I always wonder, as I often see people playing on straight board instead of folding one. Is it worth the hassle? What's wrong with folding boards?
You can carry around chess boards in a bag - retailers also sell Board bags to tote around full boards.
Apart from that, folding boards cost more, and full boards generally look a little better (because the seam of the fold is never visible - especially after a lot of use).
And many bags for non-folding boards also have pockets for pieces and maybe even a clock. It can be a little unwieldy as you walk through the park bashing everyone in your path with it but that's a small price to pay for comfort and style! 
I always wonder, as I often see people playing on straight board instead of folding one. Is it worth the hassle? What's wrong with folding boards?
What hassle? You pick up the bag put it in your car, get to the park/hobby-store/cafe/friends house take the bag out of the car and set up. Everything (board, clock, chess pieces pre-sorted by color) in one easy to grab package.
This is my most common to use set up as it is most convenient, its the other options that are more situation specific. (Like if there is food and drinks involved I might go vinyl board and plastic set)
I’ll change the chess sets sometimes by taking bags out of pockets and putting a different pair of bags in for variety but the main bag and board are my main go to 90% of the time. I’ve used it couple of times a week before pandemic, sadly less now - maybe once a month.
Board is a standard usa tournament 2.25”. Got it for 50$ of eBay before the queens gambit craze. Two chess sets i pretty much always use with it are a cheap chess bazaar ebonized Fischer Spassky set, and a supreme Staunton in rosewood from House of Chess. Both are under 100$. Affordable beater set ups that don’t cost much more than top end plastic.
Yeah those non-folding wood boards always seem awkward to carry around. I'll just stick to a vinyl or mousepad.
If I ever were to bring chess setup to play with people I don't know how they handle pieces, I'd bring vinyl board and plastic pieces. Better safe than sorry.
If I ever were to bring chess setup to play with people I don't know how they handle pieces, I'd bring vinyl board and plastic pieces. Better safe than sorry.
Michael, bear in mind that most of the people discussing this are Americans - i.e. they've all got guns - no-one is going to mis-handle their chess sets 
If I ever were to bring chess setup to play with people I don't know how they handle pieces, I'd bring vinyl board and plastic pieces. Better safe than sorry.
Michael, bear in mind that most of the people discussing this are Americans - i.e. they've all got guns - no-one is going to mis-handle their chess sets
I was originally going to reply to Michael to say "that's what the loaded .45 ACP is for" but thanks for clearing that up! 
hmm, they do not posses the awareness of the strength of special brownies and joints I will bring with me! Let's battle! I mean let's play 3 minutes games!
hmm, they do not posses the awareness of the strength of special brownies and joints I will bring with me! Let's battle! I mean let's play 3 minutes games!
Sounds like we're all living up to our national stereotypes!
Right, I'm off to drink a bucket of tea and then leave the European Union again.
3 things why I envy you mister Ips! Leaving EU, abundance of Chavet sets on eBay, English breakfast, Kate Beckinsale, Kate Winslet and Kate from the call center I talked to the other day! You can keep your bucket of tea btw.
The only downside to the padded chess bags large enough for the nice wooden boards is that they’re expensive.
I should ask: how do people transport their expensive folding wooden chessboards? Shouldn’t they be protected from dings and dents as well so the bags they are transported in should be padded as well? How much do those cost?
Sorry, I just had to post it lmao
I always wonder, as I often see people playing on straight board instead of folding one. Is it worth the hassle? What's wrong with folding boards?
What hassle? You pick up the bag put it in your car, get to the park/hobby-store/cafe/friends house take the bag out of the car and set up. Everything (board, clock, chess pieces pre-sorted by color) in one easy to grab package.
This is my most common to use set up as it is most convenient, its the other options that are more situation specific. (Like if there is food and drinks involved I might go vinyl board and plastic set)
I’ll change the chess sets sometimes by taking bags out of pockets and putting a different pair of bags in for variety but the main bag and board are my main go to 90% of the time. I’ve used it couple of times a week before pandemic, sadly less now - maybe once a month.
Board is a standard usa tournament 2.25”. Got it for 50$ of eBay before the queens gambit craze. Two chess sets i pretty much always use with it are a cheap chess bazaar ebonized Fischer Spassky set, and a supreme Staunton in rosewood from House of Chess. Both are under 100$. Affordable beater set ups that don’t cost much more than top end plastic.
Nice looking set, simple and practical .
I know some boards have issues with warping :
Is it better to go for all wood boards or like yours made out of veneer wood?
Also some boards like DGT is very thick and some other veneer boards thin , do thicker boards bette? r more resisting to warping or... ?
I always wonder, as I often see people playing on straight board instead of folding one. Is it worth the hassle? What's wrong with folding boards?
What hassle? You pick up the bag put it in your car, get to the park/hobby-store/cafe/friends house take the bag out of the car and set up. Everything (board, clock, chess pieces pre-sorted by color) in one easy to grab package.
This is my most common to use set up as it is most convenient, its the other options that are more situation specific. (Like if there is food and drinks involved I might go vinyl board and plastic set)
I’ll change the chess sets sometimes by taking bags out of pockets and putting a different pair of bags in for variety but the main bag and board are my main go to 90% of the time. I’ve used it couple of times a week before pandemic, sadly less now - maybe once a month.
Board is a standard usa tournament 2.25”. Got it for 50$ of eBay before the queens gambit craze. Two chess sets i pretty much always use with it are a cheap chess bazaar ebonized Fischer Spassky set, and a supreme Staunton in rosewood from House of Chess. Both are under 100$. Affordable beater set ups that don’t cost much more than top end plastic.
I like your board a lot nice combination of colours and simplicity. Where do you buy this board right now? Or at least similar one? Also same goes for carrying bag.
If you had to do all over again and didn't have this particular set up, but were planning to get similar one where would you go and what would you choose right now? If you wanted 2.25 similar board (wood or veneer I don't know) and some chess pieces.
Also can you show your board underneath?
I wish I had a professional chess set
My folding chess set, holds the pieces, cost me $20.00 in 1954 . . . I've passed it on to my son's family . . .
I always wonder, as I often see people playing on straight board instead of folding one. Is it worth the hassle? What's wrong with folding boards?