Always Travel With Chess Sets
I don’t know about you, but when travelling for long periods despite amazing scenery passing you by, the attention begins to wander. Stunning mountain vistas, lakes bluer then the sky and a sunset that would have made Stalin weep have all been filed under ‘irrelevant’ once I’ve seen them for the hundredth time. The simple fact is we all need distractions when on a long journey, no matter how amazing the view. Having chess sets in my bag has saved me from boredom more times then I can count.
Why chess?
There are two reasons in my opinion for having chess sets to hand when backpacking.
- Chess is fun to play and keeps the mind occupied
- It can force you to start a conversation with a stranger – useful if you’re travelling by your self
- It makes you look intelligent
- It can be a really good chat up line to a girl you like on the bus/train and want to talk to
Okay, so that’s four reasons, not two. I realise that if a girl I liked was reading this post then she would see that I’m not that intelligent and laugh at me. Nevertheless I hope I’ve ably demonstrated the uses of having chess sets to hand when on the move.
What type of chess set should the budget conscious traveller carry?
This is a very good question. I’ve seen chess sets that wouldn’t look out of place in a museum and have been afraid to touch a single bishop or queen as a result. My advice is to get a compact set that will fit easily into your bag. There are many places you can buy chess sets, and you can usually get a high quality set online. The chess set I got was magnetic without being irritating when playing. This has been a lifesaver when I’ve travelled on really bumpy roads!
In addition to a magnetic set, you also want your board to fit easily into your backpack without getting broken or lost. I was able to procure a really good board that folded almost flat with the pieces stored in a separate thin box underneath.
Chess sets can save your mind when travelling, as well as help you to strike up new friendships with people. Don’t leave home without them.
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