Centuries old, chess is one of the oldest games that have been played by humans. There are really two main components to a chess set. There are the chess pieces and then there are the chess boards.

A chess board is comprised of 64 squares laid out is an 8 by 8 pattern. The squares are arranged in alternating dark (known as ‘black') and light (referred to as ‘white') colors. During a chess game, the board is arranged such that each player has a white square in the near far-right corner. Each of the rows in the vertical direction of a board are referred to as ‘files' and the horizontal ones are called ‘ranks.' For the lengths where the same color is connected by their corners, that is referred to as a ‘diagonal.'

The majority of chess boards available today are made of wood. The board is made from a less expensive hardwood, and then veneered with the more decorative wood, or in some cases brass.

Ebony, Maple, Rosewood, Sheesham, Walnut and Hazelnut are all woods that are used to make chess boards. Chess board can also be made from Marble or pressed leather.

Each chess board has the same basic components, how the chess board is finished off is entirely different. Typically, a chess board is finished off with a simple border. However, it is in the finishing that the chess board can receive its own finishing touches to distinguish itself.