Types of Chess Sets

Staunton Sets

• The Staunton chess set is the standard set that is familiar to all players. Representations of this set's pieces are popular off the board, in books about chess as well as in newspaper chess puzzles. The Staunton set is available in a number of sizes and materials, including wood, plastic, stone, glass and metal.

Historical Sets

• Chess sets are available in a wide array of historical scenarios. Popular American-themed historical chess sets include the Civil War, the Revolutionary War, cowboys and Indians, Army against Navy, Navajo against Cherokee, and even rock 'n' roll versus jazz. Some historical sets recreate medieval battles or the pieces used on chess boards during the Middle Ages. Ancient history-themed chess sets have recreated Egyptian royalty and reenacted the Battle of Troy.

Fantasy Sets

• Chess pieces are available in a number of fantastical scenarios. Players can pit Greek gods against one another or watch the armies of King Arthur do battle against the forces of Mordred. Fans of J.R.R. Tolkien might be interested in a set that depicts the armies of Middle Earth engaged in a war with the servants of Sauron. Science fiction aficionados have sets with humans on one side and aliens on the other. There is even a set with an Alice in Wonderland theme.

Travel Sets

• For the chess player on the go, a travel set is a necessary addition to the collection. Travel sets come in a variety of sizes and styles; many of them are magnetic to enable play in a car, on a boat or aboard a turbulent airplane with no problem at all. Not all magnetic sets are entirely metal; many wooden sets have a magnetized base under the wood and magnetized bottoms on the chess pieces.

Chess Variants

• Advanced players and players interested in exotic varieties appreciate chess variant boards. Different varieties of these boards exist, including three-player, four-player and three-dimensional (multi-tiered) versions.