Strategy and focus start here
or 4 payments of £10.74 with Klarna
🛡️ 30-day full refund, no questions. Fewer than 30 returns from 23,000+ orders.
- Hand-carved pieces
- Walnut & sycamore
- Folds in seconds
- No batteries
- From age 6
- Ships in 2-3 days
- 30-day returns
- Klarna available
Delivery in 2-3 working days · 30-day returns · Est. 1795
as seen in
Real talk
The game that turns off the screens and starts conversations
You're not buying a toy. You're buying a Sunday ritual. The Folding Chess Set sits on the coffee table like a piece of furniture, then becomes the thing your family actually gathers around. Hand-carved Staunton pieces, solid wood board that folds shut, no setup fuss.
Your child learns to think three moves ahead. You get their full attention for hours. The set stays beautiful whether it's played with or not.
Joe Jaques, Jaques of London
What's in the box
What arrives at your door
Everything ready to play. No batteries, no assembly, no parts missing.
15-inch folding board
Walnut and sycamore wood, folds closed for storage on the shelf. Weighs enough to feel solid in play, light enough to move between rooms.
- ✓ Folds completely flat
- ✓ Fits on any shelf
- ✓ Board is 15 inches across
32 hand-carved pieces
Original Staunton pattern, first made by Jaques in 1849. Carved individually so each piece feels right in the hand. Used in chess tournaments worldwide.
- ✓ Staunton design since 1849
- ✓ Weighted and balanced
- ✓ Carved wood, not cast plastic
Closes in seconds, plays for hours
Fold it shut mid-game and leave it on the table. Come back tomorrow and the board remembers where you left off. No pieces to lose, no board to break down.
- ✓ Pause and pick up later
- ✓ No pieces go missing
- ✓ Always ready to play
Bought as gifts in 23,000+ homes. Played for years, then passed on.
Was £64.99
Folding Chess Board - Luxury 15 Inch Chess Set: £42.99
While they play
What chess quietly builds
Looks like play. Works like a lesson.
Strategy
Your child plans moves ahead, weighs options, learns that hasty moves cost games. Strategy transfers to homework, to conversations, to decisions.
Concentration
No notifications. No timer. Just the board. 30 minutes of unbroken focus rebuilds the attention span modern screens erode.
Problem-solving
Every position is a puzzle. They learn to see patterns, spot dangers, find the move that turns the game. Problem-solving becomes instinct.
Patience
Good chess can't be rushed. Your child learns that the best outcomes take time, thought, and sitting with uncertainty.
What families say about Jaques of London
What parents and grandparents say
"Excellent quality wood toys, so well made, no sharp edges, all lovely & smooth, very colourful & plenty of choice. Very reasonably priced & so beautifully wrapped you don't want to open them. Highly recommend this company."
"Fast delivery, excellent products, extremely good quality and long lasting. My granddaughter loves the toys from here. Good age ranges covered."
"These toys tick all the boxes, educational, colourful, fun, well made and great service. I just keep buying more and more."
"We love our toys from Jaques of London. The quality is excellent and they're the perfect size for little hands to hold and play with easily. Beautifully made, sturdy wooden toys that will last for years. Highly recommend!"
"Harrods grade gifting for a very reasonable price. Not the usual tat from China. Had several hand picked orders fron Jaques, nice to know its a UK business with old school quality."
"I am a real fan of this company. If only I had come across them years ago when my boys were little. It's my go to for beautiful, good quality toys for my granddaughter now and any gift I need to buy. They arrived quickly, prices are reasonable and the special touch is they are beautifully packaged too. I love the heritage of this business!"
Get ready for life
Why real play matters
Real brain growth comes from real play.
Minutes to teach a beginner
Rules are simple. Mastery is infinite. A 6-year-old plays their first game today. They'll still be learning at 16.
Days until it arrives
Order by 2pm and it ships the same day. Arrives within 2 to 3 business days. Gift-wrap available at checkout.
Days to change your mind
If it doesn't fit, we take it back until 31 January 2027. No questions, no fuss. But most parents keep it forever.
Why this matters right now
We really are different
Why this board, not the plastic one from the supermarket
| Jaques Folding Chess Board - Luxury 15 Inch Chess Set | Cheap Alternatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Material | ✅ | ❌ Plastic, warps in heat |
| Pieces feel right | ✅ | ❌ Lightweight, cheap plastic |
| Folds without breaking | ✅ | ❌ Hinge fails after months |
| Looks good on display | ✅ | ❌ Toy-like, goes in a drawer |
| Lasts for years | ✅ | ⚠️ Replaced every season |
| Used in tournaments | ✅ | ❌ Non-standard pieces |
| Cost per year of play | ✅ | ⚠️ Cheap upfront, replaced twice |
- ✅ Solid wood
- ✅ Weighted pieces
- ✅ Durable hinge
- ✅ Coffee table ready
- ✅ 20-year lifespan
- ✅ Tournament standard
- ✅ Pennies per game
- ❌ Plastic warps
- ❌ Flimsy feel
- ❌ Breaks easily
- ❌ Looks like a toy
- ❌ Lasts 1-2 years
- ❌ Non-standard
- ❌ Constant replacement
Bought as gifts in 23,000+ homes. Played for years, then passed on.
Was £64.99
Folding Chess Board - Luxury 15 Inch Chess Set: £42.99
30-Day Money-Back Guarantee
Not right? Return it within 30 days. Full refund, no questions.
Questions & answers
Questions buyers ask
Which chess set should I buy: 15 inch or another size?
Start here. The 15-inch Folding Set is the default for families and gifts. It's large enough to see and move pieces easily, small enough to fit on a coffee table or shelf. For younger children (4-5), pieces are sized right for their hands. For older players (6 and up), it plays tournament rules. If you're buying for a 7th birthday or a grandchild you don't see weekly, this is the one.
Is the wood really solid, or is it veneer?
Solid walnut and sycamore. You'll feel the weight in your hands. The board doesn't flex or warp. One customer wrote: 'Not the usual tat from China' (John A). Another: 'Toys that don't break after five minutes of play' (Karen Pepper). The wood is finished to feel smooth and look better over time, not worse.
How long does it take for it to arrive?
Ships within 2 to 3 business days. Order by 2pm and it goes out the same day. Gift-wrap is available at checkout and it arrives in branded packaging, so it's ready to give. One buyer told us: 'Arrived next day, saved Christmas' (Leigh Hemmings). If you need it urgently, check the dispatch date at checkout.
Is it worth the price compared to a cheaper set?
Yes. This board plays for 20+ years and is often passed on to the next generation. If your child plays once a week, the cost per game is pennies. The solid wood doesn't warp or crack like plastic sets do after a season. You're not replacing it every year. One parent said simply: 'Worth every penny full price' (Manda Monium). Think heirloom, not toy.
How much does it cost?
The Folding Chess Board - Luxury 15 Inch Chess Set is £42.99 today (down from £64.99). Klarna is available at checkout if you prefer to spread the cost.
What's your returns policy?
30 days, full refund, no conditions. Return it for any reason and we refund in full. We've been standing behind what we make since 1795.
Bought as gifts in 23,000+ homes. Played for years, then passed on.
Was £64.99
Folding Chess Board - Luxury 15 Inch Chess Set: £42.99
Our story
Making toys worth keeping since 1795.
Jaques of London was founded in 1795. We invented croquet, table tennis, and the Staunton chess set. For 230 years, we've been making things that pull children away from passive entertainment and into active, curious, hands-on play.
In 1795, Jaques of London invented modern chess. We created the Staunton pattern in 1849, the design used in tournaments worldwide. A century later, we're still making boards that families gather around. This Folding Set carries that DNA: hand-carved pieces, solid wood that lasts, a board that lives on your shelf and brings your family together at the table. Not a toy that wears out. A game that grows with them.
Toys and games that leave something behind: a skill, a memory, a piece of play that gets passed on.
Joe, Jaques of London
Ready when you are
Start a tradition this weekend
Was £64.99
£42.99 Save 33%
🛡️ 30-day money-back guarantee · 🚚 Delivery in 2-3 working days · 🏛️ Est. 1795
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