There are those who play chess occasionally, and those who simply love the game. Those who love the game can play for hours and will play every chance they get. For them, chess accessories are as essential as having the pieces and the board. The accessories complete their gear, just as having the right equipment for a sport like tennis or skiing makes a difference.
Chess Clocks for Serious Players
You don’t have to compete at the tournament level to appreciate what playing with a chess clock adds to the complexity and challenge of the game. Playing “against the clock” adds drama and mental challenge that takes the game to another level. By allotting a specific amount of time to each player for a specific amount of moves (for instance, a total of two hours to complete the first forty moves), the game becomes strategically more complex. The player has to decide how much time to spend on each move and when to move despite uncertainty in order to keep themselves ahead of the clock.
Chess clocks can be either digital (allegro) or analog (mechanical), and which you use depends on the rules of the chess game you are participating in. In general, digital clocks with a time delay feature is preferred for tournament play. But for players who simply like to enjoy a more challenging game with their chess partners, an analog chess clock is just as good.
Protecting Your Chess Investment
Most avid players end up purchasing chess pieces that are finely crafted and expensive. Some are virtual works of art, produced in limited editions and made of materials ranging from alabaster to precious metals or rare woods. To ensure that these chess pieces aren’t damaged, specially designed chess storage boxes are used. These boxes are lined with soft materials such as felt or velvet and slotted or molded to hold each chess piece individually to protect against scratches or nicks when the pieces aren’t in use.
You can find chess boxes made from a variety of materials such as wood, metal, vinyl and leather. Many of these are designed to be displayed on a shelf, with attractive colors and detailing.
Chess Tables – the Ultimate Accessory
If you play chess nearly every day, or even once a week, a chess table is the ultimate luxury. For those religiously scheduled evenings of chess, nothing beats a beautifully crafted piece of furniture designed with the chess board built right into the top.
Playing on a chess table eliminates worry about the board sliding or being knocked over and provides a stable surface for play. When not being used for a game, a chess table becomes a lovely piece of accent furniture that compliments any d