Buying a Chess Set

Which chess set should you choose? The essential questions

Before choosing a chess set, three questions need answering. What will you mainly use it for: club or tournament play, playing at home with the family, or an exceptional set or prestige gift? What is your level: beginner, club player, competitor? And what is your budget: under €30, €50–150, or more for a beautiful object in precious wood?

The answers to these questions entirely determine the type of set you need. A tournament player needs regulation-size Staunton pieces on a cloth or vinyl board. A keen amateur playing at home will want a handsome wooden board. An exceptional gift calls for precious woods and careful finishing.

Quality criteria for a physical chess set

Piece size: For tournaments, FIDE recommends a king about 9.5 cm tall (8.5 to 10.5 cm), with a base 40 to 50% of its height. Pieces that are too small tire the eyes over time. Pieces that are too large make the board feel crowded if the board is not suited to them.

Piece-to-board proportion: The diameter of the king’s base should take up 75–80% of the size of a square. A 40×40 cm board (5×5 cm squares) suits pieces with a king 9–10 cm tall.

Material: Wood remains the noble material par excellence. The difference in feel between a good wooden piece (boxwood, ebony, mahogany) and a plastic one is immediate and significant. Wood also adds weight, which gives a more solid feel in play.

Quality of finish: Check that the squares are perfectly flat, that the pieces are stable (a wide, weighted base), and that the board does not warp with humidity.

Types of chess set by use

For tournaments and clubs

Official tournaments use plastic Staunton pieces (DGT or similar) on roll-up cloth or vinyl boards. These sets are inexpensive (€20–50), sturdy, and meet FIDE standards. They are not beautiful, but they are 100% functional.

For playing at home

For pleasant domestic use, a wooden set in the €60–150 range offers excellent value for enjoyment. Pieces in white and stained boxwood, or in maple and walnut, on a folding wooden board, transform the playing experience.

For a gift or a prestige object

In this category, sets in precious wood (rosewood, ebony, boxwood) are the ultimate. Noble woods, finely carved pieces, jewellery-grade finishes. These objects are works of art as much as games.

Comparing the best chess shops

Here is our selection of recommended online shops, based on product quality, customer service and expertise.

Our recommendation by budget

Budget	Recommendation	Ideal use
Under €30	Plastic DGT Staunton set	Tournaments, serious learning
€30 to €80	Basic maple/walnut wooden set	Playing at home, family
€80 to €200	Quality wooden set (boxwood, walnut)	Keen player, gift
€200 to €500	Precious woods, carved pieces	Prestige object, discerning amateur
€500 and over	Limited edition, precious wood	Collection, exceptional gift

Electronic chess sets: a category of their own

Electronic chess sets let you play against the computer on a real, physical board. Sensors in the board detect the movement of the pieces, and an analysis engine plays the opposing side. These sets are ideal for players who want to train alone with an engine’s feedback while keeping the tactile pleasure of over-the-board chess.

DGT and Millennium offer the market’s benchmark models in this category. Le Palais des Echecs has a specialist selection of this type of product.

Chess clocks: don’t overlook them

To play against the clock and learn to handle time pressure, a chess clock is indispensable. DGT digital clocks are the world standard in tournaments. They can be programmed with the standard FIDE time controls (90 minutes + 30 seconds increment) and many other formats (bullet, blitz, Fischer). An investment of €40–70 that radically changes the playing experience.

What to avoid

A few common pitfalls when buying a chess set: sets that are too small (squares of 3 cm or less), which tire the eyes and fingers over time. Very light plastic pieces that tip over easily. Cardboard boards that quickly get damaged. “Decorative” sets with symbolic pieces (warriors, historical figures and so on) that are beautiful to look at but uncomfortable to play with because the pieces are not standardised.

Before buying, work on your playing level so you know exactly what kind of equipment suits you. Our guide to essential tactics and to the Sicilian Defence will help you pinpoint your training needs.