DGT Red Box: Plastic Set

I’m a bit of a sucker for a deal, so when the DGT red box was on the Thursday Chess Deal at Wholesale Chess, I picked one up.  I’ve been meaning to write a quick review.

Red Box at DGT’s website:

http://dgtshop.eu/index.php/195/45/non-electronic-chess/dgt-chess-box-red-detail

The box itself is a pretty neat little cardboard job, with magnetic closures and pictures of cheerful kids playing chess, one behind the white array on one side of the box, and another behind the black pieces on the other; it’s a neat little design touch, as it looks like you’re facing an opponent across the board, and it’s got a cool symmetry to it.

As far as the contents of the box, you get:

+ a DGT 960 clock,

+ some chess trainer software (which I haven’t had the chance to try out, since it’s Windows only, and I’ve only got Macs; this software may actually be pretty useful if you’re thinking of giving the box to a new player),

+ a nice cardboard board (48-49 mm squares, made to look like walnut and maple, with small notation at the outside, and which folds into quarters, fitting neatly into the size of the box), and

+ the set of pieces (32).

DGT also sells a Grey Box (box, board, and pieces) and a Blue Box (box, board, pieces, and software), as well as this set of pieces in a box, or just the pieces, or a larger set of pieces (95 mm, and harder to obtain, for some reason) either with or without a box.  Anyway, plenty of options.

I hadn’t had the chance to try out the DGT 960 clock before, and certainly in relation to the DGT NA, it’s a bit less substantial and less fully-featured.  That said, I was pretty pleased with it.  It’s less satisfying to hit the button and get a very short throw and a “click”, as compared to the long throw and semi-weighty “thump” of the DGT NA’s lever, but that’s a matter of taste.  It’s really tiny, which is pretty handy, but the buttons themselves are pretty big.  It does have both increment and delay, and can be set to independent game times for each side; if you want to know more about the features of the clock, I’d suggest checking out the manual on the DGT website.  One very minor point; the DGT 960 uses camera-style, coin-shaped batteries (not AA/AAA) so obtaining replacement batteries may be a bit less trivial.

I was really most interested in the box because of the set. I said I was a sucker for a deal; at the same time, and also on special, I also picked up two of the grey box with the idea of “giving them as gifts.” Ah, rationalization! 

So what about the set?

I was actually pleasantly surprised.  As far as dimensions, the king is 86 or 87 mm high with a 39 mm base, and the pawns are 46 mm tall with a 24 mm base.  Anyway, compared with a 49 mm square size, the bases are big, and the pieces do look a bit squat, but I think they still look pretty good.  You can form your own opinion on the aesthetics on the basis of the pictures. 

The pieces are plastic, with some weighting.  They are pretty stable; with the combination of the weighting and the broad bases, I can tip them over to about 45 degrees from vertical before they actually start toppling over.  As a matter of “feel,” I did have the perception that the top of the piece didn't have much mass.  In terms of effectiveness of weighting, I played four blitz games with a friend of mine and didn’t have any problem with fallen pieces beyond what I would naturally expect from my own clumsiness.  There are visible mould lines on the pieces (see pictures), but nothing too irritating.  The felting is some sort of sticker, but neatly done, and I would guess it should stay nicely over time.  The plastic seems pretty tough, a bit better than what I’d expect from a club set (now that I think about it, I think it might actually be the same plastic as the lever on the DGT NA, though that could be totally wrong). I’ve only had them a few weeks and haven’t played with them enough to really abuse them, so take the comments regarding durability with a grain of salt.

With regard to the overall design of the pieces, I’d say they look like a simplified Staunton, heading in the direction of the Best Chessmen Ever or the Play Magnus set. There are a few things I would be worried about breaking or blunting (the points of the queen’s coronet, in particular, and maybe the crenellations of the rook), but they can be dropped from a table without anything too bad happening, as my daughter has helped me find out.  The kings’ crosses look especially solid, and the knights and bishops also don’t have anything that would get knocked off.  The knights are particularly nice; they remind me quite strongly of the BCE knights, with a sort of robust simplicity in their styling.  They also fit visually with the rest of the set, rather than appearing overly ornate.  I like the little DGT logo on top of the rooks, too, which is a subtle bit of branding.

I think the set is pretty nice, and represents a good step up from the basic club chess pieces most of us are used to using.

As a whole, I think the package is a pretty good buy; with a solid set of plastic pieces, the board, and the DGT 960, it makes a great, and complete, combination for the coffee shop sort of setting, and one I’d be happy to play on pretty regularly.  I also have no reservations about giving the two grey boxes as gifts in the future. 

Thanks for the review, I bought the gray and the blue sets on that same offer from WSC and donated them to underprivalged kids for the Holidays. Didn't want to open up any of the boxes.  I hope kids still play manual games as it seems everything has to be for the XBOX or PLAYSTATION these days.

If anyone's interested, today (December 22nd) Wholesale Chess is offering another special on the gray box (just board, pieces, and box) as part of their holiday daily deals:

http://www.wholesalechess.com/shop/chess-sets/club-chess-sets/dgt-grey-starter-box-board-pieces

Thanks for the review, What is the weight set of the stones ? Only pieces of set,not board of set. I am waiting answer. Thank you.

Each half set weighs about 275g, for a total set weight of 550g (1.2 lbs).   The kings weigh about 35g. This isn't a LOT heavier than a club set, but the weight seems to be set very low in the pieces, and they have broad bases, so they're pretty stable.

Thank you for great review. All the best.

Thank you for your review and precise description, I was thinking to buy the same set, after reading your review, I gonna do it. Thank you!

 I buy a few grey and a couple blue and donate them to the food pantry to give out as "Holiday Gifts" each year.  I just hope 1 person will find the enjoyment even if playing over a game that it gave me when I was a kid.  

Also Thank YOu Baron for reviewing the set. I never opened one up it just looked to be a decent set for a decent price. I used to buy the board,pieces,and carry case separately and put them together.  This is much easier and quality of the pieces look good.  

I got a grey box and donated it to a coffee house where I play chess at. Somehow the owner may have gotten the wrong message on my intent of donating the set. I meant it for the customers to use and not for him to keep. Oh well what is done is done. I enjoyed the look of the set. I decided to get another one. The pieces are the reason I got it. It kind of has that Deluxe Staunton and maybe a hint of the Reykjavik set. If anything these starter boxes do make great gifts and a set to use to analyze games or chill with a friend or family member in a casual game of chess. If the board ever rips apart. I will get a stack board like what chesshouse sells. I have a local guy who can make one.   

I had a question recently about how the pieces are doing after nearly two years of use. They live in my car and I probably use them a couple of times a month, both for blitz and medium-length games. They're doing great, though the box is a bit bedraggled.

I was also asked if I felt they were big enough and how they look on a 2 1/4 inch (~57 mm) tournament board (I bought the set which comes with the DGT Red Box, which is 85 mm; DGT also sells a 95 mm version of the same set).  I think the 85 mm set is a fine size. I took a couple of pictures of how they look on a 2.25" board and compared with a standard "Quality Club Set." The diameter of the king base on the DGT 85 mm set is larger than the base of the QCS 95 mm (by maybe 2-3 mm), while the DGT pawns are maybe 1 mm smaller in base diameter. 

Are the pieces hollow?  Would you say they are as durable as a QCS? 

Are you serious?

Because a chess set makes such a great gift for a new born?

Ever notice the "Choking Hazard" warning on every box?

you are cracking me up... maybe it has been a while... but parents of new born babies don't have time to play chess :-)  A pillow might have been more appropriate.  :-)

Back on topic. I'm not sure if they're hollow, but they are quite durable, comparable to the "quality club sets."  No flex to the plastic, and definitely not the crummy, hollow feel of el-cheapo sets.

better late then never I guess... thanks!