Online chess will never be as exciting as on the board game play is. The act of physically touching the pieces, the display of human emotions, the satisfying click of the clock, and the tangible feeling of pieces being taken off the board—all of these sensations can only be fully experienced in traditional chess.
On top of that, playing on a physical board elicits a wide range of emotions, including tension, excitement, and the strategic decision-making process. These elements are often absent or limited in online chess.
In this article, we aim to assist you in finding the perfect wooden chess set and pieces to enhance your over-the-board (OTB) chess experience.
For chess clocks, check out our separate guide on choosing the right chess clock for your games.
7 Best Wooden Chess Sets – At a Glance
1. The Jarilo, Unique Wooden Chess Set
- Seller: The Chess Central Store
- Available Board Dimensions: 21 x 10.5 x 2.8 inches.
- About: A handcrafted and hand-carved premium wood chess set.
- Rated 5/5 stars by 82% of buyers, after more than 830 ratings.
- The set includes pieces of standard size used in top-level tournaments.
- The king piece measures 4.33 inches tall.
- All pieces are handcrafted, lightweight, and equipped with felt pads on the bottom for smooth movement without noise.
- This chess set has an internal storage for pieces. You can see it in the image below.
2. Wegiel Handmade Junior European International Chess Set
- Seller: Wegiel.
- Available Board Dimensions: 15 x 15 x 2.5 inches.
- About: A wooden handmade foldable chess set with pieces inside and a metal lock for secure storage.
- The board is made of a combination of beech and birch wood, providing a classic, handmade feel.
- Rated 5/5 stars by 76% of buyers, after more than 385 ratings.
- All pieces are felt-bottomed and weighted, crafted from hornbeam and sycamore wood.
- The folding chess board has compartments to securely store each chess piece individually.
3. Design Toscano Gods of Greek Mythology Chess Set
- Seller: Visit the Hey! Play! Store
- Available Board Dimensions: 21 x 21 x 0.5 inches.
- About: A foldable wooden chessboard with unique metal pieces, specifically designed for outdoor gaming.
- Offers excellent wind resistance, making it suitable for playing while traveling.
- Metal pieces securely attach to the wooden board, preventing disruption of the piece positions.
- The foldable design allows for easy portability, and the pieces have designated storage compartments within the folded chessboard, providing additional security.
- Rated 5/5 stars by 65% of buyers, after more than1000 ratings.
4. LaModaHome Star Mega Size VIP Wooden Chess Set
- Seller: LaModaHomeStore.
- Individual board square size: 2.25 x 2.25 inches (Tournament Size).
- Playable game area: 18 x 18 inches.
- Full set weight with pieces: 9 pounds.
- About: Handcrafted and hand-carved chess set made of Inlaid Maple and Walnut wood, originating from the Carpathian mountains of Europe.
- King piece height: 3.5 inches, King base diameter: 1.38 inches, King weight: 1.6 ounces.
- Pawn height: 1.75 inches, Pawn base diameter: 1 inch, Pawn weight: 0.6 ounces.
- Pieces are precision carved out of Boxwood in dark brown and light brown, weighted, and feature padded felt bottoms.
- Previously with over 60 ratings, this wooden chess set had an impressive 4.8/5 star buyer rating but now after 83 ratings, it has gone down to 3.7/5 stars product, which is not good.
- Notably, 40% of buyers awarded it a perfect 5/5 star rating.
5. Wegiel Handmade Jowisz Professional Tournament Chess Set
- Seller: Wegiel.
- Available Board Dimensions: 16.54 x 16.54 x 0.98 inches.
- About: A highly rated premium wood chess set with a stellar 4.5-star rating based on 960+ buyer reviews.
- The chessboard is crafted from Inlaid Mahogany and Maple wood.
- Weighing 4.2 pounds, this product is sold without pieces. However, the pieces are available for separate purchase in the store.
- The king piece stands at a height of 4.33 inches.
- All pieces are handcrafted, ensuring lightweight construction, and come equipped with felt pads on the bottom for smooth movement.
6. Walnut Styled Wooden Chess Set
- Seller: Hey! Play! Store.
- Available Board Dimensions: 19.7 x 19.7 x 3.5 inches.
- About: This wooden chess set features a magnet closure for secure storage. The pieces are available in white and brown colors.
- The size of the king piece is not specified, but based on reviews and ratings, it indicates a quality wooden chess set and standard pieces size.
- With over 1000 ratings, this product maintains a solid 4.3/5 star rating, reflecting its popularity and overall positive reception.
7. Brown Chess Set
- Brand: Chess and Games Shop Muba.
- Material: Wood.
- Item Dimensions: 16.5 x 8 x 2.35 inches.
- About: This high-quality wooden folding chess board features a natural wood color palette, with no additional colors added. The board size when closed is 42 x 21 x 6 cm (16.5 x 8 x 2.35 inches).
- The chess set includes felted and unweighted chessmen or chess pieces, with the king measuring 9.0 cm (3.5 inches).
- The product has received a rating of 4.2 out of 5 stars based on 10 ratings.
Also Check:
- Best Chess Clocks Priced $250 and Under | A Guide to Buy Digital Chess Clock
- Best chess set under $100
