Top 10 Chess Gifts for this Holiday Season (2007-2008)

(October 2007) Looking for a gift idea for a chess player? Under the PriceGrabber links below you'll find chess sets, boards, and specialty items. These should give you lots of ideas plus a feel for prices. The merchants listed here are sometimes well known online retailers who are not specialists in chess. If you don't find exactly what you want, use the Products & Shopping link at the left of the page, where you'll find merchants specializing in chess and related products.

1. No Stress Chess

No Stress Chess is a close variant of normal chess for people, particularly children, who don't know how to play but who want to learn. A card chosen at random from a deck of cards determines what piece you move next. Instructions for the moves of the piece are on the card. • Although you quickly outgrow this method of play, it is useful if you are intimidated by the apparent complexity of chess. Once you realize how simple the moves are, be prepared to graduate to a normal chess set.

2. Cardinal Chess Teacher

Cardinal Chess Teacher is another chess set designed for absolute beginners who don't know how to play. The rules for the moves of each piece are printed on the piece. Like the previous pick, this will only serve to get you started. Once you discover how much you like playing chess, you will have outgrown it. Have a normal chess set available when this happens.

3. Transformers Chess Set

The year 2007 saw a new film version of the Transformers and a chess set based on the characters. 'Will you command Optimus Prime and the Autobots or will you defend Megatron with the Decepticon pieces?'

4. Travel Chess Set

The difference between travel chess sets and normal sets is that the pieces attach to the board. Pegs and magnets are the most common fasteners. You can also find travel sets that look like wallets, where flat pieces fit into slots.

5. Travel Chess Computer

You don't have a ready chess partner when you travel? For business travel or pleasure travel, a chess computer is always there as an able and willing opponent, even when you're not travelling.

6. Chess Computer

These days computing gadgets are so small and so powerful that there's not much difference between a travel chess computer and other chess computers. Look at the size, the weight, and the source of power before you decide which is best for you.

7. Chess Clock

Like household clocks, chess clocks are identified as either digital (electronic) clocks or as analog clocks. If you aren't sure what the difference are, see our features Before You Buy a Digital Chess Clock and Before You Buy an Analog Chess Clock.

8. Chess Table

Chess tables are at the high end of the our chess gift picks. You should spend as much time choosing the right table as you would spend on any similarly priced decoration or furniture for your home.

9. Giant Chess Set

Did we say chess tables were at the high end of our picks? We forgot about giant chess sets. As with smaller sets, the height of the King, always the largest chess piece in the set, determines the height of the other pieces.

10. Bookshelf Chess

Since almost any chess set can be left flat on the bookshelf, that's not what we mean here. These are sets that fold into book size for handy storage on your bookshelf. As with any set, always count the pieces before you store them!