Chess is a game that surpasses language, borders and international cultures. It is recognized, understood, and played by people across the world. A good chess set can be a source of entertainment for anyone who knows how to play and makes a good mantelpiece. Chess sets have evolved from just a game, and have become an art form on their own, with artists customizing and designing chess pieces and sets with different colours, themes, types of material and so on.

These art forms have become so elaborate that there are now so many out there you can browse through and purchase. However, there are definitely some things to look out for when it comes to buying a chess set. These aspects need to be considered heavily in order to buy a proper chess set that will be of quality, and one that will last for a long time.

Here are 3 things you should be looking for in a good chess set:

The type of chess board

There are various different types of chess boards out there on the market, you can have a look a the UK chess sets shop – Official Staunton™ with the biggest range of sets. These can be categorized into different types of products including decorative, club/school/tournament, practical, travel and many more. Decorative chess boards are there simply to look good. They are usually made with extreme care and quality and will look incredible.

These pieces will usually sit on tables, shelves or mantelpieces and be used to make a place look fancier and more sophisticated, rather than see any practical use at all. Club/school/tournament chess boards are simply made to be played and portable. Because of this, they are very simple aesthetically and do not look great, however they serve their purpose and be brought and played just about anywhere. Practical chess boards are similar; however, they will often have more thought put into the design. Travel boards will also look good, however they will likely have functionality that allows them to fold up or be transported in small packages, to allow for play whilst travelling. It is important you understand what you want out of the chess board and your own specific situation.

If you can tell the pieces apart

Some chess boards make it difficult to tell the chess boards apart, and this can often lead to people getting their pieces mixed up. You obviously do not want this, as each piece plays a role separate from the others and mixing them up can drastically change the course of the game. A good chess set should be able to have distinctive pieces which you can tell are different, even if there is a certain theme to it. The bishop should have a vastly different design to the queen, and so on. A distinctive chess set is the hallmark of a good chess set, as it means the creator has put in thought and effort to its design, rather than to produce them wholesale and in bulk.

The material used

The material used in the development of the chess board is very important, as it will determine the durability of the product. Durability and longevity is important for a chess board, as you will be paying a good price for a product that can be used repeatedly over the years. However, if the material used is not of a high quality, then the chess board could fall apart easily, and you will likely spend more money in the long term from buying more and more cheaper chess boards.

If you are looking to buy a chess board and set, then you should consider these aspects before purchasing.