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Chess Sets
for Chess Tournament Use

If you're playing a friendly game of chess at home, against a family member or friend, then any chess set whatever is good enough. The two players must only agree on the chess set to use and then play may begin. If you plan to enter an official chess tournament, however, then certain rules apply regarding the equipment, especially the chess set, to be used. Leave your exotic pewter and glass sets at home, and no Dungeons and Dragons sets either please; you're about to enter a world of precise dimensions where the tournament director controls the horizontal and vertical - the tournament zone!

Chess Pieces for Tournaments

The universally accepted style for tournament chess sets is the Staunton design - click here for a description and pictures. In general terms, the King should stand about 3.75 inches tall, resting on a board with 2.25 inch squares. The world chess governing body (FIDE) has more exactly defined the minimum and maximum sizes for tournament chess pieces as follows.

First, the chess pieces should be made of wood, plastic or an "imitation of these materials" such as resin compounds. But fine wood or high-impact plastic are the most common materials used. The King's height should be 3.50 inches to 4.25 inches (or 8.5 to 10.5 cm.), and the diameter of the King's base should measure 40% to 50% of its height. The size of the other pieces should be proportionate to their height and form; other elements such as stability and aesthetic factors are also taken into account. The weight of the pieces should be suitable for comfortable moving and stability.

That leaves a lot of room for personal style and taste! Within these parameters you can look for a chess set to call your own, with literally hundreds of variations to choose from. Once you have settled on the material for your chess set (wood or plastic), there next comes the question of color.

Chess Piece Colors

FIDE has ruled that the dark pieces should be brown or black, or of other dark shades of these colors. The light pieces may be white or cream, or of other light colors. The natural color of wood (maple, boxwood, etc.) may also be used for this purpose. The pieces should not be shiny and should be pleasing to the eye. Once again we find great latitude in choosing colors for our tournament set - simple black and white is always acceptable, but the discerning player will emphasize aesthetic qualities (beauty!) when selecting his chess set.

Chess Boards for Tournaments

Turning to the chess board, FIDE states that wood, plastic, cardboard or even cloth are recommended as material for chessboards. The board may also be of stone or marble with appropriate light and dark colors, provided the Chief Arbiter finds it acceptable. Natural wood with sufficient contrast, such as  maple or boxwood against rosewood, mahogany, walnut, etc., may also be used for boards, which must have a dull or neutral finish, never shiny.

That's a lot of options! In practical terms, most players use the simple vinyl roll-up board with plastic pieces or a nice wooden board with their fine wood chess set. As to the board's color, FIDE suggests that a combination of colors such as black, green, or blue and white, cream, off-white ivory, buff, etc., may be used for the chess squares in addition to natural wood colors. And finally the board size should be such that the pieces appear neither too crowded nor too lonely on the squares. It is recommended that a side of the square should measure 2.00 inches to 2.50 inches (5.0 to 6.5 cm.).

Chess Sets, we make it Simple!

If all this information seems overwhelming, don't worry. Any chess set sold by ChessCentral is authorized for tournament use - provided it's not in the "themed" or "electronic" section of our catalog! Browse for a few minutes and you'll quickly find 3 or 4 chess sets that hold a special attraction. From there the best rule of thumb is to buy the best set you can afford. Remember, a good chess set will provide years of enjoyment and be the field of countless battles. Spend a little extra now and you'll be rewarded with a lifetime of enjoyment!

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