Staunton chess pieces have been the design standard at international tournaments since the 19th century. Developed by Nathaniel Cooke and promoted by the famous chess player and eponym Howard Staunton, the design became groundbreaking for an attractive appearance and good handling in play. Today, there are a large number of Staunton chess pieces with different appearances. However, the king and queen always wear a crown and coronet. The bishop is modelled after a mitre. The knight, the most defining piece on the board, has a variety of shapes, all of which are modelled after a horse and which is thus the most characteristic element of the piece set. The rook has a solid and strong presence and the pawns are represented by a kind of knob. Although unusual in tournament sets, Staunton sets are sold commercially with additional queens to allow two queens to be represented on the board in the event of a pawn promotion. I offer a wide selection of Staunton chess pieces in my shop. All pieces are weighted, felted, carved by hand and each set is also equipped with additional queens. In addition, each set is checked personally by me before shipping.

The FIDE standard defines a tournament standard in chess. In addition to the chess rules, the standard for chess equipment is also described. In particular, the requirements for the chess pieces and the chess boards are defined here. The standard is to use Staunton chess pieces, which must be clearly distinguishable from each other. Accordingly, the king should have a size of approx. 95 mm and its crown should distinguish him from the queen and her coronet. The bishop usually wears a mitre, which distinguishes him from the pawns. The knight may have distinctive features, but should be easily handled. Colours allowed for the dark pieces are black or dark brown, for the white pieces white or cream. The chessboard should have a field size of 50 to 60 mm, but boards with a field size of 55 to 58 mm are common. The colour of the boards can be light or dark, but gloss should be avoided and a matt surface should be used. All products in my shop correspond in the sizes of the FIDE standard and are compatible with each other. Each set of chess pieces has a king height between 90 mm and 104 mm and can be played on all chess boards available on Chess Chivalry (field size 55 mm).

Chess pieces made of wood are not only essential for professional players. Hobby players or occasional players for whom decorative appeal is important will not be disappointed by high-quality chess woods either. High-quality wood is easy to work with and is a natural raw material that is both sustainable and eco-friendly. In addition, the craftsmanship of wood in the manufacture of chess pieces and chess boards represents a passionate artwork that significantly shapes the value of a chess set. A good chess set lasts a long time and is usually also bequeathed, which is why a purchase should be well-considered and only made after extensive research. Common types of wood for chess pieces are acacia, palisander, rosewood or redwood. Mahogany, walnut, wenge and blackened woods are often used for chess boards. The types of wood are also the decisive criteria for the desired colouring and the contrast that is created between the chess pieces and the board. In my shop, I primarily offer acacia, rosewood and ebonised woods for chess pieces. My chess boards are available in black and wenge for rather dark sets, mahogany for reddish to brown sets, and walnut and maple for rather lighter sets.

Chess equipment is not everything. It must also be able to be used and help you to be victorious over your opponent. If you are not yet familiar with chess, Chess Chivalry also offers a detailed explanation of the rules and, via the blog, a first orientation for strategic and tactical questions. So if you don't know where to start, read through the rules with all the movement patterns of the pieces and all the special rules. You want to work on your tactical understanding? Then take a look at the blog posts on chess openings, middlegame and endgame. You think you keep making blunders and want to avoid them in the future? I have written an article about methods that help you develop a more attentive playing style. And if you're wondering in general how chess and its playing techniques have evolved over its long history, feel free to read the history of chess. If you have specific questions, you can also send me a message directly via my form or by email to support@chess-chivalry.com.