Top 5 Coolest Chess Sets

If you want a traditional-styled wooden chess set, with 32 pieces and a board, then look no further. This set from Chess Armory is incredibly affordable and offers classically-styled kings, queens, rooks, knights, bishops and pawns, as well as a fold-out, walnut-inlaid checkerboard. Even though it’s an affordable set, there are a few dashes of sophistication thrown in, like the felt bottoms on the pieces, and the fact that the portable board features straps for holding the pieces in place when stowed away.

Teaching any newcomer the rules of chess can be difficult, regardless of their age. But this No Stress Chess set helps introduce beginners gradually. With board markings showing you how to set up your pieces, and action cards that tell you how each piece can move, this guided game is foolproof. There are several levels of difficulty too, so players can keep improving. And once you’re ready for a proper game of chess, you can flip the board to reveal a standard checkerboard layout and put your skills to the test.

There are tons of themed chess sets out there - quick shout out to the “Game of Thrones” one by the way, it’s awesome - but our pick goes to this Harry Potter set. Taking inspiration from the franchise’s Wizard’s Chess game, this set comes with some of the most detailed pieces we’ve ever seen, from galloping knights to hunched-over pawns. The board even has a marble effect too, so you can relive that famous scene from the first movie. The storage bags for the pieces are a nice touch too.

If you’re looking for a bit of class — and perhaps a chess set you can leave set up as part of the decor in your house — then you should take a look at The House of Staunton’s line-up of quality products. This Superior Grandmaster Chess Set features a blackwood, maple and mahogany board, with heavily-weighted, hand-carved, billiard-cloth-bottomed pieces. It also comes with two extra queen pieces and a plush slide-top box to store the pieces. It’s pricey, but one heck of a serious set.

Before we reveal our final pick, here are a few other great sets that are worth considering:

Great for parties and for introducing kids to chess in a fun way, this chess set’s pieces range from 12-inches to 8-inches in height, with the mat measuring in at four feet by seven feet. Designed to withstand the elements, these sets are ideal for outdoor use, and allow players to walk amongst their troops as they battle their opponents. And if this set isn’t big enough for you, MegaChess makes some even larger sets, some with pieces as big as 49-inches tall!

So which chess set should you choose? Well, that depends how serious you are about your playing. If you’re looking to enter a tournament sometime soon, then maybe go with a more traditional design, to help you get in the zone and hone your game face. However, most of us will probably just be looking for a fun, affordable set for the house - and in that case, the Chess Armory or Harry Potter sets are excellent choices.

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