Chess Armory Magnetic 9.5 Inches Travel Chess Set - Folding Board with Storage Box & 2 Extra Queen.

For the price, it’s hard to beat the value of this chess set. The pieces are solid and well-made for what you’re paying, and everything feels durable. It’s lightweight and compact, making it easy to throw into a backpack for travel. If you’re new to chess or just want an affordable set you can take anywhere, this is a great option. The magnetic pieces are strong enough to keep everything stable while playing, which is especially helpful on the go.

Great compact chess game easy to set up & store. Nice quality pieces, strong magnet. Folds up easy, stores pieces, looks nice & perfect size for store or travel with.

I use this set to study tactics. Setting up the physical pieces has a better feel than looking at a page in a book. When fully open the board is flat with not much of a gap or lip between the two sections of the board. I have attached a photo to try to show the size and flatness of the board. When folded, the board will snap shut securely. Although, the locking mechanism to keep the board closed is the same plastic used in the board and I am not sure it will be very durable. As others have mentioned, the board does not have a locking mechanism to remain open. If I am playing on an uneven surface I solve this by placing a clipboard under the board for stability. The pieces all fit in the closed board with plenty of extra room. The chess pieces themselves are small (as advertised), yet feel very solid with only a slight seam that is noticable only when holding a piece close and looking for it. The felt on the bottom is smooth and fits nicely with the pieces. The magnets hold all the pieces firmly to the board when turned upside down, but do not interfere with movement during the game. Considering the price, extra queens, and the ability to get replacement pieces, this is definitely a 5 star item.

As a new/casual player, I fall into the first category, so I chose this board because of its good price (and because I was a bit put off by some of the reviews of the $20-$40 sets!) This board measures 9.75" x 9.75" and sits just under an inch high. The kings measure about 2" high and the pawns about 1" high. The board folds nicely & shuts securely. Overall I'm very pleased with this board and feel it provides excellent value vs. its price. I would be quick to recommend it to others. More specifically I'll list my pros and cons: CONS: -My only real complaint is probably fairly common of budget travel boards such as these; the board consists of a sticker laid onto the plastic (or more accurately, two rectangular stickers, one for each side; ranks 1-4, then ranks 5-8). On the sticker's edge beside the H4 square on my board, there is a distinct crease where the sticker wasn't laid properly flat and aligned with the board (image attached). It's a bit of an eyesore, but otherwise I consider it a minor issue (unless the sticker begins to come off the board at that spot, in which case I'll certainly update this review!) -The hinge just doesn't sit quite as flush & cleanly as I'd like. But this is probably just universally true of budget foldable boards, and it's not severe enough to be distracting at all. PROS: -The first thing I check with a chess set is the felt underside of each piece; I'm happy to report that every piece's felt underside is attached cleanly and with no problems. -The pieces are exactly as magnetic as you'd want them to be; they are easily slid from one square to another when you make a move, but much harder to move accidentally. It's very difficult to knock a piece over; when I swiped at them, testing how hard it was to move them, they'd just slide over a few inches. Even if the board were to be jostled violently, I doubt any pieces would fly off; more likely, they'd just get shuffled around slightly. This board is perfect for a backseat car ride game. -I was surprised at how nicely-detailed the pieces are, and I've included a picture of one of Black's knights to illustrate. If not for the unfortunate crease in the overlay, this would be a 5-star review, but even with that I'm still quite satisfied with the product & very pleased with its value in particular.

I absolutely love this set. The magnetic pieces work well you could flip it over and they don’t fall off. The board is a little smaller than your standard board, but it’s perfect for traveling and if you’re playing on a smaller table. The pieces have a nice weight to them. The magnetic closure pieces are super strong so it’s best to open the game with one side on a table cause if you open it up in the air pieces will go flying. Overall, the set is functional and I would buy this again. The Queen‘s top is spiky and not not the cutest but that’s just an aesthetic comment. My five-year-old has gotten really into chest and this is a perfect first set for him.

Very nice, magnetic and with storage . Get this one

Bought this as a temporary place holder for a back-ordered collector's edition House of Staunton wooden set for my 15 year old & he loves it so much that I don't know if he'll use the fancy one! Great for car rides, traveling of any kind. Magnets are strong enough to turn board upside down & shake without moving - this is especially handy when pausing a game overnight so the pieces don't move or for practicing on your own, for studying games, for oblivious canine/feline tails swinging into pieces as they walk by, for car rides, etc. Although the pieces stay put, the magnets don't impede playability at all - you hardly feel them when picking up or moving the pieces. It's also fun to stick your opponent's pieces on a metal surface, not gonna lie hahaha. Sturdy lil' 2" King. All the pieces are surprisingly well thought out & replicated in the classic Staunton style with the knight having more detail than even some high end sets. The extra queens are really nice to have & continue to mimic the feel of a fancy set. The grey & black contrast on the board is surprisingly easy on the eyes & help the pieces stand out, the algebraic notations are super helpful & stand out just enough to not be too distracting. Folds up into a kindle type size, a breeze to take on the go. Can't say enough about this little champion of a set, except that I should've learned my lesson when he was a toddler & the boxes that gifts came in were twice as fun as the toy itself lol, I see a fancy Staunton set collecting dust in our future 😆 I've also seen it in smaller & in larger sizes and I honestly think this is the PERFECT size for a take-anywhere-any-time set. You can pop a squat on the front stoop & unfold it right there! I do fear the paint on the squares might easily scratch so keeping the board itself a carrying case/bag may not be a bad idea. Next day delivery too! So if you have read all of this, I say buy the dang board!

Nice little magnetic chess set. I bring it to friends houses and to the bar when meeting up with people. Travels really well, the magnets are enough that the pieces aren't flopping all over. I suspect the face will eventually get scuffed up since it is on the outside of the case but it has held up well so far getting tossed in backpacks and bins. I like the style of pieces, mold quality is what you'd expect at the price but you're not getting a 10 inch folding chess set for tournaments.

Light weight pieces, low grade plastic, Too large for portable chess, but too small for regular play. Maybe suitable for beginners, but not at this price. Not worth it. Check the fine print on the seller’s return policy - hopefully you won’t have to return it.

It's a perfectly compact and transportable set! Chess pieces are very well made, felt at bottom & the magnets are excellent, every piece is magnetic - place pieces on board, turn it upside down and every piece stayed on the board. Extra Queen pieces received. Box closed properly. No dents or scratches anywhere. My son has been bringing this set to school every day, (fits nicely in his backpack) to play w his mates and everybody loved the set! We are very happy with our purchase. Worth every dollar spent on it! :-)