Best Chess Set for Beginners UK: A Buyer’s Guide

Learning chess is one of the most rewarding hobbies you can pick up — but walking into the world of chess sets for the first time can feel surprisingly overwhelming. Staunton or themed? Wood or plastic? Do you need a clock? This guide breaks down exactly what a beginner in the UK should look for, without overspending on features you don’t need yet.

What Makes a Chess Set “Beginner-Friendly”?

A good beginner set isn’t about having the fanciest pieces, it’s about removing friction so you can focus on learning the game. Look for:

• A standard Staunton-style piece design. This is the design used in every official tournament, so learning to recognise these shapes now will serve you for life.
• A board size that matches your pieces. A king around 9.5–10cm tall generally pairs well with a board with 5–5.5cm squares. Mismatched sizing makes pieces feel cramped or pieces can even topple over.
• Durable materials. Weighted plastic or basic wood sets are ideal starting points, they’re forgiving of knocks, easy to clean, and far more affordable than premium hand-carved wood.
• Clear colour contrast. High-contrast boards (not necessarily just black and white) make it easier to visually track piece movement, which matters a lot when you’re still learning how pieces move.

Do Beginners Need an Electronic Chess Board?

Not at first, but it’s worth knowing your options early. Electronic boards and DGT chess computers let you play against a computer opponent at an adjustable difficulty, which can be a brilliant way to practise between lessons or club sessions without needing another person present. If you’re serious about progressing quickly, a beginner-friendly electronic option can shortcut months of casual play. If you’d rather learn the fundamentals with friends and family first, a traditional non-electronic chess board is the simpler and cheaper place to start.

Should You Buy a Themed Chess Set as a Beginner?

Themed sets, like Harry Potter, Batman, Jurassic Park and similar designs, are a brilliant way to make the game feel approachable and fun, especially for younger players or anyone who finds a plain black-and-white board a bit dry. The only thing to check is that the piece shapes are still visually distinct enough to tell apart at a glance during play; the best themed sets keep this in mind, while purely decorative ones can be harder to play with seriously.

Browse our themed chess sets if you want your first board to double as a talking point.

Do You Need a Chess Clock as a Beginner?

Not immediately. Clocks matter once you start playing competitively or want to build faster decision-making, but for your first few months, focus on learning openings, tactics and basic endgames without the added pressure of a timer. When you are ready, a simple chess timer is an easy, inexpensive addition rather than a starting requirement.

Quick Buying Checklist

✅ Staunton-style pieces for standard recognition chess 
✅ Board and piece sizes matched (roughly 1:2 ratio of square size to king height) 
✅ Durable, easy-to-clean material (plastic or basic wood)
✅ High colour contrast between piece sets

❌ Skip the clock for now
❌ Skip premium hand-carved wood until you know you’ll stick with the game
⭐Optional: consider an electronic board if you want to practise solo

Where to Start 

If you’re buying your very first set, a simple non-electronic board with weighted Staunton pieces is the most sensible starting point — affordable, tournament-standard, and built to last as you improve. Once chess has properly hooked you (it usually does), you can always add a clock, a themed set for fun, or a DGT electronic board for solo practice against a computer. Get in touch — we’re always happy to help Have questions about which set is right for you? new players find their first board.