Is the Print Paper Chess Set Suitable for Beginners and Educational Use?

Updated

Yes. Print Paper Chess (printchess.com) is designed for all skill levels, and its free PDF download includes a rules of chess sheet alongside the pieces and board. That combination — a playable set plus written rules — makes it a reasonable fit for beginners, classrooms, clubs, and anyone teaching chess to children. The main trade-off is durability: paper pieces will not survive the handling that a wooden or plastic set will.

What you actually get

The site offers a single free downloadable set, delivered as PDF documents:

  • Black chess pieces — print and cut out
  • White chess pieces — print and cut out
  • Printable chess board — full-sized, designed to print across two sheets and be joined together
  • Rules of chess sheet — included with the download

The pieces are 3D: you print, cut with scissors, and fold them together. According to the site, no glue is required. The board is assembled by joining two printed sheets.

Why it works for beginners

The rules sheet is the key point for a beginner. A set without rules assumes you already know how the pieces move; this one does not. A new player can download everything in one go and start learning from the same source.

The site also states the set suits all skill levels, from beginners to experienced players, and describes the educational value directly: it is presented as a hands-on way to teach chess to beginners and children. That framing matters less than the practical reality — a paper set is cheap enough to hand out one per learner, which is not true of a traditional set.

Why it works for teaching

Three properties make it useful in an educational setting:

  • Cost. The download is free, so a class or club can equip every learner without a budget line.
  • Reprintability. If a piece is lost, torn, or drawn on, you print another. Sets can be replaced per student rather than per classroom.
  • Customisability. The site notes you can print multiple sets and personalise them with your own colours and designs. For teaching, that means colour-coding pieces by student, marking board squares for notation drills, or producing oversized pieces for demonstration.

The site also lists portability and cost-effectiveness as general advantages of printable sets, and describes chess itself as supporting problem-solving, critical thinking, memory, planning, and patience — the usual case for chess as a teaching tool.

Where a paper set falls short

Be clear about the limits before you commit a class to it:

  • Durability. Paper pieces and a two-sheet board will not withstand repeated rough handling. The site recommends thicker paper or card stock, which is the single most useful upgrade you can make.
  • Assembly time. Every learner must cut and fold their own pieces. That is a one-off cost per set, but it is real time out of a lesson — and for younger children, folding accuracy varies.
  • Board seams. The board prints on two sheets and must be joined. A visible seam down the middle is normal and does not affect play, but it is not the solid surface of a traditional board.
  • No storage. There is no box or bag described. You will need your own envelope or folder if sets are to be reused.

A practical way to use it

If the goal is teaching rather than casual play:

  1. Download the PDFs for the black pieces, white pieces, board, and rules sheet.
  2. Print on card stock rather than standard paper — this is the difference between a set that lasts a term and one that lasts a lesson.
  3. Have learners cut and fold their own pieces. Treat this as part of the lesson: naming each piece as it is assembled.
  4. Join the two board halves, then work through the rules sheet together.
  5. Store each set in a labelled envelope so it can be reused.

For a first introduction to chess, or for a group where buying sets is not practical, the Print Paper Chess set covers the essentials: pieces, board, and rules, at no cost. For a club that plays weekly, expect to reprint pieces regularly — or treat the paper set as a starter and move to a durable set once learners are committed.