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✔ Questions? Call Us: (03) 7037 0931
This is the entry point to our Spanish veneer boards. It measures 45cm across with 45mm squares, a compact format sized for shorter pieces rather than the tall patterns most people picture when they think of a chess set.
Both options are made in Spain from veneer and name their timbers on both colours. Red ash burl gives the dark squares a swirled figure against maple, finished hi-gloss, and weighs 1,950g. Black anigre is the plainer dark timber, also against maple, finished matte, at 1,900g.
The panel is 12mm thick. That is what keeps the board light and easy to store, and it is also the thing to be clear eyed about before buying, which the section below deals with directly. Larger surfaces sit further up our chess boards collection.
Most buyers looking at a board this size are choosing between a handful of European makers, and the differences are in the timbers rather than in the format. What this one brings is the burl and anigre face against maple, which is a more figured, more contemporary look than the plain mahogany and walnut that dominate the size.
One close match on outer size is the Ferrer Mahogany Standard board in its 45cm option, and the two make a genuine choice: mahogany against maple there, red ash burl or black anigre against maple here. If you want a traditional, even grained dark square, the mahogany is the one to look at. If you want figure and movement in the dark squares, this is.
Smaller again, the Dal Rossi Mahogany and Maple board in its 40cm option is worth knowing about if your table is tight or the board has to share space with something else. Between them, decide on the base diameter of your pieces first and on the timber second, because a board that looks right and fits wrong is the more common mistake.
Match the board to the diameter of the king's base rather than to the height of the king. Two sets that stand the same height can carry bases ten millimetres apart, and it is the base that competes for room on the square. This board is cut for a king base of 25mm to 35mm.
The Laughing Knight at 78mm is the straightforward answer: a 30mm base, and its own recommended square size is 45mm, so it lands in the middle of the window with margin on every side. Sets in this class are lighter in the hand than a tournament set, which suits a board of this weight.
The French Lardy Compact at 76mm is the other natural pairing, on a 31mm base and cut for 40mm to 45mm squares. What will not work is the standard 95mm club set, whose base usually runs in the high thirties or low forties and wants 50mm to 55mm squares. There are exceptions worth knowing about: the Berliner Minimalist pattern stands 95mm tall on a 33mm base and is cut for 45mm to 50mm squares, so height alone never settles it. Measure the base.
Red ash burl is the more decorative of the two dark timbers, with a swirled, tightly figured grain that the hi-gloss finish deepens and lifts. Maple on the light squares keeps the contrast high without going to hard black and white. It is the option to choose if the board is going to be looked at as much as played on.
Black anigre is the quieter choice, an even dark brown against the same maple, under a matte finish that returns less of the light in the room. On a gloss surface a downlight will show as a bright patch across a few squares; matte spreads it. Beyond timber and finish the two are the same board: 45cm across, 45mm squares, 12mm thick, made in Spain from veneer, and cut for the same 25mm to 35mm king base.
Twelve millimetres is a thin panel, and it should be judged for what it is. It keeps the board at around 1,900g, so it lifts with one hand, slides onto a bookshelf on its edge and travels between rooms without ceremony. What it does not give you is mass. The board will move if a player leans on it, so it wants a cloth or a mat under it on a polished table rather than sitting bare.
Compare it with the bud rosewood and maple board at 46cm, which is close to this in footprint and built at 22mm and 3,000g. That board stays exactly where it is put and feels planted under the hand, and it is heavier to ship and takes more room to store. This one is the opposite trade: what you are paying for here is the Spanish veneer face and the named timbers rather than the depth of timber underneath them. If a board that never shifts matters more to you than one that puts away easily, buy the thicker board and be happy. If it does not, the 12mm panel is doing its job.
The care is the same either way. Keep it out of direct sun and away from heat vents, wipe it with a dry soft cloth, and stand drinks off the board. Store it flat or firmly upright rather than leaning at an angle, which is good practice for any thin panel. Finished weights on a handmade item can vary by up to 10 percent either way.
What this board gets right is the face: red ash burl or black anigre against maple, made in Spain from veneer, with both timbers named rather than left vague, which is not something every board in this size class does. The honest caveat is the build. At 12mm and around 1,900g it is a light panel that will shift on a bare polished table, so it does not have the planted feel of a thicker board, and 45mm squares rule out most of the club sets people already own. Buy it if you want a decorative Spanish board that stores flat and you are choosing compact pieces to go with it, or already own them. If you want mass under your hand, buy thicker and accept that it has to live somewhere.
- Blake Sterling, CEO & Founder, Sterling Chess
No. This listing is the board on its own, so the pieces are chosen and bought separately.
Pieces with a king base of 25mm to 35mm. Measure the widest part of the king's base rather than going by how tall the set stands.
Usually not. Most sets at that height sit on bases in the high thirties or low forties and are cut for 50mm to 55mm squares, so they crowd 45mm squares. A few slim 95mm patterns do fit, so measure the base before deciding.
It is thick enough to stay flat and take normal play, and thin enough to store easily. It will not hold its place on a bare polished table the way a heavier board does, so use a cloth or a mat underneath.
Timber and finish. Red ash burl with maple comes in hi-gloss at 1,950g, black anigre with maple in matte at 1,900g. Both are 45cm with 45mm squares and 12mm thick.
Keep it out of direct sun and away from heat vents, wipe it with a dry soft cloth, and avoid standing drinks on the playing surface. Store it flat or firmly upright rather than leaning.
|
Spec |
Detail |
|
Board size |
45cm x 45cm (17.7 inch) |
|
Square size |
45mm (1.7 inch) |
|
Board thickness |
12mm (0.4 inch) |
|
Board weight |
1,950g red ash burl option, 1,900g black anigre option, up to 10 percent variance |
|
Construction |
Veneer |
|
Origin |
Made in Spain |
|
Option one |
Red ash burl (dark) and maple (light), hi-gloss finish |
|
Option two |
Black anigre (dark) and maple (light), matte finish |
|
Recommended king base |
25mm to 35mm (1.0 inch to 1.4 inch) |
|
Chess pieces |
Not included |
|
Storage box |
Not included |
One 45cm veneer chess board with 45mm squares
In your choice of red ash burl with maple in hi-gloss, or black anigre with maple in matte
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.
This is the entry point to our Spanish veneer boards. It measures 45cm across with 45mm squares, a compact format sized for shorter pieces rather than the tall patterns most people picture when they think of a chess set.
Both options are made in Spain from veneer and name their timbers on both colours. Red ash burl gives the dark squares a swirled figure against maple, finished hi-gloss, and weighs 1,950g. Black anigre is the plainer dark timber, also against maple, finished matte, at 1,900g.
The panel is 12mm thick. That is what keeps the board light and easy to store, and it is also the thing to be clear eyed about before buying, which the section below deals with directly. Larger surfaces sit further up our chess boards collection.
Most buyers looking at a board this size are choosing between a handful of European makers, and the differences are in the timbers rather than in the format. What this one brings is the burl and anigre face against maple, which is a more figured, more contemporary look than the plain mahogany and walnut that dominate the size.
One close match on outer size is the Ferrer Mahogany Standard board in its 45cm option, and the two make a genuine choice: mahogany against maple there, red ash burl or black anigre against maple here. If you want a traditional, even grained dark square, the mahogany is the one to look at. If you want figure and movement in the dark squares, this is.
Smaller again, the Dal Rossi Mahogany and Maple board in its 40cm option is worth knowing about if your table is tight or the board has to share space with something else. Between them, decide on the base diameter of your pieces first and on the timber second, because a board that looks right and fits wrong is the more common mistake.
Match the board to the diameter of the king's base rather than to the height of the king. Two sets that stand the same height can carry bases ten millimetres apart, and it is the base that competes for room on the square. This board is cut for a king base of 25mm to 35mm.
The Laughing Knight at 78mm is the straightforward answer: a 30mm base, and its own recommended square size is 45mm, so it lands in the middle of the window with margin on every side. Sets in this class are lighter in the hand than a tournament set, which suits a board of this weight.
The French Lardy Compact at 76mm is the other natural pairing, on a 31mm base and cut for 40mm to 45mm squares. What will not work is the standard 95mm club set, whose base usually runs in the high thirties or low forties and wants 50mm to 55mm squares. There are exceptions worth knowing about: the Berliner Minimalist pattern stands 95mm tall on a 33mm base and is cut for 45mm to 50mm squares, so height alone never settles it. Measure the base.
Red ash burl is the more decorative of the two dark timbers, with a swirled, tightly figured grain that the hi-gloss finish deepens and lifts. Maple on the light squares keeps the contrast high without going to hard black and white. It is the option to choose if the board is going to be looked at as much as played on.
Black anigre is the quieter choice, an even dark brown against the same maple, under a matte finish that returns less of the light in the room. On a gloss surface a downlight will show as a bright patch across a few squares; matte spreads it. Beyond timber and finish the two are the same board: 45cm across, 45mm squares, 12mm thick, made in Spain from veneer, and cut for the same 25mm to 35mm king base.
Twelve millimetres is a thin panel, and it should be judged for what it is. It keeps the board at around 1,900g, so it lifts with one hand, slides onto a bookshelf on its edge and travels between rooms without ceremony. What it does not give you is mass. The board will move if a player leans on it, so it wants a cloth or a mat under it on a polished table rather than sitting bare.
Compare it with the bud rosewood and maple board at 46cm, which is close to this in footprint and built at 22mm and 3,000g. That board stays exactly where it is put and feels planted under the hand, and it is heavier to ship and takes more room to store. This one is the opposite trade: what you are paying for here is the Spanish veneer face and the named timbers rather than the depth of timber underneath them. If a board that never shifts matters more to you than one that puts away easily, buy the thicker board and be happy. If it does not, the 12mm panel is doing its job.
The care is the same either way. Keep it out of direct sun and away from heat vents, wipe it with a dry soft cloth, and stand drinks off the board. Store it flat or firmly upright rather than leaning at an angle, which is good practice for any thin panel. Finished weights on a handmade item can vary by up to 10 percent either way.
What this board gets right is the face: red ash burl or black anigre against maple, made in Spain from veneer, with both timbers named rather than left vague, which is not something every board in this size class does. The honest caveat is the build. At 12mm and around 1,900g it is a light panel that will shift on a bare polished table, so it does not have the planted feel of a thicker board, and 45mm squares rule out most of the club sets people already own. Buy it if you want a decorative Spanish board that stores flat and you are choosing compact pieces to go with it, or already own them. If you want mass under your hand, buy thicker and accept that it has to live somewhere.
- Blake Sterling, CEO & Founder, Sterling Chess
No. This listing is the board on its own, so the pieces are chosen and bought separately.
Pieces with a king base of 25mm to 35mm. Measure the widest part of the king's base rather than going by how tall the set stands.
Usually not. Most sets at that height sit on bases in the high thirties or low forties and are cut for 50mm to 55mm squares, so they crowd 45mm squares. A few slim 95mm patterns do fit, so measure the base before deciding.
It is thick enough to stay flat and take normal play, and thin enough to store easily. It will not hold its place on a bare polished table the way a heavier board does, so use a cloth or a mat underneath.
Timber and finish. Red ash burl with maple comes in hi-gloss at 1,950g, black anigre with maple in matte at 1,900g. Both are 45cm with 45mm squares and 12mm thick.
Keep it out of direct sun and away from heat vents, wipe it with a dry soft cloth, and avoid standing drinks on the playing surface. Store it flat or firmly upright rather than leaning.
|
Spec |
Detail |
|
Board size |
45cm x 45cm (17.7 inch) |
|
Square size |
45mm (1.7 inch) |
|
Board thickness |
12mm (0.4 inch) |
|
Board weight |
1,950g red ash burl option, 1,900g black anigre option, up to 10 percent variance |
|
Construction |
Veneer |
|
Origin |
Made in Spain |
|
Option one |
Red ash burl (dark) and maple (light), hi-gloss finish |
|
Option two |
Black anigre (dark) and maple (light), matte finish |
|
Recommended king base |
25mm to 35mm (1.0 inch to 1.4 inch) |
|
Chess pieces |
Not included |
|
Storage box |
Not included |
One 45cm veneer chess board with 45mm squares
In your choice of red ash burl with maple in hi-gloss, or black anigre with maple in matte
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.
