What To Look For In A Chess Set
By Mark Humphrey

There are almost as many different types and styles of sets as there are players. It may be hard to decide upon a particular set, but it's relatively easy to narrow your choices down to a particular category. Here's a look at the major categories that are available everywhere:

Theme Sets

These types of sets depict characters, movies and events. There are theme sets for most major sports teams with pieces and pawns that resemble positions like quarterback and cheerleaders.

There are entire categories of cartoon character sets that are perfect for attracting younger people to the game. You can even get Civil War or WW II sets as well as Roman Gladiator and even old West models.

You'll pay anywhere from $20 to over $2,000 for theme sets depending upon the theme and the materials used to make the set. Some sets are made with silver, gold and precious stones. Choose platinum if you have plenty of money.

Travel Sets

If you're on the go then folding travel sets are for you. They're usually magnetic to protect against bumps and jolts. The pieces and pawns can be stored inside the board when folded. You can get a nice one for somewhere around $20, or a very basic one for $10 or less. You may even find miniature ones in the dollar stores!

Wood Sets

Wood is a great material for sets. The pieces, pawns and board can be made from less expensive oak, pine or walnut, or you can choose exotic woods like teak, ebony, or cocobolo.

Wood sets are impressive to look at and the pieces feel solid. Because of the weight, they don't make good choices if you're looking for a portable set, but they are wonderful additions to your home or office. Wood sets run between $50 and $5,000. Let your budget be your guide!

Glass Sets

Glass is the generic term used to describe sets which are made from crystal or bone china. Although these types of sets generally come in the theme or collector's categories, you can fine regular pieces and pawns as well.

Crystal pieces have a good hefty feel to them, but china pieces will usually feel a bit light unless they have weighted bases. Although beautiful to look at, the pieces will break if dropped and fingerprints can become a problem on some models. They're dust collectors too. Many people keep a glass set for "looks" and another type for actual play. Glass sets average in the $300 to $2,000 range, but you can pay a lot more if you want to.

No matter what material you choose, there is a set that's right for your taste and budget. Instead of buying a set, consider buying the board, pieces and pawns separately. That way, instead of ending up with a set that's another "me too", you can design one that's uniquely yours!

Article Source: http://www.ArticleJoe.com

Mark runs one of the most successful online stores which can be found at www.chessinfoonline.com/store/shop.php.