Chess Set.

Sorry if this is the wrong section, but I am thinking about getting a chess set for myself for my birthday and I am stuck between two really nice sets. I am leaning towards the second one as I like Greek mythical history but both are really nice. You can also suggest a different set but the main question is which would you choose? As you can see I am in Australia so I have to ship it keep that in mind.

http://www.thechessstore.com/product/S10RDMS/Archers-Chess-Set-Package---Red.html

http://www.thechessstore.com/product/S19RDMS/Poseidon-Brass-Chess-Set-Board-Package---Red.html

Ok thank you for the fast reply, I found an australian website that specialises in wood. I was looking at these three. I like the red colour of the wood on the first and that the board does not fold, I like the classic white and black look on the second and I like the shaping of the third one.

http://www.chessstore.com.au/product_info.php?cPath=10&products_id=29

http://www.chessstore.com.au/product_info.php?cPath=10&products_id=16

http://www.chessstore.com.au/product_info.php?cPath=10&products_id=25

As the first does not fold and have special foam cut outs for the pieces, will they still be safe to keep long term in the box that it comes with?

Both TCS AND HOS offer very good chess equipment. I have purchased stuff from both companies and have recieved exelent service from both.

Scottk74 is right.  Themed sets are for home decor. Staunton sets are for playing chess. If you want the set to display, show off to visitors, as a conversation piece, or to just admire, then get which ever themed set you want.  But if you want to play chess, get a staunton set. You could spend alot of money on a staunton set to play chess with but you don't have to. Playing sets uesually cost less than 100 bucks and nice plastic ones less then $50.  My advice to you would be to get the theemed set you want for your home decor and a plastic tournament set for playing chess.

I myself have a couple of Studio Anne Carolton themed sets, Richard the Lionhearted and the Isle of Lewis (my last name is Lewis, so it was a must have set). But I also have a few tournament sets used to playing chess. The SAC's are just for show and home decor, the inexpensive stuantons are playing equipment.

For some nice plastic sets to play with check out the Crown, Pro-Tourney or Conquerer sets from TCS, or the Marshall, Collector's, or Hastings from HOS.  For inexpensive wood concider the HOS Championship or TCS German Knight, they are pretty much the same  set at each company, just a differnt name.

Look man, you wouldn't want to spend that much on a fancy themed set, and then break it while playing chess on it. Also it is distracting to play on a themmed set. It would be worth the extra $40 bucks for a plastic tournament set and vinyl board to play on instead of that expensive themed one. Think of it as a kind of an insurance protection policy for the nice themed set that you buy.

I recomend the TCS Crown series or the HOS Marshall, both are nice plastic sets to play with.  TCS's vinyl boards are the absoloute best. They are very soft & flexible and lay very flat. I can not say the same about HOS vinyl boads, they are not as good.

So get the themed set you like and proudly show it off in your home. Then get a nice weighted plastic set to play chess on.

BitLew:

I don't know if you saw the second post from me as both say 20hours because it mentions CS, but I don't like the feel of the plastic sets that I have played with. I was thinking about metal or wood for a different feeling in my hands I am not used to different weights or king hight standards or anything of the sort but I did want the set to look nice while playing. But I will think about what you have said.

Scottk74:

Yeh I might get the first one it is nice, or a cheaper one reccommended by BigLew.

I agree with the other posters that themed sets are not great for playing on. I've tried it and it's kind of disorienting. If you don't like plastic, get a good weighted wood set for playing. You wrote that you're not used to weighting - it makes the set feel really nice compared to a cheapo unweighted wood set.

Ok I have been looking at www.chessstore.com.au and I think I will do either of these options to get my pieces weighted, but which is better double or triple weighted? The first option gives double weighted, the second gives triple weighted and the third gives triple weighted. I am leaning to the third option as it gives me a board and place to keep the pieces, while the first two would just give pieces and I would have to find a board and storage space.

http://www.chessstore.com.au/product_info.php?cPath=13&products_id=70

http://www.chessstore.com.au/product_info.php?cPath=13&products_id=53

http://www.chessstore.com.au/product_info.php?cPath=10&products_id=25

From what I've read the triple weight pieces are really good for blitz chess where you don't want them to accidentically get knocked over while you're playing so fast. If you're not worried about that, I'd guess that either double or triple would be OK, and you should pick based on the appearance or other factors. Pick one where the pieces look good to you - lots of people have strong aesthetic preferences but ultimately it's your set. I'm not sure if my own current set is double or triple weighted, but I know it just feels *so* much more professional, or solid, or clean, or some such word, than the department-store wood set I started on.