As I have mentioned before, chances are that your game won't improve in the slightest with a cowboy chess set. You may have more fun with it though. I am a big believer that the players make the game. However, there is nothing wrong with spicing things up from time to time. I'm a big fan of the wild west and all the legends that come with it. So this particular style of board is one that I was immediately attracted to when I saw it. Whether I get to play as the cowboys or the American Indians, I just have a blast.
 BRAND NEW COWBOYS AND INDIANS CHESS SET HAND PAINTED $64.99 End Date: Monday May-21-2012 13:45:05 PDT Buy It Now for only: $64.99 Buy It Now | Add to watch list 
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 Cowboys Indians II Theme Chess Set $63.99 End Date: Monday May-21-2012 19:58:08 PDT Buy It Now for only: $63.99 Buy It Now | Add to watch list
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 Old West Cowboy Collectable Chess Set by Loon Lake Decoy $250.85 End Date: Friday May-25-2012 18:21:35 PDT Buy It Now for only: $250.85 Buy It Now | Add to watch list
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 COWBOYS vs INDIANS Old West set of chess men NEW $62.95 End Date: Sunday May-27-2012 17:31:11 PDT Buy It Now for only: $69.95 Buy It Now | Bid now | Add to watch list
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 ATLANTIC MOLD COWBOYS INDIANS WESTERN CHESS SET BOARD $179.95 End Date: Sunday Jun-3-2012 7:14:15 PDT Buy It Now for only: $179.95 Buy It Now | Add to watch list
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 COWBOYS vs INDIANS Old West set of chess men NEW $69.95 End Date: Wednesday Jun-6-2012 23:01:23 PDT Buy It Now for only: $69.95 Buy It Now | Add to watch list
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 40 PC COWBOY INDIAN WESTERN CHESS SET CERAMIC BISQUE $119.99 End Date: Friday Jun-8-2012 16:52:01 PDT Buy It Now for only: $119.99 Buy It Now | Add to watch list
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 COWBOYS vs INDIANS Chess Set W 17 wood board $99.95 End Date: Wednesday Jun-13-2012 19:07:46 PDT Buy It Now for only: $99.95 Buy It Now | Add to watch list
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 Chess Set Pieces American Wild West Cowboys NIB $49.99 End Date: Tuesday Jun-19-2012 12:47:32 PDT Buy It Now for only: $49.99 Buy It Now | Add to watch list
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The first time I played on a cowboy chess set it was a game with a friend of mine in the park. He was an old timer that I had been introduced to at a party. We shared a love for the game, so we connected right away. Soon after that night, I began meeting him on Sunday afternoons. He usually spent the day at a table in the local park, playing whichever one of his buddies would stop by. For many weekends that turned out to be me.
The old timer always carried his own, signature cowboy chess set around with him. It's all he ever played on. Like his trademark. I couldn't stop examining the pieces the first time I saw it. the detailed six shooters and tomahawks. I knew I had to have a cowboy chess set of my own one day.
He was a really good player. I remember that on more than one sunny day in that park, he just frustrated me to no end with his defensive style. It was always trouble trying to get through the blockades of pawns he would throw at me, protected by bishops and knights in the back. Or in the case of this particular cowboy chess set, by riflemen and pistoleers.
Lightning never strikes twice in the same place. And I never beat him twice in a row. He managed to get a run on me every once in a while. He had years and years of experience on me. That's not meant to be an excuse, just the way that it was. I never claimed to be the best player out there. Just someone who has a passion for the game and has played his fair share with a wide range of different players at different skill levels.
I'm happy enough with that. Sure, once I had dreams of being Grandmaster one day. But that takes a natural talent for it plus years of practice and dedication. That would all be too much for me, I'm afraid. I bet I could give a Grandmaster a decent game though. At least make him think. I do wonder how long I would last sometimes. But that dream is best left to others. I'm just content to have my very own cowboy chess set these days, and play a few games in the park with it from time to time.