Even this age of video games, a real game of chess can still challenge the mind like few other pastimes. Perhaps that's why chess has been around for centuries, as it is a game that can be learned but rarely mastered.
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While you may never truly master the game, you can become the master of selecting the best chess table for your play. Not only does the right chess table add to your enjoyment of the game, but it adds beauty to your home as well.
Choosing which of the many chess tables out there isn't a game, though. It is an important purchase, one that you will live with for years to come and hopefully will become a prized addition to your home.
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To select the best chess table for you, we've assembled a short guide to use to ensure that your table brings you years of enjoyment.
First, you want to choose a table that fits your own personal style. While it's important to fit your décor, it's perhaps just as important that it fits your personality and playing style. For example, if you eschew modern chess pieces and gravitate toward the ornate, you want to select a chess table that supports the pieces and won't look out of place. If the table doesn't call to you because it doesn't fit your playing style, you won't enjoy the game as much.
Of course, you just can't have your chess table stick out like a sore thumb in your home. If your home is rich in specific woods, you want your chess table to complement it. That's not to say that you have to get a cherry table to match your cherry coffee table. Rather, you want to take the whole room into account and consider the location of the chess table in relation to other pieces. If you're not sure, spend some time looking at chess tables online. You'll begin to see styles you like as well as ones you don't. After a while, you'll start to see patterns in your tastes and these will point you to the best chess table for you.
While it may seem like fun following the latest pop fashion trends, you have to ask yourself if a chess table that features Star Trek or Harry Potter themed pieces is really going to have staying power over the years. It may be tempting, but you need to remember that your chess table will be part of your décor for a long time. Try to avoid the temptation to be too fashionable or too trendy. Your chess table may just end up collecting dust in the long run.
It is, however, O.K. to mix and match styles. You may fall in love with a lovely ebony chess table and find that it is the perfect complement to the rest of your furniture, which may be in cherry. The best recommendation is to follow your own tastes, even if they are a bit eclectic.
If you have older furnishings that you'll be replacing down the road and really love the game of chess, you may want to invest in a chess table that becomes the defining piece of the new look you will be going for down the road. It can serve as a springboard for selecting other furnishings in the years to come.
When selecting a chess table, remember that high price does not necessarily translate into high quality. If you play regularly, you want to make sure that the table is well made, so it can stand up to the test of time and the challenge of endless matches with friends and family.
There are some telltale signs of quality. One of them is the wood that is used to construct the table. Woods are divided into three main categories: hardwoods, softwoods and composites. Examples of hardwoods include cherry and oak. They tend to be heavy and study. They will age nicely and resist wear and tear. Softwood, on the other hand, is more rustic and isn't quite as durable. Fir, pine and maple are good examples. Just because the table uses veneers doesn't mean it is a cheap chess table. Veneers can add a lot of beauty to the table, creating fine details and designs that add to its appearance. Lastly, we have composites. This can include particleboard and plywood. Again, plywood with a veneer isn't necessarily a sign of inferior quality and has been used for more than a hundred years in furniture construction. It's just good to be aware of the differences and tradeoffs. Composites and plywood are the least durable of the three, and are often used in lower quality furnishings that won't hold up over time.
The finish of the table can really add to its beauty. If you play long and hard, you may want to go with a finish that won't show fingerprints or scratch easily. While a glass chess table may seem like a good idea at the time, the streaks, smudges and oily fingerprints may end up driving you crazy.
When narrowing your selections, here are some things to consider. You want to select a table that is well made and constructed. A good indicator of this is the drawers. See that they are finely finished and lined with a nice material, usually a thick felt. See that the drawers slide in and out easily. If your table comes with an additional backgammon insert, make sure it fits securely into the inset. The game pieces should be nicely carved and have a good weight to them. Also, the table should have smooth edges and a nice finish, free of bubbles and marring.
Chess is a terrific game of strategy and a real challenge to master. But with the right chess table in your home, you'll look forward to playing over and over again, thanks to a table that not only looks right, but feels right as well.
The Best Chess Tables
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