Choosing The Right Chess Board

Choosing the right chess board can be challenging, especially for beginners as there is a wide variety to choose from. Chess boards are available in various shapes and sizes and their material depends on the functionality of the board, whether they are used for traveling purposes or for decoration there is always the right chess board for everyone. Wooden chess boards are considered one of the most luxurious and their value depends on the level of craftsmanship, and the quality of the wood, whether it is made from walnut, rosewood, sheesham, wenge or other types of wood. The quality of the wood and the finish is of utmost importance.  Stanton style is one of the oldest and richest designs that was adapted for mostly wooden chess boards and is used as the standard style for tournaments. Boards can also be made from vinyl plastic for convenience and practicality, they are considered to be more affordable as well and their size may also vary from small to large pieces. Travel chess boards are excellent for aspiring chess students who are required to carry their sets when they travel to class or tournaments. Travel chess boards can be made from different materials and are generally foldable. Fabric is also used as a material for chess boards, demo boards are a great example which are practical for teaching purposes or for large audiences.  There are also e-boards which are part of the digital chess sets, are also considered luxury chess sets that connect to a variety of pc softwares these chess boards are excellent for professional games, they allow the game to be precisely recorded and transferred to a computer, they can also be made from various materials from wood to vinyl. Cardboard is also another material used for making chess boards, this is convenient for teaching purposes and is a more affordable option among the rest of the boards.

Chess Board Styles

The first thing you will want to consider is the style of the chess board. There are many different ones to choose from, starting with a standard wooden chess board, up to an electronic chess board. We have a lot of ground to cover, so let’s get going! Folding chess board This is easily the most popular style for beginners. Folding boards are designed to be folded up and are ideal for travel or casual play, particularly since they sometimes include built-in compartments to hold your chess pieces. Folding boards come in a variety of sizes and shapes, so if you plan on taking one with you to travel, make sure that it’s small enough to fit comfortably in your bag or luggage. They are easy to store and usually come with standard-style pieces. Folding chess boards come in a variety of materials, the most populars being vinyl and wood. The folding style chess board actually has an interesting history. The first folding board dates back to 1125, and it was invented by a priest. At the time, chess was condemned by the eastern orthodox church, that threatened to excommunicate any member of the clergy caught playing it. So one inventive priest came up with the idea to disguise it. The first folding chess board just looked like two books lying together! Thanks to his ingenuity, nowadays we have a whole variety of folding boards, and they become more and more popular!