Dal Rossi Chess Sets: The Complete Guide

If you are looking for a chess set that goes beyond basic plastic pieces, you have probably come across Dal Rossi. This Italian brand has earned a strong reputation among Australian players who want a set that looks the part on the shelf and plays beautifully on game day. Dal Rossi sits in the sweet spot between mass-produced sets and serious luxury pieces: genuine craftsmanship and clever practical features at a price that makes sense. This guide covers what makes the brand special, the ranges worth knowing, and how to choose the right Dal Rossi set for you. If you already know what you are after, the full range is in our Dal Rossi chess sets and boards collection.

Let us start with what sets the brand apart.

What makes Dal Rossi stand out

Dal Rossi blends traditional European craftsmanship with practical features modern players genuinely appreciate. Their sets consistently do three things well: they are built to last, they look excellent on display, and they are comfortable to play with over a long game.

A few things run through the whole range: quality materials like sheesham and boxwood, walnut and maple boards; a real attention to the weight and balance of the pieces; clever integrated storage in many sets, so the board doubles as the case; and an Italian design sensibility that favours understated elegance over flash. These are sets made to be used, not just admired. You can see the full brand range in our Dal Rossi chess sets collection.

The Staunton sets: for players

Dal Rossi's traditional Staunton sets are the heart of the range and the choice for anyone focused on play. They pair well-weighted, correctly proportioned pieces with handsome inlaid boards, so they look classic and play to standard. The Palisander and Maple 50cm Staunton Set is a good example: a full-size board with the rich, dark palisander squares against pale maple, and weighted pieces that sit firmly through a long game. These are the sets to choose if gameplay quality matters most, and they sit naturally within our wider range of chess sets.

The pieces themselves reward close attention: double-weighted, felt-based, and finished so each piece is instantly distinguishable. If you appreciate a good board too, our guide to the best wooden chess boards covers what to look for, and it applies directly to the Dal Rossi timber ranges.

Boards and pieces, sold separately

Dal Rossi also sell their boards on their own, without pieces, in five timbers and two sizes. The squares are inlaid solid timber rather than printed, and the 40cm boards carry 40mm squares while the 50cm boards carry 50mm. If you already own pieces you are happy with, the Dal Rossi chess boards are worth comparing before you buy another full set, and the piece sets are listed on their own too.

Folding sets: play and storage in one

One of Dal Rossi's most practical ideas is the folding set, where the board folds in half to become its own storage case with the pieces held safely inside. It keeps everything together, which is exactly what you want for a set that moves between rooms, travels to a friend's place, or simply needs to pack away tidily between games. The 40cm Folding Chess Set is a popular size, big enough to play on comfortably yet compact enough to store on a shelf. For a household that wants one good, self-contained set, a folding Dal Rossi is hard to beat.

Themed and figurative sets: for collectors

If you want a set with more personality, Dal Rossi's themed and figurative ranges reimagine the pieces as characters and motifs while keeping them playable. The most celebrated is their reproduction of the famous Isle of Lewis Chessmen, the characterful 12th-century pieces discovered in Scotland; the Isle of Lewis 40cm Set captures their charm and makes a genuine conversation piece. Alongside it, the wider themed chess sets range runs from historical to decorative designs. These sets are as much display pieces as games, and for many people they are what makes chess feel personal.

Choosing your size

Dal Rossi's most popular boards run between 40cm and 50cm, which is the practical sweet spot for most homes: large enough to play on comfortably, compact enough for standard furniture. As with any set, the board and pieces are proportioned to each other, with the king's base around three quarters of a square, so a matched Dal Rossi set has the pairing already handled. Think about where the set will live: a 50cm board is a striking centrepiece but wants a dedicated space, while a 40cm set fits more easily on a shelf or coffee table.

Who each set suits

Bringing it together, the right Dal Rossi set follows from how you will use it. For serious and regular play, a traditional Staunton set in a quality timber, where weight and balance matter. For a practical all-in-one, a folding set that stores its own pieces and travels easily. For a collector or a display piece, a themed set such as the Isle of Lewis. For a gift, any of them work well, but the folding sets are especially good for a recipient without dedicated chess storage, since everything is contained and ready to use.

Whichever you choose, browse the full Dal Rossi chess set range to compare, and if you are still deciding on your first quality set more broadly, our guide to the chess openings for beginners pairs nicely with a new board to practise on.

Frequently asked questions

Is Dal Rossi a good chess brand?

Yes. Dal Rossi is an Italian brand well regarded for combining traditional craftsmanship with practical features like integrated storage and well-weighted pieces. It sits between mass-produced sets and luxury pieces, offering genuine quality and longevity at a sensible price, which is why it is popular with Australian players.

What is Dal Rossi known for?

Dal Rossi is known for quality materials such as sheesham, boxwood, walnut and maple; well-balanced weighted pieces; clever folding and storage sets where the board doubles as the case; and characterful themed sets including a fine reproduction of the Isle of Lewis Chessmen. The look is elegant and understated rather than flashy.

What size Dal Rossi chess set should I buy?

Most Dal Rossi boards run between 40cm and 50cm. A 40cm set suits smaller spaces and shelves and is easy to store, while a 50cm set makes a fuller centrepiece for a dedicated space. In every case the pieces are proportioned to the board, so a matched set plays comfortably at any of its sizes.

Are Dal Rossi folding chess sets any good?

Yes. The folding sets are one of the brand's most practical designs: the board folds to become its own case with the pieces stored safely inside, so everything stays together. They offer a proper playing surface that packs away neatly, which makes them ideal for a household that wants one good, self-contained set.

Where can I buy Dal Rossi chess sets in Australia?

We stock the Dal Rossi range here in Australia, so you get local availability, local support, and our 100 day free returns on every set. Browsing the full range in one place makes it easy to compare the Staunton, folding and themed sets and choose the one that suits you.

Finding your Dal Rossi set

Dal Rossi is that rare combination of Italian craftsmanship and practical, everyday design, delivering sets that serve players and collectors alike. Decide how you will mostly use it, choose the range that fits, and you will have a set built to be used for years and passed down after that.

Browse the full Dal Rossi chess sets and boards collection, or see how it sits alongside every other option in our complete range of chess sets. Every Sterling Chess order is backed by our 100 day free returns, so you can choose with complete confidence.

Written by Karl Matias, Customer Experience at Sterling Chess. Karl helps customers choose across the full Dal Rossi range and rates it as one of the best-value brands for someone stepping up from a basic set, because the jump in weight, balance and finish is immediately obvious. He is particularly fond of the folding sets, which he thinks solve the one problem every household eventually has: where to keep the pieces.