real_tzs wrote:
gundamv wrote:
The tournament legal criteria is probably the least important, as most of the time, it will be playing against random people at the mall, club, park, etc.
What kind of surfaces will you be placing the board on? If you expect to always have a decent table or bench or other flat surface that can completely support the board, then you can use a roll up vinyl board. These are available from most major chess retailers for around $5.
If you might not have a flat surface (e.g., you are playing with the board on a park bench seat and that is one of those curvy seats), then the vinyl board may be unworkable.
Those rigid folding vinyl boards are quite good. I have one myself.
The tournament legal criteria is probably the least important, as most of the time, it will be playing against random people at the mall, club, park, etc.
What kind of surfaces will you be placing the board on? If you expect to always have a decent table or bench or other flat surface that can completely support the board, then you can use a roll up vinyl board. These are available from most major chess retailers for around $5.
If you might not have a flat surface (e.g., you are playing with the board on a park bench seat and that is one of those curvy seats), then the vinyl board may be unworkable. A wooden board is going to make it a lot harder to meet your budget. You might be able to improvise, say, by getting a vinyl board and a piece of plywood the same size is the board that you can put the board on.
Most of the major chess retailers sell plastic stuanton pieces with a 3.75" (95 mm) king for around $5 or $6. Add a dollar or two for a heavier weighted set.
Most of the major retailers have bundles that combine a vinyl board and plastic pieces and also include a bag to carry the pieces.
You can usually find these bundles listed as either "club sets" or "tournament sets". There doesn't seem to be a consistent rule for determining what would be a club set and what would be a tournament set, although the impression I get is that the tournament set bundles are more likely to have a fancier bag. Club sets might just be a simple drawstring bag, for instance, whereas tournament sets will often include a bag tha has room for the rolled up board and a clock and other tournament accessories like score sheets.
Here are some retailers to check out. I can't vouch for any of them, but they are all ones that I've seen recommended here or on Reddit, and all seem to have sets that meet your need.
USCF Sales. They actual are reselling House of Staunton merchandise. Use whichover one's website annoys you the least (they both are annoying).
In case you haven't noticed, chess.com has a "Shop Online" link in the "More" section of this site. That takes you to Wholesale Chess via an affiliate link, so chess.com probably gets a cut.
There is Chess House and The Chess Store and Chess USA.