Best Chess Set Under $50 (Top 10 Picks)

Any chess enthusiast knows that a chess set doesn’t have to cost you an arm and a leg to give you some of the best gameplay experiences. You’ll find that the best chess sets under $50 on our list are still quality sets.  

When all is said and done, chess is more about strategy and less about the set you’re playing with.

But when it comes to a good chess set, price doesn’t always equal quality (or even playability, in the case of most decorative sets).

Certain features of a set can easily cause the price to skyrocket, like brand names, expensive materials, size, and novelty value. Our review highlights the best chess sets under $50 that you can buy today.

10 Best Affordable Chess Sets Under $50 (Our Review)

Owning a chess set gives you the ability to play with friends and family, or try out new styles or strategies. But without the proper research or information, it’s easy to fall into the trap of buying something expensive under the misconception that a more expensive product guarantees its quality.

Chess Armory 15” Magnetic Wooden Chess Set

The Chess Armory Magnetic Wooden Chess Set is suitable for any chess player, from beginners to seasoned veterans.

Chess Armory’s beautiful 15-inch board is made of inlaid walnut and is foldable with foam inserts to store your chess pieces.

The handcrafted chessmen have a good, weighted feel and are felted to avoid scratching the board. The king piece stands at 3 inches tall and the set includes 2 extra queens for pawn promotion.

A storage box for the folded chessboard is included in the set. The magnetic game pieces allow this set to be used for home use and travel.

Although folded boards are fantastic for portability, the fold in the board is sometimes a little tricky to navigate and can affect the way that your chess pieces sit on the middle squares.

Pros

• Felted pieces
• Magnetic chess set
• 2 extra queens

Cons

• Folded board

Chess House 7.5” Folding Pegged Golden Rosewood Chess Set in Leather Case

The Golden Rosewood set has a luxuriously smooth finish and features peg-style chess pieces that fit snugly into the holes in the board.

The wooden chessmen are made from high-quality wood that can be kept in the built-in compartment below the chessboard with individual game piece slots.

Each chess piece has a peg at its base that connects seamlessly to the foldable board, making it the ideal chess set for traveling and outdoor games. The pegged bottoms make for children to start playing chess.

The chess pieces are relatively small, with the king piece standing at 1¼ inches tall and with a base of only ½ an inch, so young children should be monitored when playing with this set to avoid choking.

The set comes with a leather travel case to protect the board from damage or scratching and has snaps to ensure that it stays closed.

Pros

• Made of high-quality wood
• Leather case included
• Storage included in board
• Portable
• Peg-style pieces

Cons

• Not magnetic
• Small pieces potential choking hazard

House of Staunton Folding Wooden Magnetic Travel Chess Set

The 7-inch board folds in half to give it a fantastic portable size and features foam inserts inside of the board to keep your chess pieces safe.

Your magnetic chessmen adhere firmly to the board to avoid falling, slipping, and sliding, even when jostled.

This set is made from Sheesham and Maplewood. It’s a testament to the craftsmanship of the House of Staunton brand, even on a budget.

Because it was created for travel, the Wooden Magnetic Travel set is smaller in size for easy transport. The square size of the board is only 0.75 inches, and the king stands at a height of only 1.25 inches.

Pros

• Good for travel
• Magnetic
• Wooden
• In-board storage

Cons

• Folded board
• Small pieces

House of Staunton Marshall Series Analysis Chess Combination

House of Staunton’s Marshall Series Analysis set is a full, library-sized set, ideal for beginners and advanced players who enjoy using notational coordinates. The roll-up vinyl board contains algebraic annotations on all 4 sides of the board.

The set includes 34 weighted chessmen, with two extra queens. The plastic chess pieces are made from lead-free materials and are felted to keep your board in top condition.

High-quality plastic is often cited by expert players as one of the best game piece materials because of its durability.

The board is easily rolled into a tight tube and its portable size makes it easily packed away or tucked into a suitcase or chess bag when traveling.

Pros

• Library-sized set
• Weighted pieces
• Extra queens
• Good for travel
• Algebraic notations

Cons

• No game piece storage

Chess House 13.75” Mirror Chessboard

This set is made of black and white frosted glass. The ornate Mirror Chess set is one of the most visually stunning sets available on a budget.

The unique chess set is checkered with clear and frosted squares, giving your chess games an exciting mirrored effect.

The smooth-textured chess pieces are optimized to avoid scratching the board during play and are solid enough to diminish the probability of breakage if the pieces are knocked over.

The 13.75” Mirror Chessboard gives off an air of luxury—combining function and beauty—all for under $50.

Pros

• High-quality
• Durable
• Unique design

Cons

• Protective storage not included

Chess House Plastic Magnetic Travel Chess Set with Carrying Case

This 9-inch set has all of the best features of a good quality travel set. It’s portable, lightweight, and magnetic. Playing a game of chess on a road trip has never been so simple.

Made of durable plastic, the set is built for longevity and can survive years of travel.

This plastic magnetic travel chess set from Chesshouse also includes a handy soft, zippered case with an extra storage section for the game pieces.

Pros

• Magnetic
• Good for travel
• Carry case included

Cons

• Board can’t be folded

Amerous Chess Set

The Amerous 12”x12” magnetic set is made of high-quality wood, giving it good durability. The wooden chess set board folds, making it a good option for taking on holidays.

The underside of the board has special slots for each piece, meaning no more lost or damaged pieces after long trips on the road.

The chess pieces are polished to create a smooth bottom which diminishes the long-term wear and tear of the chessboard.

While the set itself is beautiful, there have been some negative reviews surrounding the included manual. We would advise being well-acquainted with the rules of the game before playing, as their instructions are unclear and have a few incorrect rules.

Luckily a quick internet search can help to clear up any confusion on setting your pieces up and playing the game.

Pros

• Individual chessmen slots
• Good for travel
• Great for kids and adults
• Magnetic

Cons

• Small parts are a potential choking hazard
• Bizzare rules in manual

Chess House Large 4 Player Chess Set

If you’re looking for something a little different from other chess sets under $50, we’ve got a treat for you.

While it’s not the most beautiful chess set ever, this Large 4 Player set promises hours of family or group gameplay.

The Chess House 4 Player set comes with a green and white checkered board, measuring 24 x 24 inches.

The set is semi-customizable, letting you choose from four separate half-sets in a variety of vivid colors. You’re given the choice of the original black and white chessmen in addition to other bright color options that spruce up your chessboard.

You can choose from orange, yellow, green, blue, pink, and silver, although the colors are subject to availability.

This rainbow set makes for an exciting addition to any family game night filled with unconventional games. You can either make your own rules for a fun spin on your chess game or search for a set of rules online.

Pros

• Unique gameplay
• Variety of colors
• Ideal for group play

Cons

• No rule guide

Bobby Fischer Learn to Play Chess by WE Games

If you’d prefer a cheaper set to teach you to play chess, there are few better than the Bobby Fischer Learn to Play set.

The set gives a nod to legendary chess expert Bobby Fischer and is great for players that are new to the game of chess. It was created to teach beginners the gameplay fundamentals of chess, like how to set up your chessmen and how each piece can be moved during a match.

The cardboard board folds into quarters for easy storage and is 15.75 inches when unfolded.

An instruction manual explaining the rules and history of chess is included in the set, and the board is framed with algebraic notations for game analysis.

There are 34 plastic game pieces in the set, including 4 queens.

Pros

• Good learning tool
• Recommended for beginners
• Instruction manual included
• Algebraic notation for game analysis

Cons

• Board has poor durability

The Noble Collection’s Harry Potter Wizard Chess Set

This Harry Potter-themed set is a fantastic buy for fans of the franchise, kids, and even works as a unique novelty gift.

The Noble Collection is known for creating some of the best fan merchandise around and their Wizard Chess set is no different. This plastic set is a close replication of the wizard chess set seen in the Harry Potter movies and includes 32 highly detailed chessmen.

The chessmen can be stored in a black or white organza chess bag to keep the game pieces together to avoid losing any of them.

The board is made of cardboard, and so will take a little extra care to keep it in good condition.

Pros

• Great for gifting
• Themed set
• Perfect for Harry Potter fans

Cons

• Board is less durable than others

Conclusion

When you’re looking for a new chess set, there’s an option for almost any purpose. You don’t need an expensive set to be a top-notch player.

Finding the best chess set depends on who or what you’re buying the set for, and there are hundreds of great chess sets under $50 that make for interesting set pieces.

Cheaper sets tend to be smaller and marketed as travel sets. There are advantages to these sets that you don’t get with other sets that are more than double the price.

A cheaper chess set serves the same purpose as almost any other set, and the best chess matches are less about the look of the set than the skill and strategy of the players.
and play.

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