How to choose a chess for a child?

Is your kid interested in chess? It's time to buy him the first set of figures. Today many types of chess are sold - in various sizes, colors, shapes, from any materials.

If the baby consciously asks teach playing chessor maybe even a little already knows how; it is better to dwell on classic models with a medium-sized board and a standard design. This, for example, chess under the names - classic, everyday or school. Thanks to the simple design, the strict form of the board and the minimum of decorations, the beginner will easier remember the moves of the figures and learn the basic rules.

They are suitable for a gift to an experienced young chess player. Interesting figures, not similar to the classic, will certainly like the child. But keep in mind - for serious lessons and preparation for tournaments such chess is inconvenient, because will distract, interfere with the focus on the position. For regular games, unusual chess is also not suitable.

The most popular chess that is popular among children and adults is Staunton chess (named after the famous English chess player Howard Staunton). There are varieties that differ in size and weight of the figures. Stauntovo chess is often used in competitions, so by choosing them for a home game, you can't go wrong - the child will not have to get used to an unfamiliar chess board at tournaments.

Staunt chess is produced by Russian and Polish manufacturers, their price is higher than that of Chinese figures, but the quality is excellent. They are usually made of wood - beech, inside there is a metal weighting agent, the base is covered with felt.

The image shows Staunton's chess from the studio-workshop KADUN.

In tournaments among children, famous Russian-made chess under the name “Grandmaster” are often used. The figures are usually cut from birch, there is a fabric base, weighting is not used. They are considered less durable than Staunto's, but rather popular due to their low price.

• Material. The perfect material for chess is solid wood. Plastic chess is less stable and breaks quickly. In tournaments, the child will have to get used to the unfamiliar figures, because plastics are not listed there. But in some cases, such chess is absolutely irreplaceable - thanks to ease, it is very convenient to take them with you on trips. Often magnets are inserted into the base, which makes it possible to play even in moving vehicles.

• The size. Many chess models are available in several sizes. If the length of the side of the board is 50 cm - this is a large size, from 35 to 50 cm - the average board, less than 35 cm - the mini board. Choose the dimension, focusing on the purpose of chess. If you choose a very large set for the child, he can only play them at home. If he plans to take these chess pieces out of the house - to classes, to friends, on a trip - it is better to choose a smaller or medium-sized set. Chess must be comfortable for the child. When buying, check whether it is comfortable for him to hold the pieces in his hand, if they are not too bulky for the baby or, on the contrary, too tiny for the teenager.

Also follow these tips:

• If your child plans to play chess professionally, it is better to choose pieces with a weighting agent (a metal weight is inserted in the base). They fall less on the board, and when they fall off the table, they break less often than others. Chess with "cargo" are produced by various manufacturers.
• If you are planning to train this game completely for the crumb, it is better to stay at the classic options with a medium size board. Figures with a weighting agent in this case will not work.
• Choosing chess as a gift for a child, you can purchase additional accessories for the game, for example, a chess clock and a notebook for recording games.

This video shows the game of chess. The film will appeal to even the smallest chess players.