Chess Shops & Stores in New York City
Find the best places in NYC to buy chess sets, clocks, books, and accessories — from dedicated chess retailers to community game stores.
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Widely considered NYC's last dedicated chess shop — steps from Washington Square Park in Greenwich Village, serving players from beginners to masters since 1995. Browse an exceptional selection of sets from around the world and play a game in the same visit.
Play: $5/hr · Seniors $1 · Kids free
A legendary Manhattan game store near Herald Square offering chess books, equipment, and strategy games since 1975. One of the longest-running game shops in the United States — strong chess section alongside wargames, RPGs, and board games.
Sunday closed
NYC's specialist in rare, out-of-print, and historic chess literature, tucked above Union Square at 41 Union Square West. NM Fred Wilson has been collecting and selling chess books for over 45 years — the best source in the city for titles you will not find anywhere else.
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NYC's legendary "18 miles of books" bookstore since 1927, on Broadway at Union Square. Reliably stocks a rotating selection of chess titles in the basement — remaindered and discounted books often 50–70% below retail. Two blocks from Fred Wilson Chess Books.
Buying Guide
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FAQ
Chess Forum (219 Thompson St, Greenwich Village) is the only fully dedicated chess shop in NYC, open daily noon to midnight. The Compleat Strategist (11 E 33rd St, Midtown) carries chess equipment alongside strategy games — verify it is still open before visiting. For books, Fred Wilson Chess Books (41 Union Square West, Suite 718) specialises in rare and out-of-print titles. Online, US Chess Sales and House of Staunton are the most trusted sources.
USCF-rated tournaments use a king height of 3.75 inches (Staunton pattern) with a board where each square measures 2.25 inches. Vinyl rollup boards and single-weighted plastic pieces are standard. Chess Forum and US Chess Sales both carry regulation-size sets.
For USCF-rated tournament play, the DGT North America or DGT 3000 are the most widely accepted clocks. US Chess Sales (uscfsales.com) is the most reliable source. Chess Forum carries clocks in store. For casual play, any basic digital chess clock works fine.
Yes. Fred Wilson Chess Books (41 Union Square West, Suite 718) is the best source for rare and out-of-print chess literature — 45+ years of collecting. The Strand (828 Broadway) reliably stocks discounted chess titles in the basement, often 50–70% below retail. Chess Forum also carries a selection of books in store.
Yes at Chess Forum — it operates as both a shop and a pay-to-play chess parlor with nearly 700 members. You can rent a table, play casual games, or watch matches any day of the week, noon to midnight. It is the only place in NYC where you can buy a chess set and immediately sit down to use it.
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