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Gurpreet Khokhar

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Dubrovnik Chess Set

The Dubrovnik Chess Set: More Iconic Than Ever

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A beautiful chess set designed with curved edges, opposite-capped bishops, and highly elegant knights. Can you guess the name of this popular chess set? It is the Dubrovnik Chess Set.

So, what is so iconic about it? Why is the Dubrovnik Chess Set so popular all around the world?

This blog has answers to all of these questions and others, like who Bobby Fischer is and how he is associated with the Dubrovnik Chess Set.

Get ready for an interesting dive into the history of the Dubrovnik Chess set.

The Iconic Dubrovnik Chess Set

Dubrovnik Chess Set
Dubrovnik Chess Pieces – Chessbazaar

The Dubrovnik Chess Set gets its name from the beautiful city of Dubrovnik in Croatia. Known for its stunning architecture and historical significance, Dubrovnik also became famous in the chess world thanks to this unique set.

It was originally designed and produced in 1950, intended for use in the 9th Chess Olympiad held in Dubrovnik that same year. Its design was so admired that it quickly became a sought-after piece for chess enthusiasts around the globe.

Why Is It Called The Dubrovnik Chess Set

The name “Dubrovnik chess set” is deeply rooted in the set’s origins and its pivotal introduction during a significant event in the world of chess. To understand why it is called the Dubrovnik chess set, we must delve into its creation, the context of its design, and the role it played in a historic chess tournament.

Historical Context and Creation of the Dubrovnik Chess Set

The Dubrovnik chess set was specifically designed for the 9th Chess Olympiad, which took place in 1950 in the city of Dubrovnik, Croatia. This period post-World War II was marked by a global effort to rebuild and foster international cooperation and unity through various means, including cultural and sporting events.

Chess, with its universal appeal and intellectual prestige, was a perfect medium for this purpose. The Olympiad in Dubrovnik was not just a chess tournament; it was a symbol of international camaraderie and the intellectual resurgence of post-war Europe.

Design and Features of the Dubrovnik Chess Set

The design of the Dubrovnik chess set was commissioned to reflect the elegance and rich cultural heritage of its namesake city. Dubrovnik, known for its stunning medieval architecture and historical significance as a maritime republic, was an ideal symbol of resilience and beauty. The chess set designed for the Olympiad captured this essence through its minimalist yet highly functional aesthetic.

Its distinctive features, such as the sleek, stylized knights and the unique bishop design with opposite-colored caps, set it apart from other chess sets available at the time.

Naming and Legacy

Naming the chess set after the city of Dubrovnik was an homage to the city’s role in hosting the Olympiad and to its historical and cultural significance. The name also served to commemorate the event itself, forever linking the set to its place and moment in chess history.

The Dubrovnik chess set quickly gained popularity among chess enthusiasts worldwide, not just for its beautiful design but also for its association with the Olympiad and the city of Dubrovnik.

The Distinctive Charm of the 1950 Dubrovnik Chess Set

In the realm of chess, certain sets transcend their utilitarian function to become icons of culture and design. Among these, the 1950 Dubrovnik chess set occupies a place of honor.

Its allure lies not only in its aesthetic and historical richness but also in the unique narrative it weaves into the fabric of chess heritage. Let’s explore what makes this particular set a treasure within the chess community.

A Symbol of Rebirth and Unity

Crafted in the aftermath of the Second World War for the 9th Chess Olympiad in Dubrovnik, Croatia, the 1950 Dubrovnik Chess Set set emerged as a beacon of hope and international solidarity.

It was more than a set of playing pieces; it represented a collective yearning for peace and intellectual camaraderie across borders. This context imbued the set with a profound significance, elevating it from a mere gaming tool to a historical artifact that commemorated a moment of unity in a fractured world.

Understated Elegance and Precision

What sets the Dubrovnik chess pieces apart is their embodiment of minimalistic beauty and functional clarity. The Dubrovnik design focuses on the essence of each piece, offering a visually clean and easily recognizable form that appeals to both the casual player and the seasoned grandmaster.

Highlights of this design include:

Expressive Knights

Simplified yet full of character, the knights avoid elaborate carving in favor of a design that captures the spirit of the piece with elegant efficiency.

Unique Bishops

Bishop Dubrovnik Chess Set

Their design, with a subtle nod to the traditional bishop’s hat, blends seamlessly into the set’s overall minimalist ethos.

Robust Pawns

Pawn of Dubrovnik Chess Set

Their design, emphasizing stability and aesthetic appeal, enhances the tactile experience of gameplay.

Playability

Easy to play Dubrovnik Chess Pieces

The set’s design prioritizes the practical aspects of play, with pieces that are comfortable to handle and move, making it a favorite for both tournament and casual play.

It is very true to say that the 1950 Dubrovnik Chess Set is more than just a set of chess pieces and board; it is a piece of history, a work of art, and a testament to the game’s enduring appeal.

But there’s one more reason that led to the popularity of this special chess set.

It’s Bobby Fischer.

How is he linked with the Dubrovnik Chess Set?

The Connection Between Dubrovnik Chess Set and Bobby Fischer

The narrative of the Dubrovnik Chess Set takes a fascinating turn with the involvement of Bobby Fischer, one of the most celebrated and enigmatic chess grandmasters in history. His association with the Dubrovnik set is more than a mere preference.

Fischer’s Endorsement: A Seal of Excellence

Bobby Fischer’s acclaim for the Dubrovnik chess set began when he expressed his admiration for its minimalist design and superior functionality. Known for his meticulous attention to detail and an uncompromising demand for quality, Fischer found in the Dubrovnik set a reflection of his chess ethos—precision, clarity, and a profound respect for the game.

His preference for using this set in critical matches, including the pivotal 1972 World Chess Championship, significantly boosted its prestige in the chess community and beyond. Fischer’s endorsement of the set not only highlighted its design and practical merits but also immortalized its role in chess history.

After so many years, the 1950 Dubrovnik Chess Set still holds a special place in the world of chess and today, you can find different variations of it available in the market.

Different Variants of the Dubrovnik Chess Set

From faithful reproductions to creative reinterpretations, artisans, and manufacturers have offered a diverse array of variants to suit different tastes and preferences. Let’s explore some of the notable variants of the Dubrovnik Chess Set available in the market today:

  • Classic Reproductions: Meticulous replicas of the original 1950 Dubrovnik Chess Set, capturing its sleek lines and elegant proportions for purists and collectors.
  • Modern Interpretations: Contemporary takes on the Dubrovnik set, blending traditional aesthetics with modern design elements to appeal to a broader audience.
  • Artistic Renditions: Creative adaptations featuring intricate detailing, hand-painted motifs, or unique carvings add an artistic flair to the classic design.
  • Customizable Options: Sets offer customization in wood types, finishes, sizes, and even personalization, catering to individual preferences and tastes.
  • Limited Editions and Collectibles: Exclusive releases with special features or packaging, appealing to collectors and enthusiasts seeking rare additions to their collection.

But designing a Dubrovnik Chess Set isn’t a craft for anyone. It demands a high level of craftsmanship and only the hands of an expert can infuse the real essence of this chess set in the design.

Chessbazaar – Number One Provider of Dubrovnik Chess Set

Chessbazaar stands as a prominent provider of the iconic Dubrovnik Chess Set, showcasing unparalleled artisan craftsmanship and dedication to quality. Skilled artisans at Chessbazaar hand-carved remarkable Dubrovnik Chess Sets, meticulously bringing to life the timeless elegance of this revered design.

With a keen eye for detail and a passion for their craft, Chessbazaar’s artisans infuse each piece with precision and artistry, ensuring that every Dubrovnik set embodies the essence of the original 1950 design. Through our commitment to excellence, Chessbazaar continues to be a trusted source for enthusiasts seeking authentic Dubrovnik Chess Sets of exceptional quality.

The Reproduced Dubrovnik Chessmen Version 3.0 – By Chessbazaar

Chessbazaar proudly offers the Reproduced Dubrovnik Chessmen Version 3.0, a reflection of our dedication to preserving the legacy of this iconic set. These meticulously crafted sets faithfully replicate the design of the original 1950 Dubrovnik Chess Set, featuring sleek lines and elegant proportions that capture the essence of the classic design.

Available in various sizes and wood combinations, including

Ebonized & Antiqued boxwood,
Ebony / Boxwood,
Stained Crimson Boxwood / Boxwood,
Bud Rose Wood / Boxwood,
Burnt Boxwood / Natural Boxwood,
Sheesham / Boxwood &
Genuine Ebony Wood / Distressed Antique Wood

These sets cater to a range of preferences and tastes. For more information, see our Dubrovnik Chess Set collection.

Custom Chess Sets by Chessbazaar: Tailored to Your Preferences

Chessbazaar goes beyond offering pre-made sets by providing the option for custom chess sets tailored to individual preferences. Through our website, customers can submit their requirements and specifications, allowing Chessbazaar’s artisans to create bespoke chess sets that meet their exact needs.

Whether it’s a specific wood combination, size, or personalized engraving, Chessbazaar’s custom chess sets offer a unique and personalized touch. With their dedication to craftsmanship and customer satisfaction, Chessbazaar ensures that every custom chess set is a true reflection of the client’s vision and preferences.

Final Words

In conclusion, the Dubrovnik Chess Set stands as an enduring symbol of craftsmanship, elegance, and tradition in the world of chess. From Chessbazaar’s faithful reproductions to customizable options, enthusiasts can explore a diverse array of variants that pay homage to the timeless allure of the iconic Dubrovnik Chess Set.
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Difference between Chess Storage Box and Pouch
Chess Essentials

Chess Storage Box Vs. Chess Storage Pouch

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Picking the Right Chess Storage Option

Chess enthusiasts understand the importance of choosing proper chess storage essentials. Investing in one yields in saving your chess board and pieces from damage, assures durability, and many other benefits like keeping the chess pieces in shape.

Whether you own a unique wooden chess set, a tournament chess set, or a customized chess set, having a chess storage box is highly essential.

But when you search for chess pieces storage boxes online, you may encounter a wide range of chess storage options, out of which two of the most popular categories create a lot of confusion among the buyers – Chess Storage Pouches and Chess Storage Boxes.

So which one of these two should you buy? Let’s discuss both categories in detail and determine the right choice for you.

But first, you are required to understand why choosing the right storage essentials is so important.

Importance of Choosing the Right Chess Storage Essentials

Irrespective of whether you are a pro chess player or just started and still understanding how different pieces move on the board, the appropriate chess storage necessities are an important component of the game.

These storage options are more than mere confinement and conserve not just the pieces but also the spirit of the game. The correct storage option guarantees accessibility and organization, and—most importantly—reflects a player’s style and level of dedication to the game.

Isn’t it cool?

In simpler words, these storage options go beyond simple boxes or pouches and become a crucial component of a chess player, protecting their investment and enthusiasm for the age-old game.

Chess Storage Box Vs. Chess Storage Pouch – Understand the Difference

Although both operate to store and arrange chess pieces, chess boxes, and chess storage pouches are very different in appearance, use, mobility, and other ways.

Difference between Chess Storage Box and Pouch

We will consider the following three key aspects to understand the difference between the two –

  • Construction
  • Functionality
  • Appearance

Chess Storage Box

Construction: Chess storage boxes are usually made of leather, wood, or other durable materials. They also come in a variety of sizes. They frequently have sections or trays with slots intended to arrange and safely keep various kinds and sizes of chess pieces. Certain chess boxes are bigger and made to fit the chessboard and pieces, offering complete storage options.

Functionality: Chess Boxes offer durable protection for chess pieces, keeping them from damage, dust, or loss. Particularly for bigger chess sets, they are perfect for long-term storage and preserving the pieces’ integrity.

Appearance: Chess Boxes frequently radiate refinement and beauty, bringing visual value to the chess set and acting as useful storage and display pieces.

Chess Storage Pouch

Construction: Generally speaking, chess storage pouches are small, light, and portable. Typically composed of supple materials like leatherette or cotton, they include discrete pockets or sections for stowing away specific parts.

Functionality: Chess Storage Pouches put portability and ease of use first, providing a straightforward and portable solution for chess pieces. They work well in scenarios requiring little space or carrying capacity, such as travel and on-the-go gaming.

Appearance: Chess Storage Pouches may not have the same visual impact as Chess Boxes despite being useful. Rather than being aesthetically pleasing, their main design goals are portability and functionality.

We hope now you have a basic understanding about how the two storage options differ from each other in terms of their design, functionality, and aesthetics.

But wait! Don’t rush to make a decision about whether to buy a chess storage box or a chess storage pouch. Let’s deep dive a little into the key features of both chess set storage options.

Key Features of Chess Storage Boxes

Material Quality: To ensure the life and safety of the chess pieces, chess storage boxes are made of sturdy materials like wood, leather, or leatherette. Superior materials protect the components and enhance the storage solution’s visual attractiveness.

Divisions: Many chess storage boxes come with trays or sections made expressly to arrange and safely store various sizes and kinds of chess pieces. By keeping parts apart, this compartmentalization helps to avoid scratches or other damage while being stored.

Customizable Sizes: Chess storage boxes are available in various sizes to suit varying chess set dimensions. These boxes provide solutions appropriate for certain storage needs, whether for smaller, simpler sets or bigger, more complex collections.

Secure Closure methods: Locks, hinges, and clasps are secure closure methods used on high-end chess storage boxes. It keeps the box securely closed and guards against unintentional spills and exposure to the outside environment.

Aesthetic Appeal: Chess storage boxes can have exquisite designs and finishes in addition to their usefulness. For example, wood or leather boxes compliment the elegance of the chess set they carry while adding a touch of refinement and function as ornamental items.

Now some of you may be already inclined towards buying a chess storage box. So here are some of the best chess storage boxes to buy.

Types of Chess Storage Boxes

Wooden Chess Storage Box for 3.8″ Chess Set (with and without partition)
Tournament Chess Storage Box without Center Partition
Tournament Chess Storage Box without Center Partition
Tournament Chess Storage Box
Tournament Chess Storage Box

Material: This storage box is made of Sheesham wood, which is both elegant and durable.
Divisions: The variant without a central divider provides adaptable storage for different item diameters.
Capacity: Perfect for chess piece storage with up to 3.8″ pieces.
Purpose: Provides well-organized storage while preserving the components’ integrity.

Genuine Leather Brown Color Storage Box for 3-4″ Chess Set

Genuine Leather Brown Color Storage Box for 3-4 Inch Chess Set

Material: Crafted from real leather in a brown color that combines design and utility.
Design: Made especially to suit 3-4″ chess sets, its design ensures a tight fit while storing pieces.
Damage Protection: Protects and arranges the chess pieces while acting as a showcase piece.

Black Leatherette Chess Set Storage Box Coffer for Up To 15″ Chessboard and Slots for Chess Pieces

Black Leatherette Chess Set Storage Box Coffer

Double Storage: It holds the board and the pieces, perfect for bigger chess sets.
Material: The black leatherette finish provides a sleek and elegant appearance.
Damage Protection: Offers complete protection for the board and its components, making it perfect for transportation and storage.

Leatherette Chess Set Briefcase Storage Box Coffer

Leatherette Chess Set Briefcase Storage Box Coffer with Fixed Slots

Design: Snug and safe storage is provided by fixed slots made for 3.75″–4″ chess pieces.
Portability: Travel-friendly, small design that ensures organization and safekeeping while on the road.
Material: Long-lasting leatherette for enduring use.

Leatherette Chess Set Storage Box with Double Tray for 4″ – 4.25″ Pieces in Black

Leatherette Chess Set Storage Box with Double Tray for 4 - 4.25 Inch Pieces in Black

Capacity: Designed to hold bigger items between 4″ and 4.25″, ensuring safe and well-organized storage.
Double Tray Design: Ensures simple piece retrieval while improving accessibility and organization.
Material: Made of black leatherette, this item combines fashion and utility.

Related Reading: Find Your Perfect Storage Chess Box at Chessbazaar

If you are still interested in exploring chess storage pouches, the following section explains their key features followed by the best storage pouch to buy.

Key Features of Chess Storage Pouch

Compact and Portable Design: Chess Storage Pouches provide easy play while on the road because of their lightweight and portable design. Thanks to their portable, small size, chess fans may play games anywhere they go.

Soft and Protective Material: These pouches shield chess pieces from minor impacts and scratches since they are usually made of soft materials like leatherette or cotton. The delicate inside liner makes sure the pieces travel safely and unharmed.

Ease of Access: It is designed to provide players with rapid and simple access to individual pieces so they can quickly collect and position them during games, During games, the open-and-close design guarantees simple handling.

Travel-Friendly Solution: These pouches are practical and space-efficient, perfect for travel or informal games outside the house. They eliminate the need for larger storage options while transporting a small number of parts.

Best Chess Storage Pouch – Leatherette Chess Set Storage Pouch For 3″ To 4″ King Chess Pieces

The Leatherette Storage Pouch is the epitome of lightweight portability and sturdy dependability; it is designed to fit wooden or plastic chess sets with king sizes ranging from 3″ to 4″. Leatherette Chess Set Storage Pouch Here are some more details about the same –
  • Lightweight Yet Sturdy Design: The pouch’s feather-light construction guarantees effortless transportation, making it the perfect travel or on-the-go chess gaming partner. Although the chess set bag is lightweight, it is incredibly durable, offering dependable safeguarding for both plastic and wooden chess sets.
  • Fits King Size Sets that Are 3″ to 4″ Designed to snugly and securely fit chess sets with king pieces that range in height from 3″ to 4″. It can accept a wide variety of chess set variants within the given king-size range.
  • Protection without Bulk: Provides scratch or small damage protection without adding needless bulk to the entire set.

Picking the Right Chess Storage Essential – Key Takeaway

Large chess sets may be stored in Chess Boxes with extensive, durable solutions providing long-term organization and safety. Chess Storage Pouches emphasize mobility and compactness, providing a useful and easy-to-use solution for smaller sets whether traveling or playing casually. The decision between a Chess Box and a Chess Storage Pouch typically comes down to personal preferences for storage space, requirements for transportation, and how the chess set will be used.

Which one suits your requirements? Find both chess storage boxes and chess storage pouches at the best price only on chessbazaar.com

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Chess Set Essentials
Chess Set

Chess Set Essentials For Promoting Mental Sharpness

Table of Contents

Introduction

Chess is a game of forward-thinking. You need to plan your moves on the wooden chess board and consider your opponent’s possible responses. Not just this, but from forming long-term strategies to foreseeing any hidden threats in your opponent’s move, there is so much that goes on with every piece moving on the board.

That’s a lot of work for the mind. Isn’t it?

It is obvious that playing Chess involves a lot of mental exercises, and one needs to hone their cognitive skills.

But are you aware that the chess set you play with directly impacts your strategic thinking and may also affect your concentration during the game?

Yes, you read it right. The type of chess board and other components you play with significantly affect your gameplay. And no doubt, choosing the right chessboard can help improve your mental sharpness.

We bet you didn’t know it. Right?

But there is one thing that we are sure you know, and that’s how Chess leads to improving one’s mental sharpness and strategic planning skills. Let’s quickly brush up your knowledge in this subject.

How Playing Chess Sharpens Your Mind

Playing Chess is akin to subjecting the mind to a rigorous mental gymnasium, where each move serves as a rep for the brain. As a result, the game offers many benefits that sharpen one’s mind and foster strategic planning skills. Here is how Chess improves the mental ability of the players –

Thinking Strategically: Chess necessitates thinking strategically from the start. Players must plan their movements, consider different scenarios, and gauge the reactions of their opponents. This proactive thinking entails assessing situations, anticipating possible dangers, and developing long-term action plans. Chess strategy is a mental workout that improves planning and situation analysis capacity.

Every move in a game of Chess offers a challenge that has to be solved. Players must evaluate the circumstances, examine the board, and decide the best action. This ongoing practice of problem-solving honed analytical abilities, logical thinking, and situational flexibility—a crucial skill set transferable beyond the chessboard.

Related Reading: How to Get Good at Chess by Playing Strategically

Concentration & Focus: Chess demands high attention and focus throughout the game. It’s critical to be able to focus in the face of distractions. The continuous focus required to analyze complicated positions and calculate moves improves mental stamina and concentration.

Memory and Pattern Recognition: In Chess, it’s critical to remember past positions, strategies, and game patterns. The ability to retain information and recognize patterns is enhanced by developing a solid memory for movements and repeated patterns. This ability can help acquire new skills and retain crucial details, among other elements of daily living.

Long-Term Planning: Competent chess players plan their moves several moves ahead of time, gauging the reactions of their opponents and adjusting their tactics appropriately. Long-term planning fosters goal-setting, consequence-foreseeing, and strategic planning in personal and professional endeavours.

Analytical abilities: In Chess, analyzing intricate positions, computing variants, and weighing various options help to hone analytical skills. This ability to research is transferable to multiple domains, allowing people to evaluate circumstances, dissect issues, and arrive at rational conclusions.

Flexibility and Adaptability: Because Chess is a dynamic game, players must be able to adjust to shifting board situations and opposing strategies. Flexibility and adaptability make dealing with unforeseen changes easier and promote resilience in trying circumstances.

But how does playing on a tournament chess board or with a regular wooden chess set or even the type of chess pieces and other components related to promoting mental ability?

Let’s find out!

Importance of Chess Essentials for Improved Mental Ability

The correlation between chess essentials—such as tournament chess boards, wooden chess boards, chess pieces, and other components—and the promotion of mental abilities is profound and multifaceted.

Chess essentials intertwine with the cognitive processes, providing a canvas for mental exploration and growth.

For example :

Tournament chess boards, meticulously standardized for professional play, create an atmosphere of seriousness and commitment.

It is easy to interpret that choosing the right chess essentials links directly to improving mental ability.

Related Reading: Chess Set: Tips for Effective Purchase

Exciting, right? Let’s delve deeper and find out the critical chess essentials one should consider to elevate their overall gaming experience and how they impact the mental performance of the players.

Good Chess Pieces

Good chess pieces

Good chess pieces are essential for mental growth and go beyond simple game pieces. Chess knowledge is based on these games’ intricate designs, unique plays, and strategic importance. Interacting with well-designed objects improves spatial thinking, pattern identification, and attention.

The tactile experience of working with professional or wooden pieces enhances motor skills and focus, which are essential for mental nimbleness. Furthermore, physically moving these pieces strengthens the mental connection between thinking and action by establishing a link between the mind and strategic decision-making.

Interesting Chess Board

Interesting chess boards

The chessboard is a mental battlefield where strategic conflicts occur rather than just a playing area. Cognitive processes are stimulated by symmetry, geometry, and contrasting squares. Moving pieces around this graphic environment make one think of strategies, plan checkmates and imagine tactics.

The attraction of a beautiful chessboard is not limited to aesthetic appreciation; it also stimulates the quest for strategic mastery, strengthening one’s patience, mental sharpness, and problem-solving skills.

Analysis Chess SetAnalysis Chess Set

For chess lovers, an analysis chess set is an excellent teaching instrument similar to a classroom. It provides a framework for breaking down moves, figuring out trends, and honing tactics. This set fosters critical analysis and flexibility, which develops logical thinking.

Thinking back on gameplay—both wins and losses—promotes a habit of strategic planning and mistake-learning. These deep-rooted routines create the foundation for improved cognitive abilities, encouraging a deeper comprehension of the game’s intricacies.

Expert Chess Books

Expert Chess Books

Grandmasters and other seasoned chess professionals share their ideas via chess books, which serve as knowledge banks. They provide a greater understanding of chess fundamentals by acting as guides to tactics, openings, and endgames.

Reading these materials promotes critical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and the ability to predict opponents’ movements. They are helpful books and tools for developing mental insight, strategic thinking, and chess mastery.

Other Components

Score sheets and chess clocks are extra components that help with mental sharpness. Chess clocks include a temporal part, encouraging prompt decision-making and efficient time management. Maintaining a score on a sheet calls for meticulousness, improving recall and recognizing patterns.

Chess Essentials and Mental Ability – A Relation Worth Noticing

The environment that chess elements foster for mental stimulation is the link between them and mental capacity. Standardized, high-quality equipment improves the gaming experience and encourages more focus, deeper involvement, and strategic thinking. The mental exercise inherent in every movement is enhanced by the sensory and cognitive engagement that these necessities produce, which eventually helps promote mental acuity and strategic planning abilities.

To sum up, picking the right chess board, chess pieces, and other essential chess components plays a crucial role as they are associated with the mental ability and performance of the players.

Final Question: Where do you buy the best chess sets and other essentials?

If you have been into the game for quite some time now, you must be aware that Chessbazaar.com is the best online store to buy wooden chess sets, tournament chess boards, professional chess sets, standard chess sets, pieces, and all other components like chess clocks and more.

For first-time buyers, chessbazaar.com is among the most trusted places to buy chess sets and other essentials at the best possible prices. Crafted with high precision, each chess board and piece that you see on Chessbazaar are made by following the standard guidelines as laid down by the official chess authorities like USCF(United States Chess Federation), FIDE, etc.

Explore the most comprehensive range of high-quality chess sets, wooden chess sets, and other essentials on Chessbazaar.

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Wooden Chess Board in Sheesham Wood with Notation 21 Inch
Tournament Chess Board

Everything You Should Know About Tournament Chess Board

Table of Contents

The geometric pattern of a chess board may seem very basic. But so many minute details are taken care of when it comes to a real tournament chess board.

Are you excited to find out? Make your first move now. Let’s begin.

Tournament Chess Boards – The 8X8 Grid of Colored Squares

What’s the first thing that strikes you when you see a chess board?

“It’s not an easy sport,” Isn’t it?

But for someone who admires Chess as a sport, there is a lot to think about while looking at a chess board.

No. We’re not talking about calculating moves but the standards that a real tournament chess board should meet. Just because it appears like a grid of 64 alternating-colored squares doesn’t make one a tournament chess board.

Starting from the dimensions of the squares to the relationship between the size of the squares and pieces used, original tournament chess boards are made by following numerous rules and guidelines of the sport set by the International Chess Federation FIDE(Fédération Internationale des Échecs).

You seem interested! Let’s learn more about the tournament chess boards.

What is a Tournament Chess Board?

You must be wondering why we are mentioning the ‘Tournament Chess Board’ again and again and not just a chess board.

The reason behind this emphasis is to make you aware that there is a big difference between what is sold in the market as the game of Chess and what it is in reality.

Any board of colored grids doesn’t justify the true identity of Chess as a sport. Moreover, it is essential for any serious player to get used to playing on chess boards that adhere to the standardized guidelines.

Now, coming back to our main question of what a tournament chess board is. Here’s an answer for you.

‘Tournament Chess Boards are precisely crafted chess boards that are designed to meet the standards defined by official chess organizations and are used in chess tournaments.‘

Easy to understand the gist. Right?

Moving further in the game, let’s discuss what differentiates a tournament chess board from an ordinary board.

Tournament Chess Board Vs. Ordinary Chess Board

Several factors differentiate tournament chess boards from ordinary ones. Let’s look at some of the most important ones one by one.

#1 Is The Size and Dimensions of Tournament Chess Boards

As mentioned earlier in this blog, tournament chess boards are designed to adhere to the regulations set by official chess organizations like FIDE. In contrast, ordinary boards come in various sizes and follow no standard dimensions.

The tournament chess board size is 20 inches, measuring the same on all sides. The size of each square of a tournament chess board may range from 2 to 2.5 inches(as per the United States Chess Federation).

Not only the size of the board, tournament chess boards are accompanied by pieces of relative standard size where the King’s height can be between 3.375 inches and 4.5 inches.

*Dimensions of a standard tournament chess board according to USCF – Square Size: 2.25 inches and King’s height: 3.375 inches.

It is important to note here that the size of a tournament chess board may differ from country to country.

#2 Is The Piece Guidelines

There is a well-defined relation between the square size of a tournament chess board and the pieces to be used for playing the sport.

While it is usually not given enough weightage in ordinary chess boards available in the market, the tournament chess boards designed by prestigious chess board makers follow the guidelines very strictly.

As per both FIDE and USCF, the diameter of the King’s base should be no more or less than 40%50% of the King’s height. Moreover, the base diameter of the King and the size of the square have to be in a proper ratio.

In premium tournament chess boards, the base diameter of the King is 75-80% of the square size, which then allows proper spacing between the pieces.

Related Reading: How to Measure a Perfect Chessboard for a Particular King Size

Avoiding this important factor leads to an overcrowded board, which doesn’t fit in the category of tournament chess boards.

#3 Design of Tournament Chess Boards

There is no way that an ordinary chess board having irregular contrast between the squares can offer a professional atmosphere to the players. Only tournament chess boards designed by considering the rules offer a conducive environment for the players who play or wish to play high-level chess tournaments.

Top quality tournament chess boards are designed with a clear and consistent contrast between the squares with no other irregularity, so the players can only focus on their game and face no distractions.

It is enough for any chess enthusiast to understand why they should buy a tournament chess board, not an ordinary one.

Let’s jump on to another exciting part – the color of tournament chess boards.

Tournament Chess Board Color Options

There is a lot of information on the internet about what color combination is ideal for tournament chess boards. Stay clear now. We’ve got the precise answers to your questions.

Tournament chess boards are designed with specific color schemes and other standard specifications. You may find chess boards available in several color combinations, but here are the most preferred ones when it comes to tournament chess boards –

  • A combination of Black and White
  • A combination of Brown and other light shades like Off-white
  • A combination of Green and Cream

Though you can find chess boards in various schemes and choose as per your interest, these are the top preferred colors for tournament chess boards.

But do you know why the high contrast combination is essential in tournament chess boards?

It enhances visibility and allows easy differentiation between pieces. It also reduces the chances of errors for players, as Chess is a time-sensitive sport.

So, players, are you ready to buy your new tournament chess board?

Great!

“But is it expensive? How much money do I need to buy a tournament chess board?” We saw it coming. It is inevitable to have these questions. Read below to find the answers.

Do you need help picking the best tournament chess board? Here are some tips for you.

Cost of Tournament Chess Boards

After reading so many specifications about Tournament Chess Boards, Chess tournament rules, chess board sizes, etc., you must wonder if it is a costly affair to buy tournament chess boards.

What if we tell you that you can get one under $100? Does it surprise you? Absolutely!

At Chessbazaar.com, you can find premium tournament chess boards under US $100 and more options of tournament chess boards with coordinates. Chessbazaar.com is one of the most prestigious stores where you can find high-quality wooden and other materials for tournament chess boards at unbelievable prices. It is one of the most preferred names by chess players, collectors, and connoisseurs for finding everything you need to elevate your game of Chess, from wooden tournament chess boards to magnetic chess sets.

Some of the best-selling tournament chess boards on Chessbazaar are

Rubber Mouse Pad Tournament Roll Up Chess Board
Folding Cardboard 19 inch Chess Board with Notations in Brown and Off White square
Wooden Chess Board in Sheesham Wood with Notation 21 Inch

Tips to buy Tournament Chess Board

Check the design specifications

Look at the size and dimensions of the tournament chess board and check if it follows the standard guidelines mentioned earlier in this blog.

Consider the material

Quality chess boards made with premium quality wood or other durable materials and designed with the official guidelines of the sport are perfect for picking. Do make sure that the chess board is not made with any type of glossy material.

Compatibility of Board and Pieces

Make sure to check if the size of the pieces is well in proportion to the size of the squares of your tournament chess board.

Check the Reviews

After checking the product information, look at the reviews section and see what previous buyers have to say about the tournament chess board.

Consider your purpose and price

Take a final call on why you want to purchase the tournament chess board, and if it fits your requirements plus your budget, go ahead and buy it.

Don’t let anything hold you back. Find your favorite tournament chess board online on Chessbazaar.com now.

Choose the Right Tournament Chess Board

Given the fact that different organizations like FIDE set up several chess tournament rules, it isn’t easy to find an actual tournament chess board, and that too in budget.

With Chessbazaar.com, you can access a wide range of precisely made tournament chess boards starting at just US $100. You get everything you need in your tournament chess boards, from quality materials to highly accurate dimensions.

Have any doubts? Make another brilliant move and contact us. We’ll be happy to help. For latest product launch follow us on our social media channels: facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube

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Fierce Knight Staunton Series Chess Pieces in Bud Rosewood & Box Wood
Chess

The Birth of the Staunton Pattern Design

Table of Contents

The word “Staunton” in the “Staunton Chess Sets” has been derived from the famous chess master Howard Staunton. English chess master ‘Howard Staunton’ was one of the greatest chess player in the years between 1843 & 1851. It was due to his efforts that England became the one of the major chess centre in late 19th Century. He was not only a chess player, but also a chess promoter, writer and organizer. The Staunton Pattern Chess Set was designed in 1859 by Nathaniel and Jaques of London approved their manufacturing rights. Howard Staunton advertised this chess set made by Nathaniel and the set became popular under the name Staunton chess set. These chess sets have been used all over the world in all major tournaments since. Some common attributes you may find in all Staunton pieces are wide moulded base, Knight basically has head and neck like a horse, King has a stylish crown with cross pattee, Queen is slightly smaller than king with a small round ball mount on her head, Rooks feature stylized crenellated battlements and bishops a Western-style mitre. Pawns are the smallest pieces in the game with round head.

Unfortunately, finding a good and accurate Staunton chess set and matching chess board is not that easy. Most of the online chess stores are selling their chess pieces and chess boards separately either for a casual chess player or for a newbie; it is quite difficult task to match the chess pieces with a correct matching chess board. To make it easier for everyone to choose the right chess pieces with the right board, we have added the matching appropriate sized chess board as on our every product listing of chess pieces. Please refer to the below attached screenshot for more clear understanding.

Triple Weighted Shera Series with optional chess board

If you are looking for chess board to match an existing set of pieces then keep these points in your mind before picking up the one.

Staunton chess pieces are available in different colors, materials, sizes and weights. When matching pieces to a chess board, the size and wood color must be considered. The chess board should be approximately half (in cm) the height of the King (in mm).

Here are some predefined standard sizes:

70mm chess king suits a 40cm chess board

85mm chess king suits a 45-50cm chess board.

95mm chess king suits a 50-55cm chess board.

105mm-110mm chess king suits a 55cm-60cm chess board.

Note: If you can’t find your chess piece dimensions in a given standard size chart then use a larger chessboard square by up to 25%. Buying a smaller square size board will risk crowding the pieces. We have a great range of veneer chess boards, tournament chess boards.

Our Staunton chess pieces range starts from as low as $44 with a variety of sizes. Every single listing of the chess pieces on our website is matched up with a suitable chess board. Browse our Staunton range here.

Some Examples of Popular Staunton Chess Sets

Fierce Knight Staunton Series Chess Pieces in Bud Rosewood & Box Wood – 4.0″ King

Based on Staunton pattern style this set of chess pieces not only incredible but also fully functional. Made up from bud rose wood and boxwood, this weighted masterpiece truly gives chess player a fantastic gaming experience. And because of this people from across the globe ordered this phenomenal handcrafted creation from us with full enthusiasm.

Fierce Knight Staunton Series Chess Pieces in Bud Rosewood & Box Wood
Fierce Knight Staunton Series Chess Pieces in Bud Rosewood & Box Wood – 4.0″ King

Do you also want to pick up chess pieces that fascinate you from a touch, feel, and style perspective? It’s for you—just make it a purchase and get what you want!

You can shop this masterpiece from online chess store in different wood combinations:

Fierce Knight Staunton Series Chess Pieces In Rosewood & Box Wood – 4.1″ King – Currently In Production

The Fierce Knight Staunton Wooden Chess Pieces in Sheesham & Box Wood – 4.0″ King – Currently in backorder: ETA by Mid of November

The Fierce Knight Staunton Wooden Chess Pieces in Ebonized Boxwood & Box Wood – 4.0″ King

The Staunton Series (Jaques Pattern) Chess Pieces in Ebony & Box Wood – 3.4″ King

If you’re in search of chess pieces with impeccable craftsmanship, premium quality, and the classic Staunton pattern style—all in one place, then the Staunton Series (Jaques Pattern) Chess Pieces in Ebony & Box Wood are perfect for you.

The Staunton Series (Jaques Pattern) Chess Pieces in Ebony & Box Wood - 3.4
The Staunton Series (Jaques Pattern) Chess Pieces in Ebony & Box Wood – 3.4″ King


Well if you are who want matching board and storage solution with this chess pieces, we’ve provided an exclusive OPTIONAL opporunity that help you buying complete chess set without searching here and there. With this product, we have included optional bundle opportunity(for your ease) on chess board and storage items, if you need a complete chess set you can add items like chess board and storage box or pouch with additional price.We have these Staunton-style chess pieces in different wood combinations.

If you are someone who likes the Bud Rose & Box Wood variant, you can order it here, and we would feel very fortunate to fulfill your specific needs. If you have something in your mind related to chess pieces, style, size and pattern, would love to hear from you through our custom chess pieces dedicated specific solution.

The Old Collector’s Club Staunton Series Chess Pieces in Ebony and Boxwood – 4.4″ King

The Old Collector’s Club Staunton Series Chess Pieces in Ebony and Boxwood, with a majestic 4.4″ King, Having the elegance of true craftsmanship, this Staunton series chess pieces help you checkmate any game with different level of players in the club.

The Old Collector's Club Staunton Series Chess Pieces in Ebony and Boxwood
The Old Collector’s Club Staunton Series Chess Pieces in Ebony and Boxwood – 4.4″ King

Based on Staunton design pattern these chess pieces are handcrafted from the finest ebony and boxwood. Each piece is a masterpiece in itself, exuding a sense of history and tradition that resonates with chess enthusiasts and collectors alike. Elevate your chess experience with this finest quality chess pieces, where every move becomes a journey through the rich heritage of the game.

Hurry up, order today for yourself.

One can buy this masterpiece in different wood combination in Red Bud Rose & Box Wood by clicking on the mentioned link.

The Ultimate Series Staunton Chess Pieces Only in Ebonized / Boxwood – 3.75″ King

Spectacular style, stunning look and weighted pieces, all qualities you get when you buy this ultimate series Staunton chess pieces from us.

The Ultimate Series Staunton Chess Pieces Only in Ebonized and Boxwood
The Ultimate Series Staunton Chess Pieces Only in Ebonized / Boxwood – 3.75″ King

Suited for tournament as it’s having standard 3.75″ King. Crafted with precision, the dark chess pieces are made of ebonized boxwood, while the opposing pieces are fashioned from traditional boxwood for the white side. Boxwood, known for its ease of workmanship, highlights intricate aesthetic details. The set includes complimentary extra queens for seamless pawn promotion. Each chess piece is expertly carved and weighted, providing a fantastic hand-feel and a satisfying thud on the wooden chessboard.

All pieces feature unique designs and thick green felts that snugly envelop the base, ensuring smooth movement on the chessboard. The knights, representing the pinnacle of Indian artisan skill, are meticulously crafted with attention to detail in the eyes, nostrils, pinned ears, and mane.

Buy today and experience a more amazing and interesting game of chess.

This is all about different Staunton design pattern chess pieces, we love to hear back from you about your favorite Staunton style chess pieces from chessbazaar here in the comment section. For latest updates please follow and subscribe us on our social media channels, Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube channel.

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GENUINE LEATHER STORAGE BOX FOR 3-4 inch chess set
chessbazaar

Find Your Perfect Storage Chess Box at Chessbazaar

Table of Contents

Introduction

Have you seen how a fighter protects their weapon? How an artisan keep their tools nicely? Just like that being a chess player, it is your responsibility to keep your chess pieces securely. This practice will give you a sense of belongingness and your enthusiasm for chess will surely increase. The idea is to give timely attention to those chess pieces bought with so much passion. They should not be just scattered in an almirah or a decorative shelf but instead kept properly in a chess storage box. Yes, this investment is major if you wish to enhance the longevity of those fancy chess pieces. This becomes even more important when the chess set is inherited or is a really expensive one. So, are you keen to keep your chess pieces and board in great condition? Well, it seems like a yes! Let’s read further about it in detail:

Things to Keep in Mind Before Buying Storage Chess Box

Perfect size to keep chess pieces organized

If you are making an investment, then make a significant and worthy one. By this we mean you need to buy a chess box that aligns with the size of your chess pieces. You should definitely not plan to buy just any random box and place your lavish chess pieces set in it instead they must accommodate in the box appropriately.

Sturdy material that looks aesthetically appealing

There is no chance you can finalize a storage chess box without considering a good material. Ascertaining what will look great with your fancy chess pieces is also a matter of concern. Just think how bad those wooden pieces will seem when stored in a plastic box.

Smartly designed with compartments

An ideal chess piece storage box will have compartments to keep all the chessmen separate. They should be made in a way to keep the chess pieces in their places and there would be no chance of them getting lost. So, designing does play a role in choosing the best chess box.

An easy-to-carry storage chess box

Will you choose that heavy and boring storage chess piece box? We know chances are high you will not. So, it becomes mandatory to buy a feasible to carry yet great-looking chess box for those chess pieces. There can be some locks or hinges and even some decorative elements for overall presentation and additional carrying support.

Affordability at its best

Once you finalize all the aspects like size, looks, and other features, then arrives the time for the price. Simply set a budget and start your search with chessbazaar. Our exclusive craftsmanship comes at genuine prices. You must be intrigued to check out our collection of chess piece storage boxes. But we would recommend you understand what kind of material we use to make these storage chess boxes. Here we go- At chessbazaar, we keep in mind durability, appearance as well and uncompromisable quality when it comes to opting for materials to make chess piece storage boxes. Our preference is usually wood or leather. These two materials are the classiest options available in the making of worthy chess boxes. Talking about the wood, which is known for its elegance and timeless appeal. It is quite obvious to see wooden impressions in your imagination whenever chess is mentioned. There are options like Sheesham, Rosewood, and so on to choose from. Moving further, we have leather which is a luxurious choice. Think of a royal-looking chess piece storage box that has cushioned interiors that can keep your chessmen protected! Sounds astounding, right? This is how our stylish leather chess boxes look and feel.

Have a Look at Some of our Exclusive Storage Chess Box

#1. Black Leatherette Chess Set Storage Box Coffer for up to 15” Chessboard and Slots for Chess Pieces up to 3.0”

Let this graceful black leatherette chess set storage box keep your beautiful chess pieces in it. You will love the way your 3.0” inches chessmen and 15” inches chessboard will sit inside this box.

Black LEATHERETTE CHESS SET STORAGE BOX COFFER for up to 15 inch chessboard

There is a beige velvet for extra protection for the pieces that avoid scratching. That lock for safe upkeep is an additional feature that provides additional safety. Two separate trays inside the box can keep the chessmen and chessboard separate.

So, would you consider investing in this 3000-gram chess storage box?

#2. Black Storage Bag for Roll-up Chessboard up to 20”

This canvas-made, black-colored storage bag is ideal for a roll-up chessboard. It is made in a way to covers the least space but gives ultimate protection.

Black Storage Bag for Roll-up Chess Board Upto -20

With a height of 21” inches and a diameter of 3.8”, it can easily carry a roll-up chessboard of 20” inches. Although it is feather light but still has the sturdiness to keep your chessboard safe and intact.

Check out this storage bag at a genuine price from here.

#3. Leatherette Chess Set Coffer Storage Box with Hi-Gloss Crocodile Pattern Finish for 3.6”- 4.1” Pieces

Leatherette Chess Set Coffer Storage Box With Hi-Gloss Crocodile Pattern Finish

This leatherette chess set coffer storage box is definitely a work of art in itself. That hi-gloss Crocodile pattern finish wins hearts at the first glance.

Along with an elegant look, it has a double tray and fixed slots to keep each chessman safe. This chess piece storage box made from MDF board has a length of 11.8” inches, a breadth of 13” inches, and a height of 4.5” inches.

So, do not wait further to store your 3.6” to 4.1” King and other chess pieces in this prestige chess box.

#4. Brown Leatherette Chess Set Coffer Storage Box with Hi-Gloss Crocodile Pattern Finish for 4.2” – 4.7” Pieces

You can surely define elegance with this well-carved brown leatherette chess set coffer storage box. It has an amazing hi-gloss Crocodile pattern with a matte finish. Its aesthetics are just outstanding and there is no compromise with the spacing inside with double tray.

BROWN LEATHERETTE CHESS SET COFFER STORAGE BOX WITH HI-GLOSS CROCODILE PATTERN FINISH

This aptly weighted chess storage box is of 3450 grams and is suitable to support chess pieces of 4.2” to 4.7” inches. Talking about its size, then it is 15” inches in length, 13” inches in breadth, and 5.1” inches in height.

What do you think about this chess storage box with an individual storage compartment for those well-carved chessmen?

#5. Leatherette Chess Set Briefcase Storage Box Coffer (Brown Color) With Fixed Slots for 3.75” – 4” inches Pieces

LEATHERETTE CHESS SET BRIEFCASE STORAGE BOX COFFER (BROWN COLOR) WITH FIXED SLOTS

How about a comprehensive briefcase for safeguarding those expensive chess pieces? Sounds lovely, right? Make it possible with this leatherette chess set briefcase storage box coffer.

You can get the fixed slots to keep all chessmen differently and appropriately. It is not at all a problem to carry this briefcase anywhere as your chess piece will not fall apart. However, make sure you have or planning to buy a 3.75” to 4” King and chessmen to place in this storage box.

Check this 2250-gram storage box that offers the feel of beige velvet for extraordinary protection.

#6. Tournament Chess storage Box in Sheesham Wood for up to 3.8” Chess Set

TOURNAMENT CHESS STORAGE BOX IN SHEESHAM WOOD FOR UP TO 3.8 inch chess set

This chess box is made of high-quality Sheesham wood also known as Golden Rose wood. A seasoned chess player is well-aware of the amazing feel that this classic storage box can give.

It has a dimension of 9 ½” x 6” x 4” inches and thick green felt interiors that keeps the chessmen safe. A sliding lid on the top is quite suitable with the entire design of this wooden storage box.

Please note that this 980- gram chess storage box is ideal for 3.8” inches chess pieces. So, when are you playing your next tournament with the pieces stored in this magic box?

#7. Genuine leather Storage Box for 3”- 4” Chess Set

GENUINE LEATHER STORAGE BOX FOR 3-4 inch chess set

Luxury and leather go simultaneously in the head of a chess buyer. If you are looking for lavish yet durable chess storage box, then here is your deal.

This genuine leather storage box is great to keep 3-4 inches chess sets with the dimensions of 11” inches in length, 7” inches in breadth, and 4” inches in height. The overall weight of this chess box is 810 grams and it offers two separate compartments for the lighter and the darker chess pieces.

It is noteworthy that this empty chess storage box has green velvet inside to protect the chessmen from scratching. Would you like to invest in this box?

You can check out all other chess piece storage boxes at our website and find the most suitable one as per your chess pieces and chess board. The price of these chess boxes will start from $200 and go up to $350. However, at chessbazaar we take care of budget while providing high-quality. So, we offer chess boxes below $250 and storage bags are available at as low as $49. Connect with us to find out more about the quality, prices, and aesthetics of these storage chess boxes.

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Chess Blogs

Tournament Chess Sets – 5 Incredible Chess Sets to Choose from!

Before getting into which chess set you choose, let’s clarify the actual need for Tournament Chess Sets.

“The need for a chess set that is easy to use and universally recognizable by every chess player motivated a sports and games manufacturer from London to develop a standardized chess set – commonly known now as Tournament Chess Sets.”

Important Thing: There are hundreds’ of designs and sizes for a chess set, not every set is ideal for tournament play. According to FIDE, the organization which conducts chess tournaments, have set the standard for the chess pieces and chessboards. The material of the chess set should be of plastic or wooden with the pieces should be proportionate to their height and form.

Related: Plastic Chess Pieces

The recommended height of a chess king is 9.5 cm, Queen 8.5 cm, Bishop 7cm, Knight 6 cm, Rook 5.5cm, and Pawn 5 cm. The diameter of the pieces should be 40-50% of the height. FIDE recommend Staunton style pieces for the competitions. The color of the pieces should be black or brown or of other darker shades like Sheesham. The light color of the set should be of the natural color like boxwood, maple, etc. FIDE recommend buff polish instead of glossy finish.

For the chessboards, only wooden boards are used for world level or continental top-level competitions. For other FIDE registered tournaments, boards made of wood or mouse-pad are recommended. In all cases, the boards should be rigid. The size of the square should measure 5 cm to 6 cm. The board squares must be according to the diameter of the pieces and four pieces can able to adjust in a single square.

Related: The Top 5 Iconic Chess Sets every Chess Collector Must Possess

For the chess clocks, FIDE recommends only electronic clocks for world level and continental competitions. Mechanical clocks may be used for other FIDE registered chess tournaments.

Chessbazaar offers some of the best tournament chess sets, which not only helps you in practicing in a real-time environment but also is light on your pocket. The following are our recommendations

1. German Knight Chess Pieces with Walnut maple chessboard

These are the actual tournament pieces, which are FIDE approved and mostly are used in world level chess competitions. The Spanish veneer wooden board may not be the DGT one as used in actual tournaments, has the same feel and finish and has coordinates along its borders, which help most of the novice players in recording their moves. The set comes with standard 2 extra queens for effortless pawn promotion. The king height is tournament standard 3.75” and the base is 1.4”. The square of the board is 50mm or 2.0”.

2. Modern Staunton Chess Pieces with Walnut maple chessboard

If you’re interested in playing with actual wooden Staunton style chess pieces, this is the combo for you. The chess pieces are made up of genuine boxwood and ebony wood. The knight is the main attraction of this set and with 1500 gms of total weight, this is the best chessmen to play with. The king height is 3.97” and the base is 1.69”. The board is the same Spanish walnut veneer wooden board with a square size of 2.12” or 54mm. The total weight of this combo is around 2300 gms.

3. 1950 Reproduced Dubrovnik Bobby Fischer Chessmen Version 3.0

If you’re a Bobby Fisher fan, then this chess pieces might ignite the interest in you. Reproduced Dubrovnik weighted chess pieces with a 3.7″ King and base diameter of 1.5″. This set is Double Weighted and the chess pieces have thick green felt on their bases. The dark chess pieces are made in Stained Crimson Boxwood and the lighter chess pieces are made in Boxwood.

Reproduced Dubrovnik weighted chess pieces

We have received great reviews from our happy customer for the 1950 Reproduced Dubrovnik Bobby Fischer Chessmen Version 3.0. See the attached image below:

Bobby Fischer Chessman

4. The Sinquefield Cup 2017 Reproduced Original Chess Pieces

The reproduced Sinquefield Cup 2017 chess set, popularly known as The Craftsman Staunton series is weighted chess pieces with a 3.75″ King and base diameter of 1.7″. Dark chess pieces are exquisitely crafted in bud rosewood aka Padauk wood. Because of its rarity, bud rosewood chess pieces are the primary choice of many chess enthusiasts. Bud rosewood is an alluring wood and probably the most admired wood for most high-end chess sets..

Sinquefield Cup 2017

We have received great reviews from our happy customer for the The Sinquefield Cup 2017 Reproduced Original Chess Pieces In Bud Rosewood & Boxwood. See the attached image below:

SINQUEFIELD CUP 2017

5. Repro 90’s French Chavet Chess Pieces with Sheesham Wooden Board

The most popular and FIDE approved design used in 90’s, the Chavet chessmen in Sheesham and boxwood. These chessmen are designed and developed in France by famous French maker Chavet. The set was used during the iconic World Chess Championship in 1990(Lyon). The height of the chess king is 3.66” and the base is 1.57”. The board is a solid wood board made of Sheesham and maple. The square size of this board is 2.2” or 55mm. The total weight of these chessmen is 5600 gms.

Chavet chessmen in Sheesham and boxwood

Since there are many other chess combos that are perfect for tournament plays, you might want to look at our tournament chess set category. Making these combos are our ongoing effort and you might see many other great combinations coming up in due time. Not to mention, for the students, we are coming up with more affordable combos. We recommend you to kindly subscribe to our newsletter for upcoming deals and new launches.

Related: 5 Reasons Why Collecting Chess Sets is a Good Idea?

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Evolution of Chess Sets

What is Staunton Chess Designs? Its Evolution and a Bit of History!

When something is not working a loud cry hails for a new invention, this is exactly how world-renowned Staunton chess sets design came into existence, which later became the official international standard.

Staunton chess sets design refer to a particular style of chess pieces that were first introduced by Nathaniel Cook and designed by John Jaques of London in 1849. These pieces are now the standard design for tournament play and are recognized by chess players and enthusiasts worldwide.

The Staunton design features a particular set of distinctive, hand-carved chess pieces with specific characteristics, including a king that is 3.75 inches tall, a queen that is 3.25 inches tall, and knights that are 2.75 inches tall. The pieces are designed to be both functional and aesthetically pleasing, with a simple yet elegant appearance that is easy to distinguish on the board.

The Staunton chess design was named after Howard Staunton, an English chess player, and writer who was regarded as the leading chess player of his time. Staunton was a strong advocate for standardizing the design of chess pieces, and he endorsed the design that now bears his name. The Staunton design quickly became popular and has since become the standard design for chess sets used in tournaments and matches around the world.

Chess Pieces RepresentationImg1: 3.5″ unweighted set in Carton Pierre Casket 1849 “Cook knights”

Problems in Earlier chess sets:

In the first half of the 19th century there were English Barleycorn chess sets, the St. George chess sets, the French Regence chess sets. The problem with existing chess sets was that they were tall with less weight which resulted in falling or tipping of chess pieces while playing the game. Intricate designs, and light weighted chess sets were a turn-off for the players. Another major disadvantage was the similarity of the pieces within a set, player’s unfamiliarity with an opponent’s set could alter the outcome of a game with one wrong move. In addition they had decorative features which made them fragile and created a possibility of breakage.

About Staunton Chess set

The set was revolutionary as it solved most of the problems chess players faced while playing. It didn’t have messy decorative features most likely to damage and also had wide bases. Also, there was lead added the wooden chess pieces for better weight and stability. Made without frills, the Staunton sets were also the low cost which made them accessible to the masses and made them more popular. The style was stable and simple and not at all fragile in any sense.

Some distinct features of Staunton chess pieces:

King being tallest piece, and a cross on his head, Rook’s top shown as a castle, Knight being depicted with a horse head attracted many around the world.

The distinctive features of Staunton chess designs include:

  1. Balanced design: The Staunton design features a well-balanced set of chess pieces, with the pieces being proportionate to each other in terms of size and weight.

  2. Simplified design: The design is simple yet elegant, with each piece having a distinctive shape and size that is easy to distinguish from the others.

  3. Standardized design: The Staunton design has become the standard for tournament play and is recognized by chess players worldwide.

  4. King and Queen design: The king and queen are the tallest pieces on the board, with the king standing at 3.75 inches tall and the queen at 3.25 inches tall. They both have a rounded crown, with the king having a cross on top and the queen having a coronet.

  5. Knight design: The knight is represented by a horse’s head and neck, with one ear pointing forward and the other pointing backward. The knight is the only piece that can jump over other pieces.

  6. Bishop design: The bishop has a mitre-shaped head and a long, narrow body that distinguishes it from the other pieces.

  7. Rook design: The rook is represented by a castle-shaped tower, with a crenellated top that gives it a distinctive appearance.

There are 17 variants of the original 1849 Staunton Chess Set classified as follows:

1) Wedgewood chess set (1849)
2) Leuchars chess set (1849)
3) Cooke chess set (1849–1850)
4) Morphy chess set (1851) – characterized by “Morphy” knights, which have pronounced jowls versus other designs of knights
5) Harrwitz chess set (1852–55)
6) Paulsen chess set (1853–1855)
7) Anderssen chess set (1855–65)
8) Steinitz chess set (1865–70)
9) Tarrasch chess set (1870–1875)
10) Zukertort chess set (1875–80)
11) Lasker chess set (1880–85)
12) Pre-Hartston chess set (1885–1890)
13) Hartston chess set (1890–1900)
14) Marshall chess set (1900–15)
15) Broadbent chess set (1925–37)
16) Nimzovitch chess set (1927–1937)
17) Lessing chess set (1927–1937)
Early and Later Jaques Knights groupsImg2: Group of early and later Jaques knights.

Naming the Revolutionary Chess Set

The Chess design is named after Howard Staunton who was a notable strong chess player at the time. He was an English chess master who is generally regarded as having been the world’s strongest player from 1843 to 1851. Nathaniel Cook (editor in the Illustrated London News) urged & convinced the champion to endorse and give his name to the newly invented chess design, the Staunton Design.

Later, Howard Staunton not only endorsed the product but promoted it to an exceptional degree including the remonstration and ridiculing of any other design of chessmen then proposed. The Staunton style soon became the standard on which most tournament-playing pieces have been made and used around the world ever since. The low cost of the Staunton set allowed the masses to purchase it and helped to give mass appeal to the game of chess.

Today’s Jaques Chess Reproductions

chessbazaar with inputs from famous chess restorer Mr. Alan Dewey have collaborated on a number of reproductions. These reproductions have been applauded by the chess collector community around the world.

Reproduced 1849 Original Staunton Pattern Triple Weighted Chess Pieces

1. 1849 Chess Set Reproduction: chessbazaar is proud to announce the version 3 of 1849 available in three variant, the 4.4″ King size 1849 in an antique finish, the 4.4″ King size 1849 in a red and ivory white finish and the 3.75″ King tournament size 1849 in boxwood and genuine ebony. The knights and rooks of all the variants come with kingside stamping.

 

Reproduced 1851 Morphy Chess Pieces Only V2.0

2. Reproduced 1851 Morphy Chess Set: We reproduce 1851 Staunton Pattern Chess Set with “Morphy” knights in 4.4″ king size. A rook and a knight on each side come with kingside stamping which was a norm with Staunton chess sets at that time. All the pieces are heavily weighted which gives them extra stability on the chess board and feels good to hold and play with them. Thick green felt has been fixed on the base of the pieces which protects the board, minimizing noise while playing and looks classy on the rim of the base of pieces. The boxwood has been given antiqued finish by a special secret process which makes the set look like an original time chess set and the set weighs approx 2000 grams.

 

Reproduced Circa 1852 Harrwitz Staunton Pattern Chess Pieces

3. Reproduced 1852 Harrwitz Chess Set: The original antique 1852 Harrwitz set in the playable condition is very very hard to find and may cost thousands of dollars if available. Our Repro Circa 1852 Harrwitz Staunton Chess Set is a humble try to bring this legendary design to life and to let chess enthusiasts experience the game with this beautiful chess set which hitherto was not possible. The King proudly stands 4.5″ tall with a base diameter of 2 inches. The set comes with free extra queens for pawn promotion. 

Reproduced Antique 1860 Anderssen Drop Jaw Staunton Pattern Chess Pieces

4. Reproduced Antique 1860 Anderssen Drop Jaw Chess Set: The original 1860 Anderssen Drop Jaw Staunton Pattern Chess Set in playable condition is very hard to find and may cost thousands of dollars if available. The King in this set stands 4.5″ tall with a base diameter of 1.8 inches. It comes with antique finish and king-side stamping.

Reproduced Antique 1865-70 Steinitz Staunton Pattern Chess Pieces in Ebony / Box Wood

5. Reproduced Antique 1865-70 Steinitz Chess Set: Reproduced Antique 1865-70 Steinitz Staunton Pattern chess set is handcrafted in genuine ebony wood and boxwood. The King is 3.75″ (Tournament Size) with a base diameter of 1.65 inches. The set comes with free extra queens for pawn promotion. Pieces have unique rings and thick green felts. 

Reproduced Antique 1885 Pre-Hartston Staunton Pattern Chess Pieces in Ebony / Antiqued Box Wood

6. Reproduced Antique 1885 Pre-Hartston Chess Set: The reproduction of 1885 comes in 4.4″ King size with antique finish and king-side stamping. The Knights are somewhat similar to the 1900 Marshal knights, vertical miter of the bishops is charming. All chess pieces have a very wide base. The King in the set is 4.5″ tall with a base diameter of 1.92 inches.

7. Reproduced Antique 1900 Marshal Chess Set: Our repro of 1900 Marshal Staunton pattern chess set is a humble try to bring this legendary design to life and to let chess enthusiasts experience the game with this beautiful chess set. Reproduced Antique 1900 Marshal Staunton Pattern chess set is handcrafted in genuine ebony wood and antiqued boxwood. The King is 3.75″ high (Tournament Size) with a base diameter of 1.69 inches. The set comes in Antique finish and king-side stamping.

Did You Know!

Staunton chess sets by Jaques of London are also believed to be used in World War 2 by MI9 (the British Directorate of Military Intelligence Section 9). Chess pieces and sets were hollowed out to hold secrete maps, currency, documents, hacksaw blades and swinger compasses”, constructed to help British and American prisoners of war.

This famous set was made available to common public on September 29, 1849, & is now popularly called “The Staunton” and the rest is history.

In today’s world, available Staunton designs may be fake or of low quality as there are very few people in the industry who can match the finish of Staunton sets, finding the right Staunton chess set may be a little difficult for a new budding chess player. We here at chessbazaar.com provide the exact replicas of Staunton chess designs.

Some Interesting Facts about Staunton Chess Sets

  1. The Staunton chess design was named after Howard Staunton, a prominent English chess player and writer who lived in the 19th century. He was a strong advocate for standardizing the design of chess pieces.

  2. The original Staunton chess set was designed and manufactured by John Jaques of London in 1849. Jaques was a well-known maker of high-quality games and sports equipment.

  3. The Staunton design quickly became popular and is now the standard design for tournament play. The World Chess Federation (FIDE) recommends the use of the Staunton design for official chess tournaments.

  4. Staunton chess sets are made from a variety of materials, including wood, plastic, and metal. Some of the most expensive sets are made from rare and exotic materials, such as ivory or ebony.

  5. Staunton chess sets have been used in many famous chess matches throughout history, including the famous “Match of the Century” between Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky in 1972.

  6. Some Staunton chess sets are considered works of art and are highly collectible. Rare and antique sets can fetch high prices at auction, with some selling for tens of thousands of dollars.

  7. The Staunton design has been adapted for use in many different types of chess sets, including travel sets, magnetic sets, and giant outdoor sets.

Overall, the Staunton chess set is an iconic design that has become synonymous with the game of chess. It has a rich history and continues to be popular among chess players and collectors around the world.

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Chess Blogs

Best Designer & Unique Chess Sets for Décor, Study, Home Office or Library

If you think that chess sets are made to be played only between two players, then think again.  Though recently, with the introduction of 3 players and 4 players chess set, chess is not a 2 player game anymore. Chess has grown many-folds as a game. The vast variety of chessmen (in design and structure) still amazes many.

Chess as a game has the respect and love of many around the world. The beauty of a chess set is not only a delight for players but also for the ones who actually don’t play.

Now you may wonder, How?

Actually, due to chess pieces being made in many beautiful and attractive designs and patterns, chess sets are also used as decor by many, may it be an office, home or library. Your eyes will definitely enjoy the beauty of an artistically made chess sets including chessboard and chessmen.

A chess set will surely give a grandeur look and feel to wherever you put it. It will definitely create an ambiance that defines elegance and intelligence at the same time.

Chess pieces came in many patterns and designs. While the majority of the chess sets come in traditional Staunton style, where knights resemble a horse, there are many pre-Staunton chess sets, which will be a perfect fit for your décor. In fact, some of the chess sets are so differently carved, it is hard to recognize them as a chess set.

Here are our recommendations for the chess set you should have as a décor for your home office, library or study.

Let’s start from the Staunton Style chess sets.

The Best Chess Sets for Home Décor

  1. The Excalibur Chess Set

One of the most luxurious chess set in our inventory, Excalibur makes the perfect chess set for the home décor. You can keep it on a central table or in a lobby, depends on your liking. This 34 pieces chess set came in two different exotic kinds of wood, i.e Padauk a.k.a Bud Rosewood or the Ebony wood. Depending on the color theme of your indoor, you can pick any of your choices. These chess pieces are available in a set of 34 chess pieces with 2 extra queens and in a perfect combo if you want both board and pieces together.

The Excalibur Chess Set from Chessbazaar
The Excalibur Chess Set

2. The St. Petersburg Chess Set

This set gets its name from St Petersberg city as the final of the king is inspired by the golden dome of Saint Isaac’s Cathedral which dominates Russia’s rebel city St Petersburg skyline.  The knight is the special attraction in this set with a tilted neck as if the horse is following his masters’ direction. To carve this knight, a carver needs at least 3 days to complete with the highest precision as a single mistake can ruin the whole of the knight. The chess set comes in both genuine ebony wood and padauk wood to choose from.

  • Artisan Series Chess Pieces from chessbazaar

3.     The CB Mustang Chess Set

As always, the CB Mustang gets its inspiration from the Mustang horse. Mustang horses are known for their Strong and Sturdy legs, great intelligence and some of them have very great feathering or hair growth. The knights are precision crafted. The wavy & flowing mane of the knight represents the Mustang in full gallop. Another feature that sets this set apart is the rook. The rook or towers comes with a doubleheader that is well crafted and the inspiration comes from the Gothic castles mainly found in Europe. The set comes in both ebony and padauk wood with combinations of chess board to choose from.

CB Mustang Chess Set
The CB Mustang Chess Set

You can also explore our other wide range of luxury chess pieces that come in a variety of exotic woods.

Some other pre-Staunton chess sets also look good and give an antique look to the corner of the house. Some of the antique sets are discussed below:

1. The Calvert Chess Set

Developed in the 17th century in Ivory, this chess set is the most favorite and mostly collected by the collectors’ community throughout the world. We used to offer this set in camel bone, however, due to the high cost of camel bone due to the rarity we only make through special requests only. Though, we offer this set in bud rosewood aka padauk wood.

Chessbazaar Calvert Chess Set
The Calvert Chess Set

2. The Regency Chess Set

The French Regency chess set was also developed in the 18th century in ivory, somewhere in France. This set is associated with a French regency period(the days of Richelieu and Mazarin). There are various variations of this chess set and the one we sell is known as German Cassette where the knight head and the base are two-piece. The regency set is available in Ebony Wood, Bud Rosewood and Ebonized Wood.

Famous Regency Chess Set
                                                                             The Regency Chess Set

3.     The Biedermeier Chess Set

The “Biedermeier” period is the period of the French Revolution in 1830 in France. The typical figure fo these times in Germany and Austria were “proper Mr. meier” (= der biedere Herr Meier), an archetype of the politically passive, worksome and philistrian petit bourgeois.  These chessmen were made in the 19th century mainly in Germany and Austria. There are different variations of Biedermeier chessmen and the one with slope bishops are the most remarkable chessmen ever produced. This beautiful chess set is reproduced in Bud Rosewood and boxwood.

Biedermeier Chess Set
                                                                      The Biedermeier Chess Set

4.     The Calvert Type II Chess Set

The very fine and famous Calvert type II English Chessmen were produced in the 1800s. There were also known as the Barleycorn-style chess set. The fine carving and lathe work is a looker and they were initially produced in the ivory. This set also comes in different variations and styles. You can see the range of Calvert chess set in different woods and bone.

Calvert Type II Chess Set
The Calvert Type II Chess Set

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Collecting chess set
Chess Blogs

Why I collect chess sets, by John Lawson

People typically collect chess sets for many reasons. Wooden chess sets are beautiful. They can be collected economically.  There are many, many styles for every taste and décor, and they can be displayed attractively in one’s home or office. Best of all, you can play chess with them!  These are all good reasons, but I started collecting chess sets for a different reason: I play chess variants.

Chess can be played by other rules than the FIDE rules we are familiar with. In fact, FIDE chess is actually a variant of the form of chess played in Europe in Medieval times.  The moves of the Bishop and Queen were once much more limited.  Thousands of chess variants have been invented by enthusiasts, many with pieces with novel moves on larger boards, and in order to play them, you have to assemble a larger and more varied set of pieces than normal chess set.

I have seven Chessbazaar sets I can use as a source of pieces to assemble sets for playing variants.  They are all boxwood and ebonized boxwood so that all the colors match.  The sets are:

M0040       The Classic Series Cone Shaped Chess Pieces

The Classic Series Cone Shaped Chess Pieces

M0051       The Wooden Hour Glass Series Chess Pieces

The Wooden Hour Glass Series Chess Pieces

R0340        The Championship Series Staunton Chess Set

The Championship Series Staunton Chess Set

R0342        The Australian War Memorial Reproduced Chess Set by ACF

The Australian War Memorial Reproduced Chess Set by ACF

S1273        Minimalist Hermann Ohme Chess Set

Minimalist Hermann Ohme Chess Set

VJ082         Geometric Minimalist Pattern Seamless Design Chess Pieces

Geometric Minimalist Pattern Seamless Design Chess Pieces

R0397B      1940s Art Deco Series Weighted Chess Pieces

1940s Art Deco Series Weighted Chess Pieces

To demonstrate how I would select the pieces to create a variant set, I’ll set up an array to play “Tamerlane Chess” as an example.  Tamerlane Chess was played in the area that is now Iran and Central Asia and is called that because, according to legend, it was a favorite of Tamerlane (Timur), who carved out an empire in that area in the 14th Century.  Tamerlane is played on a 10×11 square board. (An Internet search will easily find the complete rules if you interested.) Sadly, the paper-and-cardboard Tamerlane Chessboard I made for myself is not available, so I will lay out the pieces on my chess table with the same spacing and orientation as if they were on the 10×11 Tamerlane board.

Also Read: Why Handmade Wooden Chess Sets are expensive?

My typical process is to start with a Staunton set to represent the pieces in whatever variant I’m playing whose moves are identical to modern FIDE pieces.  For this example, I am using R0340, The Championship Series Staunton Chess Set.

Tamerlane Chess – Step 1

In the Tamerlane variant: there are three different pieces with diagonal moves reminiscent of the Bishop; Rooks and two pieces whose orthogonal moves resemble the Rook; Knights and two pieces whose moves resemble Knights.  There are no Queens, and eleven Pawns are needed.

The diagonal-moving pieces have moved of three different ranges, but none move exactly like a Bishop.  I will select Bishops of three different designs that suggest, to me, their different ranges.

Minimalistic Chess Pieces

Available Bishops

I am choosing the R0342 (Australian War Memorial Reproduced Chess Set), S1273 (Minimalist Hermann Ohme Chess Set), and R0397B (1940s Art Deco Series) Bishops.

Tamerlane Chess – Step 2

The orthogonal-moving pieces include a Rook and two pieces of shorter range.

Available Rooks

I have selected the R0340 (The Championship Series Staunton Chess Set) Rook, and the M0051(Wooden Hour Glass Series) and R0342 (Australian War Memorial Reproduced Chess Set) Rooks.

Tamerlane Chess – Step 3

The leaping pieces include a Knight and two leaping pieces of longer range.

Available Knights

I have selected the R0340 (The Championship Series Staunton Chess Set) Knight and the R0342 ( The Australian War Memorial Reproduced Chess Set ) and S1273 ( Hermann Ohme Chess ) Knights.

Tamerlane Chess – Step 4

I need eleven Pawns, so I will have to use Pawns from two different sets. The Pawns need to be visually similar, since having two very different designs would be confusing.

Available Pawns

I will use the R0340 pawns (The Championship Series ), plus three similar pawns from the S1273 (Hermann Ohme Chess Set) set. As R0340 pawns are captured, I will use them to replace the S1273 Pawns on the board.

Tamerlane Chess – Step 5

And now we have the Tamerlane Chess game set up and ready to play, and because we used sets with similar finishes, and gave some thought to how we selected the other pieces, we should be able to play with little risk of spoiling the game by misidentifying a piece.

Tamerlane Chess – Ready to play!

More to Read: Chess Board and Pieces Dimensions

Also Read: 6 Tips to Choose the Best Chess Board for Your Need

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