ChessBaron Chess Sets and Chess Computers

Chess as a Pastime

2011-05-20T08:33:00.002+01:00

Many people, who aren’t much into playing chess, feel it is a rather boring game with two people sitting over a chess board, staring intently at the pieces, taking time to make a single move and being deeply engrossed in thoughts for hours. But to the players who are actually participating in the game, nothing gives more pleasure than to anticipate what move the opponent will make and think of counter attacks and strategies so that he/she is defeated. There is a rush of thrill and intense pleasure known only to those people who’ll trade almost anything for a good satisfying game of chess which will require them to use their grey cells lot more than usual against strong opponents.

The origin of chess is still disputed. But the story goes that it has its origins in ancient India in the 7th century. There is a popular legend that goes to say that an Indian king named Balhait had asked a wise scholar to devise a game that will keep his people from getting addicted to and playing more and more gambling games. He insisted that the game should help one to think logically before making a move. Thus came the game of chess which has people hooked to it even today.

The game also became popular in Persia and the Arabian countries but found a strong foothold in Europe in the Middle Ages where it became a favorite pastime among the ruling classes. The Renaissance period of the 15th century brought about changes in the rules of the game reflecting the contemporary social hierarchies and till date, those rules are followed with some modifications.

The rules are very easy to learn and remember and of course practice makes it even perfect. You can play with a chess enthusiast or online where you have other players or softwares generating games for you to play. You can consult online chess experts and tutorials for suggestions and tips. Also books by famous grandmasters help, apart from acting as great sources of inspirations.

Chess is more than a mere pastime. It is a way of living for some people, of taking a break from everyday monotony, forget all your worries and cares and get deeply engrossed in this thrilling game. After all, nothing can give you greater pleasure than knocking off your opponents’ queen after a brilliant game!

How Chess Can Help Your Child

2011-01-30T19:09:00.001Z

You don’t need to be told that chess is a great strategy game. Anyone who can play chess knows there is a very complex ‘thinking’ process behind it, a player must think every move through, consider the consequences, and also plan the long-term strategy in order to win the game. That is why chess is a great exercise for the mind, and it can help your child in many ways. It's also why it's great to own fine chess sets for the family.

If you teach your child to play chess at a young age, you would be giving him great experience and wisdom which would no doubt benefit him in various situations that he comes across during his life. Chess is known to raise a child’s IQ scores – as it raises his level of thinking and encourages him to think better. The thinking process is purified and made more patient, thus the child can make correct decisions patiently.

Chess also shows children how to make complicated decisions without taking the help of others. They become independent of outside opinion, and thereby chess helps your child to become a potential great decision-maker later on in his life. If you would like to engage his creativity and his original thinking, then chess does that too – as a child needs to imagine moves in his head before actually making the move. Thus his power of imagination is increased, and he can think more originally.

In chess, a child has to look at a problem from all the angles and has to consider all the possible solutions. Thus it helps him to establish his problem-solving skills. Lastly, chess also helps to improve a child’s reading, language power, math and power of memorization – skills that one needs in chess as well as in life. So teach your child chess to see these various benefits on his personality.

Learn chess the right way

2011-01-17T08:48:00.002Z

When it comes to playing chess, you need to learn how to go about the game in the right way. There are several different ways in which the process can be worked out. First of all, you need to ensure that when you are playing a game of chess you are focused on the kind of moves you are making. That is extremely necessary and provides you with all the best types of options when you are looking for a way to learn chess. Take a look at all the different strategic moves that you can make. Once you are ensured the best kind of chess games it is likely to get easier for you to play the game properly.

There are some moves in the game of chess which you need to look into carefully. It is always a very good idea to ensure that you are making these moves the right way. Once this is taken care of, it becomes a lot easier for you to play the game of chess properly. Make it a point to find out all the best deals and options when you are playing an online game of chess.

Take a look at all the options which are likely to make the process of learning chess a whole lot easier. You are likely to get the best kind of options when it comes to playing chess. There are plenty of different options. Find out the different moves which you can make because that is essential in understanding what is needed. With more and more options it gets a lot easier for you to get all the best kind of deals. Find out how you can be assured of what is necessary. This will allow you the opportunity to play your game even better and with all the relevant moves.

Need help with chess?

2010-11-29T08:00:00.002Z

Do you need a lot of help with chess? Just make sure that you are playing chess to be assured a great time. This is primarily because it always makes a lot of sense to understand what kind of moves you need to make when you are playing chess. Find out what your different options are. This also makes the process a whole lot easier. Get all the best deals and options so that you can play chess really well. Once you have learnt some of the basic tips and tricks of chess, the process is going to get a lot easier for you.

You will be guaranteed a great time because chess usually requires a lot of dedication and ensures a great time to anyone who is playing chess. There are so many different options available. You don’t always need to play chess on a board but even get to play it online whenever you want. This is extremely advisable so that you can practice quite frequently. Make sure that you play chess quite often because that is likely to provide you with a better idea of how exactly the game is played. You will really enjoy the overall process of playing chess the right way.

There are certain moves which you need to make so that you can play the game a whole lot better. It definitely always makes sense to go in for everything relevant so that you are assured the best experience while playing chess. Keep a lot of important factors in mind while playing the game. It always makes sense to play the game when you know what kind of moves to make. That is vital to the overall process of playing chess. So enjoy the game and be assured a great time while you are playing this interesting board game.

Basics of chess

2010-09-20T12:16:00.002+01:00

There are several different ways in which you can approach chess. First of all, you need to be well aware of what the game of chess involves. A lot goes into ensuring that you are playing chess properly. Find out what is required because that is definitely likely to help you in improving chess properly. The pre requisite to ensuring that chess is played well is through setting up the game properly. Once this is entirely done with you will find it a whole lot easier to look at all the other options involved in making the best chess moves.

Start the game of chess with a focus on ensuring that you do not end up spending too much time on some of the simpler moves. You need to avoid this and speculate more over the difficult moves. This is likely to ensure that you are guaranteed some excellent moves on chess. Ensure that you have a proper understanding of what checkmate, stalemate and check is. This is extremely relevant in your understanding of what the game involves. Find out more about different options and you are likely to be ensured the best kind of moves in chess.

Once you learn the basics of chess it is likely to get a lot easier for you to play the game well. This will ensure that you have some excellent options on what is required and needed. Find out a lot of options so make sure that you are ensured excellent chess moves. Get a whole range of options on what is needed. You need to learn some of the best moves to be guaranteed a whole range of excellent chess playing options. You will really enjoy the game of chess. Just play it the right way because you will have a great time.

Play excellent chess

2010-08-25T15:21:00.002+01:00

Do you need options in playing chess really well? There are so many different ways you can be ensured a great time while playing chess. First of all, keep in mind that chess is a game which needs to be played really seriously. You have to ensure that you are focusing on the game because that is extremely important if you are looking to play the game really well. You can practice several times before you actually get down to playing chess. So make sure that you focus on playing the game well. There are plenty of different deals and options which are likely to help.

First of all, find out more about your chess playing options. How frequently can you play chess? This depends entirely on how much time you are willing to dedicate to the process of playing chess. You need to ensure and find out different ways in which the game becomes extremely exciting for you. There are lots of moves which are considered to be illegal. Make sure that you stay away from these moves. If you don’t then you are likely to be disqualified from a professional game. So make sure that you don’t make these mistakes to be assured an excellent game of chess.

More importantly, you need to be well aware of all your options. There are plenty of different moves which you can make. But you need to deliberate very carefully to know what is required when it comes to chess. So get all the best deals which will make the process a whole lot easier. Find out your options to be guaranteed an excellent time while playing chess. Be assured that you will have a great time while playing chess. So find out how to make the process of playing chess really interesting and have a great time.

HOW TO WIN A GAME OF CHESS

2010-08-17T09:51:00.000+01:00

When you play a game of chess, obviously your intention is to win. Indeed, that is the objective of any chess game. This article will tell you how to win a game of chess.

When your king is under attack and is being threatened with capture, it means it is in check – that implies you must protect it from being checkmated. So you must either move your piece, capture the attacking piece (if possible), of block the attack (note that this will not be possible for a knight check). Most people usually prefer to move the king as this is the easiest option and works for most cases. Sometimes capturing the attacking piece may not be possible as the other pieces may not be aligned properly. Blocking the attack also works – you can either move a bishop or a rook, or indeed any other piece, to protect your king.

You can win a game of chess with checkmate – this means that you would be attacking your opponent’s king and creating such a situation where he cannot move or block the attack. You don’t need to actually capture the king, but you must make capture inevitable – that means the game is over. Of course, you may also create a situation where capture is imminent and your opponent player decides to resign rather than wait to be checkmated – that means even in that case you have won.

You should remember that sometimes a game of chess might end without a winner. This means it is a draw. This is through stalemate, or if both players agree to a draw. There is also the threefold repetition (where the same position occurs three times in a row with the same player to move), or the 50-move rule (where no pawn has been moved and no piece has been captured for 50 consecutive moves by either player).

How ChessBaron Came About

2010-08-13T14:27:00.007+01:00

A 3 year old video showing how ChessBaron Chess Sets came about

Chess with dice as pieces

2010-08-03T19:00:00.002+01:00

Duell chess is the chess variant played with dice as the piece. Here the number over the dice represents the kingdom. The two different colors separate the army. It uses a board of size 8*9. The aim is to capture the ‘key piece’ which is equivalent to king.

The pieces are arranged in 8 rows of 9 squares in the form of 5 1 2 6 1 6 2 1 5. The center piece 1 denotes the ‘key piece’. The pieces with the face denoting 3 are arranged as soldiers. The pieces are moved in the direction along with turning the face. Hence the number over the face changes in every move. The move is usually with 90 degree. The aim is to capture key piece or occupy key square.

I only play 6 games of chess per day, will I ever be any good?

2010-07-18T16:13:00.002+01:00

Playing hundreds of rounds of chess per day is not a guarantee that you will master the game itself. Just like any other sport, mastery of the game involves good coaching and good training materials. Of course, talent plays a significant part in the equation itself. But just like the belief of László Polgár, the father of grandmaster Susan Polgar and her two other sisters who are also masters of chess, geniuses are made, not born. One quality coaching session of chess every day is more effective than playing tens of games every day without proper guidance, coaching, and feedback. Moreover, be sure to play with people who are greater than you. You may lose the battles, but you will eventually win the war by gaining insight of the game even if you will lose all the time. Turn the loses into small steps in your continuing goal to learn something.

The Sidewinder Chess Set in Sheesham wood

2010-07-12T09:19:00.002+01:00

This is the most exquisitely decorated non-theme chess set I have ever seen so far from ChessBaron. Even the pawns have unique personalities in them as they are also well-furnished with ornamentation. The sets can easily bring to mind pictures of cannibals in the forests from somewhere. I especially like the white pieces, the cream coloring is just right and each piece look immaculate. As expected, the knights receive more care and craftsmanship just like in any chess sets. All pieces look hardy enough worthy of cannibals they were patterned after. If you have a taste for the exotic, this set is your best choice. There is no doubt that this set is a true pride of ChessBaron.

Nice post on Chess.com

2010-06-29T09:03:00.000+01:00

Thanks to George Duval for his recent post on Chess.com where he's referenced ChessBaron as a source of 'blunder proof' chess equipment. Blunder-proof (or blunderprone) is George's name on chess.com and on his own blog. Quite a character.

Weighted Russian Special Chess Set with 4.25 inch King

2010-06-28T11:54:00.002+01:00

The Weighted Russian Special Chess Set with 4.25 inch King is a perfect blend of clear simplicity and Russian tradition. The neat lines are notably the most distinguishing factor that can set this set apart from other good chess sets from ChessBaron. The king accentuates its aristocratic look and feel with by its 4.25 inches height. The knight lucidly radiates confidence with its pretty hair lines and nice curves. All pieces are double weighted to ensure stability and easy movement on the board. The bottom of each piece is felt lined. To give ideal proportion, the squares on the board are a perfect 1.75 inch square each. The overall feminine design of Weighted Russian Special Chess Set with 4.25 inch King makes it an ideal present for women and other chess players looking for a less-manly appealing chess sets.

Compact Magnetic Travel Chess Set

2010-06-17T16:27:00.002+01:00

Now this is the real travel chess set! The Compact Magnetic Travel Chess Set does not only give fun while you are away, but is can also showcase your taste for chess. Given with a lacquered finish, the board and the chess pieces are more than just toys. They are the best travel chess set at a great price around. The downside of this set is its size (3.5 by 7 inches (8.75 by 18 cm)). If you are the type who hates carrying something around, this one is not for you. If you sacrifice portability for style and functionality, this is your perfect choice. The pieces will pop out of their storage positions after you flip over the board. This set is cool, and in style--created simply for you.

Contemporary Modern chess set E2003

2010-06-07T13:44:00.000+01:00

If you need a simple, yet striking design for a chess set, the Contemporary Modern chess set is the perfect choice. The set was made from golden brown sheesham, a favorite wood material by chess carvers. The name of the set suggests its contemporary look due to notable straight lines and an intentional omission of additional details. This one is an ideal choice for those who want a simple, functional chess set yet exhibiting taste and style. However, their overly simplistic feature is surely a turn off factor for those who wants intricate designs on a chess set. If you need a show off set with tastes for the contemporary, get Contemporary Modern chess set.

M7009 American Staunton in Black and White Chess Set with 4 inch King

2010-06-04T10:39:00.002+01:00

It is hard to find top quality lacquer-painted chess sets today. The American Staunton in Black and White Chess Set with 4 inch King has a good lacquer finish. If you are looking for a good departure from the conventional, you need to get this one. If you also believe that life should be a black and white affair, then getting this set is the closest means of expression you can have. This set is made from fine chidar so you are assured of high value pieces that can last for several generations. You will know that the pieces are good because of their weight. Each piece of this set is heavily weighted to cater to your needs.

M3009 American Staunton in Dark Green-White Gloss Chess Set

2010-05-29T11:13:00.002+01:00

Chess was a predominantly male game even when it was at its infancy. It was a favorite pastime of generals and the European ruling elite in the previous centuries. Even today, most players of this game are males. It is just natural that chess pieces are designed to appeal to male sensitivities like the American Staunton in Dark Green-White Gloss Chess Set. This set is a perfect gift for a husband, a father, a brother, or a boyfriend. The bottom of each piece is lined with leather. The pieces themselves are carved from Blackened Chidor. This set can be expected to reach even after several generations, hence, making it a perfect family treasure in the future.

Chess Baron Isle of Lewis Chess Pieces

2010-05-26T20:52:00.002+01:00

Collectors and chess players alike rarely find a good chess set that is made of crushed marble. In Chess Baron Isle of Lewis Chess Pieces, you will not only find quality but a healthy dose of history as well. The pieces are carved with courtly details and each one portrays a personality apart from the other. Just look at those weary horses bearing the knights on their backs! The white pieces show the nice combination of craftsmanship and choice of color. However, the black pieces are not that attractive. Overall, this chess set is still a fine one given its material and rich historical side. Perfect for history buffs who play chess from time to time.

M2039 Song of Solomon Bud Rosewood Chess Set

2010-05-17T09:16:00.002+01:00

Chess can be played anywhere but there are times that you want to be one with nature by playing outside, especially in your garden. There is no perfect chess set available to indulge your wish than the Song of Solomon Bud Rosewood Chess Set. This highly ornamented set is carved from the bud rosewood only. This one is your perfect garden companion (together with a loved one of course). The designs are very symmetrical that each piece only gives you total delight whatever angle you are looking at. You can spend a long time just inspecting each piece and forget about the game for a while. With its reasonable price, you will also be smiling all day after you will get this set.

M2030 Hannah Grand Staunton Ebonised Chess Set

2010-05-11T08:34:00.002+01:00

There is nothing grand about this set aside from its name. First, it was made from some other wood except ebony through the process called ebonising. Although the finished product looks the same like ebony, with no clear signs for grains and almost like a black plastic, it is still essentially an imitation. Second, the carvings themselves are not that good especially on the knights--they looked to be smiling confusingly instead of trying to display a menacing grin. The only good thing about this set is its triple weight feature. Aside from that, the Hannah Grand Staunton Ebonised Chess Set is not even worth spending your time around with.

Globe Fret Weighted Chess Set 5.5 inch King

2010-05-10T09:58:00.002+01:00

The Globe Fret Weighted Chess Set 5.5 inch King is named after the globe in the body of each piece. This unique feature in each piece makes it an excellent part of any good chess set collection. Putting those designs on the globe of each piece can easily be calculated to reach long man-hours since each piece was handcrafted to attain perfect resemblance to one another. I like the soulful stare of the knights! They look so gentle, unlike the usual depictions of mean knights in most sets. The king stands at an imposing 5.5 inches, clearly dominating the boards. Get your money's worth in this set. Grab it now!

When I play chess the pieces come alive!

2010-05-07T10:07:00.000+01:00

As a 9 year old, when I play chess, it seems that the pieces are alive! I tell my dad, but he says its my imagination. But I'm sure I see the pieces move around! I think the pieces are trying to make me lose. I've lost every game since I first saw a pawn make a move without me touching it. Sometimes I get scared when they move around the board, other times I laugh. I just want to tell myself this is all my imagination, but I'm just so sure I see the pieces alive. After my dad has won another game of chess, he says "We can only have one winner, the rest have to lose. Theres no point in getting upset about it, the next time you could be a winner instead." I know I should believe him about that, but I just get so angry when I lose every game because the pieces I play with make me lose, so I have every right to get upset about it.

When will chess champ Susan Polgar return my fan calls?

2010-05-03T20:36:00.002+01:00

Susan Polgar is an Hungarian-born chess grandmaster who now lives in the

. She became the youngest female chess player to reach grandmaster status at age 15. Susan and her other two sisters, who are also excellent chess players, were coached by their father ever since they were little girls. In November 1986, Susan lost the number 1 spot in FIDE when a politically-motivated move was implemented to give all active female players 100 bonus ELO points. Susan now lives in Lubbock, Texas. If you are still waiting for her call, trash it. She's busy attending to her 2 children, her husband, and her Susan Polgar Institute for Chess Excellence at Texas Tech University.

If I pray hard enough, will I get better at chess?

2010-04-28T15:11:00.000+01:00

If you pray hard enough you won’t necessarily get better at chess, but you are on the right path! Keeping your mind in the game is always a good method to roll onto greatness, simply place your pieces and not only pray for the best, but practice, practice, practice! You can research other methods people have used, or come up with your own. Often times people use self training and find ways to play on their own for training purposes, or get a close friend to train with you. Now we even have technology to play online against random opponents, so you can get a different challenge each time!

A kids guide to chess, by Caroline Turner.

2010-04-25T19:04:00.000+01:00

Chess is an enjoying game that gets you thinking. I am a 9 year old girl. I live in the

and my dad is very fond of chess. Although I might want to watch TV or play games on my computer, chess is a much better way to spend your free time. My dad is teaching me chess, I love it. My brother and sister like chess too. So, in your free time, play a game of chess, its easy and fun and you'll love it.

Can a chess computer beat the best chess players?

2010-03-27T09:13:00.000Z

Most often, chess played on a square checkered board, be it, a very simple one or a very expensive, classy and handcrafted one, gives a player immense satisfaction. It is almost always said that what can be seen, heard, touched and felt is for real and gives your senses ultimate pleasure. But it is often not so, many computer fans or even expert chess players prefer computer chess. We or even the whole world watch live the performance of the players playing chess for real and not on the computer. So if one is a stickler for popularity or wants to become famous playing chess might think twice about his idea of playing chess on the ‘screen’.

Ever since the advent of digital computers in 1950’s chess enthusiasts and computer engineers have come together to build chess playing machines or computer programmes. “Programming a computer for playing chess”-was the ground breaking paper by Shannon in 1950.Many statisticians are of the belief the though computers might be able to beat even Grand Masters but not incessantly.

What is being involved in a chess club?

2010-03-01T11:50:00.000Z

A club means having people to play chess with. But it doesn’t mean just that. To many devotees of chess it is like their cult. They meet maybe once a week or during weekends…. and theses chess clubs usually have Speed Tournaments on weekends or lectures, casual games, simuls etcetera. There are millions of clubs like these all around the world-

USA

Argentina

Australia

Austria

Belgium

Brazil

Canada

Denmark

France

Germany

Greece

India

Israel

Italy

Japan

Mexico

Netherlands

, New-Zealand,

Norway

Philippines

Portugal

Russia

Spain

Sweden

Switzerland

Turkey

, United-Kingdom,

Uruguay

. Chess is not just for experts, but also for beginners who want to learn the game.

The essentials of a chess club firstly are, Grand masters working full time, paying equal attention to each student. Chess related Tournament quality-sets of chess clocks, demo boards and a comprehensive chess library. Quiet comfortable classrooms with healthy atmosphere and individual chess sets.

Maybe if luck is on your side you could find yourselves a billionaire philanthropist, with extreme passion for chess to fund your club and donate a small fortune for it. If not, look for smaller sponsors you can be sure of. Students too, in your club need to be as enthusiastic and happy to be able to play chess, as the trainers or the Grand masters (if you are lucky enough to hire one, that is,) are to teach or guide them.

There are various stages to build a quality chess club:

-Start-up: No matter how fund-“less” or member “less” your club is, just go for it. Don’t sit at home and sulk about it.

-Recreational play: Creating a healthy and fun environment for kids and new beginners and to enthuse them to know more about chess and how to play it better.

-Club and Tournament Competitions: After the initial stages are done and over with successfully, there should be mini competitions and Tournaments between other clubs and yours, to stimulate and encourage interest in chess.

It might sound a bit difficult but once you get started, it’ll prove to be a marvelous investment of your time, energy and brain for sure!

Why are Chessmen best weighted?

2010-02-07T19:00:00.000Z

Wood has been the most abundant material in the product of the greatest variety of chessmen over the last few centuries. These chess pieces are abound in various shapes, sizes and different types of wood. For example, dark ebony wood is the costliest material for quality and the finest pieces of chessmen available and also the most desirable.

For most chess players, weight adds to the desirability of the set of chess pieces. They enthuse the player to play better, give them a massive feel and also tend to tip over less. Not that they have to so weighty that they become difficult to handle but just enough to give the professional feel and touch to it. Many expert chess players purchase these chessmen over the net, and they are available in various types and of a variety of prices and material. Like, Golden Rose wood chess pieces, consisting the most elegant chess pieces in beautiful Golden Rosewood with extra queens. Or the Ebonized Box Wood chess pieces. Jet-black pieces contrasting well with the light-yellow boxwood. Standard Staunton chess pieces- a simple Staunton set of playable chessmen, a tad bit smaller than the standard club size, solid, very playable, weighted and works wonders for any game of chess.

These chess pieces are priced anywhere between £62.95 to £75.95,going down to £28.95 for the Standard Staunton pieces. For chess players, looking for chess pieces a bit more expensive and sophisticated, the 3 3\4”Ebony and Kari Wood fits the bill perfectly. Costing one a neat £159.95 it is hand-polished, triple weighted with leather bottoms, and crafted from select Ebony and Kari wood and is definitely worth the money. So all you players out there what are you waiting for? To own a set of chessmen like these, one of a kind, is every chess players dream come true. So go get yours fulfilled.

Why do school teachers like kids playing chess?

2010-01-05T20:10:00.000Z

Teachers, the second parents play an important role in child’s life. Chess one of the cool game liked by all always remained to be the famous sporting event not only at the international level but also in the primary levels. In order to make the dedication of teachers towards children a valuable one, technical skills should be imparted to the students. Teaching may not be the only way to impart the same. There must be external sources that make the children brainy and cheeky. The Masters game Chess plays a vital role in achieving the same. Teachers always like the inclusion of chess as the sporting event or competition in the school level. They like it being implemented in the schools from junior to senior levels especially among the kids to synchronize the growth of their brain to the growth of the ethical, competitive world.

Chess is correlated with the growth of the child nowadays and the research over it is done. It enhances creativity among the children and simulates their brain at the critical situations. Thus the problem solving skills gets developed among kids right from their young age. Thinking process of the children is active here and increases their concentration power by not allowing them to distract from the game. This art and elegancy of the game makes the kids to improve their reasoning skills. It teaches the importance of observation and adherence over any activity or towards the game.

Studies are conducted all over the world in making the above specified attributes to function more efficiently. Intelligence among the kids is significant in this intellectual world. The teachers strongly believe that the intelligence can be incorporated by making the kids play chess rather than any other games. Being an extra curricular activity it enables kids to improve towards their curriculum. These attributes makes the teachers like kids playing chess and recommend the same.

What makes for a quality chess set?

2009-12-29T12:55:00.002Z

Chess, the best of the games in the world plays a vital role in imparting perfection among the humans. So the need for a quality chess set is necessary in order to make the player a quality producing player. The chess board must be of top quality which is an aesthetic that attracts the players towards the game. The chess board should be highly reliable and must produce a long life. The dimensions of the squares inscribed in the board should be standardized and should be perfectly designed during manufacture. It adds the beauty to the aesthetic game. The material to be incorporated to produce the board must withstand the adverse effects to the board. In case of wooden boards it should be highly polished and varnished.

Chess pieces should be stable, light weight and modern too. The design should add beauty to the pieces such that it attracts. The pieces should be highly distinguishable in their features based on their rank in the war of game. An easy identification to the players is necessary in case of chess pieces based on the ranks in the Warfield. The lowest or the eighth ranked pawns must be of same size and it should be the shortest of all the pieces available. Moreover the differentiation to the King and Queen pieces is important. The inclusion of manual about the pieces adds quality to the set as it may be used even by the budding artists of the game.

These are the attributes to be added in the manufacture regarding the pieces of the set and the board. Moreover an adherence to the international standards is an added advantage while manufacturing the chess set. Adherence to the international shapes with the above specified secondary attributes in higher proportion is an important feature of quality associated with the chess set. Thus the clear picture of the quality chess set is above specified attributes and nothing more than that. Manufacturers can be ethical for this ethical and the perfectionist’s game.

Improving Ones Chess Game

2009-12-24T18:06:00.000Z

If you are a newbie, this article would help you win through a game of chess. Basically one needs to get a better understanding of the game and the wise moves to make.

There are three stages of a chess game:

· First is the opening stage. Here you need to be prepared to make wise moves regardless of the coins you get to play with-black or white. The general rule however is: if you get to play black, do not go on to attack until you get an opening, just play a defense game. The aim of this stage is not to move all the forces out immediately. For instance, forcing ahead all your pawns is stupid. Save one or two to block your opponents.
· Next is the middle stage. Playing this stage involves a deep analysis of the coins on the board (a king and a pawn combinations works well most of the time). Your position of coins too plays an important role. Place and move the coins such that you target either more than one force of your opponent at a time or aim for a checkmate.
· Next is the end stage. What you are likely to (lose or win) should decide your moves. If you have more no. of pieces than your opponent, it doesn’t mean that you can win. A pawn reaching the end of the board on your side can well be a crucial checkmate while your powerful coins might be blocked from movement. So be careful. If you have pieces and are losing by position, try to aim multiple checks at your opponent which might force the game to a draw.

These strategies will certainly help but it is wise to play the game according to the concepts and adopt the strategies with the progress of the game.

Power of Chess

2009-11-22T20:58:00.002Z

It’s all right for man to play God with the name Scientist and penetrate the secrets of life, but I am supremely confident that the awareness response of two people quietly sitting will not be labelled or tampered with.

Take for example, silence which can be explosive and loud with possibilities.

This takes form in say, a nose twitch, or eye contact. Which is stronger? Well that depends... I clearly remember my brown eyes transfixed on sky-blue eyes, so much so I nearly had vertigo and with great difficulty I moved my Rook in the winning position.

Not a word was spoken. Chess has taken me over ever since.

Filipino GrandMaster, Eugene Torre

2009-10-16T17:03:00.005+01:00

I myself am a big fan of chess. I was in 3rd grade when I learned this interesting sport. One of the figure I really look up to at that time was my older brother, Byron. He used to be a chess whiz and a champion himself. He used to compete in schools. When I was learning chess at that time, my brother introduced a very important person in the world of chess- none other Eugene Torre. Torre is one of the respected players of all time, being the first Asian GrandMaster. Many watched his games and even learn techniques from them. He is considered as one of the strongest and best-produced chess player in the Philippines!He marked the 80's-90's era in our history. By beating chess champions by champions, Eugene Torre brought us fame and created a name in the world history. We can proudly share our story that one of the greatest chess players in the world live in our country and in our hearts. We owed our love of the game from Torre.

Chess Sets like the X2028 Earl Anthony

2009-09-07T09:38:00.004+01:00

When we first looked at the design prototype of the Earl Anthony chess set for inclusion into our product line - we were astonished with the quality and it's almost live appearance. Funny - just a chunk of wood - but the skill and dexterity our artisan carvers have is admirable. We hoped that the result of the prototype would be something excellent and of course, we were not disappointed.

It's interesting how the market for chess design has changed in the last few years. The UK used to be just a market for standard staunton style chess pieces - but now the idea of staunton with a flair - a staunton piece with something extra is very popular. Deservedly so.

G2004 Learn to Play Chess with Fritz and Chesster 2 Chess Software

2009-09-01T16:15:00.000+01:00

If you loved Fritz and Chesster 1, you'd love this too. The theme is King Black's Castle. The mission - to rescue Chesster. The aim of ChessBaron - to as a winner with this new product too that has 20 mini games all set to create magic and make planning, challenging, and attacking come alive to engross you in an ultimate chess battle. The programme delivers instructions and chess lessons in simple, easy to understand language and makes the game and learning about the game fun with the cute animations used. A creative and effective way to instill in children the values of thinking ahead, analyzing other's moves and protecting themselves. The best part is that every skill sharpens your skills so that you are well prepared for the final showdown.

G2003 Learn to Play Chess with Fritz and Chesster 1 Chess software

2009-09-01T16:13:00.000+01:00

If you think that your children should be introduced to the world of chess so that they can start young or if you, since childhood had an inclination towards being part of the royal kingdom and do what kings do best, choose this chess software. It's not only fun and magical but helps you relive your childhood with your children. The animation is really cute and yet does not take the focus away from the game itself. There are 7 games for 1 or 2 players. If you play right and get your moves in place, you could have an exciting match with King Black himself. This could prove to be a good tool for parents who want to teach their children to analyze, plan, think clearly and to think ahead.

Why do some chess men's wood crack?

2009-08-30T01:15:00.000+01:00

It's all in the environment - as Greenpeace might agree. But this environment is the one inside your home in most cases. The average home humidity in the country of origin (which for most good, fine chess sets is India) is high. The average home humidity in, say, North Dakota, USA is low, as they seal their homes against draughts, heat them up and inadvertantly deprive the home of moisture, or humidity. Same with the average home in Toronto, and oddly enough, even California, where the reverse is true - moisture is kept repelled by cooling rather than heating.
But in Europe it's more of a mixed picture since some countries are cold, some not so cold. Chess pieces rarely crack in the UK where there is a constant weather change with little build up in dryness. The alloy in the bases expands and contracts, and if there is no 'give' in the wood, or a layer that expansion can occur - the wood is the weakest link - and cracks. Good manufacturers allow for this by inserting a layer of softer material between the alloy and the wood to allow the expansion. All of ChessBaron's range for example has this architecture.

How Do Chess Grandmasters Think Differently Than The Rest

2009-08-19T16:20:00.001+01:00

Chess Grandmasters have been thought to think differently than others for quite some time, but after a recent study conducted that compared Grandmasters to amateurs, there is actually some truth to the thought.

According to research, Grandmasters are able to use a part of their brain that is not commonly used by amateur players of chess. Usually during a game of chess, the regular player will use the middle section of their brain. However, with Grandmasters, they use the frontal section. The difference between the two sections is that the frontal part of the brain can process thoughts and actions at a much faster rate and can also store more information than the middle section.

If anyone has ever seen a Grandmaster play in chess, they know that the skills the Grandmaster has when it comes to processing moves and figuring out the best approach to the game comes at a very fast speed. Now we know why – it is because Grandmasters are able to use a different part of their brain which allows them to process their skills at a much faster rate. Not to mention that almost all Grandmasters have a rather high IQ compared to the average person.

ST2026 Sea Life Chess Set

2009-08-17T15:20:00.002+01:00

If you know anything about me, you are probably expecting me to say something about the queen's naked boobs in this chess set (or, if you haven't seen the pictures of this set yet, and your a man, you are currently going to the product page in anticipating excitement) but I decided to hold myself back from the trap of male preverstion and talk about something different......um....um...the pawns are kinda nice. (See, this is what guys would be like with out girls. Thanks ladies.)

ST2025 George and the Dragon Theme Chess Set

2009-08-17T15:19:00.001+01:00

This is a pretty silly set here. Some interesting pieces. I love the kings nose, and I especially love the queens boobs. I mean come on! Those are massive. That shirt has got to be on the edge of ripping right off from the strain. And that's what annoys me in real life. How do girls think that's attractive? There is a firm line inwhich boobs go from hot to 'what the hell is that?'. O, but I loved it in high school were every once and a while 2 girls would get into a fight and start ripping their clothes off, then they realize they arn't really mad at eachother, but love each other, and start kissing naked in the middle of the hall. (YA! You all jealous of America now? we might outsource everything, but we got all the hot chicks over here!)

ST2016 American Independence Chess Set

2009-08-17T14:51:00.002+01:00

This American Independence chess set is very interesting in the pieces. So many layers of clothing and detail on all the characters. I don't even know how they get the pieces like this. For example, check out this queen. Look at that massive dress! That's ridiculous. How in the world did they do that without screwing up 75% of the ones they tried? And it doesn't look like a mold either because I wouldn't think a mold could do that many layers with out cracking and ripping the figure. Some things I'll never understand.

ST2015 Christopher Columbus Chess Set

2009-08-17T14:50:00.005+01:00

Eh, this set is alright. Nothing to special to talk about. It does have some nice features though. The set is about a man names Christopher Columbus, who was a famous explorer who explored tons of American land. I don't see much of the relationship between his expeditions and the characters in this set though. It has him as the king, but not much of the other pieces make much sense to me. But oh well, can't like 'em all can I?

ST2014 Range Wars Chess Set

2009-08-17T14:50:00.003+01:00

Great set here! I love all the pieces. It's based from the American range wars, but that's not what interests me. I usually don't pay much attention to the story. Just the pieces. It's like playing a first-person shooter game on your xbox - there is a reason why this guy is in an Iraqi jail, but nobody cares enough to listen to the story of the game. They just want to shoot things. So with chess - I usually just look at the pieces. And these look pretty interesting to me. Cowboys, sheriffs, ranchers, ect, ect. Pretty neat.

ST2013 Jazz Chess Set

2009-08-17T14:50:00.001+01:00

O, we're gettin' jizzy with it now! This jazz-based chess set has some pieces in it you just never see. Like the sax players having there knees bend with a twisted position. That is something you don't normally see. Most characters are standing straight up and have no inflections in there face. But not this set. Even the base guitar players have big sun glasses on their eyes, and that crazy serious look on there faces that exists in real life.

CL2023 DGT10102 XL Beige

2009-08-12T15:29:00.004+01:00

Yet again, another amazing DGT XL chess timer from that funky company DGT. The reason I say amazing is because it not only times each turn of chess for you, but it offers features that have nothing to do with chess. (okay, maybe not, but it sure does have a lot of features packed into one simple device.) This model is the same as a previous model yet this time it's beige instead of red. (Because it makes such a big difference ;)) But I'm not one to sarcastically insult a product in an article about the product itself, so I guess I'll shut up now. Like my mom always said, if you don't have anything nice to say about something, don't say anything at all. BAM! (anyone catch the added insult there at the last sentence? anyone? Just makin' sure)

CL2022 DGT10102 XL Red

2009-08-12T15:26:00.002+01:00

Here's your state-of-the-art chess clock. It's got a sleek look, fancy buttons that do stuff you didn't even know you needed, and a gigantic LDC screen with so much info on it, it makes your head spin. I hate when things have too many features that you don't even know what to do with them. Like "Save and retrieve five user defined settings" Ahaha, all I need is for something to beep when my turn is up. Not a robot to make me a sandwich and end world violence. Now don't get me wrong, I'm all for cool stuff....but cool stuff I can actually use. Unsurprisingly - this chess timer is mainly for the DGT Electronic Board - connects to the PC, that's why it's so funky.

CL2021 DGT960 Digital Chess Clock

2009-08-12T15:23:00.003+01:00

Here is another great chess clock from DGT. Only difference is that it's an entire new model than others from the manufacturer. Still mini and still looks great. But I just can't help but notice it kind of looks like the nintendo DS. Well, at least to me, which doesn't mean it really does look like the DS. It may just be my prosopagnosia kicking in. (anyone gonna be curious enough to look up what that means? eh, probably not)

CL2018 Garde Digital Chess Clock

2009-08-12T15:20:00.001+01:00

Are you into the classical look of old chess clocks, but like the convenience of digital stuff? If so, then this product is for you. Its got the old wooden look and frame, yet in place of the physical clocks, there are now digital LCD screens with number timers. Very high class huh? I'm pretty easily impressed though. Like I almost cried the day they made a high definition TV that had 1080p from the previous 720p models. Pretty lame and geeky right? I need more chess clocks in my life

CMD2005 Excalibur Grandmaster Chess Computer

2009-08-11T10:03:00.002+01:00

At a first glance, this looks like and old ordinary chess set, right? Wrong! This is a state-of-the-art chess computer system. Very fancy and hi-tech computerized systems. You can play against a computer in the game of chess. *gasp* And the processors in these things run so fast, and create so much massive heat, they have to be cooled with liquid nitrogen, and the power these circuit boards eat up solving 5,000 teraflops of equations per second is the equivalent of the power used in one day for an entire skyscraper every 20 seconds! P.S. Yes, I am being an a$$hole, but it is a nice electronic chess set regardless.

CMD2004 Novag Carnelian II Chess Computer

2009-08-11T10:03:00.001+01:00

This is one of the more classical chess computers. It's case is technically made of plastic, but is painted to look like polished, high quality wood. It has a strong 16 KB operating system infrastructure, and it's got an 8 MHz system clock, which is pretty fast for a low-calculation program. (If you feel stupid after that sentence, don't worry. It just means your not a nerd like me. Congratulations, you have a life!) So if you need some practice, don't have any friends, trying to impress girls with your fancy chess toys, or whatever the reason, this product is perfect for you.

CMD2003 Saitek Kasparov Chess Challenger Chess Computer

2009-08-11T10:01:00.001+01:00

If you ever wanted to amp up your chess skills without having to hiring a good chess player to help you (or ordering my patented lessons on "how to become a millionaire with chess" for only £299.99 - all proceeds go to my pocket) then you may want to consider this electronic chess set from Chess Baron in which you can practice against an extremely smart computer and tune up your skills to hustle all of your friends and make some big money. It offers all the features of a regular chess computer, though it's interface seems better for practice than anything else.

CMD2002 Novag Citrine Chess Computer

2009-08-11T10:00:00.000+01:00

Well, you could defiantly say this isn't like most chess computers. I mean hell, might as well just be a normal chess set. But I'm not the one to judge. I just thought that the point of electronic chess boards were to be small so you can travel with them. But anywhozle, it's creative. It has a full-scale chess board with full scale pieces and an LCD screen. It has all the great features of a small one, only on a much larger scale. By the way, for all the 'techies' that bothered to read the description on the site about the set, don't ya think 56 KB is a bit small even for a chess set program? I'm just puttin' that out there.

CMD2001 Excalibur Master Chess Computer

2009-08-11T09:59:00.001+01:00

How do I know this is the very best electronic chess set in the whole entire world? well the answer to that is very simple - I'm American. I know everything. It's a well known fact. So when I tell you that there is absolutly nothing better on the market, and never will be, I would be right. Or when I tell you that this set is also uber cool, yet again - right. And especially when I tell you that you should only buy this from ChessBaron, and Chess Baron should split the profits, yet again, I would be right. (No, but in all seriousness, I didn't even pass algebra II the first time in high school, but I did the seventh time)

CM2013 Saitek Travel Chess Computer

2009-08-11T09:58:00.001+01:00

If you're looking for an electronic chess set, there are two ways to go. You could go with the newer hi-tech touch screen devices, or you could go for the actual physical electronic board. Now, you're probably expecting me to make some joke, but I have no witty comment on that one. It's all up to you on what kind of computer you want. But if your the guy (or girl for that matter) who likes the physical electronic board, then this looks like a nice product to go with. It has tons of cool features that a lot of others don't.

CM2012 Excalibur Talking Touch Screen Hand Held Chess Computer

2009-08-11T09:55:00.002+01:00

Imagine this in your head - You're at the end of a chess championship, and there is $500,000 at stake, but you're about to go up against the best player in the entire world and you know you can't beat him. So what is a guy to do? Well don't worry young lad, I'll help you out. Here is what I would do: 1. Take out your fancy Excalibur Talking Touch Screen Hand Held Chess Computer from ChessBaron. 2. Hide it under the table. 3. Set it up to one player, level "impossible". (This way the computer will beat any human) 4. Let your opponent go first, and copy his exact move into the electronic game. 5. Simply copy the computers response to the real game board, and repeat. This way, you will never loose! (By the way, you owe me half of that prize money)

CM2010 Saitek Kasparov Expert Chess Computer

2009-08-11T09:51:00.002+01:00

So lets say you're on a plane or maybe traveling by boat (Do people still do that?) And your bored to death and desperately need something chess related to do. Now if you were me, you would pop the headphones on and pass the time with a movie. But you're not me, you're you. And you don't want to watch a movie or stay in your seat and read the safety instructions in your seat-back pocket in case of an emergency stop or landing. If you're more of a chess nerd then you would pull out your hand electronic chess board just like this one chess baron offers on their website, which has dozens on fancy features. And at a low price too.

CM2008 Einstein Wizard Touch Chess Computer

2009-08-11T09:49:00.002+01:00

Wow! what a beauty of a device. Stylish, thin - looks almost as good as an iphone. Great LCD screen, wonderful black casing. Now don't get too excited my young chess nerds, there are some drawbacks to this electronic chess set. For one, it lacks in features, only 56 levels, (compared to some with over 200) and no other fancy features like long drawback and nothing said for long battery life. But oooh does it look sexy! P.S. The same doesn't go for girls though. Remember, she may look sexy on the outside, but she may be the biggest pain in the world on the inside. (Sorry Pamela Anderson)

TH2045 Hand Painted Celtic Chess Set

2009-08-10T10:10:00.001+01:00

This is another set in addition to other sets that's based off of the Vikings and Norsemen battle near Dublin. These decorative chess pieces do help me with my history. It's a wonderful set as it stands, but even better with some vibrant color on it. Both of the king pieces are magnificent (I know, what a complicated word coming from a guy like me. I even had to argue with my spell checker for almost 10 minutes just to spell that) and it looks as if that's exactly what it looked like in real life back in those times. It's one of the nice sets here on Baron. A little pricey, but I like it. To me it would be worth it.

TH2044 Celtic Chess Set

2009-08-10T10:09:00.000+01:00

Pharaoh, pharaoh, Oooohh baby let my people go Uhh! *ahem* sorry for my singing. That song reminded me of this set. (for all you old people who are like 'what?', that's a song us 20 year old youngsters use to sing when we were kids about the Roman times) Technically, this set is not based off of any roman theme. It's actually about the Vikings and Norsemen, but sometimes, what my little brain does is completely disregard everything, and imagine what it wants. How do you think I saw my first naked girl? Anyway, It's a nice 'classical' set for the classical kind of people.

TH2041 Hand Painted Richard the Lionheart Chess Set

2009-08-10T10:07:00.001+01:00

Here is another Loinhead set from the guys over at Chess Baron. It's a nice looking set and a nice paint job. Now that I've got my complements out of the way - if you will take a look over at the main documentation page which is pictured on their website, it's a page describing all the pieces. What I would love to know is why does the king description take up almost the entire page? How much could you possibly find to write about one chunk of wood? Hats off to that dude. Well, anyway, I'll get back to the set because I sense this doesn't have anything to do with anything. It's on the upper price range of most of their other pieces but, the 'finish' quality looks good, an' it's still pretty cheap.

TH2040 Richard the Lionheart Chess Set

2009-08-10T10:06:00.000+01:00

Ah, a much different looking set than alot I have seen in my life before. I'm not sure how this set looks neat, (besides the obvious fact they have no bodies) but this set just stands out. My favorite piece is the lion head (I'm not even going to bother looking up what piece he is - must be the knight) but he does look pretty fierce. And the two kings remind me of the Lord of the Rings. Not quite sure why...but nice set anyway. By the way, I use alot of parenthesizes don't I..., but I like to make it conversational...

TH2061 Battle of Trafalgar Chess Set

2009-08-05T14:31:00.001+01:00

Well - it's not your average set. That's for sure. Nothing too out of the ordinary, but there is just something about these characters that just makes them look so different. Maybe it's their extremely skinny body frames, and hollowed out faces. Or the fact that in most sets, the king is the taller piece because he is standing on a higher platform, but that in this set, the king is taller, only he is not standing on any platform, making everyone else look like migit-slaves, (sorry - 'short people slaves')

TH2060 White Tower Hand Painted Chess Set

2009-08-05T14:28:00.001+01:00

Ah, well how could I be against this beautiful set. It doesn't necessarily have anything big that sets it apart from other sets, but it does have a really nice polished looked with dolled-up faces that have some good detail on to them. It's simple - no fire breathing dragons - but that's what makes this set nice. It's the simple 'finished' look of all the pieces. And by the way - YES! First article of the day were spell check didn't scream at me, call me stupid, and ask me if I need help spelling all my mistakes. Yay me.

TH2059 White Tower Chess Set

2009-08-05T14:27:00.001+01:00

Eh, This set's okay. Could be better. It's basically just a bunch of fat guys and two crows. Half gold, half black. Now of course the sales script on their website polishes up what I just said alittle bit (and as in 'polish up' I mean just delete everything I just wrote and replace it with alot of fancy words) but I do have some nice things to say about this set. It uses pretty sturdy materials, so they can withstand a little more abuse than other sets around that break and chip if dropped.

TH2057 Lord of the Rings Hand Painted Chess Pieces

2009-08-05T14:26:00.001+01:00

Ahaha, another Lord of the Rings set. Well, not so scary as the other ones, but it's pushin' the limit. It still has the freaky guy with the scar down his face. And bald characters that look like they have six-pack mussels on their head. And of course they just can't put arms on these guys. No, no, that would take away from there freaky freakishness....if that is a word....but besides freaky - I love the set. Just wouldn't want it sitting in my bedroom at night.

TH2056 Lord of the Rings Chess Set

2009-08-05T14:04:00.002+01:00

Oh heck! FREAKY! I think these pieces may just have been in that nightmare I had the other week. This looks like a 1990's horror film, or that one movie were all the humans besides Will Smith turn into dark-seeking monster/zombies. The set is suppose to be resembling Lord of the Rings, but I don't remember these guys looking so scary. But if the maker was trying to make these things freaky, well done sir. You did it. Ewww, I don't like the guy with the big scar down his face. I mean he really must have had social problems in high school with that thing.

Art Deco Chess Pieces

2009-08-05T14:03:00.003+01:00

YES!! Finally a chess set where I don't have to compliment its amazing detail! First set like this of the day. I like this set better than the other sets with confusing characters and trees and random turtles/dragons poppin' out of nowhere. I may actually be able to name the acuall pieces this time! Plus this set is pretty contemporary, so you don't need a bunch of nerdy action figures on shelves for it to look like it fits in to your homes' style. I love the solid paint job on these, and the simplicity.

TH2051 SAC Hand Painted Canterbury Cathedral Chess Set

2009-08-05T14:01:00.001+01:00

Ahaha, what neat-o looking individual pieces for a chess set. I love the platform underneath each of them. It kind of universalizes all of them. (If you know what I mean (you probably don't. (It's okay. Sometimes I don't even understand myself. (Just like right now)))) I also like the characters themselves. Especially
the guys kneeling on the floor either begging not to be killed by the king or praying to their god. Either way it looks nice.

TH3008 SAC Hand Painted Warrior War including Board

2009-08-05T14:00:00.000+01:00

Hmmmm, This set is pretty impressive. The acual value of the set isn't much. No fancy materials were used in making the pieces, but the set has a big gee-wizz factor added in. When you buy this thing, you not only get themed pieces, but a themed board and a themed carrying case. All fit together pretty well and look good in the process. Every section looks like it was made for itself. Especially the carrying case, which turns the actually chess characters into real-life animated works of art on the front.

SAC Hand Painted Robin Hood War including Board

2009-08-05T13:58:00.001+01:00

I was never much into the Robin Hood movies (or maybe they were books?), but this chess set was apparently made to resemble after the Robin Hood themes and British folk-lore. So like any other normal person who wants to sound like they actually know what they are talking about, I went over to my trusty Google account and researched on the themes that are represented in this set. I found some interesting sites, and they resemble the pieces pretty closely. Plus, any chess set that has an oak tree with an extremely detailed tree-house, complete with a door noob, and veins on the leaves is a winner.

TH3006 SAC Hand Painted Waterloo War including Board

2009-08-05T13:57:00.000+01:00

As I was sitting here thinking about how I'm going to start this article about this chess set, and what I'm going to talk about, I realized that I usually tell about the good points of a set, then make fun one or two of the pieces then end the article. But this set - I really don't have much to make fun of. So I don't really anything funny to say, but what I can say is the pieces prefectly match what the maker was trying to resemble, and the set turned out just perfect!

TH3005 SAC Hand Painted Egyptian War including Board

2009-08-05T13:55:00.001+01:00

Wow, what a great theme for a chess set. This whole thing is based apon all the old Egyptian stuff. When all the slaves of the pharoahs were buildin' the pyramids and the big cat structure. The set is pretty accurate to all the actual pics of these things. But I think they should stick a lil' speaker up in the cats mouth to make it meow every time you touch it. Haha, wow, my spell check is goin' crazy. It's like "Are you five???". But anyway, nice gold color finish, and I absolutely love the theme.

TH3004 SAC Hand Painted Crusades including Board

2009-08-05T13:53:00.001+01:00

This chess set has a religious war setting. The characters have the same detail as in the other pieces in this line of chess sets from Chessbaron, but this time, the characters look like different races. One side looks like a handful of mini-sized Iranians, and the other side looks like Chinese Monks. Pretty neat, but the Iraq guys kind of scare me because you can see the detail in their face, and they look pretty mean. Nothing against them. Just sayin'.

TH3003 Hand Painted Samurai including Board

2009-08-05T13:43:00.003+01:00

Ahhhhh, what happened to the good old days were chess pieces were simply chunks of wood with carved balls on the top of them? Now-a-days I can barley tell what's a king and what's a pawn. Not insulting work of the people who make these. Don't get me wrong - they look really cool. Like this set from Chessbaron. But I still do think they should come with stickers stuck to their heads telling me what they are. Else I'm just lost. But the detail and paint job on these guys are crazy. You can tell the expressions on each of the characters faces.

SAC Hand Painted Camelot including Board

2009-08-05T13:40:00.003+01:00

This is one of a few King Arthur sets that ChessBaron has rollin' right now. It's the same make as all the others, but the only difference is the characters. Acually, I can't even tell any similarities between the sets. I think they just shove them into a set just to get hard core collectors to buy more than one set. But ignoring that fact, I like the characters. particularly because I think the queen just might be exposing herself to me. Or it could be my fantasy flarin' up again because I could never get a girlfriend in high school. *cries*

SAC Hand Painted Trojan War including Board

2009-08-05T13:35:00.004+01:00

In my opinion (or as the youngsters say, IMO) this is a great chess set. I really love the detail of the whole thing. It really brings out the window appeal of these things. Some of their outfits are pretty neat looking. And especially the kings' get-up. It's a bit short on him I believe. Almost short enough to reveal a lil' somethin. But oh well. He's the king. I'm sure he's proud of what he has got. I would personally be a bit selfconcious to wear something like that.

X2010 Traditional Camel Bone Staunton Chess Set

2009-07-27T11:49:00.000+01:00

Eh, this chess set is alright. Pretty black and white to me. And I don't mean that in the metaphorical sense. I mean literally...very black and white. Most pieces are shaped in the contemporary chess style (which I guess is normal, but sometimes I need a king that shooting rocket propellent out the top of its head to get me going nowadays) but I can say that the paint used is extremely polished. I can almost see myself in these things. Which brings me to an off-track point if I may for a second - they should make chess pieces completely out of mirrors. That would be pretty cool. Anyway, back to this Camel Bone Staunton Chess Set. Very nice classical look.

X2009 King Cross Staunton Chess Set in Camel Bone

2009-07-27T11:48:00.000+01:00

Ya know - these kind of chess sets are always fun to write about because I always get to gripe about how insanely detailed they are. Most sets (even detailed sets) are only carved wood, but these guys look like porcelain with imprinted symbols stamped all over them. But these arn't even made from porcelain which can be partially melted and imprinted with a stamp. They are made of camel bone which cannot be melted, which means all of these imprints were hand engraved. Even the king has a hollowed out top. And that cant be easy to do. That Chess Baron store - they keep making these cool sets.

X2008 Margaret Anne Knight 4 inch King Triple Weight Ebony Chess Set

2009-07-27T11:42:00.000+01:00

This set is a set of full ebony chess pieces from ChessBaron, and apparently, some great time is put into making these. As I've heard, the entire set takes over two weeks to finish! That's pretty amazing seeing that I would most likely die of boredom making these things, and end up pretending they were golf balls and flying them across a field with a nine-iron for fun. The manufacturer also claims the material used is pretty resistant to cracks and brakes. If I had the money I'd test this out by packing up a hand full of firecrackers and see what happens. Unfortunately the price is set at 170 so I don't think it would be worth the investment for a potential 15 min. worth of fun.

X2006 Ami Elizabeth Staunton Chess Set - Ebonised Black

2009-07-27T11:17:00.000+01:00

When I first took a look at this set I said "oh great, yet another ordinary set", but I took another look and realized that this is actually a very nice set. I took a look at the pictures and especially liked the carving on the knights as usual, but also noticed they had a great fancy leather foot pad on the underneath of each of them. No pot leafs growing underneath like some other sets (Maybe that's optional for the stoners) but still a nice foot pad. The pieces are made of ebony (or as the manufacturer says: "These pieces have been ebonised" as if they have been slapped with a palm full of awesomeness) and have a nice paint coating to them.

X2005 Stallion Knight Ebony Staunton Chess Set 3.5 inch King

2009-07-27T11:12:00.000+01:00

Your pretty average chess set here. All pieces are pretty short and just about the same height for each. Although I'm not sure if the lines on the back of the knight are suppose to be hair or a spine. Maybe I have bad eyes, but either way, nifty carvings. I still feel bad for whoever is carving this though. These things seem to keep getting more and more detailed and that's gotta suck. But fantastic paint job on one of the sides. Pure shiny black. Very nice looking. But I would still add some crazy color like purple to the other side for fun.

X2004 Carved Chamfered Base in Rosewood Staunton Chess Set

2009-07-27T11:10:00.000+01:00

No complaints for this set. All pretty nice looking pieces...except for the king. Most kings have a pretty little cross on their heads, but not this one. I think he sinned and got some satanic looking thing stuck on his head. Might as well slap a swastika on him and call the piece the dictator instead of the king. See - this level of creativeness is how new games are created. Anyhow, on a serious note, the pieces look nice, and look pretty polished and nicely carved. Also cheaper than most I've seen, and that's always good.

X2003 LARGE Lotus Carved Weighted Chess Set

2009-07-27T11:08:00.000+01:00

This chess set looks like something vagly from the Disney world magic. Set them up on the chess board and the first line pieces look like castles and the back line looks like some kind of magical wizardry. It's also got an extremely tall king that will make you wonder how they got it that tall without it tipping over. If your a guy, just don't stick this particular piece in your pants. Probably not the best idea. But either way it's an interesting little set. Nice pieces and it looks like nice quality material.

X2002 Carved Chamfered Base Ebonised Staunton Chess Set

2009-07-27T11:01:00.000+01:00

A nice set with yet another detailed knight piece. This company seems to be quite into making their knight pieces look as sexy as possible (if a knight can be sexy) But the knight has a tad of a smirk on it's lips that makes me feel like it's gazing at my beauty. But it's nice to be complemented. Raises your self esteem. Maybe it will help you win more. Or you could just get a date. Whichever. Either way it's a nice set with some nice pieces, especially the king and queen. All in pure ebony. Pretty fancy hu? ...well, that is if you think a carved chunk of wood is fancy.

X2011 - Exotic Christina Staunton Chess Set in Camel Bone

2009-07-27T11:00:00.000+01:00

Heres another on of these fancy "hard-to-believe-they-cared-that-much-to-draw-all-those-lines" chess sets. Their also made from camel bone which has to suck in carving and shaping. But more on the positive look on things - whoever made this did a pretty nice job. Especially without any mess ups along the way. Although if your not a fancy kind of person, I wouldn't recommend them. They are pretty classical looking to me. But all together, nice style and very nice work on the individual pieces.

X2001 - Margaret Anne Knight Chess Set 3 inch King Ebony

2009-07-27T10:19:00.000+01:00

This pretty chess set is made from ebony, which is a bit softer than plain wood but their coated in solid paint, and have a great carving. The knights are especially well carved. They even include teeth unlike lots of other sets. In a way they even look like they have buckteeth. Quite amusing if you think hillbillies are a nice punching bag. The manufacturers are also very quick to point out that the caftsmans' they hire pay great attention to detail in the carving process. So I guess you pay for what you get.