A chess table is a table built with features to make it useful for playing the game of
chess
Chess is a board game for two players, called White and Black, each controlling an army of chess pieces in their color, with the objective to checkmate the opponent's king. It is sometimes called international chess or Western chess to dist ...
. A chess board is usually integral to the table top and often two drawers are provided to hold the pieces when not in use. Chess tables can be extremely decorative, well made and potentially expensive pieces of furniture. Most chess tables have the board inlaid or engraved though cheaper tables may have it painted on. A chess table is not necessary to play chess and is not restricted only to playing chess.
Chess tables are typically made of solid wood with
rosewood
Rosewood refers to any of a number of richly hued timbers, often brownish with darker veining, but found in many different hues.
True rosewoods
All genuine rosewoods belong to the genus ''Dalbergia''. The pre-eminent rosewood appreciated in ...
,
cedar, and
mahogany
Mahogany is a straight- grained, reddish-brown timber of three tropical hardwood species of the genus '' Swietenia'', indigenous to the AmericasBridgewater, Samuel (2012). ''A Natural History of Belize: Inside the Maya Forest''. Austin: Un ...
being the most popular. Exotic wood versions are also available.
Many cities and universities have chess tables in their parks and gardens. Many
coffeehouses also have chess tables. Most are the size of a normal picnic table, although some are larger than life sets that use pieces that are about the size of a small barrel.
See also
*
Chess equipment
Gallery
File:Alexandr rodchenko, scacchi da dopolavoro, progettaz. 1925, ricostruito nel 2007, 01.jpg, Alexander Rodchenko's constructivist design, 1925
File:Muzej Međimurja, Čakovec (Croatia) - stol za šah i mlin.jpg, Combined chess and mill game table
File:Serpentine Gallery Pavilion, London, July 2010 (20).JPG, Colourful red and green chess table
References
External links
{{Chess, state=collapsed
Chess equipment
Tables (furniture)