The objective of Laser Chess is the same as its predecessor – regicide! Be the first to eliminate your opponent’s king and you’re the victor. But the new spin is that you zap them with lasers! We partnered with Timberdoodle, a marvelous homeschool company, to bring you a review of this new twist on a strategy game that has a 1,500 year-old history.
There are five layouts you can choose from so games have some variability. Set-up takes just a minute or two.
Players take turns moving mirrored playing pieces around the board. They end each turn by firing the laser, removing a man from play if the beam strikes the non-mirrored surface. When the laser strikes the king, that’s checkmate. But be careful because it’s possible to leave yourself open to attack or accidentally bounce the beam at your own regent.
The lasers themselves are encased in two short pieces that are installed at the game board corners. These can be rotated during play to fire and you can follow the path of the beam as it hits the glass side of each piece.
It’s fun to follow the path of the laser as it takes out piece after piece. The same strategy as classic chess applies here; play both offensively and defensively, and stay one step ahead of your opponent, because you don’t want that laser turned on your guys! As soon as you finish one game, you’re likely to ask for a rematch – that’s how engaging it is.
Benjamin takeaway was that Laser Chess is “easy to learn but a challenge to play!” He’s in 7th grade this fall and loves STEM-related games and activities.
Game play typically takes 15 to 20 minutes.
In 2018, Laser Chess was a Parent Tested Parent Approved Top Pick. It also garnered Mensa Select’s 2018 award and got The Dice Tower’s Seal of Approval from Tom Vassel.
The game components themselves get high marks for durability and appearance. The box included a molded insert to stow away all the pieces. Laser Chess is recommended for ages 8 and up (grades 3 and higher). It’s automatically included in Timberdoodle’s complete 7th Grade Curriculum. It includes 26 playing pieces, 2 class one eye-safe lasers, and batteries. Retail price is $43.50.
Laser Chess can help teach and reinforce these skills:
- Logic and Problem Solving
- Visual Perception
- Reasoning
- Understanding angles
Check out Timberdoodle’s video short to see Laser Chess in action!
