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A plain board in the best sense. The board is 53.34cm across with 55mm squares, ebony (Diospyros Ebenum) on the dark side against maple (Acer oblongum) on the light, and eight squares of 55mm make the playing grid 44cm across. There is very little figure in the ebony to compete with a position, which is why it reads as quietly as it does on a table.
It is 22mm through and around 4,000g, with the entire underside felted in green velvet. That felt does two useful things at once: it keeps the board from creeping across a polished table during a long game, and it protects the surface underneath from 22mm of dense timber being dragged about.
Fifty five millimetre squares are cut for a king base of 40mm to 45mm, which is where most weighted club and tournament patterns sit. Other sizes and timbers are listed across our chess boards collection.
The obvious comparison on size is the Player's Choice sheesham and maple board at 53.3cm. Both are 53.3cm across on 55mm squares, both are felted underneath in green velvet, and both are cut for the same 40mm to 45mm base, so a set that suits one suits the other. The decision is made on timber and on section rather than on fit.
Ebony is the darker square of the two. It runs close to black with very little figure to read, where sheesham is a warm brown with darker streaks running through it, so this board gives the harder contrast against maple and the sheesham board the softer one. On section they swap places in a way worth knowing before you choose: this board is the thicker at 22mm, and the sheesham board is the heavier at around 5,600g against 4,000g here.
The other comparison is with the 58.4cm ebony board with a sheesham border, which is the same ebony and maple chequer at a larger scale on 60mm squares. The square size is the real difference between the two. This board takes a narrower base, so if your pieces are club scale rather than luxury scale, it is the one that fits.
Match on the diameter of the base under the king rather than on the height of the set, because it is the base that competes for room on the square. This board is cut for a base of 40mm to 45mm. The reasoning behind that window is simple arithmetic: the king wants to cover around three quarters of the square with a visible margin of timber left around it, and three quarters of 55mm is roughly 41mm.
Go wider than 45mm and the bases start meeting at the corners of the back rank, with the square edges lost behind them. Go well under 40mm and the pieces read as small and marooned, with the board looking mostly empty from a seated distance. Between those two figures the set and the board look like they were chosen together.
You can shortcut the measuring entirely, because this board is already supplied under complete sets we sell. The Fierce Knight Staunton set at 103mm is one of them, standing on a 45mm base at the top of the window and cut for exactly these 55mm squares. If you like how that set looks on this board, the pairing is already proven.
The Reproduction 1849 Original Staunton set at 95mm is the other, and it sits at the lower end of the same window on a narrower base. It is the more restrained of the two on the board, with more timber visible around each piece. Either pattern is a safe answer to what to buy for this surface, and both are sold as pieces on their own as well.
Ebony is the dense, dark heartwood that gives this board its contrast, and it behaves differently from the rosewoods that are more common at this size. There is very little visible grain to read on the dark squares, so what you see is close to a flat black field, and it stays that way rather than lightening with age. Maple on the light squares is pale without being white, which keeps the contrast high enough to read a position quickly across a table without the hard glare of a printed tournament surface.
Underneath, the whole board is felted in green velvet. It is the detail most buyers only appreciate after a few games. The felt kills the small skating movements that a bare timber base makes on a polished table, it softens the sound of a piece being set down firmly, and it keeps 4,000g of dense timber from marking whatever it is sitting on. On a board meant to be left set up between games, that last point matters more than it sounds.
Twenty one inches is the size that suits a real table without dominating it. At 53.34cm square it leaves room on most dining tables for captured pieces at the side and a clock in a corner, and it will sit on a good sized side table without hanging over the edges. It is a board that gets set up and left rather than one that gets carried anywhere.
The 4,000g is what separates it from a folding or travel board. It stays put under firm play, it does not skid when a piece is put down hard, and it can be lifted between rooms with two hands rather than needing to be handled carefully. Care is simple: a dry or barely damp cloth, no direct sunlight, nothing hot standing on the surface, and keep the felted underside dry. The published weight allows a variance of up to 10 percent either way, as with any handmade item.
What makes this worth a look is the combination of a 22mm section with a fully felted underside at a size most people can actually house, and the fact that it is a known quantity: it is the board supplied under complete sets we already sell, so the pairing question is answered before you start. Ebony against maple gives you a harder contrast than the sheesham boards do, which suits anyone who plays long sessions and wants the position to read instantly. The honest caveat is weight. At around 4,000g it is lighter than the sheesham board of the same size, so if sheer mass under the hand is what you are buying, compare the two before deciding. It suits a club or home player with weighted pieces on a 40mm to 45mm base who wants a permanent playing surface rather than something that folds away.
- Blake Sterling, CEO & Founder, Sterling Chess
No. This listing is the board on its own. It is cut for pieces with a king base of 40mm to 45mm, which is where most weighted club and tournament patterns sit.
Aim for a king base between 40mm and 45mm. Base width matters more than the height of the set, so measure the widest part of the base before ordering. Options at that scale sit across our Staunton chess pieces.
Yes. It is the same 53.3cm ebony and maple board with 55mm squares supplied in both of those sets, which is why either pattern is a safe pairing if you are buying the board on its own.
Felted in green velvet across the full area. It keeps the board from sliding on a polished table, quietens each move, and protects the surface underneath.
A dry or barely damp cloth is enough. Keep it out of direct sunlight, away from heaters, do not stand drinks on the playing surface, and keep the felted underside dry.
|
Spec |
Detail |
|
Board size |
53.34cm x 53.34cm (21 inch) |
|
Square size |
55mm (2.2 inch) |
|
Board thickness |
22mm (0.9 inch) |
|
Board weight |
4,000g approximate, handmade so it can vary by 10 percent either way |
|
Dark squares |
Ebony, Diospyros Ebenum |
|
Light squares |
Maple, Acer oblongum |
|
Underside |
Felted in green velvet |
|
Recommended piece size |
King base 40mm to 45mm (1.5 inch to 1.75 inch) |
|
Pieces |
Not included |
One 53.34cm x 53.34cm ebony and maple chess board with 55mm squares
Felted underneath in green velvet
That is the whole carton. 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 plain board in the best sense. The board is 53.34cm across with 55mm squares, ebony (Diospyros Ebenum) on the dark side against maple (Acer oblongum) on the light, and eight squares of 55mm make the playing grid 44cm across. There is very little figure in the ebony to compete with a position, which is why it reads as quietly as it does on a table.
It is 22mm through and around 4,000g, with the entire underside felted in green velvet. That felt does two useful things at once: it keeps the board from creeping across a polished table during a long game, and it protects the surface underneath from 22mm of dense timber being dragged about.
Fifty five millimetre squares are cut for a king base of 40mm to 45mm, which is where most weighted club and tournament patterns sit. Other sizes and timbers are listed across our chess boards collection.
The obvious comparison on size is the Player's Choice sheesham and maple board at 53.3cm. Both are 53.3cm across on 55mm squares, both are felted underneath in green velvet, and both are cut for the same 40mm to 45mm base, so a set that suits one suits the other. The decision is made on timber and on section rather than on fit.
Ebony is the darker square of the two. It runs close to black with very little figure to read, where sheesham is a warm brown with darker streaks running through it, so this board gives the harder contrast against maple and the sheesham board the softer one. On section they swap places in a way worth knowing before you choose: this board is the thicker at 22mm, and the sheesham board is the heavier at around 5,600g against 4,000g here.
The other comparison is with the 58.4cm ebony board with a sheesham border, which is the same ebony and maple chequer at a larger scale on 60mm squares. The square size is the real difference between the two. This board takes a narrower base, so if your pieces are club scale rather than luxury scale, it is the one that fits.
Match on the diameter of the base under the king rather than on the height of the set, because it is the base that competes for room on the square. This board is cut for a base of 40mm to 45mm. The reasoning behind that window is simple arithmetic: the king wants to cover around three quarters of the square with a visible margin of timber left around it, and three quarters of 55mm is roughly 41mm.
Go wider than 45mm and the bases start meeting at the corners of the back rank, with the square edges lost behind them. Go well under 40mm and the pieces read as small and marooned, with the board looking mostly empty from a seated distance. Between those two figures the set and the board look like they were chosen together.
You can shortcut the measuring entirely, because this board is already supplied under complete sets we sell. The Fierce Knight Staunton set at 103mm is one of them, standing on a 45mm base at the top of the window and cut for exactly these 55mm squares. If you like how that set looks on this board, the pairing is already proven.
The Reproduction 1849 Original Staunton set at 95mm is the other, and it sits at the lower end of the same window on a narrower base. It is the more restrained of the two on the board, with more timber visible around each piece. Either pattern is a safe answer to what to buy for this surface, and both are sold as pieces on their own as well.
Ebony is the dense, dark heartwood that gives this board its contrast, and it behaves differently from the rosewoods that are more common at this size. There is very little visible grain to read on the dark squares, so what you see is close to a flat black field, and it stays that way rather than lightening with age. Maple on the light squares is pale without being white, which keeps the contrast high enough to read a position quickly across a table without the hard glare of a printed tournament surface.
Underneath, the whole board is felted in green velvet. It is the detail most buyers only appreciate after a few games. The felt kills the small skating movements that a bare timber base makes on a polished table, it softens the sound of a piece being set down firmly, and it keeps 4,000g of dense timber from marking whatever it is sitting on. On a board meant to be left set up between games, that last point matters more than it sounds.
Twenty one inches is the size that suits a real table without dominating it. At 53.34cm square it leaves room on most dining tables for captured pieces at the side and a clock in a corner, and it will sit on a good sized side table without hanging over the edges. It is a board that gets set up and left rather than one that gets carried anywhere.
The 4,000g is what separates it from a folding or travel board. It stays put under firm play, it does not skid when a piece is put down hard, and it can be lifted between rooms with two hands rather than needing to be handled carefully. Care is simple: a dry or barely damp cloth, no direct sunlight, nothing hot standing on the surface, and keep the felted underside dry. The published weight allows a variance of up to 10 percent either way, as with any handmade item.
What makes this worth a look is the combination of a 22mm section with a fully felted underside at a size most people can actually house, and the fact that it is a known quantity: it is the board supplied under complete sets we already sell, so the pairing question is answered before you start. Ebony against maple gives you a harder contrast than the sheesham boards do, which suits anyone who plays long sessions and wants the position to read instantly. The honest caveat is weight. At around 4,000g it is lighter than the sheesham board of the same size, so if sheer mass under the hand is what you are buying, compare the two before deciding. It suits a club or home player with weighted pieces on a 40mm to 45mm base who wants a permanent playing surface rather than something that folds away.
- Blake Sterling, CEO & Founder, Sterling Chess
No. This listing is the board on its own. It is cut for pieces with a king base of 40mm to 45mm, which is where most weighted club and tournament patterns sit.
Aim for a king base between 40mm and 45mm. Base width matters more than the height of the set, so measure the widest part of the base before ordering. Options at that scale sit across our Staunton chess pieces.
Yes. It is the same 53.3cm ebony and maple board with 55mm squares supplied in both of those sets, which is why either pattern is a safe pairing if you are buying the board on its own.
Felted in green velvet across the full area. It keeps the board from sliding on a polished table, quietens each move, and protects the surface underneath.
A dry or barely damp cloth is enough. Keep it out of direct sunlight, away from heaters, do not stand drinks on the playing surface, and keep the felted underside dry.
|
Spec |
Detail |
|
Board size |
53.34cm x 53.34cm (21 inch) |
|
Square size |
55mm (2.2 inch) |
|
Board thickness |
22mm (0.9 inch) |
|
Board weight |
4,000g approximate, handmade so it can vary by 10 percent either way |
|
Dark squares |
Ebony, Diospyros Ebenum |
|
Light squares |
Maple, Acer oblongum |
|
Underside |
Felted in green velvet |
|
Recommended piece size |
King base 40mm to 45mm (1.5 inch to 1.75 inch) |
|
Pieces |
Not included |
One 53.34cm x 53.34cm ebony and maple chess board with 55mm squares
Felted underneath in green velvet
That is the whole carton. 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.
