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Search our database of 460,592 cutting edge ideas.

69 Chess-Inspired Innovations

From Portraits of Historical Female Icons to Monstrous LEGO Games

— October 23, 2011 — Life-Stages
The timeless game of chess has been through so many makeovers that these 69 chess-inspired innovations barely scratch the surface. The game of wits opens itself up beautifully to so many adaptations. From famous cartoon characters to edible versions, the game of chess continues to show its relevance.

Since chess was often considered a gentleman’s past time, it is not surprising that various luxury versions of the classic set have made such a splash. More of a show piece than a plaything, these opulent board games allude to excessive wealth and a cultured sensibility. If a game can say that, it’s no small wonder pricey chess sets sell like hot cakes.

With so many possibilities, this ever adaptable mindgame will continue to stand the test of time handily. I’m sure Bobby Fisher would be proud, whereever he is.
1.7
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
67
Virtual Chess Games
Virtual Chess Games
The DIY Internet Chess Table Uses a Webcam to Transfer Your Moves
<
66
Chessboard Clocks
Chessboard Clocks
This Clock Makes You Feel Like a Grandmaster
<
65
Trickster Gameboards
Trickster Gameboards
Trapdoor Checkers Game Features Strategic 'Potholes'
<
64
Photographers' Strategy Games
Photographers' Strategy Games
The LensRental Chess Set Pits Nikon Against Canon
<
63
Charitable Automotive Games
Charitable Automotive Games
The Bentley Chess Set Gets Auctioned off for a Good Cause
<
62
Illuminated Strategy Games
Illuminated Strategy Games
The LED Chess & Checker Set Lets You Play Nocturnally
<
61
Interactive Luxury Chess Sets
Interactive Luxury Chess Sets
Make Your Move on the Hi-Tech Barbara Kruger Chess Set
<
60
Play With Ringo's Hands
Play With Ringo's Hands
Luxury Chess Set
<
59
Chess Boxing
Chess Boxing
Rocky Balboa Vs Bobby Fischer
<
58
Bicycle Chess
Bicycle Chess
3 Person Bikes: Built for 2 Players and a Driver
<
57
Strategy Game Bottle Plugs
Strategy Game Bottle Plugs
The Chess Piece Wine Stopper Checks Open Bottles of Pinot
<
56
Solo Strategy Games
Solo Strategy Games
Solitaire Chess Hones Your Knowledge and Skill of the Game
<
55
Monstrous LEGO Games
Monstrous LEGO Games
This Monster Chess LEGO Set is Electronically Controlled
<
54
Political Strategy Games
Political Strategy Games
The America VS. Taliban Chess Set Lets You Checkmake Bin Laden with Bush
<
53
Micro Videogame Masterpieces
Micro Videogame Masterpieces
The Legend of Zelda Chess Set by Ben Howard Brings Life to the Board
<
52
Doubly Nerdy Games
Doubly Nerdy Games
The LEGO 'Empire Strikes Back' Chess Set
<
51
Atypical Board Games
Atypical Board Games
Alessia Mazzarella Creates the Wittiest Chess Set of Them All
<
50
Thinking Tables
Thinking Tables
The AI Chess Table
<
49
Decadent Chessboards
Decadent Chessboards
Chocolate Chess Provides Winner With a Treat
<
48
Guiding Game Pieces
Guiding Game Pieces
The Intuitive Chess Set Helps You Remember All the Moves
<
47
Sweet Strategic Games
Sweet Strategic Games
The Confectionary Chess Board Cake by DahliaCakes is Delicious
<
46
Chess Robots With Fake Arms
Chess Robots With Fake Arms
Novag 2Robot Chess Game
<
45
Celestial Chess Sets
Celestial Chess Sets
Jerod Hugghins Designs a Chess Set Similar to Battleship
<
44
Blinged-Out Board Games
Blinged-Out Board Games
The Static vs Kinetic Chess Set has Beauty and Brains
<
43
Greek-Inspired Strategy Games
Greek-Inspired Strategy Games
The Krisztian Griz Chess Set is Architecturally Sound
<
42
Gameboards for Extreme Conditions
Gameboards for Extreme Conditions
New Wave Chess & Checkers
<
41
Hair Clip Chess Pieces
Hair Clip Chess Pieces
The Mirage Portable Chess Set Clips Back Those Hair Complaints
<
40
Mind Games for Gamers
Mind Games for Gamers
Super Mario Chess is the Ultimate in Geeky Gifts
<
39
LEGO Strategy Games
LEGO Strategy Games
The Mini LEGO Chess Set by Akunthita
<
38
Chainmail Chess Sets
Chainmail Chess Sets
David Austin Captures the Past for a Classic Game Remake
<
37
Massive Chess Sets
Massive Chess Sets
Spanish Designer Jaime Hayon Creates 'The Tournament' Board Game
<
36
Luminous Board Games
Luminous Board Games
Brent Blake's Electric Chess Set Will Give You an Electrifying Experien
<
35
Revolutionary Chess Sets
Revolutionary Chess Sets
Democratic Chess Makes the Classic Strategy Game Fairer for the Pawns
<
34
Mind-Blowing Block Games
Mind-Blowing Block Games
The 4,000 Piece LEGO Chess Set by Derek Seiple
<
33
Musical Board Games
Musical Board Games
The Vacuum Tube Chess Set by Paul Fryer is a Vintage Marvel
<
32
Edible Chess Sets
Edible Chess Sets
Play Your Game and Eat it Too
<
31
Weapon-Wrought Games
Weapon-Wrought Games
The Bullet Chess Set Features Pieces Made from .223 Caliber Shells
<
30
Edible Strategy Games
Edible Strategy Games
The PIKDA Chessboard Feeds Guests With Food and Fun
<
29
Extravagant Chess Set
Extravagant Chess Set
Diamonds & Gold Don't Play Games
<
28
Stylish Strategy Games
Stylish Strategy Games
Strategize Stylish Moves With the Paul Smith Chess Set
<
27
Beefed-Up Board Games
Beefed-Up Board Games
Childhood Entertainment Gets Touch of High Class
<
26
Fashion-Forward Board Games
Fashion-Forward Board Games
The Hammond Chess Set from Ralph Lauren is One Luxurious Design
<
25
Board Game Art
Board Game Art
Extraordinarily Creative Artworks Inspired by the Classic Game of Chess
<
24
$40,00 Chess & $27,000 Backgammon Sets
$40,00 Chess & $27,000 Backgammon Sets
Renault F1 Team Collection
<
23
Green Chess
Green Chess
Recycled Auto Part Chess Set
<
22
Themed Chess Sets
Themed Chess Sets
Hockey, Fishing, Cowboys & More
<
21
Stylish Board Games
Stylish Board Games
Brass Skeleton Key Chess Set For the Fashionably Competitive
<
20
Architectural Strategy Games
Architectural Strategy Games
The Calatrava Chess Set Features Designs from the Famous Architect
<
19
Minimalist Board Games
Minimalist Board Games
The Cardboard Chess by Londji is Made Entirely from Cardboard
<
18
Strategy Game Furniture
Strategy Game Furniture
The Flipboard Chesstable Makes Your House Feel Like a Park
<
17
3D Chessboards
3D Chessboards
Ji Lee Turns Chess Into an Epic Battle
<
16
Minimalist Logic Games
Minimalist Logic Games
The Naef Bauhaus Chess Set Values Mind Over Material Matter
<
15
Fantasy Chess Sets
Fantasy Chess Sets
The Pirates vs. Ninjas Checker Set Spices Games Up
<
14
Whiskey Strategy Games
Whiskey Strategy Games
The Jack Daniel's Chess Set is a Superior Drinking Game
<
13
Wall-Mounted Board Games
Wall-Mounted Board Games
Straight Up Chess
<
12
Glowing Geek Games
Glowing Geek Games
The LED Checkers and Chess Set Gives Classic Games a Bright Twist
<
11
Compact Chess Sets
Compact Chess Sets
Lanier Graham Designs Minimalistic Chess Pieces for Easy Traveling
<
10
$224,000 Chess Sets
$224,000 Chess Sets
186ct Diamond Chess Set is for Serious (Rich) Players
<
9
Woodcut Game Sets
Woodcut Game Sets
The Sustainable Chess Set is Made from Only One Sheet of Plywood
<
8
Sci-Fi Strategy Games
Sci-Fi Strategy Games
The Aliens Deluxe Chess Set is Perfect for Aliens Superfans
<
7
Cubist Chess Sets
Cubist Chess Sets
Jaroslva Jurica Designs the Game After Pavel Janak´s Architecture
<
6
Disappearing Chess Pieces
Disappearing Chess Pieces
The Alice Chess Set
<
5
Sci-Fi Robot Games
Sci-Fi Robot Games
The Star Wars Droid Chess Set Pits C-3PO Against R2-D2
<
4
Picturesque Board Games
Picturesque Board Games
The Samurai Chess Set Has a Built-In Zen Garden
<
3
Yard-Sized Board Games
Yard-Sized Board Games
Chess Pieces Fit for an Alice in Wonderland Game Experience
<
2
Portraits of Historical Female Icons
Portraits of Historical Female Icons
‘Regal Twelve' by Alexia Sinclair
<
1
Nerdy Chess Sets
Nerdy Chess Sets
The LEGO Star Wars Chess Set is to Be Played by Dedicated Geeks
<