Tournament and Club Chess Sets: Chessboard and Staunton Pieces

International federation rules call for squares of 5 to 6 cm, with a king of 9.5 to 10.5 cm. The 50 cm chessboard, with 5.5 cm squares, is therefore the standard tournament format. Check that the king's base takes up around three-quarters of the square.

Choose weighted Staunton pieces, in boxwood or dense wood, with a felted base: they handle quietly and without slipping. Wooden pieces are pleasant to hold and stand up well to repeated games. Avoid overly decorative models, whose fine details would break more easily.

Yes. Competition sets in walnut and maple or mahogany have a sober, elegant look. They pack away into a storage box and sit neatly on a coffee table or shelf. The choice comes down to wood species and finish rather than function.