Chess
The Unforgettable Chess Story of Customer István Szabád
Once upon a time there was an 8-10 year old poor boy who lived in a small European country. He was always very happy when he had summer-vacation because he spent it with his grandfathers and uncles who lived in a tiny dusty village, far from the noisy towns. The summer was hot, so the simple hard working peasants often went to the tavern to "clean the dust from their throat" with 1-2 (or maybe more) mugs of cold beer. His uncle did the same and every time bought the boy some cold soda. Usually the tavern was full of cigarette smoke (and sometimes drunk guys too). One day the boy saw 2 guys who were playing some game at a table. On a black-and-white wooden board there were many strange-looking wood-carved pieces. Some of them looked like Christmas tree, some looked like horse, others like some kind of bastion. The board and the pieces were very old and shabby-looking. This was the first time when the boy saw a chess set. He did not know anything about the rules of the game but he was very amazed of the game and the pieces. One night a fairy appeared in his dream and said: One day you will move to a huge, remote country and you will have your own brand new chess pieces, exactly the same like you saw in the village's tavern. The chess pieces will come from the opposite side of the world from a seller, called "Chessbazaar". A nice person will send it to you whose name will be "Sapna". The time was passing; the boy grew up and never saw any of that old chess set. Everyone was playing with new, different chessmen. But one day everything what the fairy had said came true. Well, this story sounds like an incredible childish fairy tale, but (except for the fairy) everything was true and real. I was that boy in the story! I was born and lived in Hungary, later immigrated to USA and the Chessbazaar really sent me the mentioned chess pieces (December 2013). It is called: Reproduced Antique Series Austrian Coffee House Old Vienna Chess Pieces - M0076 (long time ago Hungary was part of Austria).You can imagine the emotion I felt when I was holding those chessmen in my hands (from my childhood's memories, after almost a half century)! Incredible (but real!) story isn't it? My emotion was about the same when I saw the mentioned chessmen in the book of Edward Winter (Chess Explorations). On the picture is the outstanding Austrian grandmaster Rudolf Spielmann (1883-1942), in front of him on the board the same chessmen! Nowadays, I have 13 different kinds of chess sets from Chessbazaar (out of the almost 50 what I have). The pieces always were wrapped thoroughly and arrived very fast (3-4 days) from the "opposite side of the world"! Chessbazaar offers so many kinds of chess sets (from the economy class till the luxury or antique class) that surely everyone can find one (or more) he or she likes. The House Of Staunton is a well known trade mark, but the Chessbazaar is right behind it. Maybe soon we will call it "House Of Chandigarh" or "House Of Mohali"? Thank you again Chessbazaar for all the emotions your products gave me! Way to go! Istvan Szabad (USA)
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World's first Wooden Starter Chess Learning Kit is Here
Are you going to learn the wonderful game “chess” and sharpen your memory? For starting learning the game of chess, you always need a kit with all the necessary tools required to start the game or you may need a chess kit for chess club. Chessbazaar takes utmost pride in announcing the world’s first wooden chess starter kit. Your kids deserve only the bestest things in the world, so don’t give them those cheap plastic chess sets to begin the new and most interesting course of their life. A starter kit with the eco-friendly, robust and beautiful chess pieces should be a gift from the wonderful parents. Children need something attractive that when you want them to learn something new and nothing can be more attractive than a wooden chess set. Serious players always prefer wooden chess sets, as all the chess tournaments have wooden chess sets as standards for the chess tournaments. Our chess experts have been carefully designed each kit with suitable equipments. We have a collection of three starter kits, you can select the kit that suits your needs and budget. Chess pieces, chess boards, clocks and books have been put together so that they form recommended starter kits. So, here we introduce our kits – 1. Travel series starter kit with DGT clock - Special Starter kit has been designed for the kids who want to learn the game the chess champion style. The wooden chess set is equipped with magnets, so that you children can always take their favorite game to picknick, friend’s home or school. The chess pieces come in a magnetic wooden box in which the chess pieces can be properly stored in separate compartments. The free chess book would help your kids to learn the basics and play chess strategically. DGT clock gives your kid the feeling of a professional player and will motivate them to perform better. DGT 2010 is the official clock of FIDE. 2. Tournament Standard wooden starter kit – This starter kit is suitable for students and members of chess club. The starter kit includes tournament size wooden chess board, tournament chess pieces with wooden storage box, DGT 2010 clock and a chess book. Tournament Chess boards and chess pieces are of the same dimensions as officially standardized by FIDE. The clock is also the official clock of FIDE. The whole collection makes it perfect choice for the members of chess clubs and chess schools. 3. Tournament pro wooden starter kit – This starter kit is also best suitable for chess clubs and young chess learners. The kit includes tournament chess pieces, tournament folding chess board, DGT 2010 clock, chess book and a beautiful storage box for your beloved chess pieces. The storage box is lined with green felt to prevent the chess pieces from scratching. The whole combo is designed for desirability and reliability. Gift your children the best equipped chess kit made from the bestest material and quality. Chessbazaar also offers FREE replacement guarantee. This means if any piece will lost or break at any time you can easily receive replacements for free. If you want to take your chess game to the next level there's only one way to go – add the world's first Wooden Starter Chess Learning Kit.
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MONTHLY ROUND-UP - APRIL 2016
There’s no doubt that the chess reproductions are always a hot topic in the chess community, regardless of what time of the year it is. To fulfil the aspirations of the collector community, we at chessbazaar, introduced the 19th century repro antique Dublin pattern chess set last month. This announcement gathered a lot of interest among the collectors. Moreover, we also launched 1940-50 reproduced (Soviet Era) Russian series in ebony wood, Reproduced Russian (Soviet Era) series chess set in ebony wood and Dubrovnik chess set v2.0 in sheesham wood. If you have missed the launches or are simply looking for an orderly recap, the table below should be for your interest. Reproduced 19th Century Antique Series Dublin Pattern Chess Set in Rose & Box Wood – 4.6″ King Reproduced Russian (Soviet Era) Series Chess Set in Ebony & Box Wood – 4″ King New 1950 Dubrovnik Bobby Fischer Reproduced Chess Set Version 2.0 in Sheesham / Box Wood – 3.6″ King 1940-50 Reproduced (Soviet Era) Russian Series Chess Set Revised in Ebony & Box Wood – 4.4″ King The 19th Century Antique Series Dublin Pattern Chess Set was announced earlier last month and there’s no way you could have missed it. On the odd chance you have, you can bring yourself up to speed here in our monthly recap. Extremely rare 19th mid century Dublin pattern chess pieces with a king height of 4.6″ and a base diameter of 1.8″. The pieces are rugged and triple weighted for the fantastic hand-feel and a very satisfying thud on the chess board. This chess set features chessmen that are crafted with a combination of rose wood and box wood. Chess is one of the most popular games in the Soviet Union and there is one interesting fact that most of the world chess champions were citizens of the Soviet Union. Russian soviet series is among the most beautiful Russian series we have ever launched and now we have introduced reproduced Russian (Soviet Era) series chess set in ebony & box wood with the king height of 4 inches. The chess set comes with 34 pieces including 2 extra queens. This set is triple weighted and the chess pieces have thick green felt on their bases. Dubrovnik Bobby Fischer reproduced series is our most popular series, and all versions of it have been hugely successful, though it was the first one that made the greatest splash. Following the success of Dubrovnik Series, we have introduced the version 2.0 in sheesham & box wood with the king height of 3.6 inches, though some might wonder if it’s actually an upgrade over the previous version! Based on the customers review and suggestions, we worked with our best carvers to bring the most accurate reproduction for our esteemed customers. The result is Dubrovnik 2.0. This version 2.0 is simply gorgeous, and exquisitely striking, therefore each piece is carved with meticulous care. Our most magnificent chess set yet takes nearly a week to create. It’s a chess set that is truly like no other. 1940-50 Reproduced (Soviet Era) Russian Series Chess Set Revised in Ebony & Box Wood – 4.4″ king made the headlines as well, with a king height of 4.1″ and a base diameter of 1.6″ these pieces are rugged and have thick green felt on their bases. The dark side of chess pieces is made in ebony wood and the lighter side is made in box wood. Shop Now That’s all for now. Follow us on Twitter & Facebook to stay up-to-date with the latest releases, offers & promotions. We’d glad to know your views and experiences of the chess sets which you have purchased from us. You can also get the updates direct on your email by sign upto our newsletter. Happy Chess Playing!
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MONTHLY ROUND-UP - MARCH 2016
Another month flew by and the chess world is slowly getting settled back to normal after the huge Easter sale ends at chessbazaar.com. Speaking of flagships, the Arabian knight series are making headlines. Now that the first batch of units is starting to reach eager fans, everybody seems to be busy either playing with it or looking for a place to display it. Another big announcement from the previous month is the British Chess Company (BCC) Reproduced Staunton double collared chess set. This chess set features chessmen that are crafted with a combination of ebony wood and box wood. Interestingly enough, Reproduced 19th Century Antique Series Dublin Pattern Chess Set made the headlines as well. This chess set features chessmen that are crafted with a combination of rose wood and antiqued box wood. A rebirth of the Staunton series weighted wooden chess pieces, now available in ebony & box wood. If you think you might have missed the launches or are simply looking for an orderly recap, the table below should be for you. It also comes complete with links to our respective product page. The Arabian Knight Series Artisan Staunton Chess Pieces The British Chess Company (BCC) Reproduced Staunton Double Collared Chess Set Reproduced 19th Century Antique Series Dublin Pattern Chess Set A Rebirth of The Staunton Series Weighted Wooden Chess Pieces Let's see what the gossip is all about. First and foremost, perhaps, is the Arabian Knight series artisan staunton chess pieces beautifully crafted in ebony & bud rose wood with the combination of box wood. The pieces are heavily weighted and even exceed the triple-weight classification. The King proudly stands at 4.2 inches and its base is a robust 1.9 inches. The knights are well-crafted and represent the highest grade of knight carving skills that our master artisans have to offer. Know More> We saw quite few announcements last month, but the British Chess Company (BCC) was definitely the most exciting one. After the success of 1849 chess set, 1851 chess set and 1935 Botvinnik Flohr Reproduced Chess Set, chessbazaar™ in association with Alan Dewey, is proud to introduce "The British Chess Company Popular Staunton Chess Set", featuring the finest aspects of any Staunton pattern chess set ever seen. This chess set features chessmen that are crafted with a combination of ebony wood and box wood. The dark chess pieces are made of ebony wood. Moving on to 19th Century Antique Dublin these chess pieces are Extremely rare. Chess pieces with a king height of 4.2" and a base diameter of 1.7” is rugged and has thick green felt on their bases. This chess set features chessmen that are crafted with a combination of rose wood and antiqued box wood. We have released a new chess set as part of the budget-friendly Staunton series. The Staunton Series weighted chess pieces offers a 3.5" King with a diameter of 1.4" and all chess pieces are weighted by adding a stud of iron within the base. The dark chess pieces are made of Ebony wood and the lighter chess pieces are made of Box wood. "Did you ever starve for a chess design you always wanted? Chessbazaar™ is there to help you make your dream chess set a reality. Know More> That's all for now, Follow us on Twitter & Facebook to stay up-to-date with the latest releases, offers & promotions. We'd glad to know your views and experiences of the chess sets which you have purchased from us.
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Marseillais Chess: How to Make Double Chess Moves
Isn’t it interesting that you are allowed to make two moves per turn. Like in our Childhood days, we used to feel so lucky and immensely happy, if we were allowed to make two moves in a game. Chess players have a chance to re-live their childhood with the Marseillais Chess variant. Marseillais Chess is a Vintage Multi-move variant, which allows the chess players to make double moves per turn. This Marseillais Chess variant was invented by journalist Albert Fortis who was an inhabitant of Marseilles. The Game rules were first published in the local newspaper of Marseillais ‘Le Soleil’ in 1925. The Game gained a quick following in France. There are further two versions of this game: Classical Marseillais: This is the original game as invented by the French journalist. All the players made two moves per turn from the beginning of the game. Balanced Marseillais: This version was introduced by Robert Bruce in 1963. Robert Bruce made a simple rule change – In the balanced version, White makes only one move on the first turn. This was introduced to avoid too much advantage for white. The moves are made in the following order:White, Black, Black, White, White, Black, Black, etc. Since then the version gained a wide acceptance. All rules of the normal chess game apply, but with some changes – A player can either move one piece twice or move two different pieces on his turn. Castling counts as one move. If a player gives check on his first move in a turn, he moves only once that turn. If a player is in check, he must move out of check in the first part of the turn. Moving the King into the check on the first move of the turn and then move out of the check on the second one is not allowed. En passant capture is allowed even if the opponent moved the corresponding pawn on the first move of the previous turn. But en passant capture must be made on the first move of the turn. When two pawns can be captured en passant after opponents move, both of them can be captured. Some famous chess grandmasters like Alexander Alekhine, Richard Réti, Eugene Znosko-Borovsky, and André Chéron made this Marseillais chess quite popular.
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Want to learn a new language called “Algebraic Chess Notation” ?
All those who are in this grand WORLD OF CHESS, it is very important to learn the language of this world. Chess notation has an important role in chess because it preserves the game’s history. All chess coaches strongly recommend the recording of one's games so that one can look for improvements in one's play. It allows you to record games for posterity and gives you the chance to review the history of the game’s development to date. In chess competitions, all players are required to record all the moves of both players in order to resolve disputes about whether a player has made an illegal move and what the position should now be. The most simple and universally understandable chess notation is called “ Algebraic notation ”. It allows the chess players to overcome language barrier to communicate with each other. Algebraic notation is also the official notation of FIDE which must be used in all recognized international competition. Understanding Algebraic notation – Naming the chess squares : There are 64 chess squares on a chess board. The rows of squares on the chessboard are called ranks and the columns of squares are called files. The vertical files (columns) are labeled a through h, starting from left to right on White's side; The horizontal ranks (rows) are numbered 1 through 8, starting from bottom to top on White's side. Naming the chess pieces : Each chess piece is denoted by the first letter of its name in uppercase, except for the knight (N) and the pawn (nothing). King = K Queen = Q Rook = R Bishop = B Knight = N (since K is already taken by a more important piece) Pawn = (no letter) -- pawns are denoted by the absence of a letter. Learning the chess Punctuation - Punctuation is commonly used to comment on the effectiveness of moves, usually relative to the skill of the player. It is placed after the move. + or ch Check 0-0 Kingside Castling 1-0 White won the game ½ -½ Game drawn e.p. en passant move ! Good move ? Bad move +/= Slight advantage for white +/- Advantage for white +- White decisive advantage = Even position or draw # or ++ Checkmate 0-0-0 Queenside Castling 0-1 Black won the game * Game in progress x or : Capture !! Very good move ?? Very bad move =/+ Slight advantage for black -/+ Advantage for black -+ Black decisive advantage How to write the game in algebraic notation – By using the algebraic naming of chess pieces, chess boards and punctuations, players can note down their game with the help of following examples – · f4 e5 The White pawn moves to f4 and the Black pawn to e5. · fxe5 d6 The White pawn on the f file takes the pawn on e5. The Black pawn moves to d6. · exd6· Bxd6 The White pawn on the e file takes the pawn on d6. The Black Bishop takes the pawn on d6. · g3 Qg5 The White pawn moves to g3. The Black Queen moves to g5. · Nf3· Qxg3+ The White Knight moves to f3. The Black Queen takes the pawn on g3 and checks the White King. · hxg3 Bxg3# The White pawn on the h file takes the Queen on g3. The Black Bishop takes the pawn on g3 and delivers checkmate. Congratulations you have learnt the chess language!! Enjoy playing chess and keep a record of your moves by noting it down on the “scoresheet” with the help of chess notation. Wish you – Happy Chess playing!! Take a look of our amazing collection of handmade wooden chess pieces and chess boards.
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Monthly Round-up - Feb 2016
The month of “love” dedicated to the mighty chess collectors as we came up with the launches of much awaited and anticipated 1935 Botvinnik Flohr Reproduced Soviet chess set and 4” Dubrovnik chess set. Botvinnik set is an arresting chess set, mainly for its excellent value and legendary design. Dedicated to the Mikhail Botvinnik and Flohr , this venerable chess set’s dark pieces are made of Ebony wood and the light pieces are made of Boxwood, bringing back the memories of 1935 famous Botvinnik–Flohr chess match. The King proudly stands at 4 inches and its base is a robust 1.7 inches. The chess set comes with 34 pieces including 2 extra queens. Durbvonik Chess Set V2.0 in 4” chess set has also had a major presence in the best seller section throughout the month. We have also announced two more chess sets last month, so if you think you might have missed the launches or are simply looking for an orderly recap, the table below should be for you. It also comes complete with links to our respective product page. 1935 Botvinnik Flohr Reproduced Soviet chess set Durbvonik Chess Set V2.0 in 4” Reproduced Antique Series Dublin Pattern Chess Pieces 1940-50 Reproduced (Soviet Era) Russian Series Chess Set We again, tie up with World’s famous chess restorer Mr. Alan Dewey for the true reproduction of 1935 Botvinnik Flohr Reproduced Soviet chess set. Each chessmen is carefully crafted with dainty details that add a dash of opulence and visual appeal. Outstanding design features include the bishop without its mitre cut and the details applied to the knight’s mane. The other chess pieces are also uniquely stylized to allow the set to truly stand out. This venerable chess set’s dark pieces are made of Ebony wood and the light pieces are made of Boxwood. Ebony wood is an alluring wood and probably the most admired wood for reproduced chess sets. The King proudly stands at 4 inches and its base is a robust 1.7 inches. The chess set comes with 34 pieces including 2 extra queens. Each piece is generously weighted and features green felt bases to protect the chess board. Bigger has always been better: As long as we are on the subject of reproduced chess sets, stained crimson Durbvonik Chess Set V2.0 in 4” is one that deserves some attention. Reproduced Dubrovnik chess set v2.0 has an eye-catching design, weighted chess pieces with a 4″ King and base diameter of 1.7″ This version is also double weighted and the chess pieces have thick green felt on their bases. The dark chess pieces are made in Stained Crimson and the lighter chess pieces are made in box wood. Reproduced Antique Series Dublin Pattern new chess pieces made the headlines as well, with a king height of 4.1″ and a base diameter of 1.6″ these pieces are rugged and have thick green felt on their bases. The dark side of chess pieces is made in ebony wood and the lighter side is made in box wood. We are already selling one of our bestseller, the 1940-50 Reproduced (Soviet Era) Russian Series Chess Set in Sheesham & box wood and now we have introduced the same in stained box wood version. Each of the chess pieces has thick green felt on their bases. The dark chess pieces are made of stained dyed box wood and the lighter chess pieces are made of box wood. It comes as no surprise that the Botvinnik & Dubrovnik chess set is still on everybody’s mind but the best is yet to come. We, in association with Mr. Alan Dewey are coming up with the Replica of BCC chess set. Further announcements regarding the launch will be update accordingly on our website/Facebook page.
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Monthly Round-up - Jan 2016
The first month of the year saw plenty of announcements. Stained crimson Dubrovnik chess set version 2.0 undoubtedly takes the cake last month. Stained crimson Dubrovnik chess set is a spectacular chess set, mainly for it's excellent value. With a 3.6" king and a base diameter of 1.6", all chess pieces are double weighted and crafted in a rich stained crimson & plain box wood. As we send off the first month of 2016, let's look back and see what new announcements have been made last month. Dubrovnik version 2.0 chess in stained crimson Limited edition Dubrovnik chess set Minimalist borderless chess boards 1849 version 2.0 in ebony & box wood First and foremost on the list is Dubrovnik version 2.0 chess set. The Dubrovnik chess set celebrates a love story of aesthetics and a unique premium color; stained crimson. Designing this chess set with stained crimson has been attempted - but never before mastered like this. Some customer’s felt that the knight in our previous repro was not an accurate reproduction, so we heard to our customer’s opinion and respected their verdict by bringing a closest possible knight in our version 2.0. The stained crimson Dubrovnik chess set is simply gorgeous, and exquisitely striking, therefore each piece is carved with meticulous care. It’s a chess set that is truly like no other. Cultivating a new level of craftsmanship and artisanal luxury in our limited edition chess set, we have also launched our most elegant limited edition Dubrovnik yet. The new stained crimson color is subject to only the most rigorous quality inspections, ensuring that if you’re holding any crimson piece in your hands, it is completely free from red color discoloration. Unfortunately only 10 chess sets of this limited edition version have been produced. But you can still buy our stained crimson Dubrovnik version 2.0 which is as good as this limited edition chess set was. Shop Here And as long as we are on the subject of reproduced antique chess sets, the Reproduced 1849 Staunton Chess Set Version 2.0 is the one that deserves some attention. This is a new chess set that has been developed under the concept of a "Graded Up 1849 Chess Set" while maintaining the nostalgic historic feeling and unmatched craftsmanship of the existing 1849 chess set. Our revised reproduction has refined knight, non antiqued box wood and does not come with king side stamping. The chess pieces are made in box wood and ebony wood. The king is 4.4" high. The chess set comes with 34 pieces including 2 extra queens. This set is Triple Weighted and the chess pieces have thick green felt on their bases. Our new minimalist series chess boards are also generating a lot of hype around the chess world. Made in Spain - These classic wooden chess boards are finest of the chess board a chess player or collector can have. Crafted from veneer* these chess boards features a Matte/glossy finish and a peculiar borderless design. Veneered chess boards have a long life and durability without compromising in their finish and quality. They are super light weight and hence easy to carry. Lastly, if you are waiting for our next sale of Dubrovnik version 2.0, you will be pleased to hear that it is getting closer to a release with a new 4" version soon. We are in the final stages, so it shouldn't be long now. Stay tuned with us for bunch of launches and amazing offers this Valentine season! Subscribe our newsletter today. Follow us on Twitter & Facebook to stay up-to-date with the latest releases, offers, deals, coupon codes & flash promotions. We'd glad to know your views and experiences of the items which you have purchased from us.
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How to find the right size chessboard for your wooden chess pieces
The pleasure and excitement of a chess game increases many fold when you lay the pieces on a beautiful wooden chessboard and that too of perfect size. Like the chess pieces, chessboard is equally important as the game moves around on the chess board. It is of utmost importance that the size of chess pieces and the size of chessboard should be appropriate and perfectly matching. To make your game much more interesting and professional, chessbazaar brings you a very simple way to calculate chessboard size and piece size – For calculating the chess board size, you just need to know the base size of your chess piece i.e the diameter of the chess pieces. So, the simple formula is: Chess board size: 4/3 of king’s base. To find out a perfect chessboard size for your chess pieces, multiply the base of the piece with 4/3 and you will get the size of the chess square. For example: For a set with king’s diameter 2’’ will be perfectly suitable with chessboard of size: 2’’ x 4/3 = 2.66". And vice-versa to find out the size of the perfect chess pieces, if you already possess a chess board. For this you need to know the size of the square. Chess piece size: 3/4 of chess board’s square size. Multiply the size of the chess square with 3/4 and you will get the size of the piece. For example: For a chess board with size 2.66’’, a perfectly suitable King’s size would be: 2.66’’ x 3/4 = 2’’. So, enjoy your favourite game this winter season on a beautiful wooden chess board with the most beautifully handcarved chess pieces perfectly matching to each other. Take a look of our amazing collection of handmade wooden chess pieces and chess boards.
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