The Art of Training – My Review of Royal Chess Mall's products
The board as an “emotional stage”
It’s well known—and it will never go out of style—that spending hours over a physical board, studying, analyzing, and practicing, is essential for success in chess. Yet that stage is not neutral: learning psychology confirms that the visual and tactile setting shapes concentration, memory, and mood. Research on educational environments shows that soft colors and moderate contrasts enhance retention and reduce anxiety, while loud tones or highly saturated surfaces distract and tire the eyes.
If this happens in a classroom, how could it not affect the board on which you spend hours calculating variations?
A set that is pleasing to the eye and touch turns study into a positive experience. Studies on sports equipment show that confidence in your gear boosts performance: the mind spends less energy on micro-irritations and more on the cognitive task. Applied to chess, the difference between a shiny plastic board and a wooden one with ideal finishing becomes obvious after two hours: with the former you develop eye fatigue and discomfort; with the latter you slip into a flow state and time passes unnoticed.
A set designed for training, not just for show
I recently tried two sets from Royal Chess Mall, and I must say they not only meet what you’d expect but surpass several expectations:
Staunton 3.6" Set
I have to say the initial impact when unboxing was striking, especially because of the board, which features top-tier finishing and a symmetrical design on both sides. Two thoughts came to me straight away: first, after wearing it down with N blitz games I can simply flip it over and have a board that feels brand-new again (which I found amusing); and second, it would be ideal to place it on a soft cloth pad to avoid damage.
Running through some Najdorf Sicilian lines on it was a real pleasure—it draws you in and helps you focus. The pieces have perfect weight, the design has character without slipping into the purely decorative. I know the base for the board can be purchased separately. To me that matters, not so much for the added algebraic coordinates, but because we chess players aren’t used to the board ending abruptly at the edge of a square; we expect a frame or base that completes it.
I would have liked that base from the outset—I discovered this only after actually training on it—but I’m not complaining: the set is, quite simply, fantastic.
If you’d like to get your hands on this beauty, you can do so at this link:
10" Magnetic Travel Set
Before I share my impressions and spell out the architecture of this small set, I must be honest: it has always bothered me that these boards are viewed only as travel gear. In serious study sessions, having this type of board as an auxiliary reference is genuinely important.
Here’s a practical example: every serious player should, at least once, work through Chapter 1 of Alexander Kotov’s Think Like a Grandmaster. The chapter tackles variation analysis and, in particular, introduces the concept of the variation tree and its different types. In the middle of that process, while the author unpacks a dense web of lines, your brain will probably cry for help—and for a glass of water.
That is precisely when this little set becomes indispensable: I can place a critical position beside the main board and keep a structure or pattern in view while I analyze other lines in parallel.
Trust me, the sense of professionalism and focus is worlds beyond relying solely on the diagrams printed in the book.
Now for the impressions. Here Royal Chess Mall has shown it’s serious about the market. For a set on such a reduced scale, the finish is luxurious: the magnetization is truly strong, and its portability and convenience make it ideal for both coaches and students.
I bought my first set of this size back in 2000, during the World Youth Championship in Oropesa del Mar, Spain. I fell in love immediately, despite slight imperfections in some pieces that—so I was told—were normal given the tiny scale and the level of detail a chess piece demands.
Well, Royal Chess Mall—without saying a word—has proved I was misled (haha!). I honestly can’t find any flaws in the finish. Congratulations!
Here’s the link to pick one up:
https://royalchessmall.com/products/wooden-magnetic-chess-set-10-travel-golden-rosewood
Mental Micro-Costs and Sustained Performance
Training on a quality board doesn’t replace theory or the engine, but it does trim a series of mental micro-costs that pile up unnoticed. When the pieces are solid and the finish is elegant, you don’t waste seconds reseating a rook that slides or glancing away from a glare; those tiny savings of attention are recycled into deep calculation and crystal-clear visualization of long variations.
What’s more, the balanced weight and warm texture of wood create a sensory anchor that reinforces spatial memory; placing a knight on f5 delivers identical tactile feedback every time, helping to lock patterns into the motor cortex and link the gesture to the strategic idea behind it.
An Emotional Investment
That physical comfort also aids emotional regulation. With no distractions, your pulse slows, your breathing steadies, and your mind slips into flow sooner; handling technical endings or prolonged defensive positions becomes less draining. Over the weeks, this positive experience forges a subconscious link: studying chess = pleasant moment—crucial for sustaining long training routines.
In the long run, that daily micro-edge crystallizes into tangible results: games feature fewer unforced errors, thinking time is used more efficiently, and competitive confidence grows. And there’s a valuable side effect: durable, beautiful gear becomes a symbol of commitment; seeing a pristine board on the table reinforces the identity of a “serious player” and serves as a visual cue to sit down and train every day.
