In this article, I offer some suggestions on buying chess sets; after all if you’re a first-time buyer, you’ll likely welcome some assistance; I know I did! Knowing what to look for as well as where to look for it is imperative. Pricing is also another crucial factor. Purpose could be another. Do you plan to give the chess set to a friend? Whatever it is, the kind of help you require is on the way! You’ll be given the right advice to make decision making a hassle-free process experience for you.

A) First lesson: check if the pieces and the board complement each other.

If you've ever driven an old car and had to utilize the spares from another vehicle, it rarely if ever looks good. You see what I’m driving at, right? Getting a mismatched chess set is no different from pairing a formal coat and tie with run-down tennis shoes. Now, that’s awkward and shameful!

The point I'm trying to make is that you need to match your board with your pieces. It’s essential that both be fashioned from similar, if not the same, material, because when you fail to consider these details - say pine with mahogany – you will end up with an outlandish chess set. It's all to do with aesthetics. In the same way, you need to look at size as well. You don't want to squeeze in huge pieces on a miniature-sized board or vice versa, do you? Obviously not.

A board that complements its pieces is wonderful to behold and adds a pricey look to your selection. With the exception of antique pieces, you shouldn’t have a challenging time looking for a chess set whose board and pieces match so splendidly.

B) Second lesson: heed your budget.

Only buy what you can afford. Don’t go beyond the amount you plan to spend. Caveat: Oftentimes, you can relate the quality of the set with the amount of money you spend for it. The truth is that you can find great bargains every now and then, but they don’t happen everyday.

Chess sets that turn into heirlooms are obviously more precious than any pricey commercial substitute. Beyond the price tag, you’re talking about family tradition. Almost always, good quality doesn’t come for free. When you pay for quality, you can get a chess set that will delight you and your loved ones in the future.

As you can see, the higher-quality products give you more of that "feel good" factor than do bargain sets. Admittedly it may be purely psychological but nevertheless, one seems to play better with a good set. It's rather like driving a vehicle in a slightly lower class than your own; your experience with each one varies – even when you know they both serve the same use of bringing you to places.

C) Third lesson: have an apparent idea of what you wish to buy.

If you explore the shops without the vaguest idea of what you want, you won’t accomplish anything! Way before you begin searching for that perfect chess set, know the the exact details that you want to look for. Take size, for example; will it fit in the home you intended for it, sitting on your coffee table or dining table, or maybe on a shelf or ledge? Aside from size, consider the fit. How well does the set match your coffee table or your other things? Try to guess how your partner will find the new set too. Will he or she be blissful with it?

Also consider the intensity of usage which you will subject your chess set to. How often do you intend to play chess? Do you anticipate a regular schedule? Durability is definitely a crucial criterion for the extremely enthusiastic chess player.