The best chess boards of 2024, buying guide.

Surely with the large number of boards it is sometimes difficult to know which game board to buy. The wide selection of models, sizes, materials, etc. makes it a somewhat difficult choice. This is why we have decided to write this buying guide, so that you know which chessboard to buy according to your needs .

This guide will also serve for those who want both for themselves or to give a set of board and pieces, but do not know very well which board to buy . For people who are looking to give a board to any chess fan of any level, remember that we chess players take this sport very seriously, so if you want to look good, I recommend that you read this guide. If you give a bad board to a good player, he will not be overly excited.

Aspects to take into account and frequently asked questions when buying a chessboard How to choose a good chessboard according to our needs?

There are many aspects that we must take into account when buying a chess board. Next, we are going to detail the most important ones one by one.

When choosing a chess game, there are many different options, different materials, prices, sizes ...

The variety is so great that the choice can sometimes be difficult.

The chess board, together with the pieces, is the essential element to enjoy the oldest board game and sport in the world anywhere. With it you will enjoy exciting games with your children, your family or your friends in which you will bring out your repertoire of openings, defenses and devastating attacks. All with the aim of checkmate the rival king and rise to victory while working on your ability to concentrate and your creativity.

Board use, do I want a board for decoration or professional play?

The first thing you should ask yourself is the use that will be made of the board, this will determine almost everything else. Is it going to be a daily, occasional, or just decorative game board ? Ask yourself this question seriously because with it you should mark the path of your choice.

If the board is going to be used daily, be it for a chess club, school or for daily play , you may be interested in a plastic chess board. These are simpler but have the advantage that they do not show wear and tear and are almost indestructible.

If the board is going to be used occasionally, you can buy a wooden board. Chess players actually prefer wooden sets as they are prettier, have the right weight and are much more stable.

You can also buy a wooden board to play daily , but you should be careful, as both pieces and board wear out over time.

Finally, if you are going to buy a chess board with special designs , we recommend that you buy it simply as a decorative element . We refer to those sets that come with pieces with some type of theme (Roman, Egyptian, etc.). These sets are not intended for play, as it is difficult to identify the parts and wear and tear will damage them.

As you surely know, the classic pieces are those of Staunton design, which are used in official competitions.

The size of the Staunton chess pieces is numbered from 3 to 8 according to the height of the king.

• Staunton 8: King Height> 150mm
• Staunton 7: King height between 130 - 150 mm
• Staunton 6: King height between 110 - 130 mm
• Staunton 5: King height between 90 - 110 mm
• Staunton 4: King height between 70 - 90 mm
• Staunton 3: King Height <70mm

When buying professional wooden board, the size of the king's base is also usually taken into account. It is established that in order to be neither too big nor too small, it must occupy approximately 75% of the square or box.

Budget

The budget is going to be something very relevant, since it will lead you to one type of material or another.
If you have a little budget, you should think about plastic games, since the investment for a good wooden game is much higher; although it is true that most players prefer wooden games.

In this sense you will not have any problem. Playing chess is very cheap, in fact it can be played even blind, that is, without a board or pieces. I'm going to show you sets of all prices, and also some very cheap.

Glossy or matte?

The boards are normally matt, in the case of a glossy model it is intended for collectors or for decoration, but the pieces are not. The pieces can be matte or glossy . What is better? Some chess players prefer matte pieces because the gloss makes it difficult for them to focus on the pieces. Although, it is a matter of taste, it is justified to buy some pieces in matte for this reason.

Am I going to travel with this chess?

This is an interesting question. Many players carry their chess sets everywhere. Most of the players generally buy the chess pieces made of plastic, with the board made of vinyl. These chess pieces are usually less expensive and therefore easily replaceable if they break (although it is almost impossible to break them).

However, if you are looking for a small, folding, light and magnetic board, we will show you the best seller on Amazon, with incredible ratings.

For traveling chess games you need one that folds. It is easy to store in your bag and you also have the ability to store the pieces inside. These chess sets are lightweight and are typically smaller than a medium-sized set.

What are the measurements of a chess board?

The Chessboard measurements are variable:

• From 40 × 40 cm to the largest 55 × 55 cm (complying with the FIDE regulations for official competitions, the size of the boxes must be at least 5 cm)
• Folding travel boards can be smaller than 30 × 30 cm
• Magnetic folding are even smaller, from 13x13 to 25x25 cm.

What is a chess board like?

The Chess board has 64 alternating light and dark squares distributed in 8 rows and 8 columns. In general, the boards have the letter that names the column from A to H marked on their lower edge and on their edge the number of the row from 1 to 8 to facilitate the annotation of the games.

Is a trustworthy brand important?

Buying a reputable and reliable brand is important because they promise superior quality, exceptional customer service, and an easy replacement policy, which mainstream brands don't do. The House of Staunton is one of the best brands to buy. Węgiel is another reputed brand from Poland, which manufactures handcrafted chess sets. These chess games can be passed down from one generation to the next as an heirloom. However, if brand reputation is not your concern, go for the smaller brands that are more affordable.

Amazon is the largest online store in the world and there are many advantages to buying there. If you are looking to buy something to have it quickly, with a lot of variety, security and the possibility of returning it is the best option.

In the world of chess, there are not many "branded" products. The advantage of a branded product is that you are generally going to receive a set that has higher and better quality controls, and whose "aging" is predictable. Also, the overall quality of the chess pieces will be much better. If you are looking for something exceptional, then consider the advantages of choosing a brand name product. But, it shouldn't be something that conditions you too much. You will find products of very good quality without being branded.

The Mark of Westminster makes some of the most distinguished and superior quality sets. Other high quality chess sets can be found in the Jaques of London brand .

How is a chess board made?

In this video you can see the amazing production process of a professional chess board.

Chessboard Features

There are several other characteristics that we must take into account when choosing a board.

• Coordinates. There are boards with and without coordinates. If you are learning, it is better that you buy one with coordinates, since it is essential to know them to make the annotations in the tournaments. More advanced players do not need coordinates, which is why higher quality boards do not carry them.
• Glossy or matte. The boards are usually always matt, but the pieces can be matt or glossy. This goes according to the tastes of each person. Some prefer matte because the gloss distracts them and they can't focus. Others prefer shiny because it adds depth and light to the game. Choose what you like the most.
• Color of the squares: The most common boards are black and white. It is also very common to find wood-colored boards of different shades. There are other more special ones of different colors, these would be something more decorative or personal taste.
• Transportable : There are boards that are designed to take on a trip. Folding, rolling, magnetic sets, etc.
• Price . There are boards of many prices, luckily playing chess can be really cheap.
• Mark. Above we have talked about some of the best chess brands.
• Quality The first thing is to look at the construction of the board. At the very least, you'll want a board that stays flat and even, and is sturdy enough to last a long time.
• The weight The chess pieces must be heavy and solid so that they remain firm on the board. For this reason, many pieces of wood include weights on the bottom.
• Storage If you are not going to use your chess set as a display, we are looking for games that are easy to store and travel.
• Queens Not an essential element, but an extra, many games include two extra Queen pieces for when a pawn is crowned.

Types of chess boards

There are boards of different materials (wood, marble, plastic, polyester resin, vinyl, etc). The main ones are wood and plastic / vinyl . The plastic sets are cheap and durable . They are good for learning or for children, they are also used in chess clubs or schools with little budget.

More advanced chess players like wooden sets better . They give a totally different playing sensation, it is much more aesthetic and pleasing to the eye. The weight and feel of the pieces are more comfortable.

To start showing you the different types of board, we are going to show you one of the best sellers on Amazon.

The Aquamarine portable chess is portable and ideal for playing a game anywhere.

Both the surface and the pieces are made of high quality wood and it includes chips for playing checkers and backgammon. Those are the main arguments that, along with the excellent ratings given by its users. If you are looking for magnificent finishes and different sizes, we recommend the Amazinggirl professional chess set . However, there are many others that we want to introduce to you before you decide on one.

Mat or rubber chess board.

It is made of a material similar to that of a mouse pad. This makes it offer a good grip on both the surface and the parts. However, they have a fairly short lifespan as they wear out and lose their colors within a few years.

Vinyl chess board.

It is the recommended chess board for tournaments and the most used in competition. It is very fine and provides a smooth surface on which the parts glide comfortably and is also easy to clean and store. When placed on top of each other, they take up very little space and hardly weigh.

Chess board with storage.

If you are looking for a complete game of chess, exclusive and that leaves everyone watching it, we have reached the section. There are many varieties of boards with a storage drawer, however, this type of boards are usually made to measure. In this way, it will surely fit in the place you want, in addition to the materials that you like the most, making it unique. We show you one of them, however if you want to see more models you can find them here .

Giant chess board.

The giant chess boards are designed to be installed in gardens and large outdoor areas. It has large pieces that, in many cases, reach the size of a child, which makes them very spectacular.

We have created a separate article to this one to talk about boards and giant pieces, if you have more interest click here.

Board for every day made of plastic.

The first board that we show is unbreakable (unless you do beastialities with them), it is the one that is used in 90% of the clubs to play and has many advantages: it is cheap, it supports everything, it can be cleaned with a cloth, it is easy to carry and sturdy.

To play tournaments personally I prefer a wooden board with varnished pieces, but for the day to day to enter a plastic board is ideal.

The recommended option if you are looking for a cheap chess board with which, for example, you can learn to play or teach your children. It doesn't offer a lot of quality, but it's a great place to start.

Rolling chess boards

Rolling boards are the most common and are recommended for all types of chess. Made of flexible materials that allow it to be folded on itself and transported comfortably.

Professional chess board

It is true that today we can find many types of chess boards , however, when we talk about a professional chess board , we refer to those boards with which they are played in official chess tournaments, etc.

Without a doubt, this board is suitable for tournaments and serious competitions. If you are a fanatic chess player, it can also be an excellent option to buy one to have at home, always ready to play a game at any time, because it is a very elegant element and gives distinction.

Wooden chess boards

The best chess boards are made of this material. They offer an attractive and elegant finish, the pieces slide perfectly and are very durable as long as they are properly cared for. Of course, they have quite high prices, although it all depends on what you want to spend.

In this section, you will find several wooden chess boards , usually made of walnut wood, with measures of 50 * 50 because they are also professionals, or, as we have mentioned above, they are designed for true chess fans. , who want to have one at home, or perhaps to play professionally, in tournaments, or small competitions between friends.

Some chess clubs have already taken the step of buying wooden chess boards , to offer in some cases a better playing experience, and give a more professional image. In these cases, it is always advisable to accompany them with a set of wooden chess pieces.

It is possible that what you are looking for is to buy a wooden chess set with pieces a little more noble than the plastic ones. Its use can be for occasional games and to be able to propose your own analysis of games at home without using the computer. It is always more pleasant to see the pieces in three dimensions , as in real tournament games.

Electronic chess boards

If what you are looking for is electronic chess , here we show you the best boards with different options depending on whether it is to broadcast or your level and requirements.

Another option is an electronic and intelligent chess board that helps us improve chess, in this case from the Lexibook brand. “It was very popular in the late eighties and during the 90s. The mobile and computer chess apps are fine, but they don't offer the charm or realism of playing on a real board. It works on batteries and has 64 levels of difficulty . The surface is tactile and is activated by applying light pressure with the piece. The opponent's movements are represented by LED lights located next to the coordinate numbers and letters.

Handmade chess boards

As we said at the beginning of the article, not all boards are for playing. Imagine yourself with a good friend sitting at a table playing a game of chess on this impressive board with these elegant chess pieces. The artisan games are very precious, they are made with different varieties of wood, in this case burnt boxwood and paired boxwood. The designs and finish are unique, most are handcrafted. To create the color black, the chess pieces are burned. The chess pieces are finished with a high-gloss lacquer that gives them a glass-like finish.

Here we show you two products, but if you like exclusive and personalized products, we leave you our article on unique boards .

Folding chess boards (plastic, wood, magnetic)

In case you want to take it with you, the most practical are the folding boards in both plastic and wood, another good option is the roll-up boards.

Magnetic Chess Boards for Travel

You may play with a coworker on lunch breaks or need them to study openings on trips.

Without a doubt having a board at home and playing with it .

I am almost certain that it will be the thing that stimulates the children the most to play themselves and it will result in their progress in concentration, memory, spatial vision … and they will also have a lot of fun.

Being able to store the pieces inside when you store it is very practical. It is noted that the king crosshead is a glued addition, but it is not relevant. It is not a luxury chess set, but the finish is correct.

All-in-one board (chess, ludo, checkers, goose)

For this function you can also choose a set of board-case and parts that is more economical. It has the advantage of having rows and columns marked with letters and numbers which is very useful for teaching Chess notation .

Chess board for kids

There is also a Chess book set for children with a board and chess pieces . It is designed for children from 4-5 years to make it their first Chess game.

It contains an entertaining, educational and fun book to teach the movement of the pieces to the smallest of the house. Learning Chess can bring you many intellectual qualities. More and more countries are incorporating Chess into their school curricula.

The most suitable for children is to buy a chess board for children and cheap plastic pieces , to give them a lot of trot, it is important that they are of a suitable size so that they cannot ingest them. With these pieces children can play without fear of spoiling them

Themed chess boards

Official product of the reproduction of the giant chess of the magicians that appears in the movie "Harry Potter and the philosopher's stone".

Original chess boards

In addition to traditional chess boards , we have also wanted to look for novel products, so we also have original and fun chess boards.

Leather chess boards

It is another type of luxury chess and mainly decorative. This natural material requires a lot of care for its conservation and is very susceptible to wear and tear.

Silicone chess boards

Very similar to vinyl boards, with similar resistance and without being toxic. These boards will not wear out for a long time, be resistant and can be used anywhere. However, it is clear that the touch, stability of the pieces and loss of the color of the boxes due to the exposed thing that this will be affected, the positive part is that they usually have a very cheap price and if it breaks, it is sure to be allowed. buy another.

They can be stored very compactly and are very durable.

Best quality-price chess boards

We start with the best chessboard of the Aquamarine Games brand according to Amazon customers. Both the pieces and the board have been made of wood, which is very unusual for this type of folding board. It is shaped like a case and also allows you to play checkers and backgammon (it includes the playing surface on the inside).

Here we have the best Amazinggirl brand chess board, foldable and can be purchased in three sizes (20 x 20 cm, 34.5 x 34.5 cm and 44 x 44 cm). “The board has a very elegant classic style, but its pieces even more so. The tokens are made of wood and have been delicately carved . In addition, they can be stored inside the case itself to transport them comfortably.

The best numbered chess board from the Fajiabao brand. Its pieces are made of silver and gold plastic and have a magnet inside to better adhere to the surface. In fact, to easily slide on it, they have felt paper at the base. Like the previous one, it is foldable and easy to transport.

TOP best selling chess boards and best deals 2024

Board Bags

Carrying our precious boards around the various tournaments requires some care. There are many different boards that require care to avoid friction or deterioration. There are also boards that are more resistant but transporting them one by one can be tedious. For these reasons, transport bags were born, both to take care of our boards and to be able to transport them all in one.

The first option that we are going to propose is a transport bag where it allows to transport several boards and facilitate the task of organizers or clubs.

Finally, we show you the official DGT bag. Where, in addition to thinking about the boards, they thought about the clocks and pieces. This bag allows us to safely carry the entire set of boards, whether wooden or electronic. Without a doubt, a very good option for everyone who wants to take care of their boards and pieces.

In case you want to visit more transport material, be it for boards, clocks, murals, etc. We leave you a direct link to the section on transport material by clicking here .

How to keep a wooden chessboard in good condition?

If you have been playing for a while and have passed the beginner level in this classic board game, the normal thing is that you are encouraged to buy wooden chess pieces and a matching board of the same material. However, they are delicate items that you should clean and take care of as follows:

• If you drink anything during the game, keep the glass away from the board and be very careful not to spill the liquid on it.
• When finished, wipe the surface with a dry cloth to remove any dust.
• Use a specific product for wood in order to give the surface a shine. Also use it on the pieces.
• Store the pieces in their box or case as soon as you finish.
• Store the board in a place away from sunlight and, above all, dry. The moisture can deteriorate rapidly and very serious form.
• If you have a portable chess board, carry it in a protective sleeve inside a bag or backpack to prevent scratches.
• The best wooden chess boards need to be varnished periodically . Generally, this is done every 5 years, although it depends on the intensity of use.

How to make a cardboard chess board?

In this comparison of chess boards we have seen very cheap models. But, if you prefer to build your own to start practicing with your children, you just have to do the following:

• Find a 44 x 44 cm piece of cardboard . It should be as rigid as possible and have no kinks.
• Buy a white sheet of DIN A2 size .
• Draw a 40 x 40 cm square on the paper .
• Now, using a ruler, draw a line every 5 cm horizontally and vertically . Thus, each square will have a surface area of ​​5 cm2.
• With a marker, color in the black boxes .
• Put the coordinates (optional). Remember that the lower right square from the player's position must be white and identified with an A1 (black) and an H8 (white).

Is it a good option to buy online on Amazon?

If you have read reviews, opinions and have spent enough time researching before buy online, you are likely to make a good decision.

Amazon is the largest online store in the world and there are many advantages to buying there. If you are looking to buy something to have it quickly (be it a gift, to improve your chess, or to have a treat), with security and the possibility of returning it is the best option.

On the other hand, you will be able to see hundreds of comments from people who have bought chess clocks and draw your own conclusions.

YottaChess participates in the Amazon Affiliate program.

Nevertheless, also there are several chess stores online that provides the same and more chess material. Yottachess participates with several shops like Duochess, Tienda Ajedrez Escac i mat, The ChessStore and House Of Staunton.