While Travelling With A Magnetic Chess Set, Learn To Play Chess

By Walt Peterson

Chess is considered by many as the oldest of all board games. It is revered in many areas of the world as much more than just a game. Chess is a game that reqires alot of thought and stradegy and is enjoyed by many leaders of nations. Napolean was known to play chess and his chess set can be seen in a North Carolina museum. Today chess is being played across the web, in family rooms, at schools and with magnetic chess sets, you can even play while travelling.

There are all types of chess sets and some of them are extremely popular. While magnetic chess sets and other low end chess sets are very affordable there are some sets that are rare collector's items. The low end sets are typically plastic and manufactured by major toy companies. Many of these sets are actually part of a bundle of board games that are packaged together.

Low end chess sets, that may include a magnetic chess set, is what most people learn to play on. As you learn and your interest grows, most people look to buy a more expensive chess set. Learning to play by joining a chess club or just playing with friends, allows you to see many different sets and soon you will know what set is right for you.

When playing in different locations, magnetic chess sets are thought to be the most desirable. These sets allow you to play outside or on trips without problems of the pieces being blown around or tipped over. Many chess clubs and youngsters choose this type of sets.The magnets are placed in the bases of the board pieces and assist in keeping them in place until they are ready to be moved.

When the desire for a better set arrives, there are many outlets where chess sets can be purchesed. They can be bought in specialty stores and at fine online dealers.You will soon find out that the optrions are many as to material used and the level of quality in craftsmenship.

As you grow in the game of chess and want to move up from the travel set, the next step is usually wood.Wood chess pieces also vary in type and quality.Some are artisticaly hand carved and others machine made. The choices of materials used are many if you decide you want something other than wood. Some of these higher end sets are crafted from materials such as pewter, marble, oxo-teak, alabaster and leather.

While there are traditional forms of the playing pieces there are many different styles of play pieces that have been crafted over the years. The official chess type that is used in tournaments is referred to as the Staunton chess style. This name derives from the original grandmaster of chess. In many cases the magnetic chess sets will be made in the Staunton style.

Beyond the Staunton style there are many other styles of playing pieces. One popular type of chess pieces are those that are crafted to represent armies, such as the confederate and Union armies of the Revolutionary war. No matter what type of pieces you aspire to eventually collect you will probably always cherish that magnetic chess set. - 31483

About the Author:

BoardChessSet.comis a trusted backgammon Staunton chess dealer where you can find your folding wooden backgammon Staunton chess. They offer many styles of wooden chess set and other board games.

Board Games for All

By Zeeman Haus

Hey it's family night again and you are all looking at one another like "what do we do now?" As cheesy as it sounds; board games are still fun. Picking the right board game for family night or a group is important, so here are some tips to help you out some.

You have to ask yourself a few questions first off. These would be; How many players? What age group are we talking about here and what kind of players? These are important questions to consider. If you don't believe me, at the next buddy gathering, pull out a Chutes and Ladders game and see what happens.

The number of people is a huge factor in choosing a game. Monopoly is a classic that will never go away. Why? Because if you ever played it with just one other person it can last for days! If you find that you have to break up into groups to play a board game, try making sure that you come up with a fair way to divide up the teams. Usually drawing names or something to that affect is helpful.

Age would be the next factor. Playing High School Musical: the board game with your 10 year old would be neat. Playing the same game with your 10 year old and your 17 year old would try your patience some. If you end up playing a game that is beyond the youngest person there you might have some problems unless you can divide your time between helping them or figure out a way to get them to help you. Usually, getting your young one to roll the dice is enough.

Who you are playing with is a factor as well. Friends and family might have different board game needs. That is to say that your friends might get a little more rowdy than your kids. Keep that in mind when picking out games.

Make sure you pick at least three games to choose from and plan on a heated campaign from everyone. People have their favorites and they will always try to get those in as THE game to play. Sometimes maybe having a runner-up game or a "we'll play this one next game" is a good idea. This will mix things up a bit and at least satisfy a majority of the players.

Get some gag prizes and hide them away. This is a great way to keep your guests interested. The first time you give a novelty gift to the winner of the first round and announce "PRIZE NIGHT!" everyone will want to play to see what other goofy gags you have purchased.

Family or friend game night is an old fashioned and fun way to spend the evening from time to time. It forces us to interact with each other in a scale we seldom do while watching movies and playing video games. Without getting too misty over it, let's just say it's fun. - 31483

About the Author:

Zeeman Haus enjoys writing articles online on a variety of subjects. You can check out his latest website on Dungeons and Dragons Miniatures which provides deals Dungeons and Dragons Miniatures & Accessories.

Creating New Magic Tricks with Old Tricks

By James Wong

It is said creativity is about giving old things new uses. When it comes to magic, same principles applies. Many creative magic tricks are actually derived from old tricks or effects. Let's take a look at the appearing handkerchief in decanter trick. The original effect is a handkerchief quickly appearing inside a decanter achieved by the pulling of an invisible thread. This can become totally different in appearance if milk bottle is used instead of decanter, or any other kind of bottles. Or you may try to use a tie instead of handkerchief. The possibilities are unlimited.

Sometimes a very little change made in an old magic effect can make a huge difference. The change may be even smaller than using a different container. We now compare another trick that look completely different from the decanter trick, but in fact utilizes the very same thread pulling principle.

The Spider Web Trick is also to produce something by pulling the object quickly into view just as the decanter trick. The spider web trick still uses a thread which is the most important part of the trickery. But Orrin switched a card for the handkerchief. A cool spider figure is used instead of a transparent decanter. A disc decorated to look like a spider web is used instead of a plain table.

But instead of pulling the thread, he pulled the pocket away. This was made possible because of the distance the pocket moved in spinning around the shaft, as it wrapped the thread. For the decanter, of course, the figure of the spider was substituted. Moving the place of appearance rapidly took the place of moving the appearing object rapidly. There is another important change Orrin made in the old trick. Instead of an assistant or a weight pulling the thread, the performer pulled it himself. But he applied the force in an indirect manner. He applied the force in spinning the web, a perfectly plausible and, therefore, a perfectly deceptive action.

We are not saying that the magician Orrin created the effect by substituting the objects like that. We are just illustrating how this principle can be used to produce an innovative effect from an old trickery.

The steps to change the old decanter trick into the spider web trick may be as the following. First, we make a different object to appear. We use a card instead of a handkerchief. Second, we change the appearing location from a transparent decanter to a spider figure. Third, we change the pulling method from application of a direct straight line force to a turning torque force. Forth, the appearing location is moved instead of the appearing object. Fifth, a disguising background is used to conceal the thread which allow the trick to be performed more close up.

From the spectators' point of view, the two magic performance maybe very different. But in fact, they use the very similar principle in substance. - 31483

About the Author:

Learn more about magic, check out: magic the gathering cards and card tricks

Endeavor The Board Game

By Jessica King

Endeavor has been a huge, worldwide success for New Zealand creators Carl de Visser and Jarratt Gray. Their board game, released by Z-Man games, has conquered the world ... not unlike the very game situation they have set up.

In the game, you live in the time of Empire: maps are still blank and need some colour and shape. As a great power, you need to send ships to new countries, negotiate new deals, and conquer when politics fail. There's great wealth and power to be found around the world, but they need to be discovered and exploited ... Do you have the tactics and strength to create -- and control -- your Empire?

Your character operates on behalf of an expanding Global Power whose glorious (and imperialistic!) endeavor is to conquer and hold the sea lanes and continents across the ocean. Utilising your shipping companies and explorers, creating armies and forming political alliances, you must contend with other colonists and take control of land and natural resources, exploiting the wealth to the best of your ability. However, it's important to find a balance between your financial reach and your political power; your cultural influence and your need to press forward. With hundreds of paths to victory, Endeavor is a very balanced strategy game where the decisions you make determine the lie of the land.

A game of world exploration and empire building. You represent a European empire colonizing the Mediterranean and shipping to all parts of the world to increase the empire's glory and status in Industry, Culture, Finance and Politics. When a region opens up (i.e. the shipping lanes are full) a player can colonize, attack or retrieve resources from that region. The game plays easily as each turn a player builds a building giving him a special action or increasing one of his main statistics, and gets a number of people with which to activate buildings for special actions (Ship, Occupy, Attack, Draw or Pay). Increased skill in Politics allow the player to hold cards that help increase his status and glory.

So why has Endeavor been topping the charts? If you don't know by now, it's just time to get out there and play a copy. - 31483

About the Author:

Learn more about Endeavor, New Zealand. Stop by http://seriouslyboard.co.nz where you can find out all about how Endeavor was created and what it can do for your gaming nights.

Ticket to Ride board game

By Jessica King

Train lover? Travel through the capital cities of 1800's Europe in Ticket to Ride Europe -- the board game. Complete missions, lay tracks and make use of ferries and underground tunnels to traverse the continent. In this, the second game in the franchise, there are Train Stations, Ferries, Tunnels and freshly designed and drawn cards and boards.

There are several changes and new elements in Ticket to Ride Europe, including:

Pieces: The map of Europe, which you play on, is wonderfully drawn as are the larger train and mission cards, which makes for easier shuffling. The new Station pieces are coloured plastic arches, which can be placed over the train pieces.

Missions: The longest destination tickets are now handed out to each player at game's start. There are six of those; the ones the players choose to discard are put out of play for the rest of the game.

Ferries: If you want to cross the water, you need to pay the ferryman! Every time you go to pass one of Europe's channels or harbours, you'll have to pay one or more locomotive cards, as marked on the board.

Tunnels: When passing through a tunnel, you risk a cave in. As such, when you play through, turn up three cards from the pile. After you've done that, you'll have to have enough cards in hand to complete the sets. e.g. If you played blue carriages, and there are two blue cards in the overturned cards, you'll need two MORE blue carriages to pass through.

Train Stations: A new element of Ticket to Ride is the train station. You can use a limited number of train stations to use another player's route! You need never get stuck on a track again as you can save time and turns by co-opting another's tracks to complete your mission. However, each Station you don't use is worth four victory points.

Ticket to Ride Europe is a worthy contribution to the franchise and is worthy of the many, many awards it has won. - 31483

About the Author:

Looking to find the best deal on Ticket to Ride Europe, then visit seriouslyboard.co.nz to find the best advice on board games in NZ for you.

How To Play Colosseum

By Jessica King

In Colosseum, you play as a Roman impresario who produces spectacles in an arena to attract the most (and most influential) spectators. You can earn both wealth and prestige for each event you run, utilising the profits to produce bigger and better events. You also need to invest in infrastructure, upgrade your arena, hire better performers, and convince the nobles and the Emperor to attend you shows. Managing your assets and balancing risk against gain, play to become the Grand Impresario.

There are five difference phases per round (except the final round, with only four phases). The leading player changes each round, to help balance things out. Each player is responsible for their own arena and begins with the choice of two different events. For each event you run, you need to use asset cards (which show people, props and animals) as well as ensure your arena is big enough to stage the show. You can buy, trade and sell asset cards at certain phases of the game.

During the first phase of the Colosseum players invest in one of four ways. Making the arena bigger, so that bigger events can be run and more important personages might visit; Constructing the "Emperor's Loge" which means that you can double your chances of bringing a noble into the arena; Getting a season ticket, meaning five more people come to watch; and buying a new event card, (before running the event you will need to expand the arena once or twice). Five different markets (laid out in the middle of the board) have three difference asset tokens. The players each have the opportunity to start an auction for the different assets, but nobody can win more than one auction. Players can, however, choose to sell asset tokens to others, or to trade and buy different asset tokens.

After investment, players roll the dice and move a noble of choice clockwise. If you have the Loge, you can choose to combine or split your two rolls. When a noble stays in your arena for the show, you get more spectator points. If a noble lands on a special square, follow the instructions. Often you receive an Emperor's Medal to be used in later phases. Each spectator equates to a gold coin and the player with the biggest amount of gold coins at the end of all the rounds wins the game. This is not cumulative.

Now the event has run and the spectators have been counted, there is a winner and loser for that round. The loser gets to pick any asset card from the winner, but the winner receives the podium, which gives them three extra spectators at their next-round show. - 31483

About the Author:

Looking to find the best deal on board games in New Zealand? Then visit SeriouslyBoard.co.nz to find Colosseum and many more board games at great prices.

Board Games Are Conquering The Net Along With The Classic Mahjong

By Roy Tzayag

Mah Jong games are one of the most intriguing trends on the online world today, and you as an Internet consumer must at least experience them once. The origin of those games go way back to early China, but the result is the thing that interests us, and the result is super, Mahjong is a fun game played by all ages and demographic types.

When you play a mahjong game you earn lots of advantages, those games are relaxing, challenging and some say they can even to improve your brain abilities. When searching on the web, the choices for mahjong games are almost endless. With the expansive market for such games many game developers are coming up with new mahjong games each and every day.

Those days you can locate many Mahjong games, from classic mahjong to safari mahjong, whatever you can think of, you will definitely find those games at any Mahjong portal, just be sure to find a one that has a nice layout and not too many ads, since many portals take advantage of the crowd's fascination to the game and draw them into sites that has no convenience at all and a non user friendly platform.

Mahjong games are especially ideal for families what want to bond together, as they all sit in front of the computer screen and locate the matching tiles, many families reported to increase their fun level by playing mahjong games regularly. You may also help your kids and encourage them playing those games to develop your young ones thinking and abilities with this educational and most important safe game for all ages.

So what is left for you as a devoted online user, is finding your favorite mahjong game and experience the magic that fascinated ancient Chinese people many years ago, you may be surprised as this game still fascinates and keeps being relevant without too many changes to the core play.

To conclude, Feel free browsing mahjong sites and as you may find many hours of pure fun and brain challenge for you and your family. - 31483

About the Author:

Roy Tzayag is a devoted mah jong player and a classic Tetris follower, feel free checking out his recommended sites.