| There are lots of different kinds of chess sets, ranging | | | | pieces all revolve around a theme such as firefighters, |
| from tiny travel size versions to analysis sets and large | | | | or civil war soldiers. |
| patio sized sets. When shopping for a chess set, you | | | | You should also give some thought to the size of the |
| will find different kinds made for decoration and | | | | set you would like to buy. Generally, it is considered in |
| tournament play, made out of a number of different | | | | our society that bigger equals better, because they are |
| materials and in a number of different styles. | | | | more impressive to look at and to touch. Deciding |
| When I talk about a chess set, I am talking only about | | | | where you want to play your chess games will be a |
| the pieces and not including the chessboard, which is a | | | | large determinant of its size. |
| different matter entirely. There are two main | | | | So, now that you have picked out a chess set, you |
| categories. The first kind is one that comes | | | | need to find a matching board. This means you need |
| pre-packaged and includes a matching chessboard. | | | | to find out what size chessboard fits with your set. |
| The Second type is one that would NOT include a | | | | Almost all chess sets have the option of buying a |
| chessboard. | | | | matching chessboard with them, but you can, of |
| One thing to consider is the amount of money you | | | | course, choose an entirely different chessboard. The |
| want to spend on it. Due to the large variety of chess | | | | way in which you would find out what size |
| sets, there is no one "right" price to pay. You should | | | | chessboard to get, is by measuring the diameter of the |
| spend what you can afford and no more. Also | | | | king chess piece's base. |
| remember that buying a chess set is a rather long | | | | Essentially, the width of the base of the King should be |
| term investment because you are likely to have it for | | | | no more than 78% of the width of the square. In other |
| the remainder of your life. | | | | words, you would divide the King's base diameter by |
| A more important factor to consider is what type you | | | | 0.78 to get the minimum square size. |
| are going to buy. This is a decision that depends largely | | | | For example, if you have a King with a base diameter |
| on your unique taste and personal style and whether it | | | | of 1.5", the square size would be calculated as follows: |
| is a set you intend on playing or just want for display. If | | | | 1.5" divided by .78 = 1.92, rounded to 2.0 inches |
| displaying it is not very important to you, or it just | | | | Therefore, if the King base diameter is 1.5", the chess |
| sounds like something you aren't really into, you | | | | board should have squares of no less than 2 inches. |
| probably shouldn't get a themed set, where the chess | | | | |