How Much Should You Pay For A Chess Set?

Chess sets are continuing to be made from a myriad of materials and a multitude of designs. All of this variation of quality and construction is confusing to inexperienced buyers and may result in over-paying for marginally higher quality chess sets.

How much should you pay for a chess set?

It's really a matter of your preference, needs, and budget.

Are you a chess junkie and can’t even ride the bus without wanting to play? Handheld chess games, a.k.a. digital chess sets, range anywhere from $29.95 for a unit that requires you to place pins into electronically monitored holes and displays those results via LCD display, to the breeds of super cell phones that will run you almost $600 for the pleasures of linked real-time play.

Do you play the occasional game when friends or family come to visit? Folding chess sets that can be easily stored can range from as low as $8.00 without sacrificing size. Hardier chess sets start around $20.00 and will stand up better to frequent use.

Are you a traveler who isn’t finished packing until you’ve tucked away a portable chess set into your luggage? Well, there is the aforementioned digital option, but what if you hate opponents made of blinking lights and beeps? Well you can experience human interaction and physical game play for as little as $8.00. However, some of the budget chess sets don’t stand up well when traveling.

Are you a snob when it comes to chess sets? Do you believe that chess sets are elegant and functional pieces of furniture? Well, your price range can reach astronomical amounts. One of the most expensive chess sets ever sold took thirty artisans six months to handcraft. It was constructed with 14K white gold and nearly 10,000 black and white diamonds. The asking price was a modest $500,000.

A Good Quality Set Can Be Affordable

If you aren’t in the privileged position of looking for chess sets while getting your yacht repainted, you will be happy to know that there is a large selection of moderately priced chess sets available. Good quality chess sets that can be played with great satisfaction and handed down for generations are priced as low as $45.00 to as much as $500.

The optimal combination of price, durability and visual quality can be found in chess sets ranging from $80 to $300.