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Customer Reviews on the Product
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Average Rating : 
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Review On Aug 3, 2011by John Warth of New Albany, IN
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| Rating : |
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| Title : |
Braille Chess Set |
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I can see fine, but I had a hunch that this beautiful Braille set might be great for travel. I was right! But the board and pieces are much bigger than they appear in the photograph. The board is a full sixteen by sixteen inches and the chessmen are regulation size. The pieces are big and have a rich luster, and fitted with a deep peg in each bottom. The board's dark squares are raised, and are a rich, reddish-brown, while the light squares are recessed, and are the same buff as their counterpart light men. The dark pieces are ebonized black, with a deep polish that makes them feel smooth. Blind and sight-impaired players will notice the contours of the board's squares and feel the raised nibs designed expressly for the tops of each black piece. This distinguishes them by look and by feel from the smooth-top white men.
I placed the Braille set on the passenger's seat next to me on my drive to the hardware store to get some rubberized feet for my new board. While stopped at the light, I couldn't resist playing a few opening moves. The pegged pieces fit securely on their squares and they dock-in with a satisfying tap as they notch down.
Pieces fit so well that I can set up study positions and transport the board to sessions I teach at the public library without men shifting or falling off and getting broken. Amazingly, I have tilted the board a full ninety degrees without losing a piece!
This set would be great for players who like to start a game and move it from place to place to enjoy, without worrying about dropping and damaging their equipment.
Take a break, and your game stays just as you left it.
While the functionality of the Braille set is exceptional, the board itself had some minor flaws. First, the board I received had a mottled finish, which might be attributed to high heat and humidity during delivery or the plastic packaging clinging to the raised dark squares. (This issue has been addressed, ed.) Nevertheless, I was able to fix the flawed finish with elbow grease and a little paste wax. This eliminated the uneven finish and restored the silky smooth sheen.
Second, the holes in the board's squares aren't all drilled precisely on center. But the pieces look good on their squares, anyway, and in the heat of play men don't always land squarely. Another minor issue: because pegged men can't stand on their own when captured, they can roll around on the table to distraction. Perhaps another peg board might be needed to display captured pieces upright.
But let's put minor issues aside. All in all, this is a great concept.
Whether for its intended use by the blind, or for players on the go, this Braille set, with its tournament-size board and its big, beautiful pieces is both practical and satisfying to use. It is the only full-size peg set I've found anywhere at any price. It is a commendable addition to the ChessCafe catalog and a great value for the price. Nevertheless, I would gladly pay a little more for a board worthy of these fine chessmen.
P.S. Your customer service representative was thorough and articulate by phone, and answered all my questions with warmth, thoughtfulness, and patience. |
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