Chess Pieces

Choose chess pieces by material and pattern

Everything in this range is pieces only. If you want a board as well, buy a matched set instead.

• Staunton chess pieces: the standard pattern since 1849 and the one to buy if the pieces will be played with seriously.
• Wood chess pieces: the largest part of the range. Boxwood, sheesham, rosewood, ebonised and ebony.
• Luxury chess pieces: hand carved and collector grade, where the carving and the timber are the point.
• Tournament chess pieces: weighted and sized to regulation proportions for club and competition play.
• Metal chess pieces: brass and pewter, considerably heavier than timber and built for presence.
• Theme chess pieces: figural and historical armies for display and gifts.
• Reproduction chess pieces: faithful copies of historical patterns, from the Isle of Lewis figures to nineteenth century tournament sets.
• Electronic chess pieces: sensor pieces that pair with a DGT e-Board.
• Sterling Chess: our own label. Staunton and reproduction patterns, with kings from 49mm to 159mm.

How to match chess pieces to a board

Pieces and boards bought separately do not automatically suit each other, and this is the single most common mistake. Work from the base diameter of the king: the square should be comfortably wider than that base, leaving room for two pieces to stand on adjacent squares without touching. FIDE puts competition squares between 5cm and 6cm, and sets the base of each piece at 40 to 50 per cent of its own height.

Too small a square and the pieces crowd each other so the position is hard to read. Too large and the set looks lost on the board. Every listing here gives king height and base diameter, and the chess boards range lists square sizes, so the two can be matched before you buy. If you would rather not do the arithmetic, a complete chess set arrives already matched.

Weighted, felted and why it matters

Weighted pieces have metal added to the base so they sit firmly and do not topple when the board is bumped. Single weighted suits casual play, double weighted is what most club players prefer, and the difference is obvious the moment you move a piece.

Base felt is the other detail worth checking. Good felt protects the board, lets the piece slide cleanly and stays put over years of play. Thin or poorly glued felt is the first thing to fail on a cheap set, and it is one of the things we look at on every set before it goes into the catalogue.

Frequently asked questions

Do these chess pieces come with a board?

No. This range is pieces only. For a board as well, see chess boards, or buy a matched chess set.

What size chess pieces should I buy?

Work from the board. Every listing here gives king height and base diameter, so choose a king whose base sits comfortably inside the square with a visible margin on every side. FIDE puts competition squares between 5cm and 6cm.

Are your chess pieces weighted?

Most of the timber and tournament sets are weighted. Metal pieces carry their weight from the material itself and need no added weighting.

Can I buy a single replacement chess piece?

Sets are sold complete rather than as individual pieces. If you have lost one, tell us the set and we will help you find the closest match or a sensible replacement set.

Which chess pieces are best for a club?

Double weighted Staunton pieces with a 95mm king, in timber or plastic depending on how hard a life they will have. The tournament chess pieces range is sized for exactly this.

Are themed chess pieces playable?

Yes, though figural armies take longer to read across a board than Staunton shapes, so most people who own a themed set keep a plain one for serious games.

Do you ship chess pieces Australia wide?

Yes. Orders ship from Australian stock with local support, and everything is covered by 100 day free returns.

Backed by Sterling Chess

Every set of pieces we stock is handled and weighed before it goes into the catalogue, and we source directly from the makers. That is how we can tell you which pieces feel right in the hand rather than only which ones look good in a photograph.

Matching pieces to a board is the thing people most often get wrong, and it is worth a two minute conversation before you buy. The team is a call or email away on (03) 7037 0931.