Selecting a Chess Board Square Size
Selecting the size of a chess board
square size should be based upon personal preference, especially for
casual play. However, there is a guideline for tournament
play that may be of help in selecting the proper square size.
The 75% Guideline states that
the base diameter of the king should be no more than 75% of the
chess board square size. For example, a king that has a 1.5"
base should have a chess board square size of 2".
For casual play,
however, the chess board square size is totally up to you.
With this in mind, we would strongly recommend that the square be at
least 1/4" larger than the king base. For example, a king with
a base of 1.75" may work very nicely for casual play on a chess
board with only 2" squares (87.5%).
Please also keep in mind that having
much to much space on the chess board may not be very attractive as
the chess pieces may become lost in a sea of chess board squares.
Lastly, please take
into consideration the overall size of the chess board and the
furniture on which it will be placed. For example, a chess
board with 2.25" squares may be just right to meet the 75%
guideline, but on the other hand, the whole chess board may be too
large for the coffee table on which you intend to play. In
this case, smaller squares or a small border may be the answer.
