Buying a chess set is hard

October 25, 2019 11:40 AM

I'd like to have a nice (pretty, and well-made) chess set at home. I'd be willing to spend perhaps $200-$300 for a wooden board and pieces. However, I have no chess store near me, and large online sites overwhelm me to complete paralysis by the number of options. It seems a silly problem, but I've been trying for years and always give up in indecision without buying anything; can anyone find a way to simplify the decision for me?

Visual recognition is important so I would only ever consider very traditional piece shapes; no oddball, modern art, or themed pieces; also good contrast between the two piece colors is important. Piece size is probably determined by the above-mentioned budget.

posted by Wolfdog to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (16 answers total)

I would only ever consider very traditional piece shapes

This design is called "Staunton", btw.

You can get a pretty nice set for your budget. I can't endorse any of these, since I have not bought them, but there seem to be a manageable number of wood sets at this site; perhaps that would help you refine your preferences?
posted by thelonius at 12:12 PM on October 25, 2019 [3 favorites]

Take a look at Etsy. There are some lovely ones in your price range.
posted by onebyone at 12:19 PM on October 25, 2019

They also say they will respond to emails re: their set guide.
posted by thelonius at 12:19 PM on October 25, 2019

I don't know how helpful this is but about 20 years ago I ordered a set from House of Staunton and was very pleased with it - nice sharp details and good weight. Don't forget to budget for a chessboard.
posted by exogenous at 12:21 PM on October 25, 2019 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: House of Staunton is precisely an example of a large online site which overwhelms me to complete paralysis by the number of options.
posted by Wolfdog at 12:28 PM on October 25, 2019 [2 favorites]

I was looking at that site, and its design seems to be kind of bad for the issue of being overwhelmed by choices - presenting you with checkboxes to select King height and square size. But you can browse by price range; that link is $200-$400 complete sets.

There are a lot of choices! I would recommend, if you are spending that kind of money, that you get a set with two extra Queens, so that if anyone gets to make a second one, you aren't fumbling around with an inverted Rook like a peasant.
posted by thelonius at 12:29 PM on October 25, 2019 [6 favorites]

This one seems fine.. Get this one. Or use it to narrow down what you're looking for. More contrast. Flat base;. Choose from these.
posted by bleep at 12:44 PM on October 25, 2019

Call a brick-and-mortar store, give them your specifications, and ask them to choose one (or a few, if you want some choices) for you. Look at pictures of it online, and if you like it, buy it and have them ship it to you.
posted by Mr.Know-it-some at 12:44 PM on October 25, 2019 [1 favorite]

One option to reduce decision-paralysis might be to decide that you want a vintage set, rather than to buy a new set. It's (nominally) better for the environment than new, and then you can choose more on 'is it complete? is it undamaged? is it felted? is it weighted? is it beautiful?' rather than trying to pick amongst hundreds of virtually identical new items. Then you can just find the few sets that meet your requirements and pick one.

Etsy has lots of sellers who carry this sort of thing, including some who specialize just in vintage chess sets.
posted by jacquilynne at 12:45 PM on October 25, 2019 [1 favorite]

Best answer: Here is one single option that seems to meet your criteria.
posted by aniola at 12:45 PM on October 25, 2019 [7 favorites]

Try checking out game stores as well, such as Uncle Games or local game shops. They should have some staunton chess sets.
posted by alathia at 12:46 PM on October 25, 2019

I feel like this is something perfect to get used. Ebay has a great filter for chess set. You can be VERY specific about style, color, price, etc.

I like this
posted by beccaj at 12:48 PM on October 25, 2019

I would only ever consider very traditional piece shapes

I might add, for anyone in future who got here searching for advice on gifts for chess players: actual chess players, as a rule, do not want Lord Of The Rings or Civil War or abstract designs, or anything except plain old ordinary chess pieces. Those are for display or for collectors. The game is hard enough without having to figure out if the flying cube is a Knight or a Bishop.
posted by thelonius at 12:54 PM on October 25, 2019 [4 favorites]

Best answer: I am a serious tournament chess player with high aesthetic standards. If you want a single recommendation, it is: this board (rosewood/boxwood), then select "add a board / standard" and scroll down and pick "walnut and maple standard traditional - 2.25", which comes to a total of $278 for the set. It is classy and not gaudy with nice contrast, and everything has a good weight. My own set at home that I have used for hundreds if not thousands of hours of playing and studying is quite similar.
posted by dfan at 1:13 PM on October 25, 2019 [10 favorites]

Off the wall, but what about this one?
posted by Tamanna at 9:17 PM on October 25, 2019

I think this is a purchase where it can really pay to visit a store in person even if it means making a special trip. Trying to appreciate the differences in wood shades and the size of pieces is impossible from photos.
Stanton style pieces are perfect for playing, but if you pair them with a really beautiful board then they can start to look a little plain. Somehow beautiful pieces on a plain board look better than vice versa.
Something like the Russian Zagreb series is still very playable (close to the Stanton style) but different enough, that I think they will match better with a more upmarket board.
Heres a review of the 4" version, you would have to compromise on the smaller 2.87" size to meet your budget.
posted by Lanark at 1:54 AM on October 26, 2019