Pop-Up Games Pocket Pop-Up Chess Set - Unique Foldable Design Travel Chess Piece Set - Traditional Strategy Board Game for Kids/Children/Adults

My partner is mad on chess but has always stuck to the conviction that basic sets are best - traditional Staunton pieces, a fabric board that can roll up and fit into a pocket is ideal. So I’m expecting him to love this cleverly designed “back to basics” set. I cannot yet report on his reaction as I plan to surprise him with it on his birthday. It’s perhaps not quite as portable as his favoured pocket chess sets, but it is still relatively compact and lightweight, and it has one major benefit. It is cleverly designed so that it can be packed away mid-match with the pieces still in place. It arrives in the form of a printed card sleeve with a pamphlet and hardbound book inside. The small booklet has wonderfully clear photos and instructions that explain the game in detail from the basic moves of each piece up through established tactics. The hardbound book is the chess set itself. Open it up to reveal a pop-up board (the spine requires some fiddling to get it to loosen up enough to lay flat) with an envelope on either side containing the pieces. These are also made of card and 2-dimensional images of the classic Staunton shapes. They slot into the board by way of tabs on the bottom and when the book is folded, everything flattens down nearly in its place allowing for longer matches to be carried on at intervals. I do suspect that the card construction will suffer with use and it remains to be seen what its lifespan is like, but it’s a lovely piece of design and at £9.99 (at time of review), a very reasonable investment for beginners or seasoned players who will appreciate its portability.

Actually works. Very good product

The media could not be loaded.  Got this for my sons who love chess. This was ideal for us to have in the car for any trips that we take - especially camping.The board when first opened looked and felt great, very quirky and clever design, easy to set up and use. The pieces are all kept on the side in little pockets, and board fold to the size of a small book.The addition of the strategy book was nice, as this will help new players learns the game with ease.I was a little disappointed that after the second use, the board began to rip, as you have to hold the game board open to play.I am not sure how long this will last, however it hasn’t stopped great gameplay and good travel fun, just means that we have to be very careful when using.Overall I give it 3/5

Honestly I didn't know what to expect before receiving this but I'm actually pleasantly surprised by the rigidity of it in use. It's definitely bomb-proof but it's perfectly functional.The big attraction is how it folds down into what is basically the same size of a paperback book. For that very reason this is suited if you struggle for storage room, especially away from the home whether that means for general travel out of a backpack or in a caravan, motorhome or river barge. You likely already have some sort of book storage so this just slots right in.I like the occasional game of chess, but it's not everyday by any means, so the ability to stash this away is great. You can also stow it away mid-game without removing the pieces, brilliant for games on the go. Playing with a friend on the train and your stop is next, fold it and throw it in your pack until next time.It's more robust than I imagined it would be. Uncertain how well it would stand up to a lot of punishment and liquid spillages but treat it with a bit of care and respect and it should last quite a while.I like it.

I really like the idea of this and I'm sure it had a great pitch on dragon's den...but in reality, this isn't executed very well.Firstly, the book does not lay flat at all and needs weighing down, which makes gameplay awkward if you have to use mugs like we did. The cardboard pieces are extremely fragile and some of ours have bent and torn already, despite gentle handling.The slots to put each piece in are sometimes blocked by the cardboard beneath the board itself, so we had to cut into the slots to make space for the pieces.It's a great idea but very poorly thought out. Which is a shame because I really like the concept and it could be amazing if a little more thought had gone into the construction of it.

My headline says it all.I scooped this up as I'm planning a trip on the Trans-Siberian express in the next couple of years and plant to spend 1 - 2 months in Russia. If you know Russians, you know how important chess is in their culture. The problem I had was trying to find a suitable portable and lightweight chess set. I couldn't - until I found this.This is entirely made out of paper and with the cover weighs about 6 ounces. It is smaller and lighter than most travel guide books.The design is ingenious and I won't repeat everything in the product description as what they say is what it does, as in you can fold it up mid game and it keeps everything in place.Although I'm a decade's long chess player, I really like the inclusion of a manual that teaches the game (or sport if you are Russian) to complete novices. It is well written and illustrated and fits neatly in the sleeve.I didn't even think of this when I ordered it, but the entire set packed up looks just like a book. After testing it out and playing around with it so I can write this review, I stored it on my bookshelf of travel guides - see my picture and how well it hides amongst books!This is really reasonably priced, great quality and a perfect solution to what I want for my adventure. Would make a cool gift for any chess lovers you know.

The media could not be loaded.  This chess set is in the form of a hardback book that opens to show a chess board with slots in each square. The chess pieces are held in the pouch at either end of the board and slot into the solutes in the squares. The chess board can be folded while the pieces are in place so would be useful while traveling. The only downside is that it’s not easy to move pieces and not sure how long the pieces and the solute in the squares will last