Drueke 877.10 Magnetic Chess Set
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List Price: Our Price: $22.49 You Save: $0.51 (2%) Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Category: Sports See more product details |
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Description of Drueke 877.10 Magnetic Chess Set
This easy-to-transport set allows you to play chess anywhere, anytime. The Magnetic Chess Set is perfect for long car and plane rides. The plastic chessmen are equipped with a magnetic bottom so they won't move or slide when you encounter some rough terrain. The magnetic set is also perfect for when time is short. Squeeze in as much chess as you can during break, place it away when time is up, and then return to your game with the pieces exactly where you left them during your next free moment.Sports reviews of Drueke 877.10 Magnetic Chess Set
Customer Review: Pretty good, but not perfect
Sport shop rating: 4 Stars
I've been looking for a portable magnetic chess set. This one came highly recommended. I give it four stars. I generally like it, especially its ability to leave the pieces in place, while putting on the lid.
It has some annoying features.
The first problem is that a bishop looks a lot like a pawn. Especially in low light, or if you're in a hurry to set up, it's easy to confuse the pieces.
The second problem is that some of the magnets weren't well glued to the base of some of the pieces. I went through the pieces one by one, and reglued the magnets to about 1/4 of them.
The third, minor, annoyance is that it doesn't have letters and numbers for algebraic notation of moves. I tried using a P-touch labeler, but that ended up looking tacky and cheap, so I hand-lettered the ranks and files with a black Sharpie.
I'd buy it again, even knowing these problems.
Customer Review: a great thing, but don't leave it in the car!
Sport shop rating: 4 Stars
I love chess, and have been a student of the game since I was 10, collecting numerous chess books, sets, computers, etc. I should be a grandmaster by now, but how many people have the time for that. My father-in-law gave me this Drueke set as a present. Very nice. I do find the proportions of the pieces to be a bit strange, but the magnets are by far the best ones I've ever seen in a magnetic set. I left this in the car recently during a hot spell, and the plastic case has melted. The board itself didn't melt, so from the outside it looks like a Salvador Dali object. I'll probably replace it, as I feel bad about letting it melt.Customer Review: Better than other options
Sport shop rating: 4 Stars
I got this set to play chess with my son. Over all I like the it, but there are many little tweaks in design that could have made it great. The board is rather large to store. This isn't a pocket chess set. Since they are all the same height it's difficult sometimes to tell a pawn from a bishop. The pieces are close to the same size as the squares and the magnets tend to attract as you move around the board.
With all of the complaining it is still a good set and I would buy it again. But if other toy makers read this, it would not be hard make better.
Customer Review: Nice set, but ..
Sport shop rating: 4 Stars
The other reviews adequately describe the set's strengths - and it is a nice set. But the "fully scaled" style made it difficult for me to distinguish the bishops from the pawns, especially in bad light. My eyesight isn't that bad, in case you are wondering. Otherwise it's fine. The strong magnetic grip really does mean you can throw the board around a bit without disturbing the piece placement.
Update: The bishop vs pawn issue is proving to be more of a nuisance than I expected. I would not recommend this set for use in low light conditions.
Customer Review: For the money...an excellent buy...
Sport shop rating: 4 Stars
My son (7) with not-so-great vision recently took up chess but we found that finishing a game was sometimes a challenge...this has turned out to be a perfect way to move the game around.
The pieces are small, but even with his less-than-perfect vision, he had no trouble differentiating. The quality seems fine.
It is obviously not of heirloom quality and feel - but for the low low price and the ease of portability without screwing up a game mid-play - very well worth it.