Looking for Tournament Chess Set (Portable)

I am looking for a tournament style chess set. In my mind, I'm thinking it would be good to be portable. I have been reading some different threads on here, as well as searching around the web.

I see a few mentioning the foldable wood sets...what is the feedback on these?

I am eyeing the basic mousepad type set that is able to go in the travel bag...

Looking at this one: http://www.wholesalechess.com/shop/chess-sets/tournament-chess-sets/traditional-staunton-chess-set

I'm getting the sense from most that I should stick with the 3.75 inch king...

This will be for working through some new books I have on the way, as well as being portable.

Thanks for any feedback, as well as links to other sites that might offer something in this arena.

Check out the Jowisz folding box set & Wegiel folding sets. I have had mine for 20 plus years & zero problems.  made in Poland & made to last. These guys know how to make stuff.

Any feedback on the quality of these folding wooden board sets?

I just know myself, and if it is not a decent quality, I would just rather go for the mousepad board...

I do plan to buy a luxury type set to have at the house, but I'm wanting this set to be portable.

Wegiel makes quality chess sets & folding box sets in my opinion. Like I said I have been using these off & on for years & zero problems with no cracking, discoloration or warped pieces. Its really up to you what you want to get but, anything made by Wegiel is a good choice.

I bought the Premier set similar to the one you are considering.  I will tell you straight off, I'm not particularly enamored with the mousepad board, I much prefer vinyl.  That's a personal thing though.

The larger pieces I love.  The weight feels really good.  It is the same quad-weight set EVERYBODY sells.  Exactly the same.  It's apparently from the same molds that produce the HOS Collectors 4 1/8" King plastic set with a tad less care in the finishing, ie mold lines and cheaper felt. You would be amazed at what you can get after spending about $5.00 on an Exacto knife and 1000 grit emery paper.  Side-By-Side you can not tell it from the HOS Collectors. You have to look at the pieces from the bottom (felt) to tell the difference.  After just a tad more buffing, the WSC (generic) set looks better than the HOS.

The bag is so-so.  Not anything to praise or complain about it.

Wholesale Chess gave very prompt service and replaced a broken piece faster than one could have hoped for.

Yes i ordered from Wholesale Chess and they were solid, professional, and i am completely pleased with the set. The mousepad boards that 'roll-up' ? don't buy them. after awhile they end up looking all tattered and frayed along the edges. the top coating or ink or whatever will not be as durable as the main foamy body of the mousepad, and, after all, you'll see that you've bought a 20" square mousepad with no colors or squares on it. 

Wholesale Chess makes a point of saying that they 'listened to their customers' and cut down on the shine of their vinyl boards. I ordered, in NATURAL & Black:

http://www.wholesalechess.com/shop/chess-pieces/tournament-chess-pieces/traditional-staunton-chess-pieces-with-cloth-drawstring-bag

with a soft brown (melted chocolate ice cream) and white board. I love it and so does everyone at my club. Here they are shown next to the standard size, single weight tourny set.

So you recommend going with the vinyl board...

I now see that WSC carries a few different materials...mousepad, vinyl, pvc, silicone...

Any feedback on these other boards?

http://www.wholesalechess.com/shop/chess_boards/vinyl_and_rollup_chess_boards?sort=pricedesc

This enite chess merchandise market is stressful...Obviously most of these stores carry the same things, but prices are different, and so are some reviews, so that makes you question which are the more premium pieces...

Now I'm seeing some solid/well reviewed sets at thechessstore.com, as well as a more sturdy looking bag.

What size board is recommended for a 4.25 inch king?

Will a 2.375 square board fit?

These have been the heaviest set of pieces I have found, at 3.4 ounces...but the king is 4.25 inches.

http://www.thechessstore.com/#!product/PSZSBC/Zukert-Series-Plastic-Chess-Set-in-Black-Camel-4-25-King

I have been reading that most say the 3.75 inch is the best sizing for the eyes and such...

Thoughts?

While king height is marginally important, the diameter of the king is a far more important measurement.  Most feel that the ideal ratio between diameter and square size is .75 which would happen if you had a smaller 3.5 king with a 1.5" diameter base sitting on a 2" square board.  Pretty standard is the 3.75 or 4.0 king with a 1.75 base fitting perfectly on a 2.25" board.  A slightly larger king base with some 4" kings is the 1.875" which demands a 2.375 square board,

For some reason the chess store is amazingly ignorant of all this and recommends boards that are too small.  For pictures, many stores routinely show too crowded a board; again no idea why.  I believe the USCF standard is .78, which is the ratio of a 1.875 base on a 2.375 board. You can go 1/8" larger without a problem, but a set that is too crowded probably can't be used if your opponent objects.

Vinyl boards are cheap and the printing is sharpest but meticulous care is needed to keep them lying flat and ratty looking vinyl is unfortunately almost the norm.  Mousepad boards are generally considered a step up in quality and desirability.  Silicone boards are the easiest to take care of since they don't require rolling; you can literally wad it up into a ball and it will never wrinkle.  A little more expensive but worth it IMHO (I have all 3 types).  If you're a piece "slider" rather than a "pick 'em up and set 'em down" kind of guy then you're pretty much stuck with vinyl unless you get a nice folding board ( no not the cheap boxes; a regulation board with hinges).  Hope all this helps...

baddogno,

Thanks for the insight on the boards...I have never had any of the three, so that is helpful. They are all cheap, so if the silicone is a noticeable upgrade, it makes sense to pay the extre few bucks for it.

Now I'm just trying to decide between the 3.75 and 4 inch king, which will obviously affect which size board.

I just wanted to add for clarity's sake.  The Primere set sold by WSC and the Professional set sold by TCS, both as 4 1/8" King are not just similar, they are EXACTLY the same set.   The exact same set as sold by ACE and Portland as 4" quad weighted.   If you see a review of one at one site, that review applies to all sites selling those sets.  EXACTLY the same.  And the only difference between all those and the HOS Collector series plastic 4 1/8" King is in the post molding QC.  Doesn't matter what they say about them, they all come from the same molds.

That's helpful. Thanks!

You might want to take a look at Ebay if you haven't already done so.  You've already done some current market research so you should be able to tell if something is a bargain or not.  I scored a used HOS collector (plastic) 3.75 with a carrying pouch for $25 with free shipping not that long ago.  Lot of overpriced crap of course, but the odd bargain does show up now and then.

I've wondered about the opposite being the case.  The inexpensive plastic sets - the ones with felt paper bottoms that sell for under $10 - have 3.75 inch kings with 1.5 inch bases.  These are generally matched (in the U.S.) with 2 1/4 inch boards.  Using the .75 (or .78) rule, shouldn't these be on smaller boards with only 2 inch squares?

Yes, but 2 1/4" boards are most common so they're more often used.  My understanding is folks are more likely to complain about a crowded board than one where the pieces are too far apart.  Technically they're in violation but of course it would be up to the TD.  Pretty sure the rules say something about an extra 1/8" on the square being acceptable, but you can't go more crowded.  And since it's mostly the scholastic crowd that goes for the cheapest sets, they probably don't know or care what the USCF rules are.

I love the silicone board. I roll it up in a small pack and put it together with the pieces in a drawstring bag. It unfolds without any creases - amazing stuff. Easier to carry and stow away.

Just ordered the Zukert set from TCS. I'll report back when they arrive. Ended up going with the 4.25 king, mainly because of the added weight and I like the matte finish to the pieces. Picked up 2 boards and their nicer travel bag as well.

https://www-thechessstore-com.app-hosted.com/#!product/PSZSBC/Zukert-Series-Plastic-Chess-Set-in-Black-Camel-4-25-King

That is one I might get some day.  Let us know what you think.