WE Games Mini Magnetic Travel Chess Set – 6-Inch Foldable Board with Durable Vinyl Pieces & Extra Queens– Indoor & Outdoor Magnetic Chess Game - White Logo

This is my smallest and cheapest chess set, in a collection that includes a couple of $200+ wooden sets and a few travel sets. Very minimalist in appearance, it also happens to be my most useful set. It fits comfortably in a shirt pocket and holds the pieces firmly in place. This small magnetic set is perfect for study and setting up/playing through book positions and problems. I find it superior to a smartphone board for this purpose due to less eyestrain (from staring too long at computer lighting) and no drain on the phone battery. I also like the larger board and the tactile factor of moving pieces around by hand. The third panel for organizing and holding pieces in place is a terrific feature that's not commonly found - if at all - in other pocket chess sets. To sum up: for the low price, a perfect pocket study and analysis set that's very easy to handle and not at all bad looking. It's also OK for actual on-the-go game playing, but for this purpose, I prefer a travel (not necessarily pocket) set that's larger and fully three-dimensional.

Can't say enough good things about this set -- it folds up small enough to fit anywhere, has durable magnetic pieces that are strong enough to stay on the board if you have to put it away and come back to it later, and is easy to clean (if you, like me, are playing in coffee shops and bars while traveling). I've gotten a ton of complements on it, and I'm really just super pleased overall.

I thought I lost my original green USCF chessbook and bought this WE Games Ultimate to replace it. Found the USCF Chessbook so will be using that reference for this review. Preference: WE Games' Ultimate Chess Book. That storage panel makes all the difference. USCF is just a plastic section, which makes easy to lose a piece vs WE Games. WE game's Ultimate Chess book is slightly thicker due to that storage panel, but it is still portable. WE Games does have one flaw though: Top panel does not remain closed by the magnets, where the USCF green chessbook does. Hang it upside down you see top panel stay open. Reason for this: the Magnets in the pieces are what keep the book closed. Since USCF does not have a storage panel, it it thinner so the piece magnets attracts the top pannel. On the other hand, the WE Games Ultimate Chess book storage panel makes it too thick to attract the top panel to remain closed. A design solution would have been put some strong magnets in top panel.

This has been great for plane rides and other on the go play. I appreciate the extra queens they add. It’s about the size and thickness of a check book. The quality seems like it’ll hold up for many years of play. I was drawn to this one because there’s space to put the captured pieces. And you can fold it up and stop in the middle of a game and continue later without the pieces moving around. I use the blank pieces to mark who’s turn it is in case I can’t finish a game. This would make a cool gift!

My family absolutely LOVES this thing. We have a regular not-for-travel chess board made out of wood that looks nice at home but would definitely not take traveling because it is big and heavy. This tiny little thing, however, is amazing and we can take it anywhere! The magnets are very strong and the pieces do not slide off the board when you pick it up (or snatch it out of your opponent's hand). The pictures on the chess pieces are easily discernable and they even give you a couple extra blank pieces in case you lose others. Pretty genius. Can't go wrong with this set, seriously. Someone commented that they didn't like the way it closes because the magnet on one end is not strong enough to stay closed. The board folds into thirds; the section outside of the chess board square that holds the chess pieces folds over one half of the actual chess board and the other half of the chess board folds over that (on top of the chess pieces). If the section holding the chess pieces had a stronger magnet on the outside then that would help keep the thing closed. However, because of it's size, it is so easy to tuck away anywhere so I don't see any issues with this coming open during travel. Plus, I care more about the chess pieces staying in place, the size of it all and how difficult or easy it is to move the pieces during play. With that in mind, I would 100% recommend this chess set.

Omg I loveeee this board. I work on a tv set and we’re not allowed to have our phones.. so to keep myself busy between scenes, this is something I’m able to carry with me and keep my mind sharp! I have no issues hiding it… I will say, though I already lost a piece which is so disheartening but because there are two extra blank pieces I was able to replace it. Hopefully I don’t lose another! If I were to recommend something, it would be that instead of making the board part white, the manufacturer should use a darker color just because the magnets do leave a dark residue.

I was hoping to buy a small portable chess set to work on problems and as a study tool. However, it has a rather noticeable musty odor and will require at least a month to air out before I can use it regularly. Apparently the PU leather this set is made out of picks up mold/mildew rather easily. Sort of defeats the purpose of buying it, right? Otherwise, it looks like it would get done what I needed it for.

It's well made, right size, easy to distinguish the pieces and the magnets are strong enough stay in place.

Very low quality and it arrived damaged. I don’t recommend at all 😡

Excellent

Such a wonderful chessboard, it can be used for practice, must say you should buy this product, the size is considerably alright and looks good, with coordinates and good magnets , though, the money is ok.. and you can basically use this anywhere , if you travel, you should take this chessboard as it can fit in pockets and travelling with this is a good idea.

Product shows the real made in China quality. Not upto the mark considering the price.

Me super encantó. Tiene el tamaño justo para analizar las jugadas de un libro. Las piezas se pueden ir acomodando en la parte baja o al lado del tablero conforme se van tomando. El magnetismo de las piezas es perfecto, no se despegan, agite el tablero con fuerza y ninguna se desprendió, solo se movieron un poquito algunas, superó la prueba! Así que no me preocupa perder alguna pieza, se que esto no pasará. Me dieron fecha de entrega y llegó a la mitad del tiempo. Lo super recomiendo a diferencia de otro que vi aquí en Amazon, por ser muy práctico y no tener que dejar las piezas por ahí conforme avanza el juego.