Double-Sided Regulation Silicone Tournament Chess Board - 2.25" Squares

I am entirely thrilled with this magnificent silicone black/green 2¼" squares chessboard (mat!) which is great to hold, lay out, play on, and look at. Some have said it "grabs" the pieces, so you can't "slide" them across the board. I don't agree. I can slide them just fine. But then again, I generally pick up my piece to move it, especially the King, as there isn't room between pieces for the King to fit! Besides, if I'm playing a game in my motor home bouncing down the road, I don't want the pieces sliding all around! The surface of this mat can be less grippy if you dab a bit of mineral oil on it. But over time, it breaks in very well, becoming less resistant to sliding chessmen. Silicone is virtually inert, and impervious to water damage, doesn't stain if you accidentally spill coffee or BBQ sauce on it, and remains FLEXIBLE for like all time. I had a silicone scuba mask in storage for 15 years and it was still functional and water tight for swimming. It matters not how you crumple it up or sit on it, laying it out it goes 100% flat and ready for action. The absolute BEST.

So glad I bought this. Those vinyl chess boards are so annoying with their curved edges - the silicone does unfold perfectly flat. I bought this to use at my Club on seniors' chess day, where I now play on a full-sized board, allowing me to see all the pieces. Everyone is really impressed, as none of my opponents have ever seen a silicone chessboard. The board came to me folded in half, but when I took it out of the packing box, it flopped open and lay flat with no creases. So don't worry about packing.