Traveling with Noj Dubrovnik Minceta

That’s fair enough and in part why I haven’t just ordered one right off the bat... I would agree that they are indeed very expensive.

But we’re all different in what we want and how we choose to spend hard earned cash. Some spend it on cars, some spend it on watches, some on other jewellery and others spend it on the Xbox and e.g. V-Bucks so they can buy skins for Fortnite.

Yes, €600 plus is a lot of money for a set of chess pieces, but on the other hand you are buying top quality wooden pieces, historically significant to Chess (in my opinion), expertly crafted and they will last longer than we will on this planet. Probably hold their value too. Judging by other threads here, their service is second to none as well, replacing damaged pieces free of charge even after 7+ years. I think it will be well worth spending the money and supporting a hardworking business.

I enjoy playing chess on a FlexPad from Chess House and the 95mm plastic pieces from DGT. A very cheap combo indeed and long lasting too.

But I will still have the Noj Dubrovnik Minceta on my wishlist... just like others may have a Rolex or Omega watch, or perhaps even a Patek Philippe... to some, they just tell time just like any $5 watch does (and a $5 watch may actually be more accurate), but to others it will mean something much more and may perhaps be or have been passed on for generations.

Beautiful set and setting! Thanks for sharing!

Yeah I have the same DGT plastic set as well. Just stinks that you have to buy two of them to get the extra queens. Non the less it is a nice plastic set. I just personally can't see myself justifying paying tons of money on NOJ products. 190 Euros for a 4 piece magnetic plywood silk screened board is just out of touch with reality in my book. May only cost 40 Euros to make the board. I'm just guessing at the build cost and I even think that I am too high on even that. Going on the high end just to be fair. However nearly a 5X profit margin shows you just how ridiculous these prices are. I am all for making a profit but not at the expense of highway robbery prices. In order for me to be a NOJ customer. They really have to notch down their pricings. Until then I will continue to buy Indian made sets and have some extra cash in the bank to enjoy other things in life.

It's 109.99 €, not 190 €.

-Izmet Fekali

http://bestchessmenever.com

My bad it must be my dyslexia acting up. Still at 109 Euros to me is kind of high for a plywood board is all I am saying.

Even though this board has 2 inch 50mm squares. It has the same principle concept as your board ifekali.

https://www.ymimports.com/collections/chess-boards/products/pl-ch114-a

I do own this board and I do get enjoyment out of this board that I only spent maybe 30-40 dollars with shipping. 

You can contact DGT directly and buy extra Queens for €2.50 each for 86mm pieces and €2.75 each for the 95mm.

E-mail them... they are very helpful!

Cheers,

Toby

DGT charges and arm and leg for shipping to the States. So I found a vendor in the States that carried the DGT plastic sets and I was able to get both the 3.5 inch and 3.75 inch sets with a more comfortable shipping cost. The 3.5 inch set they use in the Starter Box is a great option to give as gifts.

True! 👍

I was getting fed up spending the weekends at home so decided to look for a destination somewhere close to Seoul but close to nature and not too crowded. Kind of an oxymoron, I know. Camping immediately came up to my mind but wife preferred somewhere warm and nice with modern amenities (read: a hotel room). Then a colleague at the office recommended "glamping". Long story short, we booked a "glamping tent" that looked like a queen's coronet. The site was situated in a beautiful mountain north of Seoul, about an hour drive away. All modern conveniences were available, such as hot shower, heated floor, wifi, etc. Weather was sunny with clear skies. I was able to spend a lazy afternoon reading Hooked on Chess by Bill Hook and replaying some of the games in the book over my unweighted Dubrovnik but generally having a pleasant time with my family. Board pictured is a roll up vinyl board from HOS with 2.36" squares. I prefer this over mousepad type due to its old school vibe. Borders were trimmed to make the footprint small. Hope you enjoy the photos (all taken with my phone).

This looks very nice.  Your setup looks perfect and comfortable to use.

Of course it is; I copied your setup :-) And with plano box, entire package fits easily into a tote bag. 

Nice chess set and photos!!

Looks very nice indeed!

That looks like a really nice/safe place to be right now.

Depends on whether Kim Jung Un decides to have a temper tantrum.  

Here are some photos from a recent family picnic with my Dubrovnik Minceta. Spent some time replaying Tal's games before my son joined me for a few games of chess. He is more interested in promoting his pawns than checkmating me so it was a good idea I ordered extra queens. And best of all, I am finally getting used to the lightness of the unweighted pieces as they are getting better and stable with use. I think these unweighted pieces need a "break-in" period. The "break-in" period is actually the user -- me -- learning the best way to handle the pieces. Hope you enjoy the photos and stay safe.

Looks great. You mention the lightness. Are all NOJ minceta sets unweighted? Can you request weighted NOJ Minceta sets? Do you know if the other NOJ Dubrovnik sets are weighted?

@Bamboo58, NOJ chess sets are weighted by default. You have to ask them to be made unweighted. 

Thank you. Sorry two more question. Do you know what level of weighting is used? I am familiar with the triple, double and single weight descriptions. Where would they fit on that scale do you think?