A christening gift they'll genuinely play at forty
or 4 payments of £10.49 with Klarna
🛡️ 30-day full refund, no questions. Fewer than 30 returns from 23,000+ orders.
- Folds for travel
- Wood construction
- Teaches strategy
- Play at any age
- No batteries needed
- Gift-ready design
- 30-day returns
- Klarna available
Delivery in 2-3 working days · 30-day returns · Est. 1795
as seen in
Real talk
A gift that doesn't gather dust
You want to give something that sticks around. Not another toy they'll outgrow in weeks. Chess does that. The 15-inch folding board stores flat, travels anywhere, and sits on a shelf as both a game and a keepsake.
And honestly, you get to watch them learn to think for themselves. That's worth more than wrapping paper.
Joe Jaques, Jaques of London
What's in the box
What comes with you
Everything needed to start playing straight away. No hidden purchases, no missing pieces.
Folding Wood Board
15 inches across. Opens flat for play, folds for storage. Solid wood construction that handles years of handling.
- ✓ Folds for travel and storage
- ✓ Clear squares easy to see
- ✓ Weighted board sits stable
Full Piece Set
All 32 pieces included. Size is right for reading the rank and file at a glance, never fiddly or too small.
- ✓ Classic Staunton shape
- ✓ Easy to distinguish pieces
- ✓ Stored in the board
Screen-Free Play
No app, no notifications, no timer running. Just two people thinking ahead. A proper break from screens.
- ✓ Works at kitchen table
- ✓ Plays on trains and holidays
- ✓ Teaches focus naturally
A gift that teaches and lasts.
Was £58.99
Folding Chess Board - Luxury 15 Inch Chess Set: £41.99
While they play
What they're quietly learning
Looks like play. Works like a lesson.
Strategic thinking
Every move has a consequence. Chess teaches cause and effect, planning ahead, and seeing the board from another person's angle.
Concentration
No distractions, no pausing. A full game builds the ability to hold a problem in mind and work through it.
Problem solving
How do I get out of this position? What's my best move? Chess is applied logic, hour after hour.
Patience
Some games take twenty minutes, some take two hours. Waiting your turn, thinking carefully, wins over rushing.
What families say about Jaques of London
What godparents and parents 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.
Play starts here, even young
At six or seven, they learn the moves and board basics. By nine they're thinking three moves ahead. At sixteen they're the one teaching you.
Opens and plays immediately
No reading instructions. Everyone knows the pieces. Everyone knows the goal. You sit down and start.
Goes everywhere they go
Holidays, visits to grandparents, school outings. It lives in a bag or cupboard and asks nothing of you.
Why this matters right now
We really are different
Why wood and folding beats the rest
| Jaques Folding Chess Board - Luxury 15 Inch Chess Set | Cheap Alternatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Lasts decades | ✅ | ❌ Plastic warps and cracks |
| Pieces stay in place | ✅ | ❌ Cheap boards shift mid-game |
| Travel-ready | ✅ | ❌ Full-size boards are bulky |
| No batteries or app | ✅ | ❌ Digital sets distract from play |
| Looks like a keepsake | ✅ | ⚠️ Plastic feels temporary |
| Works for all ages | ✅ | ❌ Kids-only sets get abandoned |
| No learning curve for rules | ✅ | ⚠️ Too many variants confuse beginners |
- ✅ Built to last
- ✅ Pieces stay put
- ✅ Folds and travels
- ✅ No digital distraction
- ✅ Looks like a keepsake
- ✅ All ages play
- ✅ Simple, classic rules
- ❌ Plastic wears out
- ❌ Pieces shift around
- ❌ Too big to carry
- ❌ Screens take over
- ⚠️ Feels temporary
- ❌ Kids outgrow quickly
- ⚠️ Too many variants
A gift that teaches and lasts.
Was £58.99
Folding Chess Board - Luxury 15 Inch Chess Set: £41.99
30-Day Money-Back Guarantee
Not right? Return it within 30 days. Full refund, no questions.
Questions & answers
Questions godparents ask
Will they actually play with it, or will it sit on a shelf?
Chess boards are either tools or decoration, and this one works as both. Teach them the moves once (takes an afternoon), and it becomes the thing they do with you. That shelf is where it lives between visits. They'll ask for it by name.
Is 15 inches big enough for serious play?
Yes. It's the right size for learning and playing. Tournament boards are larger, but this one is generous enough that you never squint at the board and small enough to fit a train table or lap.
What age should I give this?
Six or seven is when they can sit with the rules and start learning. But you can give it at a christening and play with them when they're ready. It doesn't age. Hand it down when the time comes.
How long will it actually last?
Wood chess sets last decades if they're used. This one is built for that. You'll see scratches and character marks. That's the point. It becomes theirs in a way new things never do.
How much does it cost?
The Folding Chess Board - Luxury 15 Inch Chess Set is £41.99 today (down from £58.99). 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.
A gift that teaches and lasts.
Was £58.99
Folding Chess Board - Luxury 15 Inch Chess Set: £41.99
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.
Jaques has been making chess sets since before chess was a household game. We understand that a board is not a toy. It's a tool for teaching patience, strategy, and the pleasure of sitting with someone for a proper game. The folding design keeps that purpose intact without the fuss. It fits a child's bedroom, a traveller's bag, or a godparent's house. It teaches without lecturing and lasts without boasting. That's what 228 years of making games has taught us.
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
Give a gift they'll
keep for life
Was £58.99
£41.99 Save 28%
🛡️ 30-day money-back guarantee · 🚚 Delivery in 2-3 working days · 🏛️ Est. 1795
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