The Best Chess Set for Seniors – Advice and Top Picks

Keeping the mind active is a powerful way to improve cognition and reduce the risk of dementia. Playing chess is an especially useful approach, as the game constantly changes and provides ongoing challenges. Finding the best chess set for seniors is critical for making the game enjoyable for everyone.

Aren’t All Chess Sets The Same?

Chess sets do tend to be pretty similar. They all have the same general design and the same pieces.

The specific design of those pieces does differ from one set to another (sometimes dramatically, in the case of themed sets), but the game itself is normally played in the same manner.

Even so, some subtle differences can influence how easy chess is for seniors to play. For example a small chess board can be hard to see, while some chess sets have pieces that are difficult to distinguish from one another.

Finding a good chess set can make the game more enjoyable for everyone involved.

Why Chess is so Powerful

So, why chess anyway? For one thing, the game is a fantastic way to improve cognition. It gets people thinking and engages their brain.

While there are plenty of other ways to improve cognition, chess is special in that no two games are the same. Players are always adapting and learning – creating an ongoing experience. Find out more here.

Chess is also a social game. It can be a way for an adult child to spend time with their parent or for two seniors to enjoy one another’s company. There are many chess clubs and social groups out there too, which offer another opportunity for social connection.

Finding the Best Chess Set for Seniors

The following areas are worth considering when picking out a chess board. While they won’t all be relevant for your situation, they are worth thinking about.

Magnetic Chess Boards

Magnetic chess boards are often low quality and may be designed for travel. Even so, they can be useful for seniors.

The use of magnets helps the pieces to stay in place better. This means that there is less risk of knocking pieces off the board. The style can be especially relevant for seniors with unsteady hands.

Magnetic chess boards don’t have to look bad either. There are some appealing examples that won’t break the back. Check out the next section to see what I mean.

Portable Chess Boards

Portable chess boards are fantastic if you want to play chess anywhere. The biggest limitation is size. Some portable chess boards are tiny. This can make them difficult to use, especially for people with poor eyesight.

There are larger portable chess sets out there, including wooden boards that are designed to fold in half. Of course, the larger the board, the less portable the set ends up being.

The alternative is boards that aren’t designed to be portable. These can be beautiful and are often heavier.

What Material Do You Want?

Non-portable chess sets are often wooden or glass. There are some other styles too, including marble and metal. Mable and glass tend to be heavier, which can be an advantage or disadvantage.

Plastic is another common material. Many travel chess boards are plastic. In fact, most inexpensive boards are. Plastic boards can sometimes feel tacky, but there are some good ones out there.

The Weight of the Pieces

Heavier chess pieces are often more enjoyable to play with – and tip over less often too. Some times the pieces may be heavy just because of the material uses.

Others may be weighted. Weighted chess pieces aren’t just heavier, they also have the extra weight centered at the base. This style is a good alternative to magnetic chess pieces.

Chess Piece Design

Most chess games use classic designs for the pieces, making them easily recognizable. Even so, there tend to be some variations between one board and the next.

There are also themed boards that might use an entirely different set of figures, such as a Lord of the Rings themed board.

In most situations the best chess set for seniors will follow a traditional style. While other styles may look appealing, they can be more confusing, with players needing to re-learn what piece makes what move.

Regardless of the style that you choose, make sure that the types of pieces can be easily distinguished. In particular, players should be able to tell a bishop and a queen apart at a glance, even from a top-down view.

Our Top Picks

Amerous 15″ x 15″ Chess Set

This chess set is just one example from the brand Amerous and it has plenty of advantages.

• At 15″ x 15″ this set is large enough to use easily
• The set is magnetic, so the pieces will stay in place without a problem
• The squares and cheese pieces contrast against one another well, reducing the risk of confusing
• There are slots inside the board for storing the chess pieces
• The board is foldable, making this a portable way to play chess

I personally like the balance between appearance and functionality. The chess set might be magnetic and portable, but it still looks good. It is a much better choice than the small magnetic travel chess sets that seem to be everywhere.

Royal European Wood International Chess Set

Here’s another interesting chess set to try. It is portable as well and is slightly larger than the previous example.

• The set includes column and row numbers, giving players the opportunity to state their moves, rather than moving the pieces themselves
• The pieces are very distinctive, making them easy to recognize
• The visual style makes distinctions between squares clear, even from a distance
• The board folds and the individual pieces can be stored inside
• There are many positive reviews for the board

The main disadvantage is the weight. The pieces aren’t weighted, so they might feel too light for some users. Nevertheless, the quality of the set is reasonable for the price.

Heavy Tournament Triple Weighted Chess Set

Here’s a completely different style to consider. This type the chess board is vinyl and is designed with chess tournament regulations in mind.

• The carry bag makes this chess set very portable
• There’s no need to worry about broken hinges, which could easily happen with other portable designs
• The board is 20″ x 20″. The large size is perfect for seeing the game clearly
• The pieces are weighted and are designed to slide across the board easily
• An extra set of queens is provided to allow for piece promotion

The set is a reasonably priced option, so it isn’t the highest quality in the world. Even so, the triple-weighted approach makes this an extremely good choice for the price.

Agirlgle International Chess Set

If you want something slightly different, this chess set could be a great choice. Like many of the others, it is a folding set and you can store the pieces inside.

• The use of metal pieces is unusual
• The combination of metal pieces and a wooden board looks elegant
• The king stands at 2.6 inches, making the pieces larger than many other sets
• Yet, the board is small, measuring 11.4″ by 11.2″
• The piece design means that each item is distinctive and easily recognizable

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