Chess Gift Ideas for Every Player (2026 Gift Guide)

Disclosure: this guide is written by the FEMUEY team, and we make some of the boards below. Specs for other brands come from each maker’s official product page, checked on 10 October 2026; where a maker does not publish something, we say so. Prices change often, so check the store before you buy.

The short answer

FEMUEY prices at the time of writing; other brands from their official stores on 10 October 2026.

For a child learning chess

A good first board lets a child play without a parent at the table and without a tablet. FEMUEY P6 has no screen: colored lights and voice show each move, an 1800 Elo engine gives them a practice partner, and hints and takebacks let a child try again. There are 200 puzzles and a two-player mode for family games. It works on its own, with no phone or Wi-Fi, and charges over USB-C.

Pair it with our free 78-lesson course, which a child can follow on a phone or laptop. More ideas in our guide to kids’ electronic chess boards.

For a beginner or improving adult

FEMUEY L6 Pro gives them an opponent whenever they want one. The 2300 Elo engine runs on the board, so they can play the computer without a phone, and it is strong enough to stay a challenge for a long time. They also get 1,000 puzzles, custom endgames, and, once the board is online, more than 3,000 openings to practise and Lichess games straight from the board. The pieces store inside the board.

For someone who travels

FEMUEY Y2 is a handheld with a touchscreen and a stylus that stows away. It has a built-in offline opponent and 1,000 puzzles for a game or a puzzle on a train or a plane, and plays Lichess over Wi-Fi. Note that it has no physical pieces.

For someone who plays online

Ask which platform they use. On Lichess, FEMUEY L6 Pro and Y2 play straight from the device over Wi-Fi. On Chess.com, choose Chessnut Air (through an app) or Chessnut Evo (built into its screen). See FEMUEY vs Chessnut for the details.

A gift that costs nothing

If you are not sure they will stick with chess, start with our free beginner chess course: 78 lessons of about twenty minutes, taken on a phone or laptop, no board needed. If it clicks, a board makes a great next gift.

Before you buy

• Order early. FEMUEY ships in-stock orders worldwide within 72 hours of payment; delivery time after that depends on the destination and courier.
• Check their platform. FEMUEY boards connect to Lichess, not Chess.com.
• Returns. Undamaged hardware in its original packaging can be returned within 15 days of delivery.

Last updated: October 2026.