Deluxe Wooden Chess, Checker and Backgammon Set, Brown

This isn't too small or big, and it doesn't feel cheap. The pieces glide nicely. However, my first set was missing a white pawn. Thankfully, Amazon return is great, so I was able to replace it with a complete set, though I wish I could've received only the one white pawn. (I asked the company, but the company handled only the shipping part. Oh well, I don't like that part of the streamlined modern way of commerce, sigh.) Then, the new set came with an extra black pawn. But I wasn't about to return it over that. After seeing two sets, there was an update with the second set. The first set had checker pieces that were straight flat discs. The second set had checker pieces that had grooves and a slight raised section to make the kinged stack stay more stable. Despite preferring the flat, simple look, the raised section was a nice addition. I don't know which one you will receive. Despite the quality-control issue, I'm giving it a 5-star review because it's a handsome set, and any QC issues would be handled swiftly if you encountered any.

I have been a chess buff from my childhood days, and hence owned a number of chess kits over the years. I ordered this item as a gift for a friend who wanted to learn chess and teach his 3 kids: 11, 7 and 4 year olds. I was there when they opened the gift. At the outset, I should say that I was very impressed with the construct and quality. I don' usually prefer chess boards that can fold, because over a period of time, the gaps become bigger and bigger. But this one has a construct in a way that the line in the center is not even visible. The board and coins are BIG, so adults with big hands and children who learning can have it easy while playing. The product is strong and big, and not particularly heavy. But I can say it is build for durability, with normal handling, and can last for more than 5-6 years or more. Suggestion for the manufacturer: Magetizing the board and/or the coins will make it better for children playing with on shaky tables or on the floor. Also, the Box should have a snap locking system. Suggestion for buyers: The Chess board forms the outer surface of the box. So, you may have to pack the box or store it in a smooth, soft place so that the board doesn't get scratched. I recommend this item to anybody looking for a durable Chess, Blackgammon board. Also, makes for a great gift item.

Over all I am very pleased. I did open it up to check everything out but we have not officially used it yet as it is a birthday present for my 7 year old son. The chess pieces have a nice feeling your hand and the felt is done well. The board lays nice and flat and is smooth. There might be one or two discrepancies but overall it's a beautiful board. The backgammon board inside is also well done. I bought this one because I particularly liked the handle it had and I didn't really see a lot of others I liked that had multiple games and folded up. I was worried about the magnets holding it closed with all the pieces inside but they seem to do a fine job (as shown in the photo). I'm sure that over time they will wear out and eventually might even have to be replaced but for now they seem to do the job very well. The one downside that I have is that it didn't come with instructions! Perhaps it is assumed that if you're going to spend this much money you know how to play. My son has recently started learning chess but we don't know anything about backgammon. It would be nice to have basic instructions for all the games you can play. It seems kind of silly to spend money on this and not get the instructions but that's, so far, the only negative review I have.

The worst thing I can say about this is that the game-play instructions are *terrible*, but if you're buying off Amazon you can google game play instructions with great results. Otherwise this is perfect, exactly what I was looking for! The case is fairly solidly held together with the magnets when closed, all the pieces (chess, backgammon, dice and cups) seem to be well made and solid, the chessboard on the outside has taken a ton of "abuse" from my 13 year old carelessly carrying it around and bonking it into walls or onto tables and the floors - not a scratch visible. I have the feeling this will last at the VERY least until he's in college!

This is a good chess set for anyone primarily interested in playing the game, and including checkers and backgammon is a bonus. The board itself is fairly sturdy, very smooth, and is thick enough to not worry about breaking it. When unfolded for play it forms a platform about an inch deep. It folds in half to form a compartment to hold the pieces for storage, and the magnets that hold it closed are strong enough that I am confident it will not pop open. The chess pieces are not particularly detailed but are easily distinguished on the board. The checkers are smooth on one face and carved with concentric rings on the other, so you can flip the checker over to make a king and easily see which side is up. Its only weakness is that there's no special provision built into the inside of the case for storing the pieces; it's just a rectangular felt-lined box. The set came with a plastic bag in which to store the pieces so that opening the case doesn't turn into a mess.