In short: the best chess gifts are personal, and nothing is more personal to a player than the opening they play. Every Chess4pro design shows a real opening: its name and the board after the key move. Mugs cost $23, posters $32 or $45 and desk mats $42. A mug and a small poster together come to $55, which is where free shipping starts. For delivery before Christmas, order by 11 December in the United States and by 26 November everywhere else.
Contents
Chess gifts start with the opening they play
Most players have one or two openings they play every game and are quietly proud of. A gift with that opening on it says you paid attention. If you are not sure which one it is, ask in passing what they play with White, or look at the openings tab of their online chess profile. These are the openings with posters and desk mats as well as mugs:
- Plays 1.e4 with White: Italian Game, Ruy López, Scotch Game, Smith-Morra Gambit for attackers, and the Bongcloud Attack for anyone with a sense of humour.
- Plays 1.d4 with White: Queen's Gambit or London System.
- Answers 1.e4 with Black: Sicilian Najdorf, Caro-Kann or French Defense.
If you cannot find out, the Queen's Gambit and the Ruy López are the two classics almost every player knows and respects. There are 41 openings in the mug collection if theirs is not on the list above.
Chess gifts by budget
- $23: a chess opening mug, 11 oz ceramic, dishwasher and microwave safe.
- $32 or $45: a chess poster in 12″×16″ (30×40 cm) or 18″×24″ (45×60 cm), matte paper, unframed.
- $42: a chess desk mat, 16″×32″ (40×80 cm), with a non-slip base and stitched edges.
- $55, shipped free: the mug and the 12″×16″ poster of the same opening. The product page of each of these openings links to its other formats, so you can put the set together in two clicks.
Buying for a whole team or club? Two mugs get 10% off and three or more get 15% off, and you can mix any openings.
Which format suits whom
The desk mat suits someone who studies or works at a desk: it sits under the keyboard and mouse all day, so it is the gift they will see most. The poster suits a chess corner, a home office or a club wall; the larger size reads well from across a room. The mug is the easy choice for colleagues, coaches and secret-santa gifts, and the one most people use every day.
What exactly is printed
We would rather you know before you buy. Posters and desk mats show the opening's name, its ECO code, the board after the key move with coordinates around it, and the main line in algebraic notation. Mugs show the name and the board diagram on both sides, without the moves. On every product page you can play the line through on the board to check it is the right one.
Christmas delivery dates
Each item is printed when you order, which takes 2–5 business days, and then shipped with tracking. Our production partner's recommended last order dates for standard shipping this year are 11 December for the United States and 26 November for everywhere else. Orders placed after those dates will still be made and shipped, they just may not arrive before the 25th. You can see the estimated delivery window for your country on each product page.
Questions
Can I send it straight to the person?
Yes. Enter their name and address as the shipping address at checkout.
Do posters come framed?
No, they ship unframed. 12″×16″ and 18″×24″ are standard frame sizes in the United States; in Europe look for 30.5×40.6 cm and 45.7×61 cm frames.
What if they already have it, or it arrives damaged?
You have 14 days to return it. If anything arrives damaged or misprinted, email a photo and the order number to sales@chess4pro.online and we will replace it or refund you.
0 comments