Review on 🧳 Husaria Portable Travel Magnetic Wooden Set by Michael Domus

For most of my life I have been an avid chess player and collector of chess sets. I've seen some really great kits but most of the time I've been disappointed in their quality. In this case, I was more than pleasantly surprised by the quality of what I received. This is a chess game that I look forward to using for years to come. The problem with most travel chess sets, as far as I know, is that they are too small to play an enjoyable game. Yes, they can feel good, but often they just don't "feel" when playing a "real" game of chess. This set seems to be the perfect compromise. It's a bit bigger than regular street chess, but I see that as an advantage. It might not fit in your pocket, but it's still small enough to easily slip into a suitcase, briefcase, or backpack, while still being big enough to really enjoy the game without trying to be small pick up magnetized parts. In fact, the last time I wanted to take chess somewhere, I brought a full size board just because it felt more elegant to play on a "real" board. If I had this one I would take it instead. In terms of craftsmanship and design, I have to say that everything seems perfect to me. While I personally don't need them, I like that they include alphanumeric indexes on all sides of the board. I particularly like that the symbols and numbers are arranged in such a way that each player has a set of letters and numbers aligned to them. While it might seem like a small thing, it's those little things that tell me this board was carefully crafted. As far as the board's travel suitability goes, I'm also impressed. The parts appear to be perfectly magnetized. The magnetic pull is light enough that it almost feels "normal" when playing. Sometimes I forgot I was even playing a magnetic kit! However, the magnetism is strong enough that your game can handle turbulence in almost any travel situation. To test this I lined up the pieces and then took the board in one hand and shook it fairly vigorously. While a few pieces slipped slightly under the hardest shake, nothing fell or slipped out of square. In fact you can even hold the board upside down and the pieces will stay in place as shown in my photo. However, remember that if you keep the board vertical, the pieces will slide down. Eventually I was relieved to find a tray of good pieces inside the board. Many travel sets simply come with a box that you randomly drop all the pieces into. The ability to place pieces in their designated places, while common to some of my more expensive chess sets, is a refreshing touch for a travel set. Of course I will still be using the full size boards I have at home and I have to say I think this will become my travel kit. I can't wear it every day, but I'll definitely put it in my bag when I'm on the go. I cannot recommend this set enough for travelers, chess players, or as a gift for just about anyone. My only warning is that if you want this to be the first beginner's chess game (and it would indeed make a great first chess game), the little chess rules insert isn't detailed enough, so beginners should either find a teacher or that learn rules elsewhere.