What Type Of Chess Set Is Suitable For A Beginner?

A beginner's chess set can be purchased for just a few pounds these days. Okay, it maybe manufactured with cardboard and plastic, but ultimately it won't differ in any meaningful or significant way from the chess sets used by Grand Masters.

So, in that respect, the game of chess is a great leveller. Skill, cunning and mental agility are the crucial qualities for a chess player to possess, not mega-buck equipment. Unlike other activities, there is no tangible advantage in having expensive state-of-the-art kit when playing chess.

A good chess set is ready to use straight out the box and will normally comprise the board plus the playing pieces.

Leaving aside the questions of budget and personal taste, which are both subjective issues, what other considerations are there to take into account?

One of the first is where do you intend to play? Do you have a suitable playing table to hand? And will this table be permanently set up?