what are the best tournament chess sets?
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Hi, just a reminder to choose a set/board that meets USCF regulations, since you're planning to use it for tournaments. I don't have a specific brand or company to recommend. But the seller would usually state it if the set meets USCF standards. Weighted pieces are slightly more expensive. But they have a better feel and more stability. This could be worthwhile if you need to move the pieces quickly, like in blitz or rapid. Good luck!
For a first proper chess set, the key is to prioritize simplicity, reliability, and tournament standards over marketing or aesthetics alone. Triple or quadruple weighted sets offer few real advantages and can even be uncomfortable to use. The Barnes & Noble and A&A options each have notable flaws, making them less appealing for a confident purchase.
2 days ago
0
#5
sigma wrote:
House of staunton is always a good choice
I hope you're right, after browsing their website I decided on grabbing a set of their triple weighted tournament pieces and a thin tournament mouse pad to play on
Unless tournaments have changed drastically since I last played one, you will see a multitude of silicone mats and plastic pieces. They may not be as nice as wood, but they are very functional, and inexpensive. Don't forget to get yourself a clock as well and you will need to write down your moves.
The plastic pieces and silicone mat also hold up well to the rough and tumble of pick-up blitz games.
So far I’m looking at the tournament chess set from barns&noble, the quadruple weighted best chess set ever, the A&A tournament chess set or should it put together something from the house of Staunton?
The various 1 star reviews on each of the products is keeping me from pulling the purchase trigger.
The quad weighted best chess set ever has the same knight as the triple weighted version even though the packaging depicts a much nicer Arabian style knight.
For the A&A set several people reported getting multiples of the wrong pieces or missing pieces all together (three bishops instead of an extra queen, missing a knight entirely) although I like this sets carrier the quality of the handle seems to be subpar and there doesn’t look to be room for a clock or anything else one might need for OTB play
For the barns&noble set I don’t particularly care for the case and for it being the most expensive option of the three sets it has (in my opinion) the worst designed knight.
The house of Staunton website appears to have everything I’d need to build out a complete tournament go bag but the multitude of options is daunting, could be the most cost effective route or.. it could easily be the most expensive option on the list.
I appreciate any and all advice, suggestions on what to look for, lessons learned.