Chess sets, boards & pieces, chosen with care
Find a chess set you’ll still love in twenty years.
Walnut or rosewood, marble or glass, tournament or heirloom. I sort the good ones from the pretty-in-photos ones, and explain why.
My current short lists
8 Best Marble Chess Sets for Play and for Show (2026)
Eight marble chess sets compared by king height, square size, felt and piece count. See which stone board I'd buy for real games and which are display only.
The 6 Best Harry Potter Chess Sets for 2026, Ranked by What Plays
Six Harry Potter chess sets, from an 18.5 inch Noble Collection board to a 1.5 inch pocket mini. Specs, owner gripes, and the one I'd buy.
The 9 Best Travel Chess Sets for 2026, Ranked by Square Size and Bag Weight
Nine travel chess sets ranked by square size, magnet strength, weight and storage. Magnetic folders, wooden boards and a roll-up mat for club play.
9 Best Wooden Chess Sets in 2026, Picked on Specs and Squares
Nine wooden chess sets, sorted by king height, square size and storage. My top pick is the Husaria Ambassador at 21.7 inches with 2.24-inch squares.
9 Best Chess Sets for Beginners in 2026 (and Who Each One Fits)
Nine beginner chess sets ranked by king height, square size, and piece count, from a 3.75-inch tournament set to a 2.25-inch club mat.
Browse the collection
Chess Sets
Wood, marble, glass, metal, luxury
Boards & Tables
Folding, roll-up, storage, tables
Chess Pieces
Staunton, weighted, replacement
Smart Boards
Self-moving, e-boards, reviews
Themed & Collector
Harry Potter, LOTR, Lewis, history
Travel & Giant
Magnetic, pocket, garden, outdoor
Clocks & Accessories
Clocks, tables, mats, boxes
Learn Chess
Setup, names, moves, values
Printables & DIY
Printable boards, diagrams, builds
Reviews and face-offs
ChessUp 2 Review: A Smart Board That Lights Up Your Mistakes
ChessUp 2 review: the WiFi board that plays Chess.com without a phone, the per-player coaching it gives, and the complaint owners repeat.
ChessUp 2 vs Chessnut Evo: Which Smart Board Fits Your Chess in 2026
ChessUp 2 vs Chessnut Evo compared on screen, engine strength, coaching and online play, with a clear pick for kids, clubs and solo study.
Learn the board