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.
