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Historical Battle Chess Sets

Long gone are the days that the game of chess is considered to be boring, nowadays this game board appeal to all ages and races. Collectors are growing in number, not just players. With the many different themes and materials use to make these chessboard masterpieces, surely because of this the game of chess is appealing to a wider and broader range of followers.

Popular choices for players and collectors are chess sets based on actual or mythical battles. The thrill of reliving history in those battles or changing the outcome plays a big part in making these games more interesting. Fanatics and bookworms of battles in history fall passionately on having and playing with these historical pieces. With intricate designs and complete battle accessories the game of chess truly has changed from its simple beginnings. It is amazing to see the fine details and accuracy in history on armor and weapons used on these masterpieces.

One of the popular choices for players and collectors alike are chess sets based on the famous “Battle of Troy”. Various chess set makers base their themes on this battle for it depicts the romantic and exciting battle between Sparta’s King and the Trojan king Paris. The battle as narrated by the Greek poet Homer was said to be caused by the abduction of Helen, Sparta’s Queen by the Trojan’s. It was believed, basing on Homer’s story that the Greeks thought that it would be an easy battle and it would end in just a few weeks, but they underestimated their enemies and the battle actually lasted for almost over than nine years.

Achilles the famous and thought to be immortal warrior at first refused to fight in the said battle for he thought that it was foolish and unnecessary. His best friend and brother in arms Patrolus tried to convince Achilles to join them in battle to assure victory but still he refused. Patrolus then decided to ride out wearing Achilles weapon and armor and tried to scare the Trojan army. At first it was effective but a Trojan warrior was able to displace Partolus head gear and the secret was revealed. Patrolus died in a gruesome death by the sword of King Paris brother and Trojan general Hector.

Grief and guilt almost caused Achilles to go on madness. He vowed to avenge his friend’s death and did so by killing Hector. After doing this Achilles dragged hector’s bloody and dead body all over the battlefield, giving the Trojan army the scare of their life. At the end the Trojans lost because of Achilles anger.

The said “Battle of Troy” package chess set is a must have piece for chess players and chess set collectors alike. Fanatics of the story of the battle should also add this to their collection. The said chess set is stamped and dated for authenticity, the pieces are highly detailed and hand crafted. The King pieces measure to 3 ¾ inches, and the chessboard is made of high quality oak measuring about 16 inches. The chess board has no binding and free but is upgradeable for a minimal cost to be a fancier storage applicable chessboard. What is nice about this set is that it has many upgrade options that can be made, making it more unique and more fitting for your needs.

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September 20, 2010 at 8:46 am Comments (0)

The Mystery of the Isle of Lewis Chess Design

The Lewis chess set originated in Norway around 1175 AD. The Lewis chess design was discovered in the Isle of Lewis, Outer Hebrides of Scotland. At a time of an inexplicable circumstance, the set was found around Uig area on the Isle of Lewis. Different stories circulated on how the set was buried in that area, and how was it uncovered. Seemingly, the precise location of its discovery had been under a sandbank, preserved in a sandstone chamber.

The condition of the set was excellently preserved, although there are some elements missing, it indicated four distinct sets. People started questioning of the existence of the Lewis design. But most likely, it was owned by a traveling merchant whose route was from Ireland to Norway. However, the question of why was it concealed remains a mystery.

However, the most certain of which was its public exposure in April 1831, following its exhibition in Scotland particularly in The Society of Antiquaries. The Lewis chess design is the most prominent of all themes and designs. Thus, it is entirely a non-Staunton design of a chess set. The chess pieces are richly made of whales’ teeth and walrus ivory. The found pieces were formed in the structures of seated Queens and Kings, mounted Knights, standing Warders, mitered Bishops, and the Pawns come in obelisk shapes.

The chessboard was not uncovered along with the found chess pieces. Recent studies showed that the accompanying board would have measured eighty-two centimeters from corner to corner. The study was based on the discovered pieces, properly arranged by the rules of the modern chess game. Furthermore, official records indicated that several Lewis chessmen were colored red. In conclusion, the chessboard could have been a combination of red and white, instead of the conventional black and white color scheme.

Certainly, the chess game had been a famous recreational pastime among European nobility nowadays. Apparently, the chess game in most part of Europe signifies one’s status in life, and surely denotes one’s intellectual capacity. Learning the game of chess, and demonstrating the game within European countries definitely indicate a hierarchy and superiority among others.

The Lewis pieces are perhaps the largest surviving group of historical objects ever existed in Europe. From its recreational purpose, became a significant archeological and historical finding for the entire country, especially for the chess enthusiasts. Despite of its unusual origin, the Lewis design maintains its popularity among the various modern designs in existence. But people need to learn of the design’s significance and its etymology to better appreciate the design of the Isle of Lewis set.

At present, there are ninety-three Lewis pieces that are well known worldwide. Eleven of which are preserved in Edinburgh specifically in the National Museum at Scotland. The remaining eighty-two pieces are currently conserved at the British Museum. Nevertheless, these historical pieces are in fact considered to be as national treasures of a particular country. Therefore, proper conservation and preservation is highly required for the future generations to witness such magnificent chronological treasures.

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September 16, 2010 at 12:41 am Comments (0)

Historical Civil War Chess Sets

Naturally, chess game is based on a battle or civil war occurrences. The chessboard indicates the battlefield for a game of war. Since playing chess is a test of patience and strategy, the battle can take hours to accomplish. Thus, consistent determination and concentration are necessary in this exceptional battlefield. As the famous Chess Grandmaster Bobby Fischer stated, “to crush the mind of your opponent” is the objective of the game.

To make the chess game more fun and thrilling, manufacturers have designed chess sets with civil war designs. These varieties of chess designs certainly depict a real war event rather than that with traditional designs. Nowadays, more chess players prefer to utilize such chess sets for a better play.

The basic inspiration of the civil war designs was the Great War between the Northern and Southern States. Thus, most American chess enthusiasts highly favor this chess theme, not only for adventure and pleasure, but also for the recollection of the American history. Going back to history, the Great War claimed a lot of lives both innocent and not. The war between the Federal Troops of the North and the Confederate Army of the South definitely resulted to a large degree of deaths.

Consequently, playing chess game with the civil war theme adds up a sense of being on the same battlefield during the Great War. The players may tend to think as if they were in the event of the battle. Thus, scrutinized planning and effective strategizing are huge factors to hit a perfect strike or move on the chessboard. The result of your game depends on your well-organized skills and tactics.

Surely, there is an array of chess sets designed to depict famous civil wars, and the pieces are brilliantly manufactured. Furthermore, some sets offer hand-painted pieces for more elaborate designs. These kinds of chess designs suggest a higher overall impact in the play. Most civil war sets are made of different materials such as metal, wood, and oxo-teak. Hence, they also may come in various sizes. The cost may vary according to the materials used for the pieces in particular. However, there are assorted variations of chess designs that an enthusiast may demand or prefer.

Today, an increasing number of chess players and aficionados demand for wider variation of civil war sets. In fact, a great number of chess enthusiasts acquire different chess sets for display and collection purposes. Value of these various chess sets vary depending on their material or vintage quality. Antique ones would highly affect its value on its manufactured date and present condition. The prices on these masterpieces ranges from very affordable to insanely crazy prices, of course this would depend on your personal preference and financial status. Yes it is hard to really find the unique and authentic pieces you are looking f but the internet is a very powerful tool to help you with your search.

Chess is being played all over the world by different races and ages, its popularity is gaining more and more each day. The game itself is addicting and entertaining, but now imagine adding more flare and excitement using theme based chess sets. This would surely make each chess game a new and unique experience mentally and historically.

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September 10, 2010 at 8:49 am Comments (0)

An Easy Way to Learn Chess for Beginners and Children

Learning the chess game is indeed complicated for beginners. Mostly, first timers are overwhelmed with the vast strategies and the uniqueness of material of this exceptional board game. Hence, by merely learning the basics of chess game is certainly a nerve-racking experience. Same is true with other known board games or any other games. But once we get on our feet and obtain the necessary momentum, we can master each and every move, tactics and purpose of any intellectual game ever created. The need for determination and discipline are highly required to achieve a new skill and on to the way for absolute triumph.

However, in every skill acquired and in every victory achieved require a learning process. We can not obtain a successful education without undergoing through the learning process, and without setting the main goal of a game. So, to learn the fundamental moves and tactics of the chess game, here are important pointers to guide you through the course of this wonderful board game.

The first thing to consider is the chess board. Keep in mind that although there are different designs and styles of chess sets, the black and white square division on the board is paramount. Naturally, there are eight rows with eight squares in each. Accordingly, the chess pieces are positioned by the rules of the game. Each player positions their set of pieces on the first two rows, and opponents entirely facing each other across the board.

Next thing is to familiarize your self with the pieces of the chess set. Regardless of the style and design, each set of pieces are traditionally named as ‘black’ or ‘white’. Each set of pieces contains 8 Pawns, 2 Rooks, 2 Knights, 2 Bishops, 1 Queen and 1 King. The 8 Pawns are positioned in the front line toward the opponent, while the rest of the pieces are to be found at the backside.

Getting acquainted with the chess board and the chess pieces are not that complicated as it may seem for beginners. Now, it’s time to learn the moves and approaches of the chess game. Bear in mind that every piece or character has its own exclusive role, move, tactic and supremacy within the game. Initially, the Pawn can be moved two squares forward, then one square for its succeeding moves. Pawn can be moved over one square diagonally to ‘capture’, or take an opponent’s piece. On the other hand, the Rooks can be moved either forward or backward, or even sideways. But Rooks are not permitted to leap over an opponent’s piece. However, the moves of the Knights are extremely complex. Knights can be moved randomly two spaces forward, but only one space to either left or right side, creating an L-shape. Furthermore, the Bishops can be moved diagonally across the board and are not permitted to jump over pieces. The Queen can be moved forward, backward and sideways but again, she is not allowed to leap over other pieces. Finally, the King can be moved in all directions: diagonal, sideways, forward and backward.

Accordingly, the main goal of a chess game is to capture the opponent’s King, and efficiently protecting your own King at the same time. With your most effective strategy, try to capture as much of your opponent’s pieces as possible. You may want to sweep up the board in lesser time than usual. Thus, consistent practice and training will certainly lead to a more skilled and competent game of chess and a sure good play for you.

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September 7, 2010 at 12:40 am Comments (0)

Chess Collection – A Worthwhile Hobby

Prior to the present generation, chess game was perceived to be a dull and mind-numbing board game. Nowadays, playing chess is a huge aspect in peoples’ lifestyles. Seemingly, this exceptional board game is associated with one’s philosophy and religion. The chess game signifies a superior complexity from any other board games. The sport of chess could also indicate one’s status in life, and denote the intellectual capacity of an individual. Thus, chess game appears to be exciting, intriguing and challenging and undoubtedly improved by numerous writings, paintings and films that feature the different aspects of the sport. Hence, manufacturers have been consistent in creating more unique and likable variations of chess boards and chess pieces to meet the demands of the discerning consumers.

Today, chess game is becoming an emergent trend across and around the globe. Most avid chess players tend to become chess set collectors at the same time. Hence, chess players exert extra effort in acquiring the best possible set of chess that is available in the world market. The collection of such consumable items is also a present phenomenon that is consistently evident and unavoidable in the contemporary society.

Accordingly, manufacturers create a wide variety of well-crafted and uniquely designed chess sets to meet the every taste and demand of consumers. Most chess sets are available with metal, wood, glass and ceramic materials. But the utmost favorite of all is the set made from crystals. Whichever material were used in these sets, they surely offer unique and appealing designs to suit everyone’s needs.

Despite of the current economical crisis around the world, chess enthusiasts still find way to obtain a collection of chess sets even at a higher cost. Obviously, they get an extreme sense of satisfaction by doing so. In fact, there are other options like visiting an antique shop to purchase a worthy chess set. Modernized sets are not the only available products in the market today hence people may find more affordable sets from second-hand thrift stores just around the corner. Online shopping is also an alternative for those who can afford a much higher cost for a collection item. Furthermore, auction sales, networking sites, and trade magazines also offer wide varieties and choices for the discerning consumers. Eventually, the consumed time for searching and purchasing various chess sets, can become a surprising set of collection for an aficionado.

Consequently, it may seem easy to search for a good chess set, but is absolutely not. Never be hasty in purchasing an attractive set. You may want to give a closer inspection on the item before acquiring it. Certainly, you may want to get the worth of your money back. Spare more time in examining the materials used and the quality it offers. Perhaps, it is better to buy a high quality chess set that may require a higher cost, rather than a cheaper one with poor quality. In reality, a rewarded and satisfied collector does not own a larger quantity of chess sets, but with higher qualities of which he may possess.

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September 3, 2010 at 12:36 am Comments (0)