Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)The great thing about this particular magnetic travel set is that if you have to leave before the game is over, you just put the lid on. So many other travel magnetic sets force you to take all the pieces off the board and store them inside the folding board. I use this one on the train on my way to work; I read an instructional chess book and follow along on this set. When the ride is over, I mark my spot in the book, put the lid on the set, and they both go in my backpack until the ride home. (the pieces don't move either, even after carrying my backpack around) The pieces are of a unique design with an octagonal base. Drueke (the company that makes these) refers to the pieces as "fully scaled". What this means is that they are all (except the pawns) about the same height, so that the most possible detail can be shown.
Like any nice set, the knights have great detail. They are really quite beautiful for a set in this range.
My only complaint is that the magnets are ever so slightly loose on a couple of pieces. (hence the 4 star rating for durability) This is a quality control issue that Carrom (parent company of Drueke) needs to address. When the magnet on my white queen finally gives out, I'm sure it will be easily fixed with a bit of super glue. Even knowing this, I would buy this set again in a heartbeat.
The only good alternatives that I can think of are some small magnetic and pegged wooden sets sold by House of Jaques on ebay, but they cost a lot more, and will surely not be as durable.
The case on this set is made of a very tough plastic. It is not brittle at all, and takes the beatings that it should with perfect grace. The playing surface is sheet steel (for good magnetic properties) finished in gold and black; very elegant. The magnets are glued directly onto the bottoms of the pieces; there is no felt to hinder the magnetism. This means that if you drag the pieces around instead of picking them up and moving them, the finish will be scratched over time. (I've read reviews of this set enduring 20 years of constant use before needing replacement)
For those of us who are used to playing with tournament sized sets and boards, the squares may seem a bit crowded. The pieces nearly fill up the squares. (just like nearly every other travel magnetic set) Tournament pieces and boards have plenty of room, even with a 3 3/4" size king. (square size = 2 1/4" square)
Most magnetic sets are really cheap Chinese things now. I don't know where this one is made, but they spent the same money to make a quality plastic set that they would have to make a crappy wooden one.
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Drueke 877.10 Magnetic Chess Set
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