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This is a board bought on its own, by someone who already owns the pieces or knows exactly which ones are coming. The board is 53cm across with 55mm squares, ebony on the dark side against maple (Acer oblongum) on the light, and the whole chequered area sits inside a sheesham border. Eight squares of 55mm make the playing grid 44cm across.
That border is the part that changes how the board reads. Sheesham, also sold as golden rose wood, is a warm mid brown with open grain, and running it as a frame around near black ebony and pale maple gives the board a finished edge instead of a playing surface that simply stops at the last square.
At 25mm the board has real depth in section, and at 4,272g it stays where it is put. Fifty five millimetre squares are matched to a king base of 40mm to 45mm, which is where the heavier weighted tournament patterns sit. Other sizes and timbers run across our chess boards collection.
Where this board meets its closest competition is on timber rather than on size, because other boards on the site share this footprint and these 55mm squares. The Player's Choice board in sheesham and maple runs sheesham on the dark squares against maple, a warm mid brown that reads gently across a room. This one uses ebony, which is about as close to black as timber gets, so the contrast against the maple is harder and a crowded position resolves faster from a seated distance.
The Indian rosewood and maple board at the same size takes the same size a third way, in a dark red brown that sits between those two. What separates this board from both of them is the sheesham frame around the play and the section underneath it. At 25mm it carries more depth than either, which is what you feel when you lift a corner rather than what you see across the table.
Against boards that arrive underneath a set of pieces, this is a step up. Those are built to a package, thin enough to lift one handed and priced accordingly. This one is bought separately because it is meant to outlast whatever stands on it first, and the three timbers in it are the reason to choose it over a plainer surface.
The measurement that decides whether a set suits a board is the diameter of the king's base, not the height of the king. Height is what you notice; base width is what has to share the square. This board is cut for a king base of 40mm to 45mm.
The convention behind that window is simple. The king base wants to cover roughly three quarters of the square it stands on, leaving a visible margin of timber all round. Three quarters of 55mm is about 41mm, which is why the range lands where it does. Go above 45mm and the bases start meeting at the corners on a full back rank. Drop well below 40mm and the pieces look marooned, with more board showing than army.
In practice that points at weighted patterns with a king around 95mm to 105mm. The Dominator Staunton Weighted Ebony 103mm pieces stand on a 45mm base and are drawn for 55mm squares, which puts them at the top of the window and squarely on this board. The Reproduction 1849 Original Staunton Heavy Ebony 95mm pieces sit on a 40mm base at the other end, for a set that leaves more timber visible around each foot. Plenty more sets at that scale sit in our Staunton range.
A border is a second decision a board maker has to make, and plenty skip it. Here the chequered area is framed in sheesham, the warm brown timber that also goes by golden rose wood, so the board carries three timbers rather than two: ebony, maple and the frame that holds them.
Visually it does two things. It draws a hard boundary around the playing area, which keeps the eye inside the game rather than running off the edge of the table, and it puts a middle tone between the near black squares and the pale ones, so the jump from dark to light is not the only thing happening on the surface. On a board that will be left set up as a piece of furniture between games, that middle tone is what stops it reading as a graphic and starts it reading as a piece of furniture.
A 53cm square surface needs more room than the number suggests. Captured pieces have to sit somewhere, a clock may want a corner, and two players need forearm space either side, so a table close to a metre across is the comfortable minimum. Measure before ordering rather than after it arrives.
Once it is in place the weight works for you. At 4,272g the board absorbs a knocked table without the position shifting, which is the practical argument for a 25mm section on a board that lives out rather than being packed away. Care is undemanding: keep it out of direct sun and away from heat vents, wipe it with a dry soft cloth, and do not stand drinks on the playing surface. As with any handmade item the finished weight can vary by up to 10 percent either way.
The reason to look at this one is the combination of a 25mm section and a sheesham frame at a size that takes a full club set, because most boards give you one or the other. Fifty five millimetre squares with a 40mm to 45mm base window cover the weighted tournament patterns most players already own, and 4,272g under them means nothing slides in a scramble. Two honest notes before ordering. The square size sets a ceiling as well as a floor, so a broad based luxury set above 45mm will crowd this back rank and belongs on a larger board. And the playing area is plain, with no letters or numbers around the edge, so if you record games or coach from a score sheet you will want a board that carries coordinates instead. It suits a player who wants a permanent surface with some presence to it, and it suits a gift buyer less well, because the pieces still have to be chosen separately. If you would rather have the smaller footprint, the 48cm board with 50mm squares is the same idea one size down.
- Blake Sterling, CEO & Founder, Sterling Chess
No. This listing is the board on its own, which is the point of buying a board separately. The pieces are chosen to suit it and bought as their own purchase.
Look for a king base between 40mm and 45mm. Measure the widest part of the king's base rather than going by the height of the set, because two sets of the same height can differ by eight or ten millimetres at the foot.
A frame of sheesham timber, also sold as golden rose wood, running around the outside of the chequered playing area. It is a third timber alongside the ebony and maple squares.
It is 25mm. Thickness is what keeps a board still when pieces are set down hard and what stops it flexing on an uneven table, so on a board meant to live out permanently it matters more than it does on one that gets packed away.
Same ebony, maple and sheesham border, and the same 25mm section. This one is larger at 53cm with 55mm squares and takes a 40mm to 45mm king base, where the 48cm board has 50mm squares and suits a 35mm to 40mm base.
Keep it out of direct sunlight and away from heaters, wipe it with a dry or barely damp cloth, and avoid standing glasses on the surface. Timber this thick prefers a stable indoor climate to a rapidly changing one.
|
Spec |
Detail |
|
Board size |
53cm x 53cm (21 inch) |
|
Square size |
55mm (2.1 inch) |
|
Board thickness |
25mm (1 inch) |
|
Board weight |
4,272g approximate, up to 10 percent variance |
|
Dark squares |
Ebony |
|
Light squares |
Maple (Acer oblongum) |
|
Border |
Sheesham, also sold as golden rose wood |
|
Recommended king base |
40mm to 45mm (1.5 inch to 1.7 inch) |
|
Chess pieces |
Not included |
|
Storage box |
Not included |
One 53cm ebony and maple chess board with a sheesham border and 55mm 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.
This is a board bought on its own, by someone who already owns the pieces or knows exactly which ones are coming. The board is 53cm across with 55mm squares, ebony on the dark side against maple (Acer oblongum) on the light, and the whole chequered area sits inside a sheesham border. Eight squares of 55mm make the playing grid 44cm across.
That border is the part that changes how the board reads. Sheesham, also sold as golden rose wood, is a warm mid brown with open grain, and running it as a frame around near black ebony and pale maple gives the board a finished edge instead of a playing surface that simply stops at the last square.
At 25mm the board has real depth in section, and at 4,272g it stays where it is put. Fifty five millimetre squares are matched to a king base of 40mm to 45mm, which is where the heavier weighted tournament patterns sit. Other sizes and timbers run across our chess boards collection.
Where this board meets its closest competition is on timber rather than on size, because other boards on the site share this footprint and these 55mm squares. The Player's Choice board in sheesham and maple runs sheesham on the dark squares against maple, a warm mid brown that reads gently across a room. This one uses ebony, which is about as close to black as timber gets, so the contrast against the maple is harder and a crowded position resolves faster from a seated distance.
The Indian rosewood and maple board at the same size takes the same size a third way, in a dark red brown that sits between those two. What separates this board from both of them is the sheesham frame around the play and the section underneath it. At 25mm it carries more depth than either, which is what you feel when you lift a corner rather than what you see across the table.
Against boards that arrive underneath a set of pieces, this is a step up. Those are built to a package, thin enough to lift one handed and priced accordingly. This one is bought separately because it is meant to outlast whatever stands on it first, and the three timbers in it are the reason to choose it over a plainer surface.
The measurement that decides whether a set suits a board is the diameter of the king's base, not the height of the king. Height is what you notice; base width is what has to share the square. This board is cut for a king base of 40mm to 45mm.
The convention behind that window is simple. The king base wants to cover roughly three quarters of the square it stands on, leaving a visible margin of timber all round. Three quarters of 55mm is about 41mm, which is why the range lands where it does. Go above 45mm and the bases start meeting at the corners on a full back rank. Drop well below 40mm and the pieces look marooned, with more board showing than army.
In practice that points at weighted patterns with a king around 95mm to 105mm. The Dominator Staunton Weighted Ebony 103mm pieces stand on a 45mm base and are drawn for 55mm squares, which puts them at the top of the window and squarely on this board. The Reproduction 1849 Original Staunton Heavy Ebony 95mm pieces sit on a 40mm base at the other end, for a set that leaves more timber visible around each foot. Plenty more sets at that scale sit in our Staunton range.
A border is a second decision a board maker has to make, and plenty skip it. Here the chequered area is framed in sheesham, the warm brown timber that also goes by golden rose wood, so the board carries three timbers rather than two: ebony, maple and the frame that holds them.
Visually it does two things. It draws a hard boundary around the playing area, which keeps the eye inside the game rather than running off the edge of the table, and it puts a middle tone between the near black squares and the pale ones, so the jump from dark to light is not the only thing happening on the surface. On a board that will be left set up as a piece of furniture between games, that middle tone is what stops it reading as a graphic and starts it reading as a piece of furniture.
A 53cm square surface needs more room than the number suggests. Captured pieces have to sit somewhere, a clock may want a corner, and two players need forearm space either side, so a table close to a metre across is the comfortable minimum. Measure before ordering rather than after it arrives.
Once it is in place the weight works for you. At 4,272g the board absorbs a knocked table without the position shifting, which is the practical argument for a 25mm section on a board that lives out rather than being packed away. Care is undemanding: keep it out of direct sun and away from heat vents, wipe it with a dry soft cloth, and do not stand drinks on the playing surface. As with any handmade item the finished weight can vary by up to 10 percent either way.
The reason to look at this one is the combination of a 25mm section and a sheesham frame at a size that takes a full club set, because most boards give you one or the other. Fifty five millimetre squares with a 40mm to 45mm base window cover the weighted tournament patterns most players already own, and 4,272g under them means nothing slides in a scramble. Two honest notes before ordering. The square size sets a ceiling as well as a floor, so a broad based luxury set above 45mm will crowd this back rank and belongs on a larger board. And the playing area is plain, with no letters or numbers around the edge, so if you record games or coach from a score sheet you will want a board that carries coordinates instead. It suits a player who wants a permanent surface with some presence to it, and it suits a gift buyer less well, because the pieces still have to be chosen separately. If you would rather have the smaller footprint, the 48cm board with 50mm squares is the same idea one size down.
- Blake Sterling, CEO & Founder, Sterling Chess
No. This listing is the board on its own, which is the point of buying a board separately. The pieces are chosen to suit it and bought as their own purchase.
Look for a king base between 40mm and 45mm. Measure the widest part of the king's base rather than going by the height of the set, because two sets of the same height can differ by eight or ten millimetres at the foot.
A frame of sheesham timber, also sold as golden rose wood, running around the outside of the chequered playing area. It is a third timber alongside the ebony and maple squares.
It is 25mm. Thickness is what keeps a board still when pieces are set down hard and what stops it flexing on an uneven table, so on a board meant to live out permanently it matters more than it does on one that gets packed away.
Same ebony, maple and sheesham border, and the same 25mm section. This one is larger at 53cm with 55mm squares and takes a 40mm to 45mm king base, where the 48cm board has 50mm squares and suits a 35mm to 40mm base.
Keep it out of direct sunlight and away from heaters, wipe it with a dry or barely damp cloth, and avoid standing glasses on the surface. Timber this thick prefers a stable indoor climate to a rapidly changing one.
|
Spec |
Detail |
|
Board size |
53cm x 53cm (21 inch) |
|
Square size |
55mm (2.1 inch) |
|
Board thickness |
25mm (1 inch) |
|
Board weight |
4,272g approximate, up to 10 percent variance |
|
Dark squares |
Ebony |
|
Light squares |
Maple (Acer oblongum) |
|
Border |
Sheesham, also sold as golden rose wood |
|
Recommended king base |
40mm to 45mm (1.5 inch to 1.7 inch) |
|
Chess pieces |
Not included |
|
Storage box |
Not included |
One 53cm ebony and maple chess board with a sheesham border and 55mm 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.
