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What base type should I choose?

It's completely a matter of personal preference but only at TheChessPiece is this offered as an option with our luxury chess sets. 

Types of Base Pads and Their Characteristics

1. Leather (i.e. Leather, Leatherette, Naugahyde, or vinyl coated cloth)

Advantages
1.  Leather pads are very durable and don't wear out.
2.  Leather pads will not stain and are easily wiped clean with a damp cloth.
3.  Leather bottom chessmen tend to stay put if the chessboard is nudged.
4.  Leather's stealth-black color lends a touch of contemporary styling.
Disadvantages
1.  Leather pads are less soft to the touch and provide less cushioning.
2.  Leather bottom chessmen may cause slight marring of a fine wood board if grit is present.
3.  Leather base chessmen do not slide readily and tend to require lifting from square to square.
4.  Leather base chessmen tend to produce a quite audible clack when set down on a wood board.  This may be distracting or annoying to some players or to others in the room.

2. Green Felt (i.e. Woven Wool Billiard Cloth or Thick Wool Felt)

Advantages
1.  Felt pads are very soft to the touch and provide excellent cushioning.
2.  Felt provides very good protection of fine wood boards from scratches.
3.  Felt bottom chessmen are very quiet when set down during play.
4.  Felted chessmen glide smoothly across a wooden board without lifting.
5.  Felt's festive green color and soft texture is more traditional and often favored by serious players.
Disadvantages
1.  Felt pads are not as durable. (Pads can wear out after years of use.)
2.  Felt pads may become stained or soiled. (Pad may require replacement if badly worn or soiled.)
3.  Felted chessmen tend to shift if the chessboard is nudged.

Please enter our survey and earn 5% discount on your next order!

As the world's first vendor to offer this as an option we would greatly appreciate your feedback by participating in our survey which will greatly assist us in determining the optimum inventory profile to meet your needs as a quality and value-seeking chess customer who desires that vendors like us serve them better and provide better choice. 

Please participate in our simple survey by following this link and benefit from a 5% discount on your next order as a gesture of our appreciation of your contribution.

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