Chess Armory Travel Chess Set 9.5 Inches Magnetic Board

An excellent little chess set. Portable but not too small. One of the best features is the magnetic board and pieces. The magnets help keep the pieces in place if the board gets bumped or moved, which makes the set much more practical for traveling, playing in the car, or setting up a game somewhere without a perfectly stable table. My kids actually prefer to use this set rather than the full size set, saying since it’s magnetic the game isn’t ruined if the table is bumped. The 9.5-inch board is a good compromise between portability and play-ability. It folds up for storage, and the pieces can be stored inside, so you don't have to worry about carrying a separate bag of chess pieces. Pros: • Compact and easy to travel with • Magnetic pieces stay in position well • Board folds for convenient storage • Pieces store inside the board • Pieces well sized for the set Cons: • Plastic construction feels more functional than premium • Board may feel small to players accustomed to full-size chess sets • Pieces are naturally smaller than those on a standard board Overall, this is a well-designed travel chess set that does exactly what it claims. It's compact, convenient, and large enough to enjoy an actual game without feeling like you're playing on a cheap toy. Anyone looking for an inexpensive chess set to keep in a backpack, take on vacation, etc., this is an easy one to recommend.

Bought this as a temporary place holder for a back-ordered collector's edition House of Staunton wooden set for my 15 year old & he loves it so much that I don't know if he'll use the fancy one! Great for car rides, traveling of any kind. Magnets are strong enough to turn board upside down & shake without moving - this is especially handy when pausing a game overnight so the pieces don't move or for practicing on your own, for studying games, for oblivious canine/feline tails swinging into pieces as they walk by, for car rides, etc. Although the pieces stay put, the magnets don't impede playability at all - you hardly feel them when picking up or moving the pieces. It's also fun to stick your opponent's pieces on a metal surface, not gonna lie hahaha. Sturdy lil' 2" King. All the pieces are surprisingly well thought out & replicated in the classic Staunton style with the knight having more detail than even some high end sets. The extra queens are really nice to have & continue to mimic the feel of a fancy set. The grey & black contrast on the board is surprisingly easy on the eyes & help the pieces stand out, the algebraic notations are super helpful & stand out just enough to not be too distracting. Folds up into a kindle type size, a breeze to take on the go. Can't say enough about this little champion of a set, except that I should've learned my lesson when he was a toddler & the boxes that gifts came in were twice as fun as the toy itself lol, I see a fancy Staunton set collecting dust in our future 😆 I've also seen it in smaller & in larger sizes and I honestly think this is the PERFECT size for a take-anywhere-any-time set. You can pop a squat on the front stoop & unfold it right there! I do fear the paint on the squares might easily scratch so keeping the board itself a carrying case/bag may not be a bad idea. Next day delivery too! So if you have read all of this, I say buy the dang board!

I am very pleased with this set. The quality and fit/finish is perfect, magnets grip well and it's very sturdy. I've had larger sets but wanted something small that met the requirements listed above. This set exceeds my expectations and worth every penny. Easy to recommend. No negatives at all.

I ordered this on a whim as an inexpensive travel chess set and am pleasantly surprised. I read a number of reviews that have commented that this set was smaller than expected and about QC issues so I wanted to make some comments on my experience. I actually quite like this little travel set that can be purchased for about what a McDonalds value meal costs. The good: The plastic pieces, although quite light, are well made with no rough edges or seam marks. They have a thin faux felt sticker bottom that cover small magnets in the base. The magnets are well balanced in that they are not too strong during movement, but they keep the pieces from sliding or falling with minor vibration such as from in a plane or car. The folding board is stable in the open position, has a tasteful design, and has chess notation references along the edges which is welcome. An extra queen is included for both players which is really nice. The board is a bit stiff to open at first, but becomes smoother after a few dozen openings. Overall, very playable and well executed. The bad: Although I have had no issues thus far, the board’s hinges are simply folding plastic (like a flip top bottle lid) and I don’t think they will hold up over time if used often. The latching mechanism is also plastic, and again just my opinion, likely won’t last with frequent repeated us over time. All in all, the board seems a bit fragile in its construction if dropped or stuffed in a backpack hauled around on the subway and used a lot. If that is the case, I would pass on this one. A few more comments. Yes, it is small so check the measurements before ordering. I have had no QC issues.this should not be considered a primary chess set. I was looking for an occasional travel board I could take with me and use on an airplane seat tray table to go over chess games, or perhaps in some kind of vehicle for not a lot of money. For me, this set is perfect even if only for a couple years of use. If this is your expectation as well, then this is a pretty good set that wont ruin your day or your pocket book if it breaks or gets lost or stolen. If you intend to play on flat surfaces like park tables or in someone’s living room and perhaps haul around in a backpack or duffel bag, then I would say skip this set and get one of the silicone rolled boards and some weighted chess pieces instead. Hope this information helps in your decision.

I definitely plan on traveling with it, but it's main use for me is at home, for studying positions as I work through my various chess books. The manufacturer found the optimal balance between the weight of each piece and magnet strength. What that means is, the pieces are easy to pick up and put down. I never feel like they're pulling on the board during moves. Yet I can carry the board from room-to-room, fully-loaded with pieces, upside-down or sideways or whatever, with nary a piece moving out of place. We don't have a lot of horizontal space in our house. Certainly not enough to leave a board set up in one spot, and certainly not a full size board, so this thing gets moved around as needed, which is often. I can set it up almost anywhere. On the kitchen counter. On my lap. In bed. I can leave it sideways, tilted against a wall or on a shelf with a position on it, and come back to it later with all the pieces as I left them. (We don't have pets or small children. :) ) The kings are 2 inches tall and the pawns 1 inch. So the pieces are small, but have a sturdy feel to them. Still, before purchasing, you might want to get out your ruler and make sure you're okay with those sizes. For my purposes, they're perfect.

I love it... I love this game

For the price, it’s hard to beat the value of this chess set. The pieces are solid and well-made for what you’re paying, and everything feels durable. It’s lightweight and compact, making it easy to throw into a backpack for travel. If you’re new to chess or just want an affordable set you can take anywhere, this is a great option. The magnetic pieces are strong enough to keep everything stable while playing, which is especially helpful on the go.

Absolutely amazing! My first chess board, and it’s lovely! I love that it comes with the storage space and definitely family friendly because its magnetic. Totally worth it and an awesome investment!

Light weight pieces, low grade plastic, Too large for portable chess, but too small for regular play. Maybe suitable for beginners, but not at this price. Not worth it. Check the fine print on the seller’s return policy - hopefully you won’t have to return it.

It's a perfectly compact and transportable set! Chess pieces are very well made, felt at bottom & the magnets are excellent, every piece is magnetic - place pieces on board, turn it upside down and every piece stayed on the board. Extra Queen pieces received. Box closed properly. No dents or scratches anywhere. My son has been bringing this set to school every day, (fits nicely in his backpack) to play w his mates and everybody loved the set! We are very happy with our purchase. Worth every dollar spent on it! :-)