The Perfect Gift – A Chess Set
Father’s Day will soon be here and one of the choices that you might have considered is a Chess Set. If you are an experienced chess aficionado choosing the right set might not be such a big deal. However, if you are not a chess player yourself the thought of buying a set might be daunting. The intent of this article is to give you some insights into the things you need to consider.
Where Is The Set Going to be Used?
Is this going to be a travelling chess set or will it stay in the home? If you expect your dad to take the set with him wherever he goes you’ll want to purchase something that is fairly light but sturdy. Folding chess sets that have a compartment for the pieces is a good way to go. There are some sets that have the look of wood but are magnetic. Handy, if you are playing in an area where the board might get jarred.
If the set is going to stay at home then you have another set of considerations. If your dad has an area where the chess board will stay then you need to consider the size of the board. Boards will range from 12″ x 12″ to 21″ x 21″ or greater. Another possible consideration is to buy a chess table with a built-in board. It’s not at all portable but if you have a place picked out in a family room or library then this might be the way to go.
If your dad is serious player who attends tournaments you might want to consider a good tournament set. The pieces are usually plastic and the board is made of flexible vinyl. A tournament often comes with a tote for carrying the chess set.
Consider the Materials
Chess sets can be fine conversation pieces. The come in a variety of materials including marble, alabaster, brass, pressed leather on wood and wood. Wood chess boards are the most popular and come in a variety of materials including ebony and maple. Note that most wood boards have a veneer on top of a wood composite. Materials such as marble, alabaster and brass can be very attractive but also fragile. Be sure that they will be placed any areas where they are not likely to be bumped or dropped.









