Chess sets make a terrific gift choice for people of

Chess sets make a terrific gift choice for people of all ages: teach kids critical thinking skills, and help adults prevent Alzheimer's!

Although the game of chess has been played by people from a variety of cultures for many centuries and provides hours of cheap, but fascinating entertainment, for some reason, chess has never become a mainstream activity. If you've never played chess, you ought to give it a try, for several reasons.

It's highly entertaining, develops critical thinking skills (quite useful to anyone in making well-considered decisions in all areas of their lives) which require that you use solid logic and sound reasoning, as well as being portable. Play at home, take your chess set to the beach or on a picnic.

You may have heard medical professionals proclaim that an active mind can help prevent Alzheimer's. While I haven't heard anyone saying chess is the answer, the medical people do state that activities such as working crossword puzzles, or simply reading, have been demonstrated to decrease the incidence of Alzheimer's developing in older folks.

If you're concerned that chess sets are too spendy, know that you can get plainly designed chess sets in the toy store or drugstore game section for under $10!

Chess sets consist of the board and sixteen playing pieces. There are six different patterns, in which the playing pieces can move across the board, depending on the piece. For example, while the King can move only one space per move, but in any direction, the Queen is the dangerous piece, in that she can move as many spaces as are free until her victim is overtaken and in any direction. Each piece has its own specific pattern of movement, so it may take a short while of practice to learn the patterns. Once you learn the moves, you're ready to play! It's a good idea to get a paperback that lays out the rules and strategies of the game.

Chess requires two players, so see if you can't entice another novice into learning with you. It's fun to challenge an opponent of approximately your own skill, learning together the standard opening moves and then finding your own strategies to put into the mix. As your skills progress, you'll find yourself thinking out your next several moves, calculating the possible moves of your opponent. There's an element of stealth in chess you don't want your opponent to see what you're up to until you capture an important piece which puts him at a disadvantage.

Once you're hooked on this intricate board game, you'll probably want to go shopping for more 'upscale' chess sets. You'll find that chess sets come in an amazing variety of materials. Granted, some of the most elaborately crafted chess sets can cost several hundred dollars. Indeed an 18th century hand-carved ivory set might set you back thousands! However, you can find many gorgeous sets priced at around $50. Parquet wood boards with carved wooden pieces, lead crystal and pewter chess sets are popular and affordable choices. Onyx, marble, ebony, bone, stone and amber are slightly pricier sets, but stunning. Do a Google image search for chess sets to get an idea of what's available there's truly something for every taste and budget.

Ever see a set made of LEGO(R) pieces? Yep, they're out there. There are polymer resin, hand painted sets, which really give your playing pieces 'personality'. Tolkien-style pieces lend a Medieval flavor to your game. There are historical replica sets, of particular battles, complete with authentic coats-of-arms and period dress which recreate, down to the last detail, the uniforms and colors of say, the Battle of Grunwald in 1410! Now there's a conversation piece!

If you're in the market for something a bit more casual and practical, there are life-size chess sets, with giant mats to set out on the back deck. Chess tables, with built-in boards as the tabletop are good for a more cozy game, out on the porch or in your bedroom or den.

Once you're thoroughly entrenched and fascinated with the game of chess, you may find you'd rather play chess than watch TV! If this apple-a-day approach to retaining a lively mind works for you, pass it on. A terrific gift idea for any person or occasion.

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