Board Games for Everyone
Where to Buy Chess Boxes Online
A chess board game can cost a small fortune. In fact, many chess sets range from $300 to $10,000! It makes sense, then, that an avid player would want to invest in chess boxes to keep all those pieces safe. The best place to find such a product is at an online chess store. Most boxes come with soft linings to protect your pieces and with locks so the case doesn't suddenly open. You'll want to look for brass quadrant hinges and clasps for added stability and solid wood construction. When buying, you'll need to measure your king, count the number of queens you own and consider if safety is a factor in your decisions.
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Chess boxes are practical and decorative accessories to a good chess set. There are several things to consider when buying a house for your little chess men. First, you'll need to measure the size of your king to see which size case you'll need. Smaller kings are 3.5 inches or less, while taller kings can reach up to 4.4 inches. Next, you'll need to count your queens. Some chess equipment comes with two queens, but others come with four -- and not all chess cases can accommodate those extra pieces. Thirdly, you will have to consider the appearance of the case and what matches your set. Do you want a wood finish, leather or vinyl? There are other added features to consider, such as the type of lining (velvet, billiards cloth or velour), the type of hinges (brass is best), compartments or no compartments, and the lock/key option. A good chess box typically ranges between $60 and $300.
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If you plan on taking your chess equipment to tournaments or just on the road, then you'd better peruse chess boxes to ensure the safety of your investment along the way. Even if your chess board game will just sit at home, you may want a comfortable case for them to ride in, so you don't have to worry about losing pieces or breaking glass chess sets. There are many things to consider with a chess box, such as the type of lid, the type of material, the size, the locking mechanism, the color of the interior, the compartment, etc. There are a number of great places to shop online for this sort of thing.
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Chess boxes are a point of pride for many avid chess enthusiasts. Whether you're participating in tournaments or just playing with friends for fun, choosing the right case is an important consideration. Buying a flimsy case or skipping out on it altogether can diminish the appearance of your chess equipment, not to mention put your pieces in danger of getting lost or broken. These cases come in all shapes and sizes, so you'll have to read the descriptions carefully to be sure you're buying the one that best fits your needs.
Chess Baron (www.chessbaron.com) is one quality source for chess boxes. You can buy the "Double Queens Tray Style Large Leather Chess Box" with silk-covered indentations for each 6-inch piece, with spaces for extra queens ($179.95). They also offer a similar "Larger Luxury Chess Box in Leather" for 4.5-inch kings, with extra room for queens and the same high quality leather/silk interior for ($159.95). To match a wooden set, you may consider the "Beautiful Wooden Luxury Case," which holds 4.5-inch chess men and is built for double queens ($129.95). The "Leather Flat Luxury Chess Box with Two Locks" can house a more expensive chess set, providing maximum security and also featuring a brilliant blue velvet interior and handsome black leather exterior ($126.95). There are also boxes for smaller sets ($40 to $80) and designs without all the individual chess men spaces. This site prides itself on customer service, return policy and quality.
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Chess Central (www.chesscentral.com) is a quality source for chess boxes. The "Black Vinyl Bookstyle Box (for up to 4" King)" is their cheapest offering for $54.95, which is $20 cheaper than other retailers, in fact. The case looks much like a hollowed out encyclopedia book that could fit nicely on a bookshelf. A similar case also comes in tan. There are cherry-stained teak slide boxes ($59.95), rosewood hinged boxes ($64.95) and a red burl mahogany case ($79.95). For the serious chess store shopper, there are "Premium Chess Boxes" that can hold up to four queens, while featuring green billiard cloth lining, divided storage spaces, brass hinges and a lock ($129.95). For taller pieces, there is a "Black Vinyl Two-Tray Box" (that holds kings up to 5.5"). The most expensive coffer on the list is the $299.95 "Red Burl Fitted Chess Coffer" that is specially designed for House of Staunton chess equipment. They take all major credit cards, Paypal, Google Checkout and mail orders. They also have a convenient 30-day return policy and 5 to 10 day shipping for $3.95 + $1/pound. Insured next-day air shipping is also available for $28.95 + $3.50/pound.
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Chess 4 Less (www.chess4less.com) doesn't have many selections, but the chess boxes they have are very attractive and priced fairly. For $180, the "18th Century Calvert Chess Box" comes with red and white faux-ivory chess pieces, a hardwood box, an inlaid chessboard top and drawers. They also offer The English Chess Company's red burl box with billiard green cloth inside and 4.4" chess men indentations for $149.95 each. Inexpensive $44.95 mahogany-finished chess boxes are also available for medium and small sized pieces. This company from England ships internationally via Fedex Ground for around $10.95 and they accept Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Discover and Paypal. You may also ship 2-day for $35 or next-day for $45.
If you're not looking to spend a fortune on chess boxes, then The Chess Store (www.thechessstore.com) is a great place to look. You could order the "The Deluxe Chess Coffer - Large" for $279.95, but most of their selections are under $100. The Mahogany Chess Box, Ebony Chess Box, Walnut Chess Box or Rosewood Chess Box comes in four sizes and works best with rosewood, ebony or boxwood chess men. For fans of slide-top boxes, you can choose walnut finish, black finish or cherry finish for $29.95 to $49.95, which will fit chess equipment that is 3 1/4" or 3 3/4". There are chess boxes made out of Sheesham wood ($44.95), teak ($39.95) and black leather ($49.95 to $69.95) that all come with vivid velvet interiors. You may order by Paypal, Google Checkout, American Express, Visa or Mastercard. Orders ship next-day via UPS Ground, 3 Day Select, 2 Day Select or Overnight.
A nice simple site to find some chess boxes is Premium Chess Sets (www.premiumchesssets.com/chess-boxes). There is a Fitted Red Burl Briefcase or a Fitted Walnut Burl Briefcase ($249.95), a deeper Fitted Red Burl Coffer ($299.95), a Mahogany Premium Chess Box ($129.95), a Premium Red Burl Chess Box ($129.95), a Black Slide-Top Box ($49.95), a Mahogany Slide-Top Box ($49.95), a Red Burl Small Chess Box ($69.95), and a Red Mahogany Standard Chess Box ($89.95). There are boxes for smaller marble chess sets (less than 3.5") and larger Staunton chess sets (4"). You can pay using Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Discover or Paypal and your item will be shipped via UPS within 3 days. If you are unhappy with your purchase, you have seven days to return it, but you will be charged a 15% restocking fee and the shipping charges are your responsibility.
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House of Staunton (www.houseofstaunton.com/chessboxes.html), maker of the Staunton chess pieces, also sells a handful of professional chess boxes to go with your set. Most of their current designs are box-style, although they will be offering slide-tops this fall. The Small Red Burl Mahogany Box is designed for chess men less than 3.5" and offers green velour lining, brass latches, divided compartments and the logo etched onto the lid ($79.95). The Mahogany Box sells for $79.95 and holds 4 to 4.4" chess equipment and features turquoise velour lining and divided storage. The Red Burl Premium Box and the new Mahogany Premium Box ($129.95) both hold 4.4" or less chess pieces and up to four queens, while including features like green billiard lining, divided compartments, brass hinges and the logo. There are also several Red Burl Fitted Cases ($199.95) and Coffers ($299.95). Customers can return their case within seven days of delivery, but they will be charged a 15% restocking fee. Your order will arrive within five days by Fedex.
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There are many sites to find quality chess boxes online. What makes one site better than another is the variety of sets, the shipping policies, the return policies and the catalog layouts. It's important that you measure your chess board game to ensure that all the pieces fit properly or you'll end up getting whacked with that dreadful restocking fee. It's also important that you consider the look and feel of the case before purchasing. For instance, if you own glass chess sets, then the black leather case might match better than the wooden case. On the other hand, if you have wooden pieces, you will want a matching wooden case. At the end of the day, no matter which case you choose, it will serve its purpose by protecting your investment.
Related topics about chess boxes
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Learn To Play Chess
chesskids.com and kidchess.com are both online sites where your children can learn the rules and all about playing chess for kids.
Chess Tables
At the extreme end of chess tables, you can look for the highest quality furniture is www.pianki.com, which has "world class luxury gifts" ranging from $3,939 to $10,415 for chess equipment tables and chairs fit for nobility.