Abandonware game Lego Chess is a puzzle game released in 1998 by LEGO Media International, Inc. The game was released for PC (Windows). Computer chess games typically allow a player to compete against a computer controlled player at varying difficulty levels. Games can be traditional interpretations or based upon a theme, for example Lego Chess and Star Wars Chess.
Introduction: A LEGO Chess and Checkers Game
In the following I like to describe a LEGO chess and checkers game, made from standard LEGO bricks, tiles and a base plate.
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Step 1: Layout
I was wondering if it would be possible to build a checkers or chess game based on a layout similar to the Lego Soduko game board I described earlier.
The Lego chess and checkers game described here is rather minimalistic and uses just a limited number and variety of bricks, which all were available at the pick-a-brick wall of my local (Berlin) Lego store. Costs for the parts are about 20 Euro.
Instead of plastering the whole board with black and white tiles with studs, here most of the area is covered with neutral gray tiles without studs. The colored tiles with studs are placed only at the required positions. This gives the board a distinct and clean look and makes it easier to grasp and and place the stones, especially if the board is used for chess or similar games where the whole board is used.
Besides being nice and Lego, the layout will also allow to play checkers or chess while traveling by car or boat or hanging out in your hammock, as the playing stones are holding well to the plate.
Limitations of the current layout are that the 'white' fields and stones are green because I couldn't get enough white tiles, and the fact that the colored tiles have to be fixed to the ground plate using hot glue. In an improved layout, the black and green/white tiles might be replaced by ones with a single stud. This should eliminate the requirement to glue.
Initially planned for checkers, this layout can also be used for chess. Kings, queens, bishops, knights and towers are indicated by 'hats' in different colors, forms or sizes. In the images a first draft is shown, but there is some room for improvements.
Step 2: Material List
As already mentioned, all parts were available at the Berlin Lego Store.
Pieces required for the current version:
- A 32x32 base plate 'classic'
- 32 black 2x2 tiles with studs
- 32 green 2x2 tiles with studs (green, as only green, black and gray tiles were available in sufficient amounts)
- 56 gray plain flat 2x2 tiles w/o studs
- 64 dark grey plain flat 1x2 tiles
- 64 drops of glue. I used hot glue, as it can be easily removed, if required.
for checkers:
- 24 black 2x2 bricks
- 24 green 2x2 bricks
- 12 red and 12 blue 2x2 bricks to crown the kings. But 6 of each should be sufficient in most cases.
for chess:
- 32 black 2x2 bricks
- 32 green or white 2x2 bricks
- each 4 red, yellow, raspberry, brown and blue 2x2 bricks as hats or crowns.
Estimated costs at the Lego store:
7 Euro for the base plate. The required stones and tiles shall fit into a pick-a-brick bucket for 10 or 17 Euro.
Step 3: Assembly
Assembly is easy.
- Place the gray tiles as indicated in the images.
- Place eight of the black or green tiles face down on a table and add a small amount of hot glue to each of the bricks.
- Rapidly (!) place the tiles at their respective locations and press them down to the plate.
- Repeat as above for the next rows.
- Remove any spilled glue. The glue is required as the tiles bind better to the bricks than to the base plate.
- For both colors, prepare 12 (checkers), respectively 16 (chess), stacks of two of the 2x2 bricks.
- For chess, give them the required hats and crowns.
- Place the stones on the board.
- Play the game.
If a checkers stone becomes a king, crown it with a blue (green) or red (black) brick.
If a chess pawn becomes a queen, give it a red crown.
Step 4: Remarks - Lego Ideas
I have placed this layout also at the 'Lego Ideas' website:
If you like the game and want it to become a commercial Lego product available for a wider public, please give it your vote there.
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If you love chess, and love legos this is by far a must have and a steal. It comes with a lot of pieces and offers a ton of replay value if your in a chess club or have friends and family that like to play. Best part it's two games in one checkers comes with it too. It's super easy to put together With the help of one friend he and I had it together in roughly one hour 45 mins to two hours it's a lot of pieces for the price you'll pay it should be a 199.99 set, but lego is practically giving the set away at 54.99 what are you waiting for go get it now. I also want to point out I got a free lego car with this purchase I thought that set was awesome too.I'm a chessboard collector and a collector of lego sets and I'm telling you this set is absolutely beautiful when it's all put together. It's stunning.
Even if you don't play chess or checkers this set is still worth having just to add more pieces to your tubs or totes of legos. Or to leave out on a coffee table for display for invited guests in your home to gander at. I love having a lego set with so much replay value. The build was straight forward. We really enjoyed modifying the chess pieces to make them smaller/more streamlined (i.e.
Easier for gameplay/maneuverability) without losing out on some of the very pretty detailing (the knight’s horse ears are adorable, and the bishop is particularly cleverly constructed). Amazing value for the number of pieces. We’ve played several games on it so far and everything holds up very well.
The storage aspect of it is also quite clever/appreciated. Overall, as two lego and chess geeks, we’re very satisfied.