The Best Chess Boards for Every Level of Play

Chess has been around for over 1,500 years, and during that time, the game has evolved in design and function. From classic wooden sets to modern-inspired pieces, there is a chess board for every level of play. Whether you're a beginner or a professional, here are the top 10 chess boards to consider.

Large Game Board

: This wooden chess set is made of quality materials and has a large size of 15 by 15 inches. It is double-sided and comes with 30 intertwined plastic chips and a set of full-size chess pieces.

The board folds in half and all the pieces fit neatly inside the storage box.

Jaques Sets

: Jaques sets are the jewel in the crown for most collectors. This is the set design that standardized tournament chess sets, and the Staunton design is the basis for almost all current tournament sets. Before Jaques sets, many different types of chess games were used in serious games and in club settings.

George and Regency sets were quite popular before 1849, and were probably difficult to play.

Aversa Series

: The chess set from the Aversa series offers a good dose of luxury at a bargain price. It's a Staunton chess set with a twist: its glossy finish, its Knight pieces with unique details and some other unique features make it stand out from the rest of the Staunton chess sets on the market.

Paramount Professional Chess Set

: The Paramount professional chess set measures 17 × 17 inches and meets the Fide (World Chess Federation) height and weight ratios.

It consists of a vinyl mat and 32 Staunton-style chess pieces. This roll-up board is designed with an algebraic notation on the perimeter for game analysis. The tournament-ready board includes two additional queens, a long chess bag and two small bags for pieces in black and white, allowing them to be stored safely and easily transported.

Pytho Chess Set

: This exquisite handmade chess board can complement your home decor.

The Pytho chess set features a magnetic board and 12 hand-carved chess pieces, with the chess pieces on the 12-inch board measuring 7 inches high. The magnet keeps the parts in place while playing in windy conditions or in a room with the ceiling fan turned on.

Skywalk Classic Decorative Chess Game

: This classic decorative chess game from Skywalk is a battlefield on the board. The handmade set includes a wooden board and unique Roman brass chess pieces.

The board measures 14 x 14 x 2 inches, each soldier is 2.3 inches tall and the king is 3.5 inches tall.

StonKraft Magnetic Wooden Chess Board

: StonKraft's magnetic wooden chess board measures 10 × 10 inches. The folding board comes with a chess book to help beginners learn the game or professional players improve their skills. The king is two inches tall and the other pieces are proportional to him.

ADA Handicraft Standard Wooden Chess Board

: If you're serious about your chess game, ADA Handicraft offers a standard wooden chess board for professional tournaments. The large 12 × 12 inch board has 32 pawns and folds up to 12 × 6 inches in size.

Each chess piece has a smooth, processed bottom that allows for quiet movement and protects the wood from scratches.Kids Mandi Tournament Chess Set: The Kids Mandi tournament chess set for children measures 17×17 inches and includes a green vinyl roll-up board. It's a versatile set consisting of 16+16 black and white plastic parts that are stylish, portable and durable. The chess pieces in this chess set are carved from boxwood by expert craftsmen with an impeccable level of detail.BFII Soviet Target Chess Set: The BFII is the Soviet target for most collectors of chess games because of its appearance, rarity, and historical importance. The set features a 3-inch tall King and all pieces are padded with billiard cloth to protect the shiny finish of the natural stone chessboard.

Renaissance-Themed Metal Chess Pieces

: The Renaissance-themed metal chess pieces are inspired by powerful European figures from the Renaissance period between the 12th and 17th centuries.

Exclusive to Anthropologie, this modern-inspired set from Printworks has all the normal fixings of a regular checkerboard in a muted blue color palette.

Ultra Bright Board

: The ultra bright board is an elegant and modern board that manages not to be surpassed by chess players, despite its relative simplicity. You can play against other players on the Internet, take on chess programs and even broadcast your games in real time.

ArtisRaw Handmade Wooden Set

: If you want a personalized gift for the chess player in your life, opt for this handmade wooden set in the ArtisRaw store on Etsy. No matter what your level of play is, you'll find that some of these top 10 boards will suit your needs perfectly.