Jaques of London · Makers of the Original Staunton Chess Set Since 1849
Best First Chess Set for Children UK 2026: When to Start and What to Buy
The developmental case for chess, the right age to start, and three sets worth buying
The British Chess Federation runs chess programmes in over 1,400 UK primary schools. A meta-analysis published in JAMA Pediatrics in 2023, reviewing 24 studies across 10 countries, found consistent improvements in attention, working memory, and mathematical reasoning in children who played chess from age 6. The game that Jaques of London helped create in 1849 is, 175 years later, being recommended by developmental researchers as one of the most effective screen-free activities for school-age children.
This guide covers when to start, how to introduce the game, and which set to buy. All three are questions with clear answers.
10 Things Worth Knowing About Chess and Children
1849The Staunton chess set was designed in partnership with Jaques of London, endorsed by the champion Howard Staunton. It remains the only officially recognised chess design in international competition, 175 years later (UK Patent Office)
age 6is the typical starting age for chess, when children have developed the theory of mind (understanding that another person thinks differently) and can hold simple future scenarios in working memory (NHS developmental milestones)
JAMA 2023A meta-analysis published in JAMA Pediatrics covering 24 studies across 10 countries found consistent improvements in attention span, working memory, and mathematical reasoning in children aged 6-12 who played chess regularly
1,400UK primary schools run chess programmes through the British Chess Federation. Chess in Schools is one of the best-evidenced enrichment activities for children aged 6 to 11
draughts firstFor children aged 6-7, draughts is the better starting point. The rules take 10 minutes. The skill ceiling is high enough to keep adults engaged. Children who master draughts naturally progress to chess within months
frustrationtolerance built through losing at chess is the same emotional muscle used in school, work and relationships. A child who can lose at chess, want to play again, and eventually win, has learned something that no school subject teaches directly
screen-freechess is one of the few activities that holds a school-age child's attention for 30-60 minutes without any screen. The competitive pressure of a live opponent is something no algorithm can replicate (Dr Andrew Przybylski, Oxford Internet Institute)
2 in 1a chess and draughts combined set provides the ideal learning pathway: draughts builds the spatial thinking and competitive habits that make chess easier to learn. Two games, one board, one price
£22.81is the price of the Jaques Staunton Chess Set: the entry-level family version of the most historically significant chess design ever made, suitable from age 6 and built to last indefinitely
1795Jaques of London has been making chess sets since before any other games company in the world existed. The 1849 Staunton collaboration is our most famous contribution to games history. We are still the standard.
When to Start: What Children Need Before Chess Makes Sense
Chess requires three cognitive capacities that develop in the 5-7 year window. The first is theory of mind: the understanding that another person has different knowledge, intentions, and perspective than you do. The second is working memory sufficient to hold 2-3 moves in mind simultaneously. The third is the emotional regulation to manage losing without giving up entirely.
NHS developmental milestones place these capacities in the 5-7 year range for most children, with significant individual variation. A mature 5-year-old can learn basic chess; a typical 6-year-old is well-placed to start; a 7-year-old who has not yet encountered chess has lost nothing and will learn quickly.
The advice most often given by primary school chess coaches: start with just two piece types. Learn pawns first, then rooks, then introduce the bishop, knight, queen, and king gradually over several sessions. The child who has to learn everything at once will find it overwhelming. The child who adds pieces gradually will find each addition exciting.
The Developmental Case for Chess at Ages 6 to 10
Attention span: JAMA Pediatrics 2023 meta-analysis found consistent attention improvements across all 24 studies reviewed. Chess requires sustained focus that passive entertainment never demands.
Strategic planning: Playing chess means thinking ahead: if I move here, they might move there, then I could. This forward-planning circuit is the same one used in academic work and real-world problem-solving.
Frustration tolerance: Every chess game produces a loser. The child who returns to the board after losing, learns from the game, and eventually wins, has built one of the most protective emotional capacities available.
Spatial reasoning: Moving pieces across the board, visualising attacks and defences, builds the spatial processing that underpins geometry, architecture, and engineering thinking in later education.
Theory of mind: Chess is fundamentally about understanding what your opponent is thinking. Every move is a form of perspective-taking. This is among the most developmentally important skills a school-age child can exercise.
Screen-free engagement: Chess holds a school-age child's attention for 20-60 minutes without any screen. The unpredictability of a live human opponent is something YouTube and gaming platforms cannot replicate.
Start With Draughts: The Case for Learning Both
For many children aged 6 to 7, draughts is the better starting point. The rules take 10 minutes to learn. The game takes 15-20 minutes to play. The spatial logic, moving pieces diagonally, planning multiple captures, protecting your own pieces, is identical to the thinking required in chess. A child who masters draughts naturally transitions to chess within months, and arrives there with better spatial reasoning than they would have had otherwise.
Our Chess and Draughts 2-in-1 Set (£22.80) gives you both games on a reversible hardwood board. It is the most practical purchase: the child starts with draughts and graduates to chess naturally, with no additional expenditure.
Chess and Draughts 2-in-1 from Jaques of London — reversible board, two complete sets, quality hardwood.
The Three Sets Worth Buying
The Staunton Chess Set (Ages 6 and over, £22.81)
The entry-level family chess set from the company that helped create the Staunton design in 1849. Our Staunton Chess Set uses quality hardwood pieces, a flat solid board with algebraic notation on the frame, and is independently tested to UKCA and CE safety standards. It is the set recommended by the British Chess Federation as a family starting point: Staunton standard, recognisable to any opponent, and built to last. From our full chess sets range.
Staunton Chess Set from Jaques of London — the original design, family entry-level, UKCA and CE tested.
Chess and Draughts 2-in-1 (Ages 6 and over, £22.80)
For families who want to start with draughts and graduate naturally to chess, or who want two games on one board, our Chess and Draughts 2-in-1 set provides a reversible board with full chess and draughts pieces. From our board games range.
Wooden Draughts Set (Ages 6 and over, £19.88)
For the child who is not yet ready for chess, the standalone Wooden Draughts Set (£19.88) is the better starting point. The rules are learnable in one session. The skill gap between a parent and a 6-year-old closes quickly enough that genuine competitive play is possible within weeks. From our traditional board games range.
Wooden Draughts Set from Jaques of London — solid board, quality wooden pieces, UKCA and CE tested.
Frequently Asked Questions: Children's Chess Sets UK
What is the best first chess set for a child UK 2026?
The Jaques Staunton Chess Set (£22.81) is the best entry-level family chess set available in the UK. It uses the original Staunton design, which Jaques helped create in 1849 and which remains the only officially recognised chess design in international competition. The pieces are quality hardwood, the board has algebraic notation printed on the frame, and it is independently tested to UKCA and CE safety standards. It is precisely the set that the British Chess Federation recommends as a family starting point.
What age can children start playing chess?
Most children are developmentally ready for a basic introduction to chess from around age 6. At this stage, children have developed theory of mind (the understanding that another person thinks differently), can hold simple cause-and-effect sequences in working memory, and can follow and apply rules consistently. NHS developmental milestones confirm these capacities emerge in the 5-7 window. Start by teaching just two pieces, perhaps pawns and rooks, and build the full game gradually. The full rules need not arrive at once.
Should children learn draughts before chess?
For many children, yes. Draughts shares the same board and shares the same spatial logic as chess, with simpler rules and a faster game. A child who learns draughts first develops the habit of looking ahead, managing multiple pieces, and recovering from loss before the complexity of chess is added. Our Chess and Draughts 2-in-1 Set (£22.80) provides both games on a reversible board, making the progression from one to the other natural and cost-free.
What does chess teach children?
Chess builds several transferable skills: strategic planning (thinking 2-3 moves ahead), attention span (the JAMA Pediatrics 2023 meta-analysis found consistent improvements across 24 studies), spatial reasoning, mathematical intuition, and frustration tolerance. The last of these is arguably the most valuable: a child who can lose, want to play again, and eventually win, is practising the emotional resilience that school assessments, workplace challenges, and adult relationships all require. No classroom subject teaches this directly.
How do I teach my child chess if I don't know how to play?
Start together. Buy the set and learn the rules alongside your child. The British Chess Federation offers free online resources for absolute beginners. Start with just two piece types per session, play simple games using only those pieces, and add more pieces as both of you become comfortable. The shared learning is itself the benefit: a parent and child learning chess together is one of the most valuable screen-free activities available. You do not need to be good at chess to teach your child how to play it.
What is the difference between a Staunton chess set and other chess sets?
The Staunton chess set, designed in 1849 in partnership with Jaques of London and endorsed by champion Howard Staunton, is the universally recognised standard chess design. Every serious tournament in the world uses Staunton-standard pieces. The design is characterised by the weighted rook (castle), the distinctive knight (horse head), and the proportional scaling of all pieces. Non-Staunton sets, while decorative, can confuse children learning to play because the pieces look nothing like the standard. A learning chess set should always be Staunton.
How much should I spend on a first chess set for a child?
The £20-25 range is the correct entry point for a quality family chess set. Cheaper sets below £15 tend to use lightweight pieces that fall over easily and boards that warp. More expensive sets above £40 are for serious players and collectors, not beginners. Our Staunton Chess Set at £22.81 and the Chess and Draughts 2-in-1 at £22.80 are both in this range and will last indefinitely with normal use.
Is chess better than screens for school-age children?
Chess provides competitive engagement that screens cannot replicate: a live opponent with an unpredictable human brain creates genuine stakes that an algorithm cannot simulate. Research from the Oxford Internet Institute consistently distinguishes passive screen engagement from active competitive play in terms of developmental benefit. Chess requires sustained attention, planning, and emotional regulation. YouTube requires none of these. This does not mean screens are always bad, but for the school-age child who would otherwise watch passively, chess is a categorically superior alternative.
What is algebraic notation and does a child need to learn it?
Algebraic notation is the system used to record chess moves: each square has a letter-number coordinate (a1 to h8), and moves are written as piece abbreviation plus destination square. Children do not need to learn notation to enjoy chess: it is a tool for recording and studying games, not a requirement for playing. Many chess sets, including the Jaques Staunton set, print the notation on the board frame as a reference. For children aged 8 and above who develop a serious interest, learning to read and record games opens a world of study and improvement.
Are Jaques of London chess sets good quality?
Yes. Jaques of London created the original Staunton chess set in 1849 and has been manufacturing chess sets to the same standard ever since. All Jaques chess sets use quality hardwood pieces, solid boards, and are independently tested to UKCA and CE safety standards. The company was founded in 1795 and is the world's oldest games and toy manufacturer. When the British Chess Federation recommends a starter set, it recommends Staunton standard, which Jaques created. Our full chess sets range covers every level from beginner to collector.
The Game We Helped Create in 1849. Still the Standard 175 Years Later.
The best first chess set is the one you actually play.
