RaindropChess

Jose Raul Capablanca remains one of the most naturally gifted chess players to ever live. Known as the “Human Chess Machine,” he went undefeated in tournament play for an astounding eight-year stretch from 1916 to 1924 and held the World Chess Championship from 1921 to 1927. His games are studied by players at every level … Read more

If you have ever blown a winning position because your endgame technique fell apart, you are far from alone. I have done it more times than I care to admit, and so have players at every rating level. The good news is that endgame skill is one of the most trainable areas in chess. With … Read more

I spent the last three months testing chess opening resources head-to-head, and one thing became clear fast: the right study material can shave months off your opening preparation. Whether you are a complete beginner still learning how to develop your pieces or an intermediate player building a tournament-ready repertoire, having the best chess apps for … Read more

Finding a good place to store your chess pieces is half the battle when you play regularly. I learned this the hard way after losing a knight from my favorite set — it rolled off the coffee table and vanished somewhere under the couch. That is exactly why I started looking into chess tables with … Read more

There is something about playing chess outdoors that just hits different. The fresh air, the natural light, the casual conversation with friends while plotting your next move. I have spent months testing chess tables on my own patio, and I can tell you firsthand that not every chess table is built to handle sun, wind, … Read more

I have spent months testing weighted chess sets for club nights, tournament practice, and casual weekend games at home. After evaluating dozens of options, I can tell you that the best double weighted chess sets make a real difference in how the game feels. Weighted pieces stay planted when you move them, deliver a satisfying … Read more

Chess has been bringing families together for centuries, and there is something genuinely special about sitting across the board from your kid or grandparent for a match. I have spent months testing chess sets in real family settings, from toddler-friendly learning sets to travel boards that survive road trips, to find the best chess sets … Read more

Finding a chess set that travels well without sacrificing the playing experience used to feel like an impossible trade-off. Either you got a tiny pocket set with pieces you could barely grip, or a full-size board that refused to fit in your bag. That is exactly why folding chess sets have become the go-to choice … Read more

When my niece turned six, she asked me to teach her chess. I was thrilled, honestly, but then I realized something: the dusty old tournament set in my closet was not going to cut it. She wanted something pink, something fun, something that felt like hers. That sent me down a rabbit hole of researching … Read more

Finding the right minimalist chess set means balancing clean aesthetics with real playability. Over the past several months, our team tested and compared 10 different sets ranging from sleek glass designs to handcrafted marble boards. We paid attention to how each one looks on a coffee table, how the pieces feel in hand, and whether … Read more