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✔ Questions? Call Us: (03) 7037 0931
Soviet era chess pieces are their own design language. Squat, wide based and built for hard use in club halls rather than display cabinets, they look nothing like the tall English Staunton sets that dominate the market. This is a reproduction of the Latvian pattern turned in the 1950s.
The proportions tell the story. A 106mm king on a 43mm base gives a low centre of gravity, and at 1,170g across 34 pieces the set is moderately weighted rather than heavy. Knights are cut with the short, blunt muzzle typical of Baltic workshops of the period, and the bishops carry a plain mitre with no fuss.
Three timbers are offered and the choice is purely visual. They sit in the middle of our wood chess pieces range, and suit a player who wants period character without the price of a collector reproduction.
Most wooden sets sold in Australia follow the English Staunton proportions: a tall king, a narrow base, and a knight with a long arched neck. They photograph well and they are what most players picture when they think of a chess set.
Soviet patterns solved a different problem. Equipment had to survive club use, travel badly packed, and stay upright on a table that was not quite level. The result is a squatter piece with a wider foot, and once you have played with one the stability is hard to give up.
What you trade is elegance of line. If you want the classic tall silhouette, the Staunton chess pieces in our range will suit you better. If you want something with a distinct period identity, this is the more interesting set.
Soviet chess equipment was produced across a network of regional workshops rather than a single manufacturer, and each developed recognisable habits. Latvian workshops favoured a compact king, a pronounced collar beneath the crown, and knights cut with a short muzzle and a heavy jaw.
Sets of this kind were made in quantity through the 1950s and 1960s for clubs and tournaments across the union. Surviving originals in playable condition are increasingly collected, which is what makes a faithful reproduction worth having: the design without the fragility of a seventy year old set.
At 1,170g across 34 pieces the set averages roughly 34g a piece. That is lighter than a triple weighted tournament set and deliberately so. The stability here comes from the 43mm base under a 106mm king rather than from mass, which is the Soviet approach to the same problem.
In practice the pieces sit firmly without feeling leaden, and they are easy to move quickly in a time scramble. Thick felt on every base protects a timber surface and keeps the sound of a move to a soft set down rather than a click.
The 43mm king base is what determines your board, not the 106mm height. As a rule the base wants to occupy around 78 percent of the square, which puts these pieces on 50mm to 55mm squares. That is standard tournament sizing, so most boards already in circulation will suit them.
No board is included with these pieces. Our chess boards collection is filtered by square size, so you can match the requirement directly rather than working it back from the overall board dimensions.
The reason to choose this set is the base to height ratio: a 43mm foot under a 106mm king is unusually generous, and it is what makes a moderately weighted set feel planted rather than tippy. The honest caveat is that at roughly 34g a piece these are noticeably lighter than a triple weighted tournament set, so anyone used to that heft will find them modest in the hand. We would put them in front of a club player who values stability and a distinct period look over sheer mass.
- Blake Sterling, CEO & Founder, Sterling Chess
All three are identical in size, carving and weight, so it is purely a question of looks. Bud rosewood gives a warm reddish brown dark side with visible figure. Ebonised with natural boxwood is the highest contrast pairing. Ebonised with antiqued boxwood softens the light side to an aged tone.
Squares of 50mm to 55mm, which is standard tournament sizing. That comes from the 43mm king base rather than the 106mm height.
No. This listing is for the 34 pieces only, including the two spare queens. Boards are sold separately and no storage box ships with the set.
No. At 1,170g across 34 pieces they are moderately weighted, around 34g a piece. Soviet patterns achieve stability through a wide base rather than added mass, which is a different approach to the same problem.
They sit in the middle of the range for weight and price. If you want something heavier or taller, browse the full chess pieces collection and filter by king height.
|
Spec |
Detail |
|
King height |
106mm (4.17 inch) |
|
King base diameter |
43mm (1.69 inch) |
|
Queen height |
90mm (3.54 inch) |
|
Queen base diameter |
40mm (1.57 inch) |
|
Bishop height |
76mm (2.99 inch) |
|
Knight height |
71mm (2.79 inch) |
|
Rook height |
60mm (2.36 inch) |
|
Pawn height |
53mm (2.08 inch) |
|
Dark pieces |
Bud rosewood or ebonised boxwood, by option |
|
Light pieces |
Natural or antiqued boxwood, by option |
|
Weighting |
Weighted, with thick felt bases |
|
Piece count |
34, including two spare queens |
|
Total set weight |
1,170g approximate |
|
Recommended square size |
50mm to 55mm |
|
Origin |
Hand carved in India |
|
Board |
Not included |
32 chess pieces in the timber option you select
2 spare queens, one per colour
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 era chess pieces are their own design language. Squat, wide based and built for hard use in club halls rather than display cabinets, they look nothing like the tall English Staunton sets that dominate the market. This is a reproduction of the Latvian pattern turned in the 1950s.
The proportions tell the story. A 106mm king on a 43mm base gives a low centre of gravity, and at 1,170g across 34 pieces the set is moderately weighted rather than heavy. Knights are cut with the short, blunt muzzle typical of Baltic workshops of the period, and the bishops carry a plain mitre with no fuss.
Three timbers are offered and the choice is purely visual. They sit in the middle of our wood chess pieces range, and suit a player who wants period character without the price of a collector reproduction.
Most wooden sets sold in Australia follow the English Staunton proportions: a tall king, a narrow base, and a knight with a long arched neck. They photograph well and they are what most players picture when they think of a chess set.
Soviet patterns solved a different problem. Equipment had to survive club use, travel badly packed, and stay upright on a table that was not quite level. The result is a squatter piece with a wider foot, and once you have played with one the stability is hard to give up.
What you trade is elegance of line. If you want the classic tall silhouette, the Staunton chess pieces in our range will suit you better. If you want something with a distinct period identity, this is the more interesting set.
Soviet chess equipment was produced across a network of regional workshops rather than a single manufacturer, and each developed recognisable habits. Latvian workshops favoured a compact king, a pronounced collar beneath the crown, and knights cut with a short muzzle and a heavy jaw.
Sets of this kind were made in quantity through the 1950s and 1960s for clubs and tournaments across the union. Surviving originals in playable condition are increasingly collected, which is what makes a faithful reproduction worth having: the design without the fragility of a seventy year old set.
At 1,170g across 34 pieces the set averages roughly 34g a piece. That is lighter than a triple weighted tournament set and deliberately so. The stability here comes from the 43mm base under a 106mm king rather than from mass, which is the Soviet approach to the same problem.
In practice the pieces sit firmly without feeling leaden, and they are easy to move quickly in a time scramble. Thick felt on every base protects a timber surface and keeps the sound of a move to a soft set down rather than a click.
The 43mm king base is what determines your board, not the 106mm height. As a rule the base wants to occupy around 78 percent of the square, which puts these pieces on 50mm to 55mm squares. That is standard tournament sizing, so most boards already in circulation will suit them.
No board is included with these pieces. Our chess boards collection is filtered by square size, so you can match the requirement directly rather than working it back from the overall board dimensions.
The reason to choose this set is the base to height ratio: a 43mm foot under a 106mm king is unusually generous, and it is what makes a moderately weighted set feel planted rather than tippy. The honest caveat is that at roughly 34g a piece these are noticeably lighter than a triple weighted tournament set, so anyone used to that heft will find them modest in the hand. We would put them in front of a club player who values stability and a distinct period look over sheer mass.
- Blake Sterling, CEO & Founder, Sterling Chess
All three are identical in size, carving and weight, so it is purely a question of looks. Bud rosewood gives a warm reddish brown dark side with visible figure. Ebonised with natural boxwood is the highest contrast pairing. Ebonised with antiqued boxwood softens the light side to an aged tone.
Squares of 50mm to 55mm, which is standard tournament sizing. That comes from the 43mm king base rather than the 106mm height.
No. This listing is for the 34 pieces only, including the two spare queens. Boards are sold separately and no storage box ships with the set.
No. At 1,170g across 34 pieces they are moderately weighted, around 34g a piece. Soviet patterns achieve stability through a wide base rather than added mass, which is a different approach to the same problem.
They sit in the middle of the range for weight and price. If you want something heavier or taller, browse the full chess pieces collection and filter by king height.
|
Spec |
Detail |
|
King height |
106mm (4.17 inch) |
|
King base diameter |
43mm (1.69 inch) |
|
Queen height |
90mm (3.54 inch) |
|
Queen base diameter |
40mm (1.57 inch) |
|
Bishop height |
76mm (2.99 inch) |
|
Knight height |
71mm (2.79 inch) |
|
Rook height |
60mm (2.36 inch) |
|
Pawn height |
53mm (2.08 inch) |
|
Dark pieces |
Bud rosewood or ebonised boxwood, by option |
|
Light pieces |
Natural or antiqued boxwood, by option |
|
Weighting |
Weighted, with thick felt bases |
|
Piece count |
34, including two spare queens |
|
Total set weight |
1,170g approximate |
|
Recommended square size |
50mm to 55mm |
|
Origin |
Hand carved in India |
|
Board |
Not included |
32 chess pieces in the timber option you select
2 spare queens, one per colour
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.
