House of Staunton also sells chess pieces, boards, and storage boxes individually, so you can make your own set, too.
It includes a storage box, all the pieces, and a board (the pieces are made of red-gilded and natural boxwood, while the board is made from rosewood and maple).
Chronos chess clock mini series#
To those looking to gift a more statement-making set, grandmaster Maurice Ashley, the first Black person to attain that title, says to “first and foremost consider a beautiful wooden chess set.” Krush agrees, telling us that “wooden boards and pieces are admittedly a lot more pleasant to play with.” When it comes to choosing a wooden set, grandmaster Max Dlugy, the owner of Manhattan’s Chess Max Academy and author of Grandmaster Insides, says those in the Staunton style “have become the benchmark for good chess sets.” (The style takes its name from the English chess master Howard Staunton, who was considered one of the best players in the world in the 19th century.) Mark Kurtzman, the president of Tri-State Chess and the Chess Exchange, also told us that “a chess enthusiast will want a really fine Staunton chess set.” Krush’s favorite spot to get one is the House of Staunton, which she calls “the place to go for the nice chess sets.” Given the general demand for chess gifts this year, a lot of the retailer’s less-expensive wooden sets are sold out, but this Championship Series set is still available (on sale).
Imad Khachan, the owner of Chess Forum in Greenwich Village, also says tournament sets like this are great for true beginners, especially kids, because they’re “very simple to use for anyone who is serious about the game.” Michael Propper, the owner of chess academy Chess NYC, adds that child players should quickly take to a set like this because it’s likely they’ve played with something similar at school. “It is an inexpensive but durable standard plastic set that’s perfect for casual or tournament play,” she says. (The sets get their names from how easy it is to pack them up and carry them to tournaments, the pros explain.) Grandmaster Susan Polgar, the women’s chess world champion from 1996 to 1999, recommends this tournament set from U.S.
When it comes to sets, if you’re shopping for a true beginner who doesn’t have one of their own, several of our experts say there’s nothing better than an affordable tournament-style set that comes with a roll-up vinyl mat, plastic pieces, a board, and a case. From chess sets and books to clocks and other accessories, their 18 recommendations below include something for pretty much every player regardless of skill level. To help find the best gifts for chess players, we asked a bunch of experts - from players to coaches to grand masters - about their favorite things to give to folks like themselves. Whether you’re shopping for a veteran player or for someone who only just learned the meaning of rook, the holidays - and all the game-playing-around-the-fire time they present - are a great chance to treat the chess fan in your life to a gift that will help them enjoy their preferred pastime even more.
Chess stores and academies all over New York City are reporting an uptick in interest, with some shop owners finding it difficult to keep sets and other gear in stock. Thanks to the popularity of Netflix’s The Queen’s Gambit, the game of chess is having a cultural moment not seen since IBM’s Deep Blue computer beat chess world champion Garry Kasparov back in 1997.
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