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A timber board that fits an ordinary table. This one is 43cm across with 45mm squares, so eight squares make a playing grid 36cm wide and there is roughly 3.5cm of board outside the play on every side. It sits on a coffee table, on the corner of a desk or at one end of a dining table without taking the room over.
The dark squares are dark brown Indian rosewood (Dalbergia latifolia), a deep chocolate brown with a purple cast and long straight grain that runs across a square rather than clouding inside it. Maple (Acer oblongum) takes the light squares, pale and close grained. The underside is felted in green velvet, so the board can go straight onto a polished surface without a cloth beneath it.
At 20mm in section and 3,000g it is a proper timber playing surface rather than something that folds or rolls, and it is still light enough to lift with one hand and stand on a shelf between games. It is a more affordable way into a timber board than the larger footprints, and the rest of them run across our chess boards collection.
Other boards share this footprint and these 45mm squares, so the choice between them comes down to timber and section rather than size. The 43cm sheesham and maple board runs sheesham against maple, a golden brown with open grain that reads warm and gentle across a room. This one goes considerably darker and cooler, and its grain runs straight across the square instead of swirling within it, which gives the surface a more formal look.
The 43cm ebony and maple board with a sheesham border takes the same footprint to near black ebony with a sheesham border around the play, so it separates dark from light harder than either of the others and carries a framed edge that neither of them has. It is also built slimmer. This board sits between the two on colour, is deeper in section than the ebony one, and carries no border, so the chequer runs cleanly out to a plain edge.
More broadly, this is the more affordable end of our timber boards rather than the top of it, and it is a step up from anything that folds or rolls. A bundled board underneath a set of chessmen is cut thin to keep a package light and is usually replaced first. Twenty millimetres of dense rosewood with a felted underside is bought separately because it is meant to stay in service.
Base diameter is the number that decides the fit, not the height of the king. Two sets standing at the same height often differ by eight or ten millimetres at the foot, and the foot is what has to share the square. On 45mm squares the sensible target is a king base somewhere between about 30mm and 38mm.
The reasoning is proportional and worth doing rather than taking on trust. A base covering roughly three quarters of its square leaves a clear margin of timber all round, and three quarters of 45mm is about 34mm, which is the middle of the useful window. Push towards 38mm and the back rank fills handsomely but tightly, with only a few millimetres showing between neighbouring feet. Drop much below 30mm and the army begins to look small against 36cm of playing grid, particularly late in a game.
Compact reproduction and analysis patterns are the natural match. The Reproduction French Lardy Compact 76mm stands on a 31mm base and is drawn for 40mm to 45mm squares, so it lands almost exactly where this board wants it. A full tournament set with a 95mm king will usually foot at 40mm or more and belongs on a 50mm or 55mm square board instead, so read the base figure before pairing rather than the king height.
Dalbergia latifolia is the quiet, formal member of the rosewood family. Its colour runs a deep chocolate brown with a purple undertone, and its figure is long and straight, crossing a 45mm square in lines rather than clouding inside it. Against pale maple it separates cleanly without going all the way to the flat near black of ebony, so there is still timber to look at in the dark squares.
That matters more on a compact board than on a large one. At 45mm squares the pieces stand closer together than they would on a full sized surface, so anything that helps a crowded middlegame resolve at a glance is doing real work. A dark, low figure timber gives you most of the legibility of ebony while keeping some warmth, which is a reasonable place to land for a board that will spend as much time out on a table as in play.
Rosewood responds to light over the years, deepening rather than fading, and keeping the board out of direct sun slows that considerably. Each board also carries its own grain, so the figure that arrives will be particular to it rather than a match for the photography, and the finished weight of a handmade board can vary by up to 10 percent either way.
This is the size that solves the room problem. A 43cm board leaves space beside it on most tables for captured material and a clock without either player leaning across, and it goes on a coffee table or a desk corner without dominating either. Anyone who has tried to find a permanent home for a 58cm board will recognise the appeal immediately.
At 3,000g it carries real weight for its footprint, so it stays where it is put on a stable surface and does not need anything underneath it to stop it sliding. The green velvet felt on the base takes the click out of a move, protects a polished table and holds the board in place on a smooth one. It is still light enough to lift with one hand when the game is over.
Care is undemanding. Keep it out of direct sunlight and away from heaters and vents, wipe it with a dry or barely damp soft cloth, and do not stand glasses on the playing area. Store it flat rather than leaning against a wall, and it will see out several sets of chessmen.
The strength here is getting a dense, genuinely dark rosewood at 20mm of section on a footprint that fits a normal table, which is a more affordable route into a timber board than the larger surfaces without dropping to something that folds. The caveat is the square size, and it is the first thing to check: 45mm squares cap the king base at around 38mm, so a full tournament set footing at 40mm or more will crowd this back rank and belongs on a bigger board. The dark squares are also brown rather than black, so if you want maximum contrast this is not the one. It suits a player working with limited table space who would rather spend on timber than on footprint, and it suits anyone pairing it with a compact reproduction pattern in the low thirties at the base. If you want a framed edge and a harder contrast at the same size, the 43cm ebony and maple board with a sheesham border is worth a look.
- Blake Sterling, CEO & Founder, Sterling Chess
No. This listing is the board on its own. It suits a set with a king base of roughly 30mm to 38mm, which covers compact and mid sized patterns rather than full tournament ones.
Aim for a king base in the low to middle thirties. Measure the widest part of the base rather than going by the height of the set, because height alone will mislead you by several millimetres.
A deep chocolate brown with a purple undertone and long straight grain running across each square. It is darker and cooler than sheesham and warmer than near black ebony.
Same 43cm footprint, same 45mm squares and the same felted underside. The 43cm sheesham and maple board is golden brown with busier open grain and reads warmer. This one is darker, straighter grained and more formal, and it is the better choice if you want the position to resolve quickly.
In most cases yes. At 43cm square it takes up a little more room than a large serving tray, and at 3,000g it can be lifted with one hand and moved to a shelf between games.
Keep it out of direct sunlight and away from heaters, wipe it with a dry or barely damp cloth, and store it flat rather than on its edge. Avoid leaving anything wet standing on the playing surface.
|
Spec |
Detail |
|
Board size |
43cm x 43cm (17 inch) |
|
Square size |
45mm (1.7 inch) |
|
Playing grid |
36cm across eight squares |
|
Board thickness |
20mm (0.78 inch) |
|
Board weight |
3,000g |
|
Weight tolerance |
Handmade, up to 10 percent either way |
|
Dark squares |
Dark brown Indian rosewood (Dalbergia latifolia) |
|
Light squares |
Maple (Acer oblongum) |
|
Underside |
Felted in green velvet |
|
Recommended king base |
About 30mm to 38mm |
|
Chess pieces |
Not included |
One 43cm dark brown Indian rosewood and maple chess board with 45mm squares
Playing pieces are sold separately and are not part of this listing
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.
A timber board that fits an ordinary table. This one is 43cm across with 45mm squares, so eight squares make a playing grid 36cm wide and there is roughly 3.5cm of board outside the play on every side. It sits on a coffee table, on the corner of a desk or at one end of a dining table without taking the room over.
The dark squares are dark brown Indian rosewood (Dalbergia latifolia), a deep chocolate brown with a purple cast and long straight grain that runs across a square rather than clouding inside it. Maple (Acer oblongum) takes the light squares, pale and close grained. The underside is felted in green velvet, so the board can go straight onto a polished surface without a cloth beneath it.
At 20mm in section and 3,000g it is a proper timber playing surface rather than something that folds or rolls, and it is still light enough to lift with one hand and stand on a shelf between games. It is a more affordable way into a timber board than the larger footprints, and the rest of them run across our chess boards collection.
Other boards share this footprint and these 45mm squares, so the choice between them comes down to timber and section rather than size. The 43cm sheesham and maple board runs sheesham against maple, a golden brown with open grain that reads warm and gentle across a room. This one goes considerably darker and cooler, and its grain runs straight across the square instead of swirling within it, which gives the surface a more formal look.
The 43cm ebony and maple board with a sheesham border takes the same footprint to near black ebony with a sheesham border around the play, so it separates dark from light harder than either of the others and carries a framed edge that neither of them has. It is also built slimmer. This board sits between the two on colour, is deeper in section than the ebony one, and carries no border, so the chequer runs cleanly out to a plain edge.
More broadly, this is the more affordable end of our timber boards rather than the top of it, and it is a step up from anything that folds or rolls. A bundled board underneath a set of chessmen is cut thin to keep a package light and is usually replaced first. Twenty millimetres of dense rosewood with a felted underside is bought separately because it is meant to stay in service.
Base diameter is the number that decides the fit, not the height of the king. Two sets standing at the same height often differ by eight or ten millimetres at the foot, and the foot is what has to share the square. On 45mm squares the sensible target is a king base somewhere between about 30mm and 38mm.
The reasoning is proportional and worth doing rather than taking on trust. A base covering roughly three quarters of its square leaves a clear margin of timber all round, and three quarters of 45mm is about 34mm, which is the middle of the useful window. Push towards 38mm and the back rank fills handsomely but tightly, with only a few millimetres showing between neighbouring feet. Drop much below 30mm and the army begins to look small against 36cm of playing grid, particularly late in a game.
Compact reproduction and analysis patterns are the natural match. The Reproduction French Lardy Compact 76mm stands on a 31mm base and is drawn for 40mm to 45mm squares, so it lands almost exactly where this board wants it. A full tournament set with a 95mm king will usually foot at 40mm or more and belongs on a 50mm or 55mm square board instead, so read the base figure before pairing rather than the king height.
Dalbergia latifolia is the quiet, formal member of the rosewood family. Its colour runs a deep chocolate brown with a purple undertone, and its figure is long and straight, crossing a 45mm square in lines rather than clouding inside it. Against pale maple it separates cleanly without going all the way to the flat near black of ebony, so there is still timber to look at in the dark squares.
That matters more on a compact board than on a large one. At 45mm squares the pieces stand closer together than they would on a full sized surface, so anything that helps a crowded middlegame resolve at a glance is doing real work. A dark, low figure timber gives you most of the legibility of ebony while keeping some warmth, which is a reasonable place to land for a board that will spend as much time out on a table as in play.
Rosewood responds to light over the years, deepening rather than fading, and keeping the board out of direct sun slows that considerably. Each board also carries its own grain, so the figure that arrives will be particular to it rather than a match for the photography, and the finished weight of a handmade board can vary by up to 10 percent either way.
This is the size that solves the room problem. A 43cm board leaves space beside it on most tables for captured material and a clock without either player leaning across, and it goes on a coffee table or a desk corner without dominating either. Anyone who has tried to find a permanent home for a 58cm board will recognise the appeal immediately.
At 3,000g it carries real weight for its footprint, so it stays where it is put on a stable surface and does not need anything underneath it to stop it sliding. The green velvet felt on the base takes the click out of a move, protects a polished table and holds the board in place on a smooth one. It is still light enough to lift with one hand when the game is over.
Care is undemanding. Keep it out of direct sunlight and away from heaters and vents, wipe it with a dry or barely damp soft cloth, and do not stand glasses on the playing area. Store it flat rather than leaning against a wall, and it will see out several sets of chessmen.
The strength here is getting a dense, genuinely dark rosewood at 20mm of section on a footprint that fits a normal table, which is a more affordable route into a timber board than the larger surfaces without dropping to something that folds. The caveat is the square size, and it is the first thing to check: 45mm squares cap the king base at around 38mm, so a full tournament set footing at 40mm or more will crowd this back rank and belongs on a bigger board. The dark squares are also brown rather than black, so if you want maximum contrast this is not the one. It suits a player working with limited table space who would rather spend on timber than on footprint, and it suits anyone pairing it with a compact reproduction pattern in the low thirties at the base. If you want a framed edge and a harder contrast at the same size, the 43cm ebony and maple board with a sheesham border is worth a look.
- Blake Sterling, CEO & Founder, Sterling Chess
No. This listing is the board on its own. It suits a set with a king base of roughly 30mm to 38mm, which covers compact and mid sized patterns rather than full tournament ones.
Aim for a king base in the low to middle thirties. Measure the widest part of the base rather than going by the height of the set, because height alone will mislead you by several millimetres.
A deep chocolate brown with a purple undertone and long straight grain running across each square. It is darker and cooler than sheesham and warmer than near black ebony.
Same 43cm footprint, same 45mm squares and the same felted underside. The 43cm sheesham and maple board is golden brown with busier open grain and reads warmer. This one is darker, straighter grained and more formal, and it is the better choice if you want the position to resolve quickly.
In most cases yes. At 43cm square it takes up a little more room than a large serving tray, and at 3,000g it can be lifted with one hand and moved to a shelf between games.
Keep it out of direct sunlight and away from heaters, wipe it with a dry or barely damp cloth, and store it flat rather than on its edge. Avoid leaving anything wet standing on the playing surface.
|
Spec |
Detail |
|
Board size |
43cm x 43cm (17 inch) |
|
Square size |
45mm (1.7 inch) |
|
Playing grid |
36cm across eight squares |
|
Board thickness |
20mm (0.78 inch) |
|
Board weight |
3,000g |
|
Weight tolerance |
Handmade, up to 10 percent either way |
|
Dark squares |
Dark brown Indian rosewood (Dalbergia latifolia) |
|
Light squares |
Maple (Acer oblongum) |
|
Underside |
Felted in green velvet |
|
Recommended king base |
About 30mm to 38mm |
|
Chess pieces |
Not included |
One 43cm dark brown Indian rosewood and maple chess board with 45mm squares
Playing pieces are sold separately and are not part of this listing
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.
