Your First Chess Set

You’ve learned how to play chess, and you’ve played some games online, but now you want to get a chess set for your home so you can play “over the board.”

But what kind of chess set should you get?

There are four kinds of chess sets. Each one serves a different purpose.

1. Club / Tournament Chess Sets

These are the most basic, inexpensive, and practical chess sets. The pieces are made of plastic and the boards are made of vinyl. This is what most serious chess players have at home because they are portable and easy to use.

Photo: Wikimedia.

2. Wooden Chess Sets

Sets made of wood can be both beautiful and practical to play on, but they won’t be cheap. Wooden chess sets can cost from $100 to well over $1,000 depending on the quality of the wood and the detail of the carving.

Photo: Wikimedia.

3. Electronic Chess Sets

Electronic sets have become much less popular lately because of how easy it is to play chess online. Still, if you are looking for a simple computer opponent, an electronic set can be fun.

Photo: Wikimedia.

4. Decorative Chess Sets

There are many kinds of chess sets that are made to look interesting. From the ornate to the abstract, you can find a chess set made of nearly any material and on any theme. But they are mostly showpieces and not practical for actual play.

If you are looking to buy chess sets, check out Wholesale Chess.