About me

I'm Thomas Reed, and I write every page on this site.

Chessboard Set & Pieces exists because buying a chess set online is harder than it should be. Listings call everything "tournament size." Photos hide wobbly pieces and boards with squares too small for the king. And the most useful information (king height, base diameter, square size, weight, what the felt is actually made of) is scattered across spec tables, forum threads and one-star reviews.

So I do the boring part. I read the listings line by line, compare the measurements against US Chess guidance, read what owners say after a few months, and tell you plainly which sets I'd buy and which I'd skip.

What you'll find here

• Buying guides for wooden, marble, glass, metal, travel, giant, themed and smart chess sets, boards and pieces.
• Reviews of individual sets and smart boards, written from the specs and from owner reports.
• Learn chess guides: setup, piece names, how each piece moves, values and notation, written for beginners and the parents teaching them.
• Printables you can use at the kitchen table or in a classroom.

How I keep it honest

I don't accept payment for placement, and brands don't see a review before it goes live. When you buy through my links I may earn a commission from Amazon. That never changes the order of a list. My full method is on How I pick products, and the money side is spelled out in my affiliate disclosure.

Spotted an error, or a set I should look at? Get in touch.