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Soviet chessmen have a look of their own, and the BF-I is one of the clearest examples of it. This is a precise reproduction of the series that rose to fame through the match between Mikhail Botvinnik and Salo Flohr.
The Botvinnik Flohr series ran to two variations, and both featured in the Moscow chess tournaments of 1933 and 1935. The BF-I is the 1933 set, and it is a favourite with collectors and enthusiasts.
The profile is the giveaway. Broad bases sit under very lean shanks, which is typical of Soviet chessmen and is what makes the army read as distinct and still elegant.
The knights are the piece people come back to. The face is caught mid laugh, the body runs through a curve unlike anything else in the army, and the carving on them is what this pattern is really about.
You will find it in our reproduction chess pieces.
Pick one up and the shank is the first thing you notice. It is lean, close to spare, and it drops into a base far wider than the stem standing on it.
That shape is doing two jobs at once. It keeps the outline light to look at, and it gives every piece a broad footing so the army sits steadily on the squares.
Weight is added at the base to keep the pieces stable in play. Even so this is a light army for its height, so the pieces lift easily and a knocked table will move them across the squares.
The two options are one army in different clothes. Every height, every base and the total weight match exactly, so the only decision in front of you is the colour of the dark side.
These pieces suit medium to large boards, with squares of 55mm to 60mm, and the wider end is the one to aim for. The bases are broad, so that extra width keeps an easy gap between neighbours along the back rank.
Ebonised boxwood is the stricter of the two. The boxwood on the dark side is brought to a near black, and against the pale army opposite it gives the crisper contrast of the pair.
Golden rosewood is the warmer option. The dark side is a honey brown, so the two armies read as timber against timber rather than as black against white.
Neither choice changes how the set plays. The shapes are identical, the weight is identical and the board window is identical, so this comes down to how you want the board to look in your room.
If you want a plain recommendation, take the ebonised option for a bright room or a pale board, and the golden rosewood if the room is warm and you would rather see a warm brown than a silhouette.
Looking after them is the same simple job whichever you choose. Keep the set out of direct sunlight and away from heaters, which is what makes hardwood check. Dust with a dry soft cloth, and leave oil, polish and solvents alone.
This one is about character rather than heft.
The BF-I is not trying to impress with mass. It is a lean, narrow waisted army with a laughing horse in it, and that combination is the whole reason to own the pattern.
Be honest with yourself about the weight before ordering. This is a light set, so if you want chessmen that thump down and sit through a fast finish, our tournament chess pieces is the better place to look.
And measure the board first. The square window below is the number to match, because a board cut outside it will make a handsome set look wrong.
- Blake Sterling, CEO & Founder, Sterling Chess
Squares of 55mm to 60mm. Aim for the wider end if the board is still to be bought, because the bases are broad and the extra room keeps a little air around every piece.
Yes. The two options share every dimension, the same total weight and the same board window, so what you are choosing is colour alone.
800 grams for the full set. The mass all sits low in each piece, but this is still a light army in the hand and an easy one to carry about.
The face and the line of the body. The BF-I knight has a laughing profile and an unusual curve through it, and it is the piece the whole pattern is built around.
The set is 34 chess pieces. What is in the box is listed in full below.
No, neither is included. What ships is the chessmen, so a board and a box are both separate purchases. Measure the squares on any board you already own before ordering.
|
Spec |
Detail |
|
King |
91mm high (3.6 inch), 42mm base |
|
Queen |
79mm high (3.1 inch), 39mm base |
|
Bishop |
74mm high (2.9 inch), 37mm base |
|
Knight |
65mm high (2.6 inch), 34mm base |
|
Rook |
54mm high (2.1 inch), 36mm base |
|
Pawn |
49mm high (1.9 inch), 33mm base |
|
Ebonised option |
Ebonised boxwood dark pieces, boxwood light pieces |
|
Golden Rosewood option |
Golden rosewood dark pieces, boxwood light pieces |
|
King height, both options |
91mm |
|
Recommended square size |
55mm to 60mm (2.16 inch to 2.36 inch) |
|
Total weight of pieces |
800 grams (1.8 lbs) |
|
Piece count |
34 |
|
Chess board |
Not included |
34 chess pieces in the option you select
Chess board not included
Storage box not included
All products sold by Sterling Chess are backed by a 12 month limited manufacturer warranty. This covers manufacturing defects and cracking, and ensures every product is 100% genuine. If you need assistance, our team is only a call or email away.
Is shipping really free?
Yes — we offer free standard shipping on all orders across Australia, with no minimum spend. The price you see at checkout is the price you pay.
Are there any exceptions to free shipping?
No exceptions. Every order ships free, regardless of size, weight, or order value.
How long will my order take to arrive?
Orders are typically dispatched within 1–2 business days, with delivery times depending on your location. You'll receive tracking details by email once your order is on its way.
Do you ship to all areas of Australia?
Yes, we deliver Australia-wide, including regional and remote areas — all at no shipping cost to you.
Can I track my order?
Absolutely. As soon as your order ships, we'll email you a tracking number so you can follow its journey to your door.
What if I need my order quickly?
Get in touch before ordering and we'll do our best to help. Standard shipping is free, and we'll advise on the fastest available option for your area. To contact us, simply email us at support@sterlingchess.com.au, call (03) 7037 0931 or open the live chat.
Changed your mind? You can return unused, unopened items within 100 days of your order date, provided they’re in original packaging and resaleable condition. Sterling Chess will cover the cost of shipping return items under our 100-day free returns policy.
All Sterling Chess products are backed by Australian Consumer Law and include a minimum 12-month Australian warranty. If there’s an issue with your product, our team is here to help and will work to make it right.
Click here to view our full returns policy.
If you're shopping for a new chess set, you're in the right place—and here's why.
1. We know chess inside and out
At Sterling Chess, we're not just another online store. We’re chess lovers, players, collectors, and game night fanatics.
That means we care about quality, balance, and feel—and we only stock sets we’d use ourselves. From tournament-grade boards to handcrafted wooden pieces, we’ve got what real players want.
2. Unmatched variety for every player
Whether you're just learning or a lifelong grandmaster, we have something for you.
Looking for a folding set for travel? A stunning showpiece for your home? A kid-friendly set for your budding chess champion? We’ve got it all—and more.
3. Fast and FREE shipping on all orders
Shipping is FREE on all Sterling Chess orders.
We ship quickly from local and international warehouses, so you’re not waiting weeks to get your game on.
Most orders are packed and sent within 24–48 hours. Plus, you’ll get tracking updates every step of the way.
4. Customer support that actually helps
Have a question? Need help choosing a set? Our friendly team is ready to help—no scripts, no bots, just real people who care about your experience.
You can call our team anytime between business hours on (03) 7037 0931 or email us at support@sterlingchess.com.au. Alternatively, you can use our live chat during business hours to contact our helpful support team.
5. Thousands of happy customers
Don't just take our word for it—our reviews speak for themselves. Sterling Chess is trusted by thousands of players who keep coming back for more. Great products. Great service. No hassle.
6. Classic games, too
We're all about chess—but we also carry backgammon, checkers, poker and other timeless strategy games. If you love the classics, you’ll feel right at home.
Ready to make your move?
Choose a chess set that fits your style, skill level, and space—and enjoy the Sterling Chess difference. You’ll love how it looks. You’ll love how it plays. And you’ll love buying from a team that loves the game just as much as you do.
Soviet chessmen have a look of their own, and the BF-I is one of the clearest examples of it. This is a precise reproduction of the series that rose to fame through the match between Mikhail Botvinnik and Salo Flohr.
The Botvinnik Flohr series ran to two variations, and both featured in the Moscow chess tournaments of 1933 and 1935. The BF-I is the 1933 set, and it is a favourite with collectors and enthusiasts.
The profile is the giveaway. Broad bases sit under very lean shanks, which is typical of Soviet chessmen and is what makes the army read as distinct and still elegant.
The knights are the piece people come back to. The face is caught mid laugh, the body runs through a curve unlike anything else in the army, and the carving on them is what this pattern is really about.
You will find it in our reproduction chess pieces.
Pick one up and the shank is the first thing you notice. It is lean, close to spare, and it drops into a base far wider than the stem standing on it.
That shape is doing two jobs at once. It keeps the outline light to look at, and it gives every piece a broad footing so the army sits steadily on the squares.
Weight is added at the base to keep the pieces stable in play. Even so this is a light army for its height, so the pieces lift easily and a knocked table will move them across the squares.
The two options are one army in different clothes. Every height, every base and the total weight match exactly, so the only decision in front of you is the colour of the dark side.
These pieces suit medium to large boards, with squares of 55mm to 60mm, and the wider end is the one to aim for. The bases are broad, so that extra width keeps an easy gap between neighbours along the back rank.
Ebonised boxwood is the stricter of the two. The boxwood on the dark side is brought to a near black, and against the pale army opposite it gives the crisper contrast of the pair.
Golden rosewood is the warmer option. The dark side is a honey brown, so the two armies read as timber against timber rather than as black against white.
Neither choice changes how the set plays. The shapes are identical, the weight is identical and the board window is identical, so this comes down to how you want the board to look in your room.
If you want a plain recommendation, take the ebonised option for a bright room or a pale board, and the golden rosewood if the room is warm and you would rather see a warm brown than a silhouette.
Looking after them is the same simple job whichever you choose. Keep the set out of direct sunlight and away from heaters, which is what makes hardwood check. Dust with a dry soft cloth, and leave oil, polish and solvents alone.
This one is about character rather than heft.
The BF-I is not trying to impress with mass. It is a lean, narrow waisted army with a laughing horse in it, and that combination is the whole reason to own the pattern.
Be honest with yourself about the weight before ordering. This is a light set, so if you want chessmen that thump down and sit through a fast finish, our tournament chess pieces is the better place to look.
And measure the board first. The square window below is the number to match, because a board cut outside it will make a handsome set look wrong.
- Blake Sterling, CEO & Founder, Sterling Chess
Squares of 55mm to 60mm. Aim for the wider end if the board is still to be bought, because the bases are broad and the extra room keeps a little air around every piece.
Yes. The two options share every dimension, the same total weight and the same board window, so what you are choosing is colour alone.
800 grams for the full set. The mass all sits low in each piece, but this is still a light army in the hand and an easy one to carry about.
The face and the line of the body. The BF-I knight has a laughing profile and an unusual curve through it, and it is the piece the whole pattern is built around.
The set is 34 chess pieces. What is in the box is listed in full below.
No, neither is included. What ships is the chessmen, so a board and a box are both separate purchases. Measure the squares on any board you already own before ordering.
|
Spec |
Detail |
|
King |
91mm high (3.6 inch), 42mm base |
|
Queen |
79mm high (3.1 inch), 39mm base |
|
Bishop |
74mm high (2.9 inch), 37mm base |
|
Knight |
65mm high (2.6 inch), 34mm base |
|
Rook |
54mm high (2.1 inch), 36mm base |
|
Pawn |
49mm high (1.9 inch), 33mm base |
|
Ebonised option |
Ebonised boxwood dark pieces, boxwood light pieces |
|
Golden Rosewood option |
Golden rosewood dark pieces, boxwood light pieces |
|
King height, both options |
91mm |
|
Recommended square size |
55mm to 60mm (2.16 inch to 2.36 inch) |
|
Total weight of pieces |
800 grams (1.8 lbs) |
|
Piece count |
34 |
|
Chess board |
Not included |
34 chess pieces in the option you select
Chess board not included
Storage box not included
All products sold by Sterling Chess are backed by a 12 month limited manufacturer warranty. This covers manufacturing defects and cracking, and ensures every product is 100% genuine. If you need assistance, our team is only a call or email away.
Is shipping really free?
Yes — we offer free standard shipping on all orders across Australia, with no minimum spend. The price you see at checkout is the price you pay.
Are there any exceptions to free shipping?
No exceptions. Every order ships free, regardless of size, weight, or order value.
How long will my order take to arrive?
Orders are typically dispatched within 1–2 business days, with delivery times depending on your location. You'll receive tracking details by email once your order is on its way.
Do you ship to all areas of Australia?
Yes, we deliver Australia-wide, including regional and remote areas — all at no shipping cost to you.
Can I track my order?
Absolutely. As soon as your order ships, we'll email you a tracking number so you can follow its journey to your door.
What if I need my order quickly?
Get in touch before ordering and we'll do our best to help. Standard shipping is free, and we'll advise on the fastest available option for your area. To contact us, simply email us at support@sterlingchess.com.au, call (03) 7037 0931 or open the live chat.
Changed your mind? You can return unused, unopened items within 100 days of your order date, provided they’re in original packaging and resaleable condition. Sterling Chess will cover the cost of shipping return items under our 100-day free returns policy.
All Sterling Chess products are backed by Australian Consumer Law and include a minimum 12-month Australian warranty. If there’s an issue with your product, our team is here to help and will work to make it right.
Click here to view our full returns policy.
If you're shopping for a new chess set, you're in the right place—and here's why.
1. We know chess inside and out
At Sterling Chess, we're not just another online store. We’re chess lovers, players, collectors, and game night fanatics.
That means we care about quality, balance, and feel—and we only stock sets we’d use ourselves. From tournament-grade boards to handcrafted wooden pieces, we’ve got what real players want.
2. Unmatched variety for every player
Whether you're just learning or a lifelong grandmaster, we have something for you.
Looking for a folding set for travel? A stunning showpiece for your home? A kid-friendly set for your budding chess champion? We’ve got it all—and more.
3. Fast and FREE shipping on all orders
Shipping is FREE on all Sterling Chess orders.
We ship quickly from local and international warehouses, so you’re not waiting weeks to get your game on.
Most orders are packed and sent within 24–48 hours. Plus, you’ll get tracking updates every step of the way.
4. Customer support that actually helps
Have a question? Need help choosing a set? Our friendly team is ready to help—no scripts, no bots, just real people who care about your experience.
You can call our team anytime between business hours on (03) 7037 0931 or email us at support@sterlingchess.com.au. Alternatively, you can use our live chat during business hours to contact our helpful support team.
5. Thousands of happy customers
Don't just take our word for it—our reviews speak for themselves. Sterling Chess is trusted by thousands of players who keep coming back for more. Great products. Great service. No hassle.
6. Classic games, too
We're all about chess—but we also carry backgammon, checkers, poker and other timeless strategy games. If you love the classics, you’ll feel right at home.
Ready to make your move?
Choose a chess set that fits your style, skill level, and space—and enjoy the Sterling Chess difference. You’ll love how it looks. You’ll love how it plays. And you’ll love buying from a team that loves the game just as much as you do.
