Reviews (2)

Hubby Loves It!
The only disappointment with this set is that the pieces are plastic. When we picked up the box it was quite heavy so we hoped the pieces were some sort of metal. Alas. However, they are not flimsy. Some of the weapons were a bit curved out of the box but they straightened out with a little TLC. Don't even think about getting them back into the box once you've taken them out unless you wrote down where each piece came from. The board is nothing special, just cardboard, and is a little small for the size of the pieces. If you plan on playing the game I'd suggest getting a larger board. Otherwise, it's great for display purposes. This is the nicest Star Wars chess set we've seen. Buy it, you'll love it.

Star Wars Saga Chess
For those who may be interested, here is a listing of which pieces are included in this new chess set.For the silver "good" side, the pawns are Republic Clone Troopers, kneeling and holding a rifle.The two rooks are C3P0/R2D2 (together on one piece), and Padme firing a blaster from Episode II.The knights are Han Solo in Episode IV clothing and Chewbacca with bowcaster, and the bishops are Princess Leia from Episode IV and Luke Skywalker from Episode VI.The queen is a bearded Episode III Obi-Wan, and the king is Yoda flying through the air (resting on a piece of clear plastic) with a lightsaber.On the black "evil" side, the pawns are the Episode IV era stormtroopers, kneeling with rifles.The two rooks are Count Dooku and Darth Maul (holding a double-bladed lightsaber and doing a high kick).Bishops are General Grievous (two of his four arms are holding lightsabers) and a General Grievous bodyguard with staff.Knights are Jango Fett from Episode II flying with jet pack and firing double pistols, and Boba Fett from Episode VI, presumably firing his wrist cable.The queen is Darth Vader with lightsaber, and the king is Emperor Palpatine with hands poised for sith lightning ala Episode VI.All pieces are made from molded plastic, and weapons will most likely be deformed and wilted when you remove them from the package.If your lightsabers are not all twisted and warped, be surprised and thankful.Also, getting them put back into their proper (unmarked) place in the packaging is like a difficult jigsaw puzzle.In the end, however, this is a nice set and I believe it is worth the price. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Amazing set!
This chess set is so beautiful! All the pieces are beautifully made! They actually look like the real thing! It also comes with a very nice board (with the Lord of the Rings theme, of course) and it seems very good quality. I have been looking for a nice Lord of the Rings chess set and I fell in love with this one! The Return of the King is my favorite out of all the Lord of the Rings films. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

My favorite game
This is my favorite game. The rules are easy enough so that you can learn in 5 minutes. However, the game changes as your skill level changes.

If you are young, this is an excellent mind-expanding game, plus a lot of fun.

If you aren't very good at games, this can be a good social game that is quick to learn. Just make sure you play someone at your skill level.

If you love strategy games, this game is for you. If you haven't played it since you were a kid, you probably haven't appreciated the intense strategic elements in this game. I think this game coined the phrase "A minute to learn, a lifetime to master." It is a lot of fun going through the mastery process.

The quality is not as good as I remember it as a kid, but the board will hold together even though the green felt will wear quickly.

And, as a trivia note, Othello is the brand name of the generic game of Reversi. Reversi is available for free at many online gaming sites.

In simplicity can complexity be found
Related to the ancient Japanese game "Go", and seen online in various versions (e.g., Reversi), Othello is very simple to learn and, when played against a partner of equal skill, it can become a wonderful test of simple logic and strategy. When played between players of differing skill levels, the less-experienced player can lear and catch up quickly. For players who need excitement, the game can wear thin after a while, as much of the action occurs in theminds of the participants. The pieces are quite durable, but the game-board surface wears out with frequent use.

Positively Addictive!
I've seen this game often in the stores but passed it up in favor of the flashier games with the namebrand attached.

We are gamehounds and I have so many games it was getting harder to find games we DIDN'T have! Enter: Othello. What a fabulous game!

My daughter (she's 7) picked up how to play very quickly. This is a game of strategy, not chance. In that aspect it is much more educational than so many other games out there which rely on chance and sometimes leave kids with "poor gamemanship" attitudes. I really found myself thinking hard after every move my daughter made. Now that is a GREAT game! Challenging on all levels.

This is also an excellent game for math skills. I highly recommend this game.

Classic
The best games are usually the most simple. This game is simple, but that doesn't mean it's not challenging or fun.

It's a good child/adult game, and I'd highly recommend this over some of the "gimmikicy" games out there. It can be played over and over with a lot of different variations on the outcome, and while a good player can win consistantly, like many decent games that don't rely on chance, this game can be played to ties or near ties if both people understand it. I think that makes it a better game.

It's good for strengthening logical thinking.

Great Strategy Game
This is a good game for 2 people to utilize good strategy. My nephew was in a car accident, and they used this game for rehabilitation to help him use his mind. He came to visit us from Texas, and we had an old game from years ago. He asked us to wrap it up for him, because he has been unable to buy it anywhere! I don't know why, this game seems like it should be one of the standard type games. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

GREAT PRODUCT!
This is a great product - my chess players DS(9); DD(13); and DH(40) are thrilled with it! We started with a real cheapie set and "graduated" to this one . . . for [this price] you cannot go wrong! Believe me . . . you get waaaaaaay more than you pay for!

Not bad
Twenty bucks for a wooden folding chess board and chessmen is not a bad deal. However, the old adage "you get what you paid for" holds true here. Craftsman quality is missing in this product. The folding chess board has a magnetic strip to keep it folded. However, the chess board when unfolded for play is a bit lopsided. The wooden chessmen are standard Staunton pieces. However, they're not crafted quality pieces but are adequate enough for play. If you wanted a similar product but of higher quality then be prepared to fork over an additional $30-40 if not more. However, if you wanted a traveling chess set but don't want to pay alot of $$$ for one and don't mind the inferior quality found in this set then this is good buy.

Best Chess Set for a Great Price
Although I would have loved to have gotten my fiancee a more articulate chess set, this gem really fit my budget. When he opened it on Xmas day, he was blown away. He really enjoyed it, especially the size. The set comes with a fairly large chessboard and the pieces are nicely sized as well.

He has enjoyed many a chess game with me and our best friends. With all the use so far it has remained in excellent condition. The magnetic closure helps to secure the pieces in the inside of the fold up board. Thus, your floor will not be littered with pieces when you pick the board up.

inexpensive chess set
Should sell for less half the cost , if that. Chess pieces were not carved by any craftsman,very flimsy board . Hope it lasts a year. typical chinese craftsmanship. Throw it away and buy a new one tomorow.

Pavilion Chess & Checker Cabinet
This is not a "toy". This is a beautiful chess/checker board, polished and varnished oak wood. The board folds, with magnetic inserts to hold the pieces and keep it closed. The chess pieces are solid machined wood, not intricately carved, with felt on the bottoms, and certainly nicer than plastic pieces. I recognized this set when I saw the display picture; it was on a table in a millionaire's home that we were visiting last month. Now I have the same set he has. If you persist in calling this a toy, then it's a millionaire's toy and an old guy's toy -- I am past seventy. Summary: Great buy ! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Superior craftsmanship, truly top-shelf.
If you really like chess and you would like to have a set that is both functional and beautiful, Drueke is the way to go. They are about the only manufacturer of high quality chess equipment left in America. The dark squares and trim are American Black Walnut, and the light squares are Aspen. The part that is really great is that it is made from solid blocks of wood. Most decent chess boards are veneered, which means that there is a very thin layer of nice wood glued on top of some very cheap wood. This is not such a bad idea, as chessboards do not get heavy duty use. These higher end Drueke models are solid though. Even though it's not necessary, it just exudes a feeling of quality. It is heavy and solid. If you turn it over, it is just as well finished on the B side as the top. If you don't like the sawed trim treatment on the top side, flip it over. The walnut is simply beautiful. I'm embarassed to admit it, but this chessboard is the most beautiful piece of furniture in my house. :) If you pair it up with a set of Drueke pieces of appropriate size you will truly have an heirloom piece. Please note that if you want something for tournament use or something super rugged, you would be better served by a set of solid plastic pieces and a roll-up tournament size mat board, and for about 1/10 the cost. It is kind of like this coffee table analogy: You could have a coffee table made from cinder blocks and a piece of plywood, but it doesn't really give you that pride of ownership that a fine piece would. Yes, it will serve you well for as long as you can stand to look at it. However, you just don't look at it and get a warm feeling inside. You won't go out of your way to show it to people. This is your oppurtunity to own something of very high quality for not too much money. Yes, I know that $100+ is a lot for a chess set, but it isn't a lot for fine furniture or something nice to display which also shows you have a good mind to go with your good taste. I can't really think of enough good things to say about this board. If you have a lasting interest in chess, buy this. You will not regret it. The only decision is what size to get. Mine is a 'Grandmaster' model, the one with 2.25" squares for tournament size chessmen. (I don't think Amazon.com carries that model, but their smaller ones are every bit as nice) A wise man once said: "Buy once, cry once. Buy cheap, buy twice." ... Read more

Editorial Review

Are you clicking yet? Play dominoes! It isn't just one game, asmany people think. There are many games and variations at many skilllevels. Domino sets vary in size and complexity, according to the numberof dots. This huge Double Fifteen set has 136 domino pieces, and eachpiece has from one to 15 color-coded dots on each end, or no dots(blank). The pieces can be used to play 20 different games; instructionsfor all the games are included. Made of a heavy white, ivory-likeplastic, the pieces are 2 inches long, 1 inch wide, and .3 inch thick,and they store neatly in their blue tin. --Richard Farr ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Great Toy
We can play this game with the entire extended family-

Our nephew who is as young as 7 can play this game and it is great for mental stratagies.

I recommend this to all.

A classic MUST!
This is a must have for all classic game lovers. With 3 of our 4 children visually disabled, it was quite easy for them to see the dots (easy for the older parents too!). The youngest children were not frustrated because they could match up the dominoes by color, and eventually learned the patterns and counting as well. They are very durable and come inside a tin that has a snug-fitting lid to prevent spills. Detailed instructions are included for many versions of play. This is a perfect game for Family Game night as the games are short enough to complete before younger players get frustrated.

thumps up !
This is one of the most exciting games there is for family time, bought by one of my friends we have played for hours without getting board. Wanting to buy one of my own found ur web site, it's a shame it can only be shipped within the US.Try and consider ur border neighbors, we want to play too.
Thank u,

Fun with your neighbors and friends
We purchased the 15 color dominoe set and we loved it! We have German neighbors and we taught them how to play dominoes and
"chicken claw" (a fun dominoe game). The dominoes are so durable and colorful that even the kids were able to play with the adults. They are easy to clean (if necessary) and store nicely in their tin box. Great product!

Fun for all ages
This is a great game for all. It makes you think, laugh, and get even with your best buddy by stealing his spot. We LOVE it. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Are you clicking yet? Play dominoes! It isn't just one game, asmany people think--there are many games and variations at many skilllevels. Domino sets vary in size and complexity, according to the numberof dots. This big Double Twelve set has 91 domino pieces, and each piecehas from one to 12 color-coded dots at each end, or no dots (blank). Thepieces can be used to play 16 different games; instructions for all thegames are included. Made of a heavy white, ivory-like plastic, thepieces are 2 inches long, 1 inch wide, and .3 inch thick, and they storeneatly in their case. --Richard Farr ... Read more

Reviews (10)

More fun than you think...
Our friends brought this set of dominoes to our house for after dinner gaming, and although my husband and I were skeptical at first, we quickly became obsessed with this game! Playing dominoes is more complicated and competitive than simply matching numbers -- this set comes with instructions for several multi-player games as well as solitary games. The dominoes themselves are high quality -- they are made of heavy white plastic, but feel more like ivory, and the colors are bright and distictive. We have since bought these dominoes as gifts for almost everyone we have played with.

What a fun new twist to a classic game!
We took this set on vacation and aside from playing regular dominoes we also played one of the new games that was suggested in the box. What a blast!

My sister in law also mentioned that my 2 year old nephew also loves playing with these dominoes with her or on his own. He likes to match the colors and is learning to quickly count or identify the dot patterns and their numerical equivalent.

I recommend this game for families or for adults who enjoy getting together to play games.

Wonderful Way to spend an Evening
I played my first game of dominos with this set, and I had a blast! The "train" game is very easy to follow. It's a great way to spend some time with a few friends who aren't into trivia games.

Dominos are a blast
My roommate and I got hooked playing "train" dominoes, and this is the best set. The dominos are very glossy, colorful and very sturdy, and the set comes with a center piece to keep the starter domino from moving and the domino train in line. I definitely recommend this set.

Beware: This Game Is Addictive!
Our friends and family love playing The Train, one of many games that can be played, and the instructions are included. We take our box on vacation, camping, to holiday gatherings, and the evening hours are filled with endless rounds. We occasionally keep score, but not every time. It is a great way to spend face to face time with one another. I give it my highest stamp of approval. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Carrom Luv'd by so many
Purchased the Carrom Game Board as one of the games for the summer camp we are having and the kids ages 6-50 love it. Yes, 50. I teach martial arts and for this year we have included games that deals with eye/hand coordination and accuracy/focus and more. We will be looking into other games to incorporate our martial arts program and summer camp programs. I Loved it when I was young and still enjoy playing it. (...)

I LOVE THIS GAME
i dont even have this game, but i really do love it from time ago. i passed many hours playing this as a child only wish i could afford to buy one for myself. Please email me if you would like to contribute to my "Carroms Fund". i would greatly appreciate it so that i may once again relive my childhood experiences. thank you

42 year old carrom champ
im 42, me and my older brother played carrom when we were yonger. I bought a carrom board for my 6 year old nephew. well my brother called me two days latter thats all he plays now he dosen't even think about video games or the computer since he recived the carrom board just one answer' I'm not the carrom champ "anymore" he is who says you have to spend alot of money to have fun. thankyou.

An awesome classic american game!
What an awesome game! Carroms are easy to learn but hard to master. Ive been playing carroms since i was 8 and it still hasnt lost its fun. Carroms is a must have!

classic toy
So the cues are dowel rods, the parts are plastic, and the board is fairly thin plywood. Some modern toys wish they were half as durable, and had as much long lasting play value. The current version has been that way for 30 years. Still a great classic toy. I had hours of fun with one as a boy. And plan to get my kid's one, when it comes back in stock. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Backgammon Set
Great Value! I upgraded this set with percision dice. I have used it for months to play local and national tournaments. It is holding up well.

WRONG BACKGAMMON GAME AGAIN!!
LAST TIME I ORDERED THIS, I EXPECTED WHAT I SAW IN THE PICS AS OTHER REVIEWERS, THE PRETTY BLUE TOURNAMENT BACKGAMMON WITH VINYL OUTSIDE AND FELT INSIDE, VERY ATTRACTIVE. WHEN THEY SENT ME AN UGLY BROWN WOOD ONE INSTEAD, I SENT THEM AN EMAIL NOTIFYING AMAZON OF THE PROBLEM. THEY RESPONDED QUICKLY, AND SAID THEY'D IMMEDIATELY SEND OUT THE CORRECT ITEM (THE ONE PICTURED AND DESCRIBED) AND TO SEND THE UGLY ONE BACK AT THEIR EXPENSE. I SENT THE UGLY ONE BACK, AND TODAY I GET THE REPLACEMENT DELIVERY.....IT'S ANOTHER UGLY BROWN WOOD BACKGAMMON!! (BESIDES BEING UGLY, WOOD IS NOT DURABLE, IT SCRATCHES VERY EASILY, SHOWS EVERY LITTLE FINGERPRINT AS WELL!) SO, THIS IS GOING BACK TOO. WHAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND IS WHY MY PACKING SLIP SAYS "PAVILION TOURNAMENT BACKGAMMON", YET THAT'S NOT WHAT THIS IS.
WHERE CAN I GET THE ONE PICTURED AND DESCRIBED HERE? IF YOU DON'T HAVE IT, DON'T SHOW IT FOR SALE AND TEASE PEOPLE!!

Not what I expected
What I received was not what was pictured. I got this as a gift and purposly choose the more expensive one, because of its coloring. The one I got was brown and not blue as pictured above.

Sent me the wrong Backgammon Game TOO!!!
I ordered the one pictured, the pretty blue and maroon 18" Pavillion Tournament Game, with Vinyl Case. Just got my delivery, that's not what it is, It's a Wood Backgammon Game, an ugly brown one!!! Another reviewer wanted to know if it happened to anyone else....YUP!!!

pavilion tournament backgammon
This is a great game that every house should have. Its fun and brings most of us back to when we were kids and is great to share with our own children. ... Read more

Editorial Review

The word mancala means "to transfer" in Arabic, and different versions of this deceptively simple strategy game are played all around the world. Each of the 12 pits contains 4 "seeds" or stones. The player chooses one pit from which to "sow" the seeds. All the stones from that pit are placed one by one into the successive pits, counterclockwise around the board. The game ends when all of the pits on one side of the board are empty; the winner is the player with the most stones. This set features a oak-finish wood board with artificial gemstone playing pieces. --S.J. Kurtz ... Read more

Reviews (23)

Check it out moms, dads and kids. Totally Awesome
My son received this game for Christmas 2 years ago. He is now 14. We have had alot of fun with this game over those 2 years. We were playing it the other day and left it out when my 20 year old son and girlfriend came over. They saw it and wanted to play. We taught them how and they just couldn't stop playing it! They came over at 9:30pm and left at 2:00 a.m.. The game is a game of strategy and it's not something you have to think real hard on like chess. My 20 year old is going to buy one! He just loves it. Try it out. Min. age 8 to 100

Mancala is not only from Africa
My Step-son has this Mancala set and he brought it over from his Mom's house to teach me how to play one day and I wasn't sure exactly how to play but after playing it several time I got to remember that Mancala is also played in the Philippines but it's called Sungka there. The rules are pretty much the same but this game is awesome and teaches you counting and thinking skills even at my age it's good to brush up on those skills. I recommend this game and I'll probably buy my own so I can play with my husband bcuz he's a pro at this game bcuz he played when he was a child in the Philippines.

Mancala
Mancala is a game of Marbles,take marbles out and try to be the one with the mast marbles on your side and you will win.Mancala is a game for children,teenagers,and adults,spend hours playing it with family and friends.

Great
This game is fun for kids or adults of all ages. The game is easy to play a first grader taught me how to play it in fact. The kids love the game their ages were from first grade to fifth grade it is a game that doen't get old.

Mancala Madness
Mancala game is the best. You can play with a friend or with a imaginary friend. It is fun either way. this game is acient. It comes from Africa. It is an African Strategy Game. You have to pay close attention to what you do. This game is great for the whole family. Take my word for it. ... Read more

Editorial Review

This colorful chess set combines the classic game of strategy and intellect with the wacky and wonderful characters that inhabit the world of the Simpsons. Packed in an attractive metal storage box, the set comes with a fold-up playing board and a complete set of playing pieces. The pieces are all durable, and can probably handle a lot of abuse and mistreatment without being damaged. As a result, fans of the show could also use the pieces as action figures or perch them on a desktop or bookshelf when they are not engaged in a battle of wills on the chessboard. With Homer and Marge Simpson as the king and queen respectively, the chess set also features Bart (bishop), Lisa (rook), and Maggie (pawn) Simpson, as well as Krusty the Clown (knight). --Chris Burns ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Great For A Psychologist
This is a great game, it helps do my customers iq's. And its simpsons chess, not an ordinary chess set.

The Simpson's play Chess?
This is an excellent gift idea for anybody! This chess set is definitely gets an A+ for fun! Even if you're not a Simpson's fan or haven't heard much about them, this set wonderfully symbolizes the intelligence of the family. Homer is crowned with a beer in his hand while Marge stands taller than the king himself with a rose close to her chest. There is Bart as the bishop, Lisa as the rook, Krusty as the knight, and Maggie portrayed as the pawn. I am surprised, however, that Flanders was not the Bishop. Afterall, he is the holiest of people, the most spiritual to spirits, and the most faithful of all God's faithless souls!
I was asked to rank this toy on an educational level and I gave it four stars. I did so because it is a game of chess. Simply, chess is an educational game that increases your sense of logic and reasoning. Although it is the Simpson's that we are talking about, the fact that if a person can play well with these peices without mixing them up with confusion, then I think you've accomplished something. Skill. As with any chess pieces that are represented by other characters or symbols, you obtain a good sense of awareness and strategy.
This toy is a very fun toy and I would reccommend it to anyone, ESPECIALLY if they enjoy watching the Simpson's. It is fun to play, fun to watch, and fun to display. Friends should definitely be impressed with this chess set!

The Best Chess Set Ever!!!
This ia a great chess set because it shows your love for The Simpsons and Chess. It is very derable and fun to with your friends and family. I have alot of fun playing with this chess set.This is a must have for Simpsons fans like me.

Looks great, but it's difficult to tell which piece is which
The pieces look great, and it is a lot of fun, but it does become difficult to tell which pieces are which when actually playing chess. Bart is the Bishop, but he is holding a sword and shield, which makes me want to think he is the Knight (Krusty the Klown is the Knight).
My board also came with 7 pawns on one side, and 3 Bishops (the other side had the usual 8 pawns and 2 Bishops), which is mildly annoying.
Other than that, the set is well made (the pieces are sturdy, the case is metal, and the board, although its only made of cardboard, comes printed with a background of various Simpsons' characters).
As watching The Simpsons and playing Chess are two of my favorite activities, this set was a "must have" for me. I don't play on it much, but I am glad I got it, as it looks cool!

This Simpson chess is "Cowabunga"
The first Simpson Chess set left a bit to be desired, although it wasn`t too bad. This one, by Cardinal Games, is far superior. My only complaint is that Bart, the bishop, isn`t taller. I know he is a child, but his base could have been at least one inch higher. Also, the painting on the bases of the Barts are a bit confusing, sometimes making you think that your Bart is the other side`s Bart. I fixed mine by gluing 3 regular checkers under the Barts and repainting the bases to lessen the confusion. While I was at it I added one checker under each of the Homers. Now I love the set! For those of you not too handy with glue and paint, don`t worry. It`s still a great set. ... Read more

Editorial Review

This limited edition elegant glass chess set is a truecollector's item. The 15-by-15-inch board is made of smoky gray glasswith contrast etching for the playing squares and felt antiscratch padsunderneath. The 32 chessmen are either clear or opaque, with feltbottoms for easy maneuvering on the board, and they're nicely weighted.This set is definitely the grown-up answer to that plastic chess setyou've had since childhood. This is not a game to be kept in the box,but rather to be displayed and used for years to come. --HeatherHawkins ... Read more

Reviews (14)

Great chess set! (for adults)
This has been an excellent chess set! I would not, however, recommend it for children as that the glass is very noisy when hit hard with the pieces, and I have a suspicious that it could break or be dangerous because of its weight. I bought the set for my girlfriend--who loves it--and am happy I choose this one (even though it was more expensive) over one of the wooden or plastic sets. It has a very nice feel to it and is fun to play. The weight of the board and the pieces gives it a certain permanence and importance.

The chess set is very pretty, elegant and usable; though, it is certainly not an "expensive" chess set. That is, there are noticable seams on the clear glass pieces--the board, however, is very heavy. I feel it is worth the price and have enjoyed it immensly.

I recommend it.

Surprisingly, I haven't broken it yet.
I got mine from the store. And I REALLY like it. I dislike plastic chess sets immensly and I'm not thrilled with wooden ones either, unless they have some weight to them. I'm constantly accidentally knocking the pieces over and, yes, they make a very loud clatter. For a while I was afraid I'd break the things, but only one is chipped and it came that way. But for the life of me - which side is white and which is black?

ok
chess overall is a 5 star game but i don't like this set someone bought it for me for chritmas and you know its the thought that counts but I think glass sets look tacky I'd rather have wood one and the pieces that are supposed to be black make my fingers feel all weird so I really hate them i'd tell anybody to buy a wooden game

Great buy........
Not sure why everyone is talking about "loud and noisy" and "when the pieces fall over" - these are good weight pieces - not too heavy not too light. Why are you all knocking them over? Are you drunk while playing? This set is a steal - it IS real glass, and the pieces all have felt on the bottom so when you move them they glide easily. They also are decent sized - the board is not 8"x8" but more like 16" x 16". Great size. You can move it anywhere because the felt keeps pieces in place, thus if you want to continue a game later you don't have to deal with the folding board messing it up. It's also not too heavy of a board - the glass board itself can be picked up with one hand. Whoever is requesting the pieces be larger must be talking about a different set because even the pawns are almost 2" tall. Not sure what the problem is? For anyone to say this is overpriced is completely rediculous - I am a professional designer and I find this set to be not only beautiful and well-crafted, but an absolute BARGAIN for the price. I'd drive to [a local store] and pick it up if you are that worried about additional shipping cost. They sell it for [$$$] also. The best part about it is the packaging set up that comes with it - great for travel even though it's a glass set. We bring it everywhere.

Great for responsible players!
I love the feel and look to the board..It takes a while to recognize the coloring of the glass board, but otherwise it's very cool...

A great gift item that's good for show and play, and even though the board itself is a bit heavy, it shouldn't be a problem if you know how to handle it and be careful that you're messing with glass here!!..

Oh, and it's not as small as it appears in the pic.. ;) ... Read more

Reviews (8)

AWESOME DEAL
This is an amazing deal. For a wooden chess board with wooden pieces, this is an excellent price. Although the wooden pieces arn't really heavy and don't have felt bottoms - this is an excellent deal for $9. This fits perfectly on my desk and looks great. People are constantly telling me how nice it looks and amazed I would pay so much for it. The board is solid and very heavy - very nice. Enjoy!

Great set for the price!
My set arrived in wonderful condition, no cracks or other flaws and, although the peices aren't big on detail, they are a good size, light and do have a design to them. Plus they get the job done. The board isn't too small for me either. I wanted a smaller, lighter set for travel, playing at the beach etc... For $9.99 this is a real bargain!

Nice game
This is a good quality chess set for its price, but there is something about the company Pavilion that really bothers me. A few chess sets I've seen by them has a picture showing the light-coloured square on the left hand side, but it's supposed to be set up on the right hand side. I'm not trying to bash Pavilion or anything, I just don't want begginers and children to be confused about how the chessboard should be set up, as it is a very important factor of the game.

Pretty nice, for an affordable set.
People, it all depends on your standards. On a high quality wooden chess set what you want to look for is detail in the knights. It's a telltale sign of the quality of a set. These knights are very blocky and crude, but enough to get the job done. You see, you can't just turn them out by the thousand on a lathe like you can the rest of the pieces. This one is a good solid buy for a $... wooden set, but it really pales in comparison to a really nice set like Drueke. Be prepared to spend over $... for a really nice wooden set.

Set has some problems!
I bought ten of these sets for my math classroom and SIX of the ten wooden boards have noticeable cracks where the wood was joined together to make the board. FOUR have cracks which you can see to the front, and ONE has a crack which extends more than halfway across. I'm going to my local home improvement store to see what I can buy to fix the cracks so they don't get worse. I like the sets, but I'd hoped for, and needed, more durability.....after all, that's why I bought wooden sets! ... Read more

Editorial Review

In an age that seems convinced high tech is always better, it'snice to see such an intelligently low-tech approach to teaching theworld's greatest board game. This is simply a standard plasticStaunton-style chess set--with one big difference. Each piece is markedwith its name, its value, and the directions in which it can legallymove when moving or taking. The large (2-inch), hollow pieces arelightweight and feel pretty flimsy, but in fact they're sturdy andtheir extra-wide bases give them the stability that small, clumsyfingers need. A folding board and instructions are included with theset. The instructions, unfortunately, are weak; they're best used as anaid to memory by someone who has already had the gameexplained. --Richard Farr ... Read more

Reviews (5)

chess beginers
I searched high and low to find this game, it's one of a kind. A must for anyone who wants to learn to play!

Terrific alternative to video games
My kids love this game and play it over and over. I have four children and it makes me feel great when this is their choice.

perfect for the beginner!! (just get better instructions!!)
Chess is one of those very rare games that takes minutes to learn, but a lifetime to master. It's never played the same way twice, even among grandmasters and close friends. It requires (and encourages!!) the ability to think ahead and plan carefully, and is enjoyed by people as young as 5 and as old as 125. It's a complicated game where you have to mange and plan the moves of your own 16 pieces while keeping a sharp lookout on your opponent's 16 pieces.

Learning the moves is usually the first difficult step that beginners take. All the different pieces move in different ways and have different rules to their movement, so this set has pieces with large bases with the most pertinent information stamped on it. The piece's name, how many spaces it can move at one time and the directions of movement are stamped on the base. As another reviewer noted, the numbers do NOT correspond to a piece's inherent point value in the game, so a player will have to think before setting up for a capture: is it worth risking a rook for a knight?? Maybe not.

Strategies like this are also missing from the instruction booklet that is amazingly thin and poorly written for what is supposed to be an educator chess set. I would recommend getting another book on introductory chess altogether if there are two beginners coming to the board. I've found this board to be the MOST helpful when an experienced player is teaching a beginner the rules and movements of the pieces. That way, the experienced player can point out difficulties or poor moves ("uh, you don't want to move there because you'll open yourself up to check"), while the beginner can get a better feel for the pieces and their movements.

A strategy that is rarely (if ever!) suggested outside of children's chess clubs and that is also missing here in the instruction book is to begin slowly. When I teach chess, especially with children, I begin with only a few pieces on the board, like rooks and bishops and the king, so the learner can get an idea how the pieces move and to better understand the GOAL of the game, which is checkmate (checkmate confuses a lot of children who think the goal of the game is to CAPTURE the king, not make it impossible for the king to make a legal move). As the learner gets better, I substitute or add additional pieces to the game until eventually we have the standard board setup. It's at this stage, especially, that an educator set is helpful--LOTS of stuff is on that board and it's pretty cluttered by midgame. By knowing how your OWN pieces move (and how far they can move), you can understand how your opponent's pieces move.

I had a set like this when I was a child and the pieces were much more stylized back then-the knight didn't look so much like a horse as a weird, squished mask-like thing. I'm pleased to see that the manufacturer has revamped the design of the pieces themselves, and would encourage them to revamp their instructions as well.

Helpful to learn moves, but instructions are very weak
My 6 yr old son really enjoys checkers, so I thought he would like this game too. He does, but after just playing a few times we have run into a couple of situations where I was unsure of the rules, and the rule booklet did not help at all (i.e. my son's move inadvertently left his king open and put it in check, the rules do not say what to do in this situation). I had to look to the internet for the answers. The diagrams for the possible moves are quite helpful for my son (I have very basic knowledge) and he really enjoys the game, so I would recommend it, but I wish the manufacturer would improve the rule booklet.

Teacher needs a teacher
In general, I would support Mr. Farr's product review.

I would add the following observations: First, the photograph of the set shows an illegal position. It is not very helpful for the beginner player to be misled in this way.

Second, Mr. Farr's review indicates that the pieces are labelled with their "value". Actually, it appears that they are marked with the number of squares that they may move. The piece value or strength would actually be much more valuable information for the beginner. It would be more helpful to know that you were about to make a bad trade of a Queen (Val:9) for a Rook (Val:5) instead of an apparently equal trade of a Queen (Moves:7) for a Rook (Moves:7).

Nonetheless, this set may be helpful for the player who insists that they cannot remember how the pieces move. But only for a short time. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

The best $15 I've ever spent in my life
I've owned one of these chess games for several years.
I've never had any problems with it and I've played countless games. The game has 73 levels of play so you can increase your skill level slowly and steadily. Well worth every penny.

Defective
Sabre IV by Excalibur Electronics - I was very disappointed in this product. When you move a chess piece, you gently press it down on the square, move it, and press it down again. This is how the computer registers a move. Some of the pieces would not work, even when pressing them down several times. This is one of two computer chess games I have had to return to Amazon (see my review of the Saitek Kasparov Alchemist). ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great Game Set
My son received this for Christmas. It is fantastic. Not only does it look great, but we are having a great time playing chess, checkers and backgammon. We are now going to learn cribbage and dominoes. I highly recommend this set. ... Read more