Super-sized chess set: $99

The Daily Deal for Wednesday, June 11: If you've ever seen Mel Brooks' History of the World, Part I, you might remember the giant chess scene. Basically, King Louis XVI of France, shortly before the revolution, is playing chess with a few of his friends. Rather than settle for a regular chess board, they direct appropriately-dressed servants to move from place to place on a giant board. Before too long, of course, the game dissolves into a free-for-all and hilarity ensues.

While ordinary chess is all well and good, some of us have higher aspirations. Unfortunately, it's hard to find 32 serfs who are willing to dress up as chess pieces and spend the better part of an afternoon wandering around a chess board under a hot sun. Thank heavens for Archie McPhee. Their Giant Chess Set has a 5' x 5' board and pieces that are sized accordingly; the kings, for example, are over 16 inches tall! While you may not be able to play human chess, you can certainly take your game to a whole new level. Best of all, at $99, the set is over 20% off its regular price.

It's good to be the king!

Bruce Watson is a freelance writer, blogger, and all-around cheapskate. He thinks--nay, he knows--that History of the World Part I is one of the best movies ever.