Abigail Chess Inlaid Wood Folding Board Game with Pieces, Extra Large 21 Inch Set

I'm very pleased with this beautiful chess set. It just arrived minutes ago and my first impression was the weighty feel of the box. When I opened it each detail I inspected deepened my feeling of satisfaction at money well spent. I first inspected the wood inlaid case and frame and the hinges and clasps. Very nice. A very nice detail of strong magnets in the frame to hold the halves together, backed up with shiny, nice fitting, quality clasps. No defects or scratches. Beautifully finished with the warmth and traditional quality and feel of real wood. I lifted each piece from the form fitting holders inside. The trays holding the pieces snugly in place are made from molded black plastic with a flocked surface. I quickly learned the trick of tipping each piece by pressing the base back to allow me to get a fingerhold on the smooth, glossy surface of each piece, particularly the bishops. The manufacturer's description is perfectly accurate. Each piece has a soft leather pad adhered to the base and the pieces are heavily weighted and very stable and impressive to the feel. I really love the practicality and beauty of the molded polymer playing pieces that are beautifully designed with simulated wood grain and a highly glossy surface. These should retain their beauty with occasional washing and polishing and while not authentic wood, to my pragmatic mind, to my own taste, are actually superior. That is especially true when comparing the elegant styling and design made possible by modern materials and methods that could only be meticulously duplicated in wood by very expensive hand finishing and wood of course is always subject to natural defects which are traditional and authentic....but lead to breaks and cracks. Bottom line: I would not hesitate to offer this as a gift and will treasure it myself. I am 73 years old and have played chess--amateurishly--since my youth. This is the first really nice set I have owned and I do not regret the extravagance at all. I can't wait to invite friends to join me in a game and plan to introduce chess to my granddaughter this summer. Very pleased!

This set is simply stunning!!! The board is very nice and solid. Not a wimpy, flimsy set at all. The star of this set is easily the pieces, though! When I saw "Pieces NOT made of Wood", I was a little concerned, but for less that 100 bucks, I figured it would be a nice set to take along to friends houses, while my "nice" sets stay at home... The pieces are AMAZING!! They are heavily weighted, they feel good in the hand, and they LOOK LIKE WOOD. I had to go back to the description, to enlarge the picture of the pieces. The simulated wood grain is phenomenal!!! You will not be disappointed with this set, at all. I have ordered the "Extra Queens" Extra Queens Only (for use with Abigail Chess Inlaid Wood Folding Board Game with Pieces - 21 Inch Set) for this set. There is space in the storage bin for them. My only suggestion is that the manufacturer include them, and charge 10 bucks more for the set. It would definitely be worth it. I am very pleased.Update: I said there is room in the case for the extra queens... There is not, but get them anyway. A set this nice should not have you using quarters on it, in the even of pawn-promotion. I will likely grab a Crown Royal bag to carry my pieces in, anyway, so it doesn't matter to me.

In a word: Excellent! The outer box arrived looking a little roughed-up, but the board showed no signs of damage. The pieces have a high gloss finish, and the seam (an inevitable part the molding process) for the pieces is not visible or felt. The pieces are also very nice and feel good in the hand; very 'weighty.' The folding board is also a quality piece, and the combination of pieces and board are a great match. One of my pet peeves associated with folding boards is the seam that inevitably distinguishes a folding board from a non-folding one. However, this board's seam is almost not discernible when the board is laid flat for game play. The pieces are nicely secured when stowed inside the folded board. If you've never owned a folding board before, I would suggest you store the set in its original box or buy some type of bag in order to prevent scratches and scuffs that are always a risk in a stored environment. But if you're looking at this set as a 'beater' (to use and throw-away after a few years) set, the folding board will more than meet your storage needs. This is a great set for the price and I really don't think you could beat it for 'bang for your buck. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this set to anyone.