You should decide on the size , pocket size or a bit larger. There are numerous makes , maodels and types , however some of the pocket sized sets are rather expensive , so try shopping around Amazon perhaps?
Travel Chess Set
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I have the chess mate checkbook style chess set. Its nice IMO.
9kick9 wrote:
I have the chess mate checkbook style chess set. Its nice IMO.
I've thought about getting one of their sets for years. I may have to do that soon. They look well made from good materials but looks can be deceiving and I've never seen any reviews until now, however brief it may be. Thanks
http://smile.amazon.com/dp/B001VDU2YE/ref=sr_ph?ie=UTF8&qid=1420726629&sr=1&keywords=chess
This is what I have and I really like it. It's triple weighted so the pieces have a really nice feel to them.
Gomer.. I have the original Chessmate 39.95. I think that it cost me around 25 bucks many years ago. The magnets are like new after all these years. I mainly use it to study games from a book while sitting on a couch. The small board is glued on the vinyl carry case & shows very little wear. It is handy for me though. I noticed they now have a lot more options. If you don't like sitting at a table going over book moves but, rather do it on the couch or lazyboy chair, its a good choice IMO.
Jan 8, 2015
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#7
9kick9 wrote:
Gomer.. I have the original Chessmate 39.95. I think that it cost me around 25 bucks many years ago. The magnets are like new after all these years. I mainly use it to study games from a book while sitting on a couch. The small board is glued on the vinyl carry case & shows very little wear. It is handy for me though. I noticed they now have a lot more options. If you don't like sitting at a table going over book moves but, rather do it on the couch or lazyboy chair, its a good choice IMO.
I too have been looking at these for years. I once saw a similar set back in the 60's made in West Germany that had raised plastic symbols either glued to them or part of the mold. Never saw it again except for an eBay listing now and then on a beat up well used set.
I have been looking at the differences between the sets, they range from 39.99 to 99.99 and it's hard to justify the higher end sets. I wonder if the quality of the now 39.99 set is the same as your 25.00 set.
I have looked at this green and white button magnetic pocket set that is all over amazon for about $9 shipped and read mixed reviews, some of which say the pieces rub off the magnet, not too good.
Kick did the vinyl case hold up over the years without cracking? Do the pieces pick up and place easily? Thanks, Mike
Yes Mike.. It holds up good over the years, at least mine has. I have NO CLUE as to the current Quality. I think it has a life time replacement if something should go wrong but, I am not sure on that.
If you want really small (to fit in your pocket), you can have either a flat magnetic set or a 3D one:
They are very cheap:
and
I have a Chessmate set and I like it a lot but my favourite portable set is a cheap-ish wood folding magnetic set I got a Strategy Games in Toronto. It's been everywhere with me - trains, planes, buses and bars - and is still in decent shape.
These show up on e-bay occasionally at affordable prices in excellent condition. (Jaques Whittington)
Is this not a digital age!! Why can't u play one iPad , mobiles , laptop ?
Depends on price range, size, material, etc.
You can get plastic sets from Amazon that fold and are magnetic for $10 -- about 10 inches x 10 inches. You can put two side-by-side and study a chess book -- one for the main line and one for variations.
Or maybe you want something more expensive, larger, wooden, nicer....
Thanks everyone! I appreciate all the different ideas and angels on this topic. I will look around on e-bay and Amazon. Tkbunny mentioned using phone, but I find that when I am using my phone I get less accomplished as I look too various chess databases rather than figuring out the move for myself... Does anyone else have the same problem?
strngdrvnthng wrote:
These show up on e-bay occasionally at affordable prices in excellent condition. (Jaques Whittington)
What do you mean by "affordable" for what I assume are 100+ year old antiques?
$200? $500 ? $1,000?
Less than $500, less than I've paid for some HOS or Chessbazaar sets. Cheers John C.
I am looking for a portable chess set. Does anyone have anything to recommend, say a maker or perhaps an antiques store that carries some sets. If anyone has any links that would be great!