Most people are immediately repulsed with the idea of buying a plastic chess set because they are already thinking of how tacky it would look. Most people prefer buying the more elegant classic wooden chess sets. If their primary purpose is to use the set as a decorative piece, marble and glass sets are also quite popular choices.
However, not all people buy chess sets just as a display feature in their homes. There are also many people that just like to focus on playing the game without worrying about whether the pieces look awesome or not. If you are one of these people, then you can definitely include plastic chess sets among your list of choices. So, what are the advantages that plastic sets have over any other kind of chess set out there? There are quite a few and following are the most significant ones.
Affordable Price
A standard-sized plastic chess set can easily be purchased for less than $10 each, which is obviously just spare change in comparison to the ridiculously steep prices of some other types of chess sets. You may even be able to find plastic sets that cost less than $5, including the board, but you will seriously want to think very carefully before buying these extremely low-priced sets because they may not carry enough weight to be used for a decent game.
Widely Available
Some rare types of sets, especially those that are made from very expensive materials, may be quite difficult to find in the local malls. Sometimes, the only way to purchase these rare sets is to go online and order them from a faraway location or to have the set that you want especially customized for you.
These problems, however, are not an issue when you are going to buy a plastic chess set. No matter what department store you visit, it’s very likely that you will find several sets to choose from. Plastic sets are not just sold in gaming and entertainment supplies shops either. You will also be able to find them in the toy section of your local department store, or even in school supplies stores in the neighborhood.
Durable
They may not have the best-looking pieces but plastic chess sets can certainly last much longer than some of the more fragile expensive sets out there. Even if they find their way into the hands of young children who like to throw things around, plastic chess pieces will remain undamaged. In any case, if any of the pieces get damaged for whatever reason, you won’t feel too dismayed at the idea of having to buy a replacement set because it didn’t even cause you a lot of money in the first place.
Excellent for Children
If you have a child or know of a child who wants to learn how to play chess, you certainly will not let them practice with the priceless family heirloom that is displayed in your living room. It is much more practical to teach them the strategies of the game using a plastic chess set that you can even let them keep as their own.
Furthermore, plastic sets these days come in many attractive designs that are sure to attract a child even more to the complex and exciting world of chess. You may even be able to find some themed plastic chess pieces that look like your child’s favorite characters from a movie or a cartoon program, which will definitely make the game a lot more interesting for them.
Portable and Compact
One advantage of plastic chess sets that cannot be offered by most of the other types is that they can be very portable and compact. Plastic chess sets can come in very small sizes, with the smallest ones able to fit inside your pocket! These sets are great to bring along when you are traveling so that you won’t get bored during a long flight or car ride. You don’t even have to worry about the pieces falling off the board because these portable sets are magnetic. The light weight of the plastic material also makes these sets ideal for carrying around because they won’t add too much to the weight of your luggage.
Easy to Clean
Even if you won’t be using a plastic chess set as a display item in your home, it can still get dirty over time. Fortunately, cleaning them won’t be a problem at all because all you have to do is wash them with soap and water. Other types of chess sets require special cleaning solutions and need to be carefully wiped and polished regularly but with plastic sets, all that’s required is a good soak in a soapy solution and they can be good as new.
As you can see, plastic chess pieces are really not all that bad. Some of the higher end ones can even be good enough to use as a decorative piece. Plastic chess sets enable you to save a lot of money while letting you enjoy the game just like you always have.
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