Chess Gifts Buying Guide

Gifting season is nearly upon us, and you may already be thinking about what to get the chess player in your life. At USCF Sales, we pride ourselves on having something for everyone on your chess-playing list. We offer chess sets for every budget and style, plus more ways to make chess even better. Read on to find the most unique gifts for chess lovers!

Practical Pieces and Equipment

Avid players need reliable and practical chess equipment that travels well. A tournament chess combo set is an especially good choice for any player. Easy to carry and store, our combo sets come with weighted plastic tournament pieces, a rollable vinyl or silicone board, and a carrying case. These sets meet all tournament requirements and are perfect for casual play, too. A good basic option is the Quiver Chess Set Combination and Single Weighted Regulation Pieces. This budget-friendly tournament set is lightweight to carry, but it’s no lightweight in play. There’s a reason why this set is the ubiquitous tournament choice for clubs and scholastic chess!

For a higher-end feel, check out the Deluxe Chess Set Combination and Triple Weighted Regulation Pieces. The triple weighted pieces feel great in the hand and are unparalleled for their stability on the board. The silicone chess board is also easy to store and wipe clean. The case comes in a wide range of designs for thoughtful, personalized gift-giving. Further, this case has plenty of room for a chess clock and rule book, two additional tournament must-haves.

For Their Chess Library

A well-stocked chess library is generally desirable for any chess player. Luckily, there are books for every level and interest imaginable.

If you’re looking for gifts for beginners, instructional chess books are a great bet. For rank beginners, “Chess 101” by Dave Schloss will give them everything they need to know to get started. “Master Your Chess with Judit Polgar” is a resource for the ambitious beginner who wants to learn from the greatest female chess player of all time. This book is modeled on GM Polgar’s own chess training and includes many of her personal insights.

Intermediate players and beginners alike will benefit from a tactics puzzle book like the “Desert Island Chess Puzzle Omnibus.” Four accomplished chess players have created 100 puzzles each, graded by difficulty. Solutions have explanations to help teach concepts for a satisfying learning experience. Another great puzzle book is “Make Your Move!” by Carsten Hansen. This book compiles puzzles from Chess Life, with over 200 challenging positions to work through.

Experienced and accomplished players may not want basic instructional chess books, but they’re sure to appreciate books that embrace the history of the game. Choosing from one of our grandmaster game collections will give them hours of study analyzing the masters. “Paul Morphy: A Collection of His Games with Detailed Notes” by Géza Maróczy has recently been republished in English for the first time. This classic work on the genius of Morphy is a detailed and sometimes poetic tribute to a dazzling career.

The Chess Lifestyle

Chess players love to advertise their hobby. Chess merch is a great way to find other players and strike up a conversation at work or events. Novelty chess mugs are a fun way to get that caffeine bump and proclaim a love for chess. The US Chess Women Coffee Mug is a stylish option that shows support for women in chess. For the traditionalist, the new US Chess Federation Coffee Cup features the classic USCF logo in a simple, streamlined design.

If your player doesn’t need another mug, chess-themed apparel is a welcome option. A cute and casual look for women is the Chess.com Small Logo Women's T-Shirt. This V-neck shirt comes in a range of sizes and five color options. For men or women, The House of Staunton KnightBeat T-Shirt will be a stylish and unique fashion choice. With 14(!) color options, you can match a favorite team or university with ease. We also offer hats, socks, and ties, including the U.S. Chess Federation Baseball Hat. If none of those seem quite right, view the entire collection here.

Chess Gifts on a Budget

Without a doubt, a magnetic travel chess set is a perennial favorite. Magnetic sets are great for long car trips, airplanes, and games away from home. For the most compact version, look for a checkbook style like the US Chess Large Checkbook Magnetic Travel Chess Set - 9" x 9" Board. With strong magnets and little space needed, this set will store with your position intact and ready to resume. Another plus, chess notation on the side makes this a great learning tool.

For the competitive chess player, a chess scorebook and notation pen is always a welcome gift. For players who wish to keep their completed books on display, a Hardcover Chess Score Book in any of three distinguished colors will enhance any bookshelf. With room for 100 80-move games, it will last a while. If a spiral scorebook is preferred, the Softcover Quality Scorebook comes in four colors and holds 50 games. Each sheet can record 100 moves and a detailed diagram. Finish off your gift with some good pencils or our US Chess Federation Black Ballpoint Pen with Light!

Another nice gift for a chess player is a digital chess clock. Many clubs and meetups ask that players bring their own. Any player who intends to compete should be practicing with a physical clock. One option that has been tested in every kind of condition (read scholastic chess favorite) is the ZMart Fun II Digital Chess Clock. Easy to use and durable, the ZMart Fun II comes in a wide range of colors and has an optional carrying case. If your player prefers a wedge-style toggle, the DGT North American Digital Chess Clock is a good value!

Luxury Gifts for Aficionados

If you’re ready to give a once-in-a-lifetime gift, we have many options for the most discerning chess players.

Wooden Chess Sets

Combining history and beautiful design, The Camaratta Collection - The Biedermeier Pre-Staunton Vintage Series Luxury Chess Pieces will delight any chess player with an interest in the game’s storied past. Designed by Frank Camaratta to reproduce pre-Staunton-era Biedermeier pieces commonly used in coffeehouses, these elegant pieces are a pleasure to play with and display. With a taller aspect and delicate details, the Biedermeier benefits from some modern touches as well, including brass weighting to keep them stable. Add a beautiful board and fitted coffer storage box to complete and protect this premium wooden chess set.

If your player is more into the classic Staunton aesthetic, consider a set like The Zukertort Luxury Chess Pieces - 4.4" King - From the Camaratta Collection for a beautiful and practical set with some unique little details. This tribute to the great chess master Johannes Zukertort (1842-1888) has a wonderful knight styled after the original Jaques of London Zukertort sets with an upright profile and open mouth. This set is the perfect choice for a player who likes traditional practicality with a little something different. These luxury Staunton pieces are full club size and feature heavily weighted bases and baize cloth pads.

E-Boards

Another luxury gift idea is an electronic chessboard. E-Boards are becoming more popular as players want to recreate the tournament feel as they play computer chess. E-Boards can store your games automatically, interface with all the popular chess engines, and broadcast games in real time for streaming or virtual tournaments. The DGT Projects Electronic Chess Board (E-Board) - Bluetooth Connection connects without cables. Choose from many beautiful wood options for the pieces and board to customize the look of this set. To sum up, an electronic smart chess board is a great upgrade for the serious online chess enthusiast.

Gift Cards, the Gift That Always Fits

If you’re not sure what to get for your chess fan, a gift card is a sure-fire option. Email gift cards for USCF Sales are available in denominations from $10 to $500. All you need is the recipient’s email address. Most importantly, you can even schedule our gift cards to arrive on the special day!

A Chess Gift Is Sure to Be a Winner

No matter what you choose, your favorite chess player will feel good knowing you support them in their favorite hobby. From beginners to grandmasters, whenever you need to delight a loved one, there’s a chess gift sure to please them at US Chess Sales. Questions about a product or purchase option? Contact us, and we’ll be happy to help! Wishing you the best this holiday season and always from our board to yours.