Chess Sets

[HOUSTON RICK]

In addition to 60's through 80's music, books, I like strategy games particularly chess. Over the years, I have collected a few nice chess sets, and many not quite so nice but I will bet some of you have spectacular sets you can share pictures of. Some of mine are:

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

(above)A nice Staunton Set, the Franklin Mint Civil War Chess set and an Isle of Lewis set
Below: The Design Toscano Greek Mythology Chess Set, the Design Toscano Richard the Lion Hearted vs Saladin (Crusades) Chess set, A modern Wooden Chess Set from Target, Ancient Rome Chess set

 

[dockmurgw]

Those are very nice sets. I always loved playing chess, unfortunately I don't know anyone around me that plays. It used to get me and a friend of mine out of a lot of school work back in the day, the teacher was so happy to see us using our brains that she used to let us get away with anything...as long as we were playing, including homework.

 

[two-bit cowboy]

Striking sets. Thanks for sharing them.

I, too, love chess.

My set is based on Robin Hood and his merry men. The other "side" is of course the Sheriff of Nottingham and his thugs. I'll have to see about getting a photo (never thought of that!).

 

[Golddollar]

My brother tried to make a chess set by turning the pieces on a lathe. I just wonder how you would make the knights?

 

[MRB1]

Man, I wish I could unpack all the sets I've collected over the years ! Hand carved Olive Wood from Israel, Meerschaum from Turkey, and my pride - a cheap plastic set (that once included a wood box) that was pulled from the waters of Pearl Harbor during a search and rescue operation after the cowardly attack. Too many to account for - especially since I can't play anymore.

 

[Old TexMex]

Kronsteen v McAdams ?

 

[DeathGrip]

I've been luging around a chess table for 30 years. It's top is made of terraza, probably from the '50s or '60s as it's pink and green with a white background. Kinda art deco. The pieces are separated by brass.

It's heavy. The whole thing is in an iron frame and spins over to become a backgammon table.


Here's the best pic I can get, It's buried behind my shutters in the shop. As soon as I can get to it I'll restore it and put it out back on the porch.

 

[chief38]

I have a fairly nice set that I purchased about 23 years ago. Personally, I prefer traditional looking pieces so I don't have to figure out what the fancy ones are. This way I can concentrate on my moves and not what the pieces are. Whenever I see the really fancy sets I shy away from playing because I don't immediately recognize what the pieces are.

I do not play nearly as often as I use to because my two main opponents are no longer around. One was my Dad who passed away 9 year ago and my Son lives in another State now. Most of my friends don't normally play, but occasionally I find a visitor who enjoys a game now & then.

 

[MRB1]

I had a set carved from meerschaum in Turkey - you have to wear gloves to handle the pieces because the oil from our hands will darken the meerschaum. Also, the most interesting part is it was carved in a village on the border with Iran - and it's n a pure Islamic area. The set contains two kings - a major King and a minor King because they do not accept any female having power or authority - thus no Queen.

 

[straightshooter1]

We don't have a fancy chess set, just a plastic/wood one. Had it for over 30 years and we play chess at each and every meal we eat, unless we have guests, one of us is ill or she's mad at me for some unknown reason.

Been doing that since our honeymoon. We started off playing backgammon and I transitioned her to chess.

We have played so long with the plastic set that one of the pieces broke, as I recall, (or maybe one got lost-not sure) and I had to
find an inexpensive set of players on eBay five or six years ago.

Getting ready for some homemade Chicken Noodle Soup and a salad, and the board is all set up. We usually play two games a meal.

I even win once in a while.

Bob

 

[old bear]

Rick, those are great specially photo number 2.
Please don't get me started on a new hobby or collection. I'm having enough trouble keeping up with all the stuff I've got already.

 

[DWalt]

Back long ago when I was visiting Mexican border towns frequently, there were always chess sets and boards made of different color minerals or rocks for sale in the Turista shops, I think green and white. I don't know what they were made of, but must have been some kind of softer mineral which could be easily carved or shaped. I don't go to such locations now nor do most gringos.

 

[Cardboard_killer]

How about a nice game of Beyond the Rhine's scenario A Time for Trumpets

 

[H Richard]

Many years back I spent a lot of evenings playing chess. My only set left now is a set much like Chief38 shows, I bought it at the market in Tripoli Libya (just outside Wheelus AFB) back in 1962 while TDY there. My wife at a time was into ceramics and made a set, and we had an onyx set Mexico we picked up somewhere. I had even made a Chess Table, found a small square walnut table with a drawer and cut and set black & white 2" squares for the board. Taught both children to play but they didn't care for it and the wife and I haven't played in probably 25 years.

I really admire that Isle of Lewis set.

 

[sar4937]

I have a chess set I purchased in 1968, I used it for 20 yrs. After I got married, the wife hated it. I would struggle in a game today.

 

[les.b]

I have a really nice classic Staunton set in ebony and olive wood which come in a rosewood box. These came from a great little chess shop in Greenwich Village. I've had it for at least 40 years now. I also have a stylized set that was given to me by my Russian police friend in Moscow. It's down at camp now.i have several other sets, but nothing exotic. I'll try to get pictures of both soon and add them to the thread. I also have a small library of chess books. Unless you dig into it, you have no idea how much chess literature exists.

Best Regards, Les

 

[vytoland]

i first learn to play chess in 1955 and it quickly become a favorite ,,,,,,,over the years i played in many tournaments and now enjoy a game with various players over the internet ,,,i still manage to win a few games now and then.....

 

[Targets Guy]

Back long ago when I was visiting Mexican border towns frequently, there were always chess sets and boards made of different color minerals or rocks for sale in the Turista shops, I think green and white. I don't know what they were made of, but must have been some kind of softer mineral which could be easily carved or shaped. I don't go to such locations now nor do most gringos.

Brought back a memory. Before I deployed to Vietnam in 1970 I went to visit my mother who lived in Lubbock at the time. We went to (I think) Juarez and I picked up one of those sets. I'll have to dig it out and take a photo of it.

EDIT: found them. Still have all the pieces.

 

[JohnRippert]

The only chess set I ever owned was one of the Mexican sets like DWalt was talking about. These days I strain my brain less by pulling out one of the two sets of dominoes that came from both sides of the family. I have a set of ivory from Mom's parents and a set of hardwood that were made by my Dad's father, the woodworker. He made the wooden slide top case for them as well.

 

[chief38]

I have a really nice classic Staunton set in ebony and olive wood which come in a rosewood box. These came from a great little chess shop in Greenwich Village. I've had it for at least 40 years now. I also have a stylized set that was given to me by my Russian police friend in Moscow. It's down at camp now.i have several other sets, but nothing exotic. I'll try to get pictures of both soon and add them to the thread. I also have a small library of chess books. Unless you dig into it, you have no idea how much chess literature exists.

Best Regards, Les

Les,
I purchased my set from a Shop in Greenwich village as well. Can't remember the name of the store, but there were a few of them within a few blocks. I do however remember being overwhelmed by the selection of sizes, boards, quality etc.

 

[DWalt]

The Mexican set pictured above is about like what I remember. I was never much of a chess player, but I had several friends in high school I played chess with. We just used a cheap set of plastic chessmen and a cheap folding cardboard chess/checkers board. I played a little chess in college but I was so far outmatched there I stopped playing fairly quickly out of embarrassment. My abilities never went much beyond knowing how each piece could move. I once had a dorm roommate from Hungary who could beat me in five or six moves. He was scary good.

 

[rwsmith]

The Knights are hand carved.....

My brother tried to make a chess set by turning the pieces on a lathe. I just wonder how you would make the knights?

...but they don't have to be complex and the base is turned.

I played since I was a teen but spent about 15 years as an adult studying to get a real and deeper understanding of the game. My chess sets are utilitarian Staunton but I do have a few novelties like one from olive wood from the holy land and one my friend made me. I'm glad to hear from other chessites as I'm mentioned it a few times here and never got a response.

 

[bigwheelzip]

Those are some beautiful sets. Nice to add some sculpture to your strategy.

I humor hubby and play him sometimes, but I always lose (kick his butt at cards though).
We only have the one set now, a fold-flat magnetic wallet sized that travels with us.

Because of their appropriately strategic location (I still lose though), the outdoor sets at Lindenhof park in Zurich are my favorite. The site was fortified high ground at least as far back as the Romans in the years around 300, and then again by Charlemagne around 800.

 

[dockmurgw]

I always wished I could have played a game with the legendary Mel Brooks. He had the nicest chess set I ever saw in History of The World Part 1. Its good to be the king.

 

[MRB1]

If you want to see some really great sets look up House of Staunton. They have beautiful sets from reasonable to $12,995 (pieces only). I drool all over my keyboard on that site.

 

[jlrhiner]

Agate. Thats what mine is made of. I've had it for 50+ years. It's put up now, because the board (made of the same colors as the set) is de-laminating.

I'll dig it out and post a pic.

 

[Cardboard_killer]

They only way to play chess is like the French King does in Mel Brooks's History of the World Part I. I won't post the scene as it is R rated.

 

[DWalt]

And of course you really don't need a chess set to play chess. There are numerous computerized chess games, and you play against the computer. Some have elaborate graphics.

 

[jlrhiner]

Here's what mine looks like;

Edit; Every picture I post turns upside down.