Always Choose the Staunton Pattern
The single most important decision when buying a chess set is the piece pattern, and the answer is never in doubt: buy the Staunton pattern. Every other consideration is secondary.
The Staunton design was created by Jaques of London in 1849 and endorsed by the world chess champion of the day, Howard Staunton. Within a generation it became the universal standard, and FIDE — the international chess federation — has required Staunton pieces at all official tournament play ever since. The design is deliberately functional: each piece is instantly distinguishable from every other, the proportions are balanced across the whole set, and the forms are familiar to any player anywhere in the world.
Novelty sets — themed pieces shaped as medieval knights, Harry Potter characters, or abstract sculptures — look appealing on a shelf but are genuinely difficult to play with. When you cannot tell a bishop from a rook at a glance, the game suffers. Save novelty designs for decoration; buy Staunton for play.
King Height: Getting the Size Right
Chess pieces are sized by the height of the king, and the right height depends on how and where the set will be used.
- 3.5 to 3.75 inches (89 to 95 mm): The standard tournament size, used at club and competition level worldwide. This is the correct choice for most adults playing serious chess.
- 3 inches (76 mm): A more manageable size for children, easier to grip and move cleanly on a smaller board.
- 4 inches and above: Primarily decorative. Oversized pieces look impressive on display but are unwieldy in actual play.
The king height also determines the correct board square size: as a general rule, the diameter of the king's base should occupy approximately 75 to 80 percent of a single board square. A king base of around 40 mm pairs well with squares of approximately 50 to 55 mm. Mismatched pieces and boards — pieces too small for the board or crowded together on squares that are too small — make the game harder to read and enjoy.
Piece Materials
Chess pieces are made from three broad categories of material, each with its own strengths.
Boxwood and Ebony
The traditional premium combination. Boxwood is a dense, pale, fine-grained timber with a smooth surface that takes carving and turning exceptionally well. Ebony is one of the hardest and heaviest woods in the world, with a deep black colour that provides strong contrast against the natural boxwood. Sets made from genuine boxwood and ebony represent the finest available material quality. Expect to pay a premium: the woods are slow-growing, tightly regulated, and increasingly scarce.
Sheesham and Ebonised Wood
Sheesham (Indian rosewood) is a rich, warm-toned wood widely used in mid-range chess sets. It pairs well with ebonised pieces — wood that has been stained black to simulate ebony. Sheesham sets offer genuine wood quality and attractive grain at a more accessible price than ebony. They represent the best value for most buyers.
Plastic Tournament Pieces
High-quality plastic pieces, particularly those moulded to the official tournament Staunton pattern, are the right choice for school chess clubs, outdoor play, and any situation where pieces may be lost or damaged. A good plastic set is far better than a poor wooden one. The Jaques club plastic set has been a staple of British chess education for generations.
Weighted Pieces and Felt Bases
In any wooden set intended for serious play, the pieces should be weighted. Weights — usually lead or steel discs — are inserted into the base of each piece during manufacture. Weighted pieces sit more securely, are less prone to tipping when brushed by a sleeve, and have a satisfying heft when lifted and placed. A piece that topples easily is a distraction; a well-weighted piece stays where you put it.
Look also for felt or baize on the base of each piece. A smooth wooden base scratches both the board surface and any table beneath it. Felt protects the board and muffles the sound of pieces being placed, giving the whole game a more considered, deliberate quality.
Chess Board Materials
The board matters as much as the pieces. The principal options are:
- Solid wood (maple and walnut recommended): The best boards are made from solid timber, with light maple or sycamore squares paired against dark walnut. Solid wood is durable, dimensionally stable, and improves with age. A well-made wooden board will outlast generations of players.
- Veneer boards: A wooden veneer over MDF gives a near-identical visual result at a lower price point. Quality varies considerably; look for thick veneer and a flat, true surface with no warping.
- Vinyl roll-up boards: The practical choice for club play, travel, and schools. They store flat, are easy to clean, and take no damage from casual use. They are not attractive enough for home display but are entirely adequate for competitive play.
Whatever board you choose, match the square size to your pieces. A board with 55 mm squares is the correct pairing for a standard 3.75-inch king set.
Storage: Box or Bag
A set you play regularly needs proper storage. The options are a fitted wooden box — often a double-layer case with individual compartments for each piece — or a drawstring bag in leather or canvas. Wooden boxes protect pieces better and look handsome, but add weight and cost. A quality leather bag is a practical alternative for a set that travels. Avoid loose storage in plastic bags or cardboard boxes: pieces knock against one another and the felt bases wear away quickly.
Budget Ranges
Chess set prices span a very wide range, and the differences in quality are real at every level.
- Under £30: Plastic pieces only. Appropriate for schools, children, and beginners. Not suitable as a lasting purchase for an adult player.
- £80 to £200: The core of the market. A well-made sheesham and ebonised wood set in this range will give decades of service. Most buyers should spend here.
- £200 to £300: Better wood, finer finishing, and usually a superior board included. Sets in this range make meaningful gifts and will be used and appreciated.
- £300 and above: Fine craftsmanship: genuine boxwood and ebony, hand-finished pieces, solid walnut and maple boards, fitted leather cases. These are objects to own for a lifetime and pass on.
What to Avoid
Beyond novelty patterns, the main pitfalls are unweighted pieces in cheap wood (they feel hollow and tip constantly), boards with poorly defined square edges or warped surfaces, and sets where the board square size and king base diameter are mismatched. Very cheap wooden sets often use soft wood that dents easily and paint that chips. The pieces feel light and imprecise. Spending slightly more in the £80 to £150 range buys a qualitative jump that is immediately apparent when you handle the pieces.
Jaques of London — Making Chess Sets Since 1849
Jaques of London created the Staunton chess set in 1849, a design so right that it became the world standard and has never been replaced. Every Jaques chess set is made to the same exacting proportions established at the original manufacture: correct weight, correct height, correct balance between the pieces. When you buy from Jaques, you are buying from the house that invented modern chess equipment — a claim no other maker can make.
Shop Staunton Chess Sets →Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What chess set should I buy?
For most adults, the right choice is a weighted sheesham and ebonised wood Staunton set with a king height of 3.5 to 3.75 inches, paired with a solid wood or quality veneer board sized to match. Spend between £80 and £200 for a set that will last decades. If you are buying for a child, a smaller plastic or light wooden set at around £30 to £50 is the sensible starting point. For a serious player or a meaningful gift, a fine boxwood and ebony set from Jaques of London in the £200 to £500 range is the definitive purchase — the same pattern used at every level of chess for over 175 years.
Q: What size chess pieces are standard?
The standard tournament size is a king height of 3.75 inches (95 mm), which is the specification used at most club and competition play under FIDE regulations. A king height of 3.5 inches (89 mm) is also widely accepted and comfortable for home use. The king's base diameter should be around 40 mm, and the board squares should measure approximately 50 to 55 mm so pieces occupy roughly 75 to 80 percent of each square without crowding.
Q: What wood is used for chess pieces?
The finest chess pieces are traditionally made from boxwood (for the light pieces) and ebony (for the dark pieces). Boxwood is dense, pale, and carves cleanly; ebony is one of the hardest woods in existence, with an almost jet-black colour. At a more accessible price point, sheesham (Indian rosewood) is used for the light pieces paired with ebonised wood for the dark set. Plastic is also widely used for club and school sets where durability and low cost take priority over aesthetics.
Q: How much should I spend on a chess set?
A budget of £80 to £200 covers the vast majority of buyers and buys a set you will play with for many years. Below £30 you are limited to plastic, which is fine for children and school use but not satisfying for regular adult play. Above £200 you begin to access fine materials and craftsmanship: genuine ebony and boxwood, solid timber boards, and the kind of finishing detail that makes a set a pleasure to handle. The very best sets from Jaques of London — hand-finished, correctly weighted, in traditional materials — sit between £300 and several hundred pounds and represent an investment rather than a purchase.