a robust 1.8 inches. This chess set features a magnificent double mane knights. Pieces are expertly carved by the instructions of our designing team and inspired from the famous Frank CamarattaSignature Series chess set. The set is available at most affordable price in the market with free shipping. Chess is one of the most popular games in India and there is one interesting fact that most of the wooden chess sets manufactured in Amritsar(Punjab). As a respect to our hard- working artisans and carvers, we have introduced this dazzling chess set "The Sher-E-Punjab series". Inspired by the famous Maharaja Ranjit Singh horse, Maharaja of the Punjab, our Sher-E-Punjab Series personifies the legacy of the famous Maharaja Ranjit Singh. The sweeping mane, a distinctive head shape and a bold design of the knight represent the "Lion of Punjab". Maharaja Ranjit Singh was the founder of the Sikh Empire, which came to power in the Indian subcontinent in the early half of the 19th century. This chess set features a spectacular knight carved in ebony / bud rose wood and boxwood. The design, quality, and craftsmanship of these chess pieces is comparable to the luxury chess sets that are sold for $1000+ by other retailers. Know More Reproduction lovers rejoiced this month - Combo of Repro Old Antique Edinburgh upright chess pieces was launched. Each chessmen is carefully hand crafted in India with dainty details. Reproduced Antique Series weighted chess pieces offers a 3.75" King with a base diameter of 1.42" and all chess pieces are weighted by adding a stud of iron within the base. Did you ever starve for a chess design you always wanted? Chessbazaar is there to help you make your dream chess set a reality. Know More And to top things off, some of our best sellers are on backorder, We welcome you to place an order for out of stock items and take an extra discount of 25% off with coupon SAVE25. Shop Now That's all for now, Follow us on Twitter & Facebook to stay up-to-date with the latest releases, offers & promotions. We'd glad to know your views and experiences of the chess sets which you have purchased from us.
Read moreUnderstanding Types of Chess Woods
Sheesham wood Sheesham wood is the most popular Indian wood across the globe known for its durability, natural rich grains, and longevity. The heartwood of sheesham ranges from golden brown to a darker reddish brown .Being hard wood, it copes with the stresses and strains of everyday use. Sheesham has a straight grain though it can be interlocked and wood has a good natural luster.The solid wood has natural grains which varies from piece to piece, thus making each and every chess piece unique. Wood comes directly from the source, treated for termite-resistance, seasoned and put to use to make awesome chess sets which lasts and just lasts with all its grace and lusture. Boxwood Boxwood has a fine, even texture with a natural luster. Color of the boxwood tends to be a light cream to yellow, which tends to darken slightly with prolonged exposure to light. The grain tends to be straight or slightly irregular. It is superbly suited for turning. Boxwood is also easily available and hence the chess pieces made from boxwood are cheaper than other woods. But the beautifully carved chess pieces look as attractive as the expensive woods. Ebonized boxwood Boxwood is sometimes substituted for Ebony because it is much easier to find and is available at reasonable prices. Regular boxwood is light in color and usually used for the white pieces and it is ebonized for use as black pieces because it's cheaper than real ebony. At www.chessbazaar.com you can find number of reasonable chess sets made from ebonized boxwood, that are very much like the real ebony chess pieces. Ebony wood Ebony is a dense black wood. Black Ebony is one of the most valuable and expensive types of wood in the world. Black Ebony is prized for the black color of its wood that grows denser and blacker the older the tree. Heartwood is usually jet-black, with little to no variation or visible grain. It has fine even texture with very high natural luster. It is finely-textured and has a very smooth finish when polished, making ebony a valuable beautiful chess wood. Rosewood Rosewood is a classic wood, also known as Indian Rosewood. The wood of these trees is prized and in high demand throughout the world due to its excellent qualities of having a long straight bore, its strength, remarkable coloration and its high density, which makes it another luxury chess wood with ebony. Very hard and has a dark reddish brown color. Rosewoods also exhibit very dark streaks along their growth rings, creating striking patterns. The wood is also extremely resistant to rot and water damage. It is hard to work with rosewood and takes high polish, but after all the difficulties, chess sets and chess boards made from rosewood are grand feast for the eyes. Bud rosewood Bud rosewood is again a type of rosewood. Its source is rosewood but the quality of the bud rosewood is much higher than the ordinary rosewood. Rosewood is reddish brown in color but bud rosewood is more on reddish tone. The very superior quality wood makes it an expensive and luxury chess wood. Palisander wood Palisander wood is a part of rosewood family. Palisander wood has a great beauty and high value. The wood has dense close grains and the tone is slightly lighter than the Indian Rosewood. The wood comes in various tones and the rate of the chess sets and board depend upon the quality of these tones. Walnut Walnut is strong, hard and durable, without being excessively heavy. It has excellent woodworking qualities, and takes finishes well. The wood is light to dark chocolate brown in color and is straight-grained. Wavy grain is present toward the roots, and walnut stumps are often dug out and widely used as a source of highly figured veneer chess boards. Ash Burl Burl ash wood is generally darker than regular ash and is noted for its rich pattern of swirls, twists and turns. The abnormality of burl, combined with the availability of ash, make this wood especially popular among chess board manufacturers. The wayward grains of burl ash wood give it a unique beauty that is fitting for the world's most exquisite decor. Ash burl is widely used for structural frames and highly durable and even veneer chess boards are made out of it. Maple Maple is a pale cream color when first cut, but will darken to light yellow or pale reddish brown with exposure to sunlight. Maple is easy to cut and shape, and sands to a smooth, even surface. Maple may be common, but it can look uncommonly beautiful when treated correctly. Maple is hard and resistant. Its diffused evenly sized pores give the wood a fine texture and even grain. With these qualities Maple is extensively used for making very durable and quality veneer chess boards. Chessbazaar.com offers a largest variety of chess sets and chess boards at the most reasonable prices made from these high quality and exclusive woods available in the world.
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Journey of 2014 - A glimpse of glory
We know, we are bit late on this one..but we wish you a very Happy and Joyful New Year with lots of blessings :) Well, here we are again, folks – the start of a new year. The time when we’re usually bursting with motivation and promises not to repeat the mistakes of the past. We’ve learned a lot in the 2014 (especially our flaws & drawbacks), which we’ve vowed to ditch in 2015!), We, the whole chessbazaar team are working on our flaws & trying to use our time more wisely. Please send us your valuable feedback's & queries at sales@chessbazaar.com. We listen carefully to the needs of our customers and had their feedback in mind to make our customers experience more rich in near future. We’d also love to hear how you’re starting your 2015 with a bang. Here's the brief infographics of our journey. Have a look! Our team at chessbazaar wishes you a very Happy New Year to you and your loved ones and we wish you true happiness, joy and success in the months to come. Cheers! Stay Tuned !!
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Benefits of Chess!!!
1.) Sharpens Your Memory: Playing chess is beneficiary for memory. While looking for good moves, you always keep on sharpening your mind in search of a good move. Your memory becomes strategic as you keep on targeting your opponents’ chess men. 2.) Develops Your Imagination & Logical Thinking: You are always alone while playing the game. Your mind will become imaginative as you create combination of various good moves. There is always a one turn and you know the importance of that. That enhances your logical thinking. 3.) Gives You Self-Motivation: As once you made mistake in the game, you are one which will help to give you motivation and takes you to the next level. You will get aware of your capabilities while improving the mistakes. 4.) Improves Concentration: Concentration is important part of Chess, as for a second if someone loses his concentration in the game that might result in defeat. As during a game, one's main concentration is how check mate and win the game. 5.) Makes You Self Dependent: Playing Chess always forced you to make your own decisions. Your performance will be wholly dependent your own judgment. 6.) Grows Your Dendrites: Dendrites are the branched projections of a neuron that act to conduct the electro chemical stimulation received from other neural cells to the cell body. Antenna picks up signals from your brain cells when you are playing. Learning a new chess skill helps dendrites to grow. 7.) Teaches You How to Plan Before: Playing chess can enhance your prefrontal cortex growth and will help you to plan and make better decisions in all aspects of life. 8.) Make You Calculative: As chess is calculative game, you always keep on counting the moves in order to get rid of opponent's Chess Men. young-kids-playing-chess 9.) Useful for Kids: Numerous researches have proved that kids obtain higher reading skills, improved math’s level and greater learning ability. Those kids who plays chess has better performance unlike other kids. 10.) No Age for Chess: There is no age for playing Chess like other Sports. Young can play a game with old person and old can play with young ones. Shop Wooden Chess Sets Luxury Chess Pieces Economy Tournament Chess Pieces Magnetic Chess Sets
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