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The Tal set is a reproduction of the chess set used in Soviet chess championships during the 1960s, and the bases are the first thing anyone notices about it.
They are very broad and very chunky, right through the army from the king down to the pawn, and that is where this set gets its stability once the pieces are in play.
Collectors know the pattern from the book The Life and Games of Mikhail Tal. It is a collectors' edition, and it is meant for the board as much as for a shelf.
There are two pairings. Golden rosewood against boxwood is the conventional one. The antiqued option is the unusual one, because both of its armies carry a finish and neither is left as bare timber.
It sits in our wood chess pieces.
Pick one up and the base is what registers. It is wide, thick and flat, and the piece sits down on the board with no wobble in it at all.
That carries all the way through the army. Even the pawns stand on broad feet, so the front rank has the same planted look as the back one and the whole array feels of a piece.
The queen is drawn tall, close enough to the king that the two read as a pair in the centre of the board rather than as a king and a much smaller partner beside him.
The honest note is the mass. This is a heavy army, and between the weight and those broad feet it is a set that wants to live out on a table rather than be put away after every game.
These pieces suit larger boards, with squares of 55mm to 60mm, and any square in that range will take them comfortably. Broad as the feet look, this is a tall king, and the back rank keeps clear board around every base.
Golden rosewood with boxwood is the conventional pair. The dark army is a warm honey brown, the light army is pale boxwood, and the two separate cleanly at any distance across a table.
Antiqued boxwood with ebonised boxwood is the unusual one. Both armies carry a finish here: one is boxwood taken to an aged, mellow tone, and the other is boxwood brought to a near black.
So there is no bright pale timber on the board in that second pairing. It reads older and quieter than the golden rosewood option, which is the point of it, but it is worth knowing before you choose.
If you want a crisp light army, take golden rosewood with boxwood. If you want a set that looks as though it has already had a long life, take the antiqued pairing.
Check the square before you order. Measure the board you already own against the window in the specifications, because that is the one figure worth settling before anything else about the set matters.
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.
The bases are the reason to buy this one.
Broad feet make an army feel settled in play, and this one has them from the king right down to the pawn, which is something the pattern makes a point of rather than an accident of scale.
Be clear about what comes with it. These are the chessmen only, with no board and no box, and it is a heavy set to shift. Anyone who wants a lighter army for club nights and travel should start in our tournament chess pieces instead.
- Blake Sterling, CEO & Founder, Sterling Chess
Squares of 55mm to 60mm. The bases are broad and chunky, but the king is a tall one, so the rank still has room to breathe wherever you sit inside that window.
The bases, and the profiling that comes with them. They are exceptionally broad and thick, so a piece sits down flat and stays where it is put for a whole game.
1,500 grams for the full set. There is real substance in every piece, and it makes one very hard to knock over by accident.
No. Both options share the same heights, the same bases and the same square window. What changes is the colour of the two armies and how strongly they separate.
34 chess pieces. What is in the box is listed in full below.
No, neither is included. The listing covers the chessmen alone, so a board and a box are bought separately; the square window below is the figure to match a board to.
|
Spec |
Detail |
|
King |
102mm high (4.0 inch), 39mm base |
|
Queen |
91mm high (3.6 inch), 38mm base |
|
Bishop |
77mm high (3.0 inch), 35mm base |
|
Knight |
75mm high (3.0 inch), 36mm base |
|
Rook |
64mm high (2.5 inch), 35mm base |
|
Pawn |
54mm high (2.1 inch), 35mm base |
|
Golden Rosewood option |
Golden rosewood dark pieces, boxwood light pieces |
|
Antiqued Boxwood option |
Ebonised boxwood dark pieces, antiqued boxwood light pieces |
|
King height, both options |
102mm |
|
Recommended square size |
55mm to 60mm (2.16 inch to 2.36 inch) |
|
Total weight of pieces |
1,500 grams (3.3 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.
The Tal set is a reproduction of the chess set used in Soviet chess championships during the 1960s, and the bases are the first thing anyone notices about it.
They are very broad and very chunky, right through the army from the king down to the pawn, and that is where this set gets its stability once the pieces are in play.
Collectors know the pattern from the book The Life and Games of Mikhail Tal. It is a collectors' edition, and it is meant for the board as much as for a shelf.
There are two pairings. Golden rosewood against boxwood is the conventional one. The antiqued option is the unusual one, because both of its armies carry a finish and neither is left as bare timber.
It sits in our wood chess pieces.
Pick one up and the base is what registers. It is wide, thick and flat, and the piece sits down on the board with no wobble in it at all.
That carries all the way through the army. Even the pawns stand on broad feet, so the front rank has the same planted look as the back one and the whole array feels of a piece.
The queen is drawn tall, close enough to the king that the two read as a pair in the centre of the board rather than as a king and a much smaller partner beside him.
The honest note is the mass. This is a heavy army, and between the weight and those broad feet it is a set that wants to live out on a table rather than be put away after every game.
These pieces suit larger boards, with squares of 55mm to 60mm, and any square in that range will take them comfortably. Broad as the feet look, this is a tall king, and the back rank keeps clear board around every base.
Golden rosewood with boxwood is the conventional pair. The dark army is a warm honey brown, the light army is pale boxwood, and the two separate cleanly at any distance across a table.
Antiqued boxwood with ebonised boxwood is the unusual one. Both armies carry a finish here: one is boxwood taken to an aged, mellow tone, and the other is boxwood brought to a near black.
So there is no bright pale timber on the board in that second pairing. It reads older and quieter than the golden rosewood option, which is the point of it, but it is worth knowing before you choose.
If you want a crisp light army, take golden rosewood with boxwood. If you want a set that looks as though it has already had a long life, take the antiqued pairing.
Check the square before you order. Measure the board you already own against the window in the specifications, because that is the one figure worth settling before anything else about the set matters.
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.
The bases are the reason to buy this one.
Broad feet make an army feel settled in play, and this one has them from the king right down to the pawn, which is something the pattern makes a point of rather than an accident of scale.
Be clear about what comes with it. These are the chessmen only, with no board and no box, and it is a heavy set to shift. Anyone who wants a lighter army for club nights and travel should start in our tournament chess pieces instead.
- Blake Sterling, CEO & Founder, Sterling Chess
Squares of 55mm to 60mm. The bases are broad and chunky, but the king is a tall one, so the rank still has room to breathe wherever you sit inside that window.
The bases, and the profiling that comes with them. They are exceptionally broad and thick, so a piece sits down flat and stays where it is put for a whole game.
1,500 grams for the full set. There is real substance in every piece, and it makes one very hard to knock over by accident.
No. Both options share the same heights, the same bases and the same square window. What changes is the colour of the two armies and how strongly they separate.
34 chess pieces. What is in the box is listed in full below.
No, neither is included. The listing covers the chessmen alone, so a board and a box are bought separately; the square window below is the figure to match a board to.
|
Spec |
Detail |
|
King |
102mm high (4.0 inch), 39mm base |
|
Queen |
91mm high (3.6 inch), 38mm base |
|
Bishop |
77mm high (3.0 inch), 35mm base |
|
Knight |
75mm high (3.0 inch), 36mm base |
|
Rook |
64mm high (2.5 inch), 35mm base |
|
Pawn |
54mm high (2.1 inch), 35mm base |
|
Golden Rosewood option |
Golden rosewood dark pieces, boxwood light pieces |
|
Antiqued Boxwood option |
Ebonised boxwood dark pieces, antiqued boxwood light pieces |
|
King height, both options |
102mm |
|
Recommended square size |
55mm to 60mm (2.16 inch to 2.36 inch) |
|
Total weight of pieces |
1,500 grams (3.3 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.
