6 Best Intermediate Chess Sets Under 100 That Offer a True Tournament Feel

Your child has graduated from simply knowing how the horsey moves to actually seeing checkmates three moves ahead. They’ve joined the school chess club, and suddenly that old, flimsy board with the tiny plastic pieces feels like it’s holding them back. Choosing the right equipment at this stage is about reinforcing their growing passion and giving them the tools to take their interest seriously, without over-investing before you know where this journey is headed.

HOS Regulation Set: The Scholastic Gold Standard

So your child signed up for their first-ever chess tournament. The excitement is high, and so are the nerves. One of the best ways to build their confidence is to ensure the equipment they practice on at home is exactly what they’ll see on game day.

This is where the standard House of Staunton regulation set comes in. It’s the undisputed workhorse of the American scholastic chess scene. It features a roll-up vinyl board and triple-weighted plastic pieces that have a satisfying heft without being precious. Familiarity breeds comfort, and when a 9-year-old sits down across from an opponent, the last thing you want them worrying about is why the board feels different.

Think of it like this: you wouldn’t have your child practice basketball with a mini-ball if they’re going to play their first game with a regulation-size one. This set is the foundational tool for any child (ages 7+) beginning their competitive journey. It’s durable, affordable, and perfectly matches the tournament environment, allowing them to focus purely on the game.

USCF Quiver Combo: For the Traveling Competitor

After a few local tournaments, the chess world starts to expand. You might find yourself driving to a competition in the next town over, and suddenly you’re juggling a water bottle, a snack bag, and a clumsy chess box. This is the moment where teaching your child to manage their own gear becomes a huge win for everyone.

The USCF Quiver Combo is designed for precisely this scenario. It takes the scholastic standard set—vinyl board and plastic pieces—and bundles it into a streamlined, easy-to-carry quiver bag. The bag has separate compartments for the rolled-up board and the pieces, and often has room for a chess clock and a scorebook. It’s a complete, self-contained tournament kit.

For a child aged 8 to 14, carrying their own quiver bag is a rite of passage. It builds responsibility and a sense of ownership over their activity. If your family’s schedule involves regular travel for chess, this all-in-one combo is a logistical lifesaver. It empowers your child to show up prepared and organized, ready to play.

The Chess Store Pro Set for Serious Home Practice

The roll-up vinyl board is perfect for clubs and tournaments, but at home, it can be a little frustrating. It never seems to lie perfectly flat, and the creases can be distracting. When your child is spending more time analyzing games at home, you want to create an environment that encourages deep focus.

A set featuring a silicone or "mousepad" style board is a fantastic upgrade for home practice. These boards roll up for storage but instantly lay perfectly flat every single time. Paired with triple-weighted pieces, this setup provides a stable and satisfying playing surface that feels much more professional. The tactile feedback of heavy, stable pieces on a perfectly flat board can help a player slow down and think more deliberately.

This isn’t about being fancy; it’s about removing minor frustrations that can interrupt concentration. For the intermediate player who is truly passionate about improving their game at the kitchen table, this type of set provides the ideal environment for serious home study and play.

DGT Plastic Set: A Trusted European Tournament Name

As your young player gets more invested in chess, they’ll start noticing the wider world of the game. They might watch grandmaster tournaments online and see the "DGT" logo on the boards. Associating their own equipment with what the pros use can be a powerful motivator for an adolescent player.

DGT is a Dutch company renowned for making the electronic sensor boards used in top-level FIDE events, but they also produce high-quality, non-electronic plastic sets. These sets are built to the highest tournament standards, with classic Staunton designs and excellent weighting and balance. They feel solid, durable, and are designed to withstand years of intense club and tournament play.

Choosing a DGT set is a step up in quality and brand recognition. It signals to your child that you recognize their growing expertise. For a serious player (ages 11+) looking for a set that will last them through their high school chess career, a DGT plastic set is an excellent investment in world-class quality.

Best Chess Set’s Heavy Pieces for a Solid Feel

Have you noticed your child is very hands-on? Maybe they are a kinesthetic learner who connects with the world through touch and feel. For these kids, the physical experience of playing chess—the weight of the pieces, the smooth slide across the board—is a huge part of the enjoyment.

Many sets from brands like Best Chess Set focus specifically on this sensory experience. They often feature quadruple-weighted pieces that have a commanding, un-tippable presence on the board. This substantial feel can be incredibly satisfying and can even improve play by discouraging blitz-style, thoughtless moves. When a piece has real heft, the act of moving it feels more intentional.

These sets are often paired with a silicone board that lies perfectly flat, completing the premium tactile experience. If you want to make home practice more engaging and enjoyable for a child who appreciates a quality feel, prioritizing a set with exceptionally heavy pieces is a fantastic way to support their learning style.

Chess Armory 15-Inch Set: A Great First Wood Board

Your child has stuck with chess for a couple of years. They’ve proven their commitment with a plastic tournament set, and you want to acknowledge that dedication with something special. This is the perfect time to introduce them to the world of wooden chess sets, but you don’t need to jump to a multi-hundred-dollar heirloom piece.

A set like the Chess Armory 15-inch folding wood set is the ideal bridge. It provides the warmth, aesthetic, and classic feel of wood without a prohibitive price tag. The board itself becomes the storage case, making it practical and self-contained. The carved wooden pieces and the smooth glide of a felted base on a wood surface elevate the game into an experience.

This transition is a significant milestone. It’s like moving from a starter guitar to a solid-wood acoustic. It validates their interest and teaches them to care for a well-crafted object. As a first "serious" set for a dedicated player (ages 10+), this is a wonderful and affordable entry into the timeless tradition of wooden chess.

Wegiel Senator: Classic European Wooden Craftsmanship

Perhaps your goal is not just to support a competitor, but to bring a beautiful, classic game into the heart of your home. You envision a chess set that invites a spontaneous game on a Sunday afternoon, something that looks as good on the coffee table as it does in play. You value craftsmanship and a sense of history.

The Wegiel Senator, handmade in Poland, fits this role perfectly. This is not a standard tournament set; it’s a piece of European craft. The pieces are often hand-carved from hornbeam wood, with unique, ornate designs that differ from the typical Staunton style. The folding board, made of beech and birch wood, has an elegance that makes it a decorative piece in its own right.

This set is less about portability for tournaments and more about creating a tradition of chess at home. It can become a family treasure, passed down to a younger sibling or kept for a lifetime. For families who want to invest in a beautiful, functional piece of art that encourages play, the Wegiel Senator offers a touch of old-world charm and quality.

Amerous Magnetic Set: For Play On The Go or At Home

Is your family constantly in motion? Between soccer practice, music lessons, and weekend trips, finding quiet time for chess can be a challenge. You need a set that can survive a bumpy car ride or be played on a small hotel table without the disaster of scattered pieces.

The Amerous 15-inch magnetic set is a brilliant solution that bridges the gap between a tiny, flimsy travel set and a full-size home board. The key is its combination of a respectable size with strong magnets inside each piece. This means you can analyze a position or play a full game on the go, and the pieces will stay firmly in place even if the board gets jostled.

This kind of set is a masterclass in practicality. It allows a dedicated player to use those "in-between" moments for practice—in the car, waiting for an appointment, or on vacation. For the chess-loving kid in a busy, mobile family, a large magnetic set is the ultimate tool for making sure the game can happen anywhere, anytime.

Ultimately, the best chess set is the one that gets used. Your goal is to match the equipment to your child’s current stage of development and enthusiasm, providing a tool that feels good to use and respects their commitment. Whether it’s a durable tournament workhorse or a beautiful wooden board for home, the right set makes the incredible journey of learning chess that much more rewarding.