AMEROUS 12" Magnetic Travel Chess Set, Folding Wooden Board

On the table

A first chess set should be easy to say yes to. Ours opens to 12 by 12 inches and folds to 12 by 6 by 1.8 inches, small enough to ride along on a camping trip or sit in a drawer at home. We think of it as a quiet, hands-on alternative to one more screen.

Magnets keep each piece standing where it was placed, so a wobbly tray table or a bumped elbow won't undo a good position. The bases are finished smooth to glide quietly and leave the wooden board unmarked. Afterward, every piece presses into its own slot inside the case and stays there until next time.

The pieces are handcrafted from carefully selected wood, and we add two bonus queens to the standard set. For a child aged six or older who is just starting out, it turns learning the game into something to look forward to.