Collecting Chess Sets - It's Not Just A Hobby, It's An Experience

Chess is probably the world's most famous board game. There are chess tournaments held in almost every country of the world, and there are also various organizations and clubs that are dedicated to this ancient game of wit and strategy. And then there are those that are not satisfied with just playing the game using just one set, collectors will try and find as many different kinds of chess sets as they can to add to their collection.

And why would anyone not want to collect chess sets? You might think that chess is boring and that the pieces all look the same, but there are actually thousands of chess sets to choose from. There are chess pieces with different designs, materials used, and some chess sets even go so far as having a theme for the pieces. It seems that for the avid collector, the more unusual the chess set the more he wants it.

When people think of a chess set they think of the generic black and white pieces that can be seen everywhere, these are the Staunton-style chess pieces, these are the standard design that is used in competitions and can be found in any toy or hobby store. But there are also chess sets that look so fantastical that you will feel like you are sucked into a different world when you play with them.

There are chess sets whose characters depict characters from the movies. A good example is the Star Wars chess set, when you play with it feels like the fate of the universe lies in your hands; it is up to you if the Dark Side wins or if they will get defeated by the Jedi. Instead of the usual chess pieces, characters from the movie are the chess men, it's like re-enacting the scenes from the movies. If you are not into sci-fi then maybe the Lord of the Rings set will tickle your fancy, whatever kind of fan you are there is certainly chess sets out there for you.

But for the more serious collector of chess sets nothing but the best will do. These collectors are more interested in the rare and old chess sets, and since chess has been around for centuries there is a certain thrill in having your hands on an antique set; just thinking of who was the last owner of the set might have been. The intricacy and handiwork put into these ancient chess pieces are also a wonder to behold, which is why they are popular with collectors and can fetch a handsome price.

Chess is not just a game of the mind, it has also become the glue that holds a whole community of people together. Chess is not just a game meant to be enjoyed jut by playing it, there is also a certain joy that comes with collecting different kinds of chess pieces. If you are not much of a player you can still be a big fan of the game by collecting chess sets.