If you are in for a quick buy, consider the handmade Wegiel chess set. Priced at $49.99, it’s an excellent option for use at home. I have personally used it and can attest to its value for money.
For me, a quality chess set is one that has:
- weighted pieces
- chess board marked with annotations
- durable board and pieces
- internal storage
- standard size and shape of chess pieces
In a budget of $50 dollars, you will get all these qualities except durability and weighted pieces in that handmade Wegiel chess set.
If you need a chess set that is also suitable for playing while traveling, then for a little higher price of $64.99, the Classic Game Collection Metal Chess Set is a good choice.
Best Chess sets under $50:
1. Pure Rosewood & Maple Wood Chess Set
This one is handcrafted from rosewood and maple wood. While not exceptionally durable, this set includes inside storage for chess pieces, making it easy to transport while on the go.
But if you’re looking for a chess set that is suitable for travel and allows you to enjoy the game wherever you go, this set may not be the best option.
There are other sets available with magnetic board surfaces and pieces that provide greater convenience for playing while on the move, such as the one below:
This one is priced a little over $50 but will fulfill your need of playing on-the-board chess while traveling. Downside is that this one is not marked with annotations.
2. Mainstreet Classics Broadway 5-in-1 Combo Board Game Set
Bring the excitement of the board game craze home with these all-in-one games. The popular games of chess, checkers, backgammon, and Chinese checkers are included in the set.
Each game is played on a magnetic board and comes with all pieces and instructions.
Mainstreet Classics Broadway 5-in-1 is an elegant and stylish set that keeps all your favorite games in one place and on display while showing off your style.
This classic wooden board game has been in production for over 40 years and is an excellent gift idea for kids and adults to enjoy the board games.
Enjoy the games with your friends and family at chess, checkers, backgammon, and Chinese checkers… all in one awesome set!
3. Family Classics Chess by Pressman
This chess set is the cheapest of all. Beginners Chess sets like these are always a great gift idea for children to practice the game of chess, and of course, break it like any other toy after a few days. 😀
Kids will love playing with it. The chessboard has enough open spaces for the pieces to move around, and the pieces are weighted enough to stay on the board even if the game is played outdoors, and there is a little wind.
Family classics chess by pressman is a foldable chess board that comes with small size chess pieces. The material is not high quality but it can withstand years of use. Storage is easy, and it’s great for ages 8 and below.
Created by Pressman, these chess sets are good for both children and adults wanting to play on the board and are beginner-level players.
4. Handmade Wegiel Chess Set
This one is another good option for a chess set with storage inside, as you can see in the images below:
There isn’t much difference between this chess set and other foldable chess sets of under 50 dollars price. Ratings are also similar. This one is 4.5 stars according to buyer reviews.
5. WE Games Best Value Tournament Chess Set
You can choose this chess set over the others mentioned above due to its unique green and white square colors. These colors are much easier on the eyes and matches the colors of the board you use for online chess.
Another good thing about this chess set of under 50 dollars is that if you buy it in bulk there are packages that decrease the overall price even further.
Lowest Priced Chess Board and Pieces:
The cheapest chess set can cost you around $10.88. There are lots of affordable chess sets around this price point e.g. the Family Classics Chess by Pressman below:
Chess sets don’t have to be expensive but they need to be sturdy enough for a tournament or just for family fun. This one is good for family fun.
Downsides of Inexpensive under $50 Chess sets:
There are usually 2 downsides to low-priced chess sets:
1. Might not be Marked with Annotations
While $50 may seem like a reasonable budget for a chess set, it’s worth noting that cheaper options are typically only suitable for casual or informal play.
They may not be appropriate for use in tournaments, as they often lack annotations on the board that allow players to note down their moves looking at the board.
Even when annotations are present, they may not be accurate, and the arrangement of the white and black squares could be incorrect.
As a result, low-cost chess boards may not have been marked with the necessary care and attention to detail.
2. They are not Quality products
Another potential drawback of low-cost chess sets is that they may not be particularly durable. As they are typically made from inexpensive materials, they may be at risk of breaking easily.
For a superior chess experience, consider checking out some of the high-quality chess sets and clocks available from reputable brands such as DGT.
As a primary sponsor of the World Chess Federation (FIDE), DGT is renowned for producing top-of-the-line chess products that are crafted with the utmost care and precision.
Why you should have a chess set at home?
You should have a chess set at home because of the benefits of on the board chess. One of the major benefits of on the board chess is the ability to improve your vision and the ability to deal with the complexity and emotions of yourself and the opponent, and for this purpose, it is important to have a chessboard and pieces at home.
Conclusion
That’s all in chess sets under 50 dollars. I have personally used chess sets similar to option 1 and 4 of this article, and have to say there wasn’t any issue in playing chess on any of these boards.
Personally, I will recommend buying the magnetic one, it has the added benefit of playing while on the go, but if you are buying a chess set for kids, who are going to break it any way, then there is no better option than the 3rd one in the list.
Chess is an enjoyable free time sport. It is healthy, popular, and unlike many other board games, has very little to do anything with luck to win.
You can play it both online and on the board, but it is always much more satisfying to beat your opponent in an on the board game.
You can get a high-quality wood chess set in a beautiful design in a higher price. For example, The Handmade Chess Set Mosaic comes in with an average rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars and costs $268.
