A Step-by-Step Guide to Selecting a Chess Board

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A Step-by-Step Guide to Selecting a Chess Board
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• Choosing a chessboard and chess set is a
  combination of practicality and personal
  preference.
• Do you prefer a wooden chessboard to a vinyl
  chess board mat? If you know what you're looking
  for, everything will be a lot easier.
• You would never go to a car auction without
  knowing what you want to buy.
• While you may be able to find the "ideal" board,
  you will most likely have to make some
  compromises.
• Because there is such a large market for chess
  equipment, you are spoiled for choice and
  surrounded by dozens of options!
• We hope that by focusing on the following six
  criteria in this article, you will be able to
  make an excellent choice on the right types of
  chess board for your needs

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• Traveling use vs. Home use
• Practicality vs. Aesthetics
• Size
• Material
• Design
• Price
• To choose the best chess board, ask yourself the
  following questions

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Is the chess board sets for use at home or on the
road?

• When it comes to selecting a chessboard, the
  first thing to consider is whether you want to
  play games on the go or at home.
• When you're on the road, you don't want to be
  carrying a bulky or ornate set because it will
  take up space that could be used for other
  vacation necessities.
• Nomadic chess players will want a board that will
  fit easily into their luggage and will not suffer
  from wear and tears while traveling.
• These portable sets are likely to be less
  attractive. The high-end boards, as explained
  later in this article, are better suited to stay
  in the home.
• If you want a portable board, consider a folding
  board or a small hollow wooden chessboard that
  allows you to keep the chess pieces inside.

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• Speaking from personal experience, the hollow
  board is far more convenient because you don't
  have to carry the pieces in a separate bag. If
  the size is important to you, a folding wooden
  chessboard set can be much larger.
• You might also want to think about getting a
  magnetic board so you can play while traveling on
  buses or planes without worrying about the pieces
  scattering all over the place. Chess is a great
  way to pass the time on long car rides.
• Of course, you can have more than one chessboard
  a larger, fancier one for the comfort of your
  own home and a smaller, more austere one for
  traveling.

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Which do you prefer a large or a small board?

• The size of the board is determined by whether
  the chessboard will be used at home or on the
  road. It also has an impact on price, as larger
  sets are naturally more expensive.
• Playing with a larger chessboard is especially
  important for the visually impaired playing
  games with small sets can be difficult if your
  eyesight isn't the best.
• If you buy the board separately from the pieces,
  make sure the pieces are the same size as the
  squares. The king's base should ideally take 75
  of a square on the chessboard.
• If you buy the board and pieces together, you
  shouldn't have too many difficulties because they
  should be the right size for each other.

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What kinds of materials do you prefer?

• Examine other people's chess boards to determine
  your preferred material and how important this is
  to you in comparison to other factors when
  selecting a chessboard.
• The most appealing materials, such as wooden
  chessboards and marble chessboards, are usually
  more expensive and less durable a wooden
  chessboard can be scratched, and marble can chip.
• Still, if you don't travel with your board, this
  shouldn't be an issue.
• Plastic chess sets are cost-effective and
  long-lasting, but they have a mass-produced feel
  which is less authentic.

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Should there be numbers and letters around the
edges, or not?

• Some boards have letters and numbers that
  identify each square printed right on the board's
  edge. Such sets display the letters "a" through
  "h," as well as the numbers "1" through "8."
• This makes it easier, especially for beginners,
  to write down the moves on your score sheet.
• Having numbers and letters printed on the chess
  board is thought to be a little amateurish by
  some.
• They're similar to training wheels on a bicycle.
  A skilled chess player should not require help in
  determining which square is which.

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What is your budget?

• As explained previously, the price of the board
  will be influenced by factors such as the
  material and size.
• People spend thousands of dollars on other
  hobbies consider how much golf clubs and sports
  cars can cost but even the most expensive
  chessboards are rarely more than a few hundred
  dollars (unless you get a chessboard encrusted
  with gold, silver, and precious stones!)
• A wooden chessboard with wooden pieces can be
  worth the extra cost if it gave you a lot of
  pleasure and more enjoyable games.

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Quick Questions and Answers on Chess Boards

• 1.) What is the price of a good chessboard?
• A chessboard can range in price from under ten
  dollars to several hundred dollars. 
• 2.) What come chessboard sets are so expensive?
• The price is determined by the material and
  method of manufacture. Chess sets are similar to
  clothing in that you can buy a suit in a store
  for a lot less than having one custom-made for
  you.
• 3.) Where can I get a good chess set?
• There are numerous factors to consider when
  determining what constitutes a good chess set.
  It's best if you consider things like size,
  whether you'll use it at home or travel with it,
  and your budget.