Everyone loves challenging their brain cells every once in a while. Besides being fun, it is a great way to keep the brain sharp, quick, and alert, none of which is something that any of us could complain about. The human brain, with all its massive intelligence, is just like the muscles in our body. It needs to be regularly used to remain in good working condition. Probably out of a subconscious awareness of this fact, everyone loves a challenge every so often. Whether in the form of a crossword puzzle or a game of the ever-popular Sudoku, everyone looks forward to the much needed brainteaser. And one of the most efficient and effective ways of sharpening your brain cells is to play a chess game. Some chess aficionados even go so far as to collect chess sets, as they come in a variety of beautiful materials and colors.
So what do chess sets contain? A chess set typically consists of a chess board, on which the game is played, and chess pieces, with the help of which the game advances. Chess sets and boards can come in a beautiful and breathtaking array of designs that vary from simple and elegant sets to elaborately intricate and abstract depictions, even extending to sophisticatedly themed models, right down to the minutest detail. Themed sets are more collector's items than usable commodities.
This is why, as mentioned before, some chess fans, despite having functional sets that they can use to play, still choose to buy chess sets. Such people, like all collectors, buy chess sets just for the sake of collecting rare, beautiful, antique, or unusual sets. Examples of unusual sets include chess sets and boards that have been themed around pictures from Lewis Carroll's works. Modern representations have been made based on the hit TV show The Simpsons, or the slightly older Star Trek.
Even if not themed on famous topics, chess sets can vary immensely based on their material and color. As far as material is concerned, they can be made from wood, ivory, marble, bone, plastic, or onyx, to name a few examples. Out of these, wood offers a huge variety all in itself. Whether using a light colored wood such as boxwood or a dark one such as ebony, rosewood or walnut, wooden sets have an understated elegance that is hard to ignore. All in all, chess sets offer one much more than just an opportunity to have a good, intelligent game -- they can also be possessions that one can be proud of.
