Checkmate! The 16 Best Gift Ideas For Chess Players

Treat your favourite chess player to something they'll love this Christmas with one of these awesome chess-related gifts.

Chess is the ultimate game of strategy and has been around for centuries, being played all across the globe, both competitively and for fun.

So it's no surprise that there are so many people around that really love to play chess.

And that's a good thing, as it's great for sharpening your mind, improving your planning and memory skills, and socializing within chess clubs and communities.

So if you have a loved one that is always dreaming up new ways to trap your king, then how about getting them a chess related gift that will enhance their gaming experience?

As the following gift ideas for chess players are all ones that any chess fan would love to receive.

1. A Top Quality Chess Set To Play On

No serious chess player will be disappointed if you get them a top of the range chess set as a gift.

As playing with beautiful looking chess pieces on a well made and attractive board will be very enjoyable for them, and is something they can be proud of when their friends come over.

And a good option to give as a gift is the House of Staunton Championship Series chess set, as this one is tournament size and quality, with weighted pieces and a mahogany and maple wood board.

2. A Tournament Sized Chess Board

If they already have a set of chess pieces they adore, then rather than getting them a complete chess set, you could just get them a high quality chess board instead.

And for this look no further than the House of Staunton mahogany and maple wood chess board.

As this is a really well made wooden board, with mahogany and maple squares that are tournament size.

3. A New Set Of Tournament Quality Chess Pieces

Many chess players have a few sets of chess pieces, as they come in so many different styles and designs.

So getting them a new set that they'll really appreciate, such as the Bobby Fischer ultimate tournament Staunton chess pieces, is a top gift idea.

As these are durable, tournament size and weight plastic pieces that come in their own box which is ideal for gifting.

4. A Themed Chess Set Based On Something They Love

Most true Chess aficionados will probably already have a favourite set that they like to play on.

However, that doesn't mean you can't buy them a new set, as there are plenty of themed chess sets on the market, with pieces and boards designed around their favourite movies, TV shows, or video games.

So getting them a chess set that is based on a something they love is a gift that will make them doubly happy.

With some examples you could go for being:

5. A Games Table To Play Chess On

While games of chess can be played on any flat table or surface, it's still good to have a dedicated games table to use when you fancy a game.

So why not get a chess player the Flash Furniture games table as a gift.

As this is ideal to be brought out for their games, and folds away easily so they can store it away in between games.

6. An Extra Special Chess Table

While any games table makes for a decent gift idea for a chess player, getting them a specially made chess table is the ultimate gift for them.

As these tables are not only fantastic to play on, they make for a real centerpiece in their home or games room.

And one table that I think looks absolutely fantastic is the Camaratta Signature Master chess table.

As this mahogany table has a tournament sized chess board in the middle, with enough room each side for the chess clock, players score pads and captured pieces.

7. A Chess Clock For Timing Moves Properly

When you're playing chess seriously, you'll need to keep track of how much time each player is taking so they don't take too long.

Which means a chess clock will be needed, and this is our next gift idea for keen chess players.

So you could go with either the traditional mechanical style clocks or the newer digital versions, with a really nice example of the latter being the DGT3000 limited edition chess timer.

8. A Travel Chess Set For Games On The Move

While most chess games are planned and organised, sometimes you might just fancy a game while you're on the move.

So getting a loved one a travel chess set, such as the one above by Yellow Mountain Imports, makes for a great gift.

As this mini chess set folds away neatly so they can store it in their bags, and the magnetic chess pieces will hold their places even when in a moving vehicle.

9. An Oversized Chess Set For Their Yard 

If you want to get a chess player a gift that is a real show stopper, then how about an oversized chess set for their yard.

As the MegaChess oversized chess set features durable plastic chess pieces ranging from between 16-25 inches in height, meaning they can have a really immersive and fun chess game with their friends.

So it's perfect for summer gatherings, and definitely something they won't be expecting!

10. A Chess Computer For Solo Games

Sometimes you won't be able to find someone to play against when you really fancy a game of chess, so the next gift idea of a chess computer is a good one, as it allows them to play while on their own.

As they can challenge to computer to a game and sharpen their skills in between games with their friends.

And the good thing about these machines is that you can select the difficulty level to play at, meaning they're ideal for everyone from a total beginner to a chess master.

So if you want one that plays like the real thing and will really impress them, check out the DGT Centaur chess computer.

11. A Solitaire Chess Game

Another little gift that allows them to practice and improve their chess on their own is the ThinkFun Solitaire chess game.

As this game has 80 chess challenges for them to complete, ranging from beginners level to expert.

All done on a small 4x4 square board, which encourages their problem solving skills, which they can then transfer into the main game.

12. A Chess Book To Sharpen Their Skills

Chess is a game that you'll never master, as no matter how good you get at it, there'll always be more to learn.

So getting an aspiring chess player a book that will help them to improve their chess playing skills and knowledge is a great gift idea.

And one that is a good all rounder is Mastering Chess Strategy by Johan Hellsten.

However, there are so many more books to choose from, with each one being tailored to a specific skill level or aspect of the game.

So try and pick one that will suit your loved one the best.

13. A Chess Puzzle For Every Day Of The Year

Getting a loved one a calendar for the new year is always a solid gift idea for the holiday season, and a variation of this for a chess fan is to get them the Chess Puzzles calendar for 2022.

As this game from American Chess Magazine presents them with a different chess puzzle to solve for every day of the year.

So it's a fun gift that they can enjoy for the whole year.

14. A Piece Of Chess-Inspired Wall Art For Their Home

When someone really loves chess, then they want the whole world to know about it.

So a gift idea that could work well is to get them some chess-inspired wall art to decorate their home with.

As they can hang this proudly and show it off to their friends and family when they come round to visit.

And while there are plenty of options you could go for with this, I quite like the chess board patent print above, which looks cool and has a bit of history about it. 

15. A Piece Of Chess Wall Art They Can Actually Play

If you want to take the wall art gift idea to the next level, you should check out the Tubibu unique wall game chess set.

As not only does this chess cabinet and pieces look great when hung on the wall, it can also be played by moving the pieces to the different sections of the board.

So this is a really unique gift that can help decorate a chess lovers home as well as giving them some fun at the same time.

16. A Chess Set For The Kids

If you really enjoy a game of chess and want your kids to also feel the benefits of the planning and strategy skills you develop through playing, then getting them a junior chess set is a great gift idea.

As something like the No Stress Chess game will introduce them to the concepts and rules of chess without over complicating things.

And once they get to know their way around the board, they'll be keen to give the real thing a try.

Rounding Up

Chess is an age old strategy game that is loved and played all across the globe.

So why not treat your chess playing friends and family to a chess related gift this holiday season?

As the gift ideas for chess players that I've given you here are all things that they'll appreciate and make good use of.