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Divide the king's base by its height on this set and you get 47 percent. Nothing else in our range comes close. An 89mm king standing on a 42mm foot is proportioned like a much larger set that has been scaled down in height but not in width, and it behaves accordingly.
The consequence is stability out of all proportion to the size. These pieces do not tip. A knocked table, a sleeve across the back rank, a rushed capture in time trouble: the position stays where it was.
The knight is cut with a heavy jaw and a forward set head that gives the pattern its name. Rosewood or ebonised wood against boxwood, iron weighted to 1,000g, in our Staunton chess pieces.
Small sets usually scale everything down together, which keeps the proportions looking right and makes them just as easy to knock over as their full sized equivalents. That is the standard compromise for anyone who wants a compact board.
This one breaks the scaling. Height came down to 89mm; the base stayed at 42mm, which is what a 100mm to 105mm king would normally sit on. The pieces look slightly stocky as a result, and they are close to impossible to tip.
The other consequence is generous board sizing. A 42mm base wants 55mm squares even at this height, so you get an open board with small pieces, which suits a beginner or anyone who wants the position easy to read. Compare against the taller options in the Staunton chess pieces.
Two sets with the same king height can behave completely differently, and base diameter is why. A piece tips when its centre of gravity passes beyond the edge of its foot, so the wider the foot relative to the height, the further it has to lean before it goes.
Most Staunton sets sit somewhere between 38 and 43 percent. This one is at 47, which is well outside the usual band. Combined with iron ballast set into the base under the felt, it produces a set that stays put through the kind of handling that scatters a conventional one, and it is the reason this pattern turns up in clubs and schools.
The two options share the same carving, the same dimensions and the same 1,000g. Rosewood is a dense mid brown with visible figure that varies from piece to piece, and against boxwood the contrast is moderate. Ebonised takes the dark side to a near uniform black for the highest contrast and the fastest read under club lighting.
At 1,000g across 34 pieces the set averages around 29g, which is light. That is worth being clear about: the stability here comes from the wide foot and the low centre of gravity, not from mass. Pick a piece up and it will feel modest; set it down and it will stay exactly where you put it.
The 42mm king base puts this set on 55mm squares despite the modest 89mm king. This is the clearest case in the range of why king height is the wrong number to shop by: a board bought for an 89mm king would typically be 45mm or 50mm, and on either the back rank would be almost solid.
No board is included with these pieces. Our chess boards collection is filtered by square size so you can match the 55mm requirement directly rather than working it back from the king.
This is the set I would put in front of a school, a club with unreliable tables, or anyone buying a first proper wooden set. A 47 percent base to height ratio is genuinely unusual and it makes the pieces very hard to knock over, which matters more day to day than most buyers expect. The caveat is that it is light at roughly 29g a piece, so it will feel insubstantial to anyone coming from a triple weighted set. And do not shop for the board by king height: it needs 55mm squares despite the 89mm king.
- Blake Sterling, CEO & Founder, Sterling Chess
Squares of 55mm. That comes from the wide 42mm king base, not the 89mm height. A board bought to suit an 89mm king would usually be 45mm or 50mm, and the back rank would be almost solid on either.
It is the defining feature of the pattern. The base to height ratio is 47 percent against a usual 38 to 43, which means the pieces have to lean much further before they tip. Combined with iron ballast in the base, they are very stable.
1,000g across 34 pieces, around 29g a piece. That is light. The stability comes from the wide foot and low centre of gravity rather than from mass.
Carving, dimensions and weight are identical. Rosewood is a mid brown with visible figure and moderate contrast. Ebonised is near black with high contrast and reads faster under club lighting.
No. This listing is for the 34 pieces only, including the two spare queens. Boards are sold separately across our chess boards collection and no storage box ships with the set.
|
Spec |
Detail |
|
King height |
89mm (3.5 inch) |
|
King base diameter |
42mm (1.6 inch) |
|
Queen height |
71mm (2.8 inch) |
|
Queen base diameter |
38mm (1.5 inch) |
|
Bishop height |
67mm (2.6 inch) |
|
Bishop base diameter |
36mm (1.4 inch) |
|
Knight height |
65mm (2.5 inch) |
|
Knight base diameter |
34mm (1.3 inch) |
|
Rook height |
52mm (2.0 inch) |
|
Rook base diameter |
35mm (1.4 inch) |
|
Pawn height |
46mm (1.8 inch) |
|
Pawn base diameter |
29mm (1.1 inch) |
|
Dark pieces |
Rosewood or ebonised wood, by option |
|
Light pieces |
Boxwood |
|
Weighting |
Weighted with an iron stud in each base, thick green felt |
|
Piece count |
34, including two spare queens |
|
Total set weight |
1,000g approximate |
|
Recommended square size |
55mm |
|
Origin |
Hand carved in India |
|
Board |
Not included |
32 chess pieces in the timber option you select
2 spare queens, one per colour
Chess board not included
Storage box not included
All products sold by Sterling Chess are backed by a 12 month limited manufacturer warranty. This covers manufacturing defects and cracking, and ensures every product is 100% genuine. If you need assistance, our team is only a call or email away.
Is shipping really free?
Yes — we offer free standard shipping on all orders across Australia, with no minimum spend. The price you see at checkout is the price you pay.
Are there any exceptions to free shipping?
No exceptions. Every order ships free, regardless of size, weight, or order value.
How long will my order take to arrive?
Orders are typically dispatched within 1–2 business days, with delivery times depending on your location. You'll receive tracking details by email once your order is on its way.
Do you ship to all areas of Australia?
Yes, we deliver Australia-wide, including regional and remote areas — all at no shipping cost to you.
Can I track my order?
Absolutely. As soon as your order ships, we'll email you a tracking number so you can follow its journey to your door.
What if I need my order quickly?
Get in touch before ordering and we'll do our best to help. Standard shipping is free, and we'll advise on the fastest available option for your area. To contact us, simply email us at support@sterlingchess.com.au, call (03) 7037 0931 or open the live chat.
Changed your mind? You can return unused, unopened items within 100 days of your order date, provided they’re in original packaging and resaleable condition. Sterling Chess will cover the cost of shipping return items under our 100-day free returns policy.
All Sterling Chess products are backed by Australian Consumer Law and include a minimum 12-month Australian warranty. If there’s an issue with your product, our team is here to help and will work to make it right.
Click here to view our full returns policy.
If you're shopping for a new chess set, you're in the right place—and here's why.
1. We know chess inside and out
At Sterling Chess, we're not just another online store. We’re chess lovers, players, collectors, and game night fanatics.
That means we care about quality, balance, and feel—and we only stock sets we’d use ourselves. From tournament-grade boards to handcrafted wooden pieces, we’ve got what real players want.
2. Unmatched variety for every player
Whether you're just learning or a lifelong grandmaster, we have something for you.
Looking for a folding set for travel? A stunning showpiece for your home? A kid-friendly set for your budding chess champion? We’ve got it all—and more.
3. Fast and FREE shipping on all orders
Shipping is FREE on all Sterling Chess orders.
We ship quickly from local and international warehouses, so you’re not waiting weeks to get your game on.
Most orders are packed and sent within 24–48 hours. Plus, you’ll get tracking updates every step of the way.
4. Customer support that actually helps
Have a question? Need help choosing a set? Our friendly team is ready to help—no scripts, no bots, just real people who care about your experience.
You can call our team anytime between business hours on (03) 7037 0931 or email us at support@sterlingchess.com.au. Alternatively, you can use our live chat during business hours to contact our helpful support team.
5. Thousands of happy customers
Don't just take our word for it—our reviews speak for themselves. Sterling Chess is trusted by thousands of players who keep coming back for more. Great products. Great service. No hassle.
6. Classic games, too
We're all about chess—but we also carry backgammon, checkers, poker and other timeless strategy games. If you love the classics, you’ll feel right at home.
Ready to make your move?
Choose a chess set that fits your style, skill level, and space—and enjoy the Sterling Chess difference. You’ll love how it looks. You’ll love how it plays. And you’ll love buying from a team that loves the game just as much as you do.
Divide the king's base by its height on this set and you get 47 percent. Nothing else in our range comes close. An 89mm king standing on a 42mm foot is proportioned like a much larger set that has been scaled down in height but not in width, and it behaves accordingly.
The consequence is stability out of all proportion to the size. These pieces do not tip. A knocked table, a sleeve across the back rank, a rushed capture in time trouble: the position stays where it was.
The knight is cut with a heavy jaw and a forward set head that gives the pattern its name. Rosewood or ebonised wood against boxwood, iron weighted to 1,000g, in our Staunton chess pieces.
Small sets usually scale everything down together, which keeps the proportions looking right and makes them just as easy to knock over as their full sized equivalents. That is the standard compromise for anyone who wants a compact board.
This one breaks the scaling. Height came down to 89mm; the base stayed at 42mm, which is what a 100mm to 105mm king would normally sit on. The pieces look slightly stocky as a result, and they are close to impossible to tip.
The other consequence is generous board sizing. A 42mm base wants 55mm squares even at this height, so you get an open board with small pieces, which suits a beginner or anyone who wants the position easy to read. Compare against the taller options in the Staunton chess pieces.
Two sets with the same king height can behave completely differently, and base diameter is why. A piece tips when its centre of gravity passes beyond the edge of its foot, so the wider the foot relative to the height, the further it has to lean before it goes.
Most Staunton sets sit somewhere between 38 and 43 percent. This one is at 47, which is well outside the usual band. Combined with iron ballast set into the base under the felt, it produces a set that stays put through the kind of handling that scatters a conventional one, and it is the reason this pattern turns up in clubs and schools.
The two options share the same carving, the same dimensions and the same 1,000g. Rosewood is a dense mid brown with visible figure that varies from piece to piece, and against boxwood the contrast is moderate. Ebonised takes the dark side to a near uniform black for the highest contrast and the fastest read under club lighting.
At 1,000g across 34 pieces the set averages around 29g, which is light. That is worth being clear about: the stability here comes from the wide foot and the low centre of gravity, not from mass. Pick a piece up and it will feel modest; set it down and it will stay exactly where you put it.
The 42mm king base puts this set on 55mm squares despite the modest 89mm king. This is the clearest case in the range of why king height is the wrong number to shop by: a board bought for an 89mm king would typically be 45mm or 50mm, and on either the back rank would be almost solid.
No board is included with these pieces. Our chess boards collection is filtered by square size so you can match the 55mm requirement directly rather than working it back from the king.
This is the set I would put in front of a school, a club with unreliable tables, or anyone buying a first proper wooden set. A 47 percent base to height ratio is genuinely unusual and it makes the pieces very hard to knock over, which matters more day to day than most buyers expect. The caveat is that it is light at roughly 29g a piece, so it will feel insubstantial to anyone coming from a triple weighted set. And do not shop for the board by king height: it needs 55mm squares despite the 89mm king.
- Blake Sterling, CEO & Founder, Sterling Chess
Squares of 55mm. That comes from the wide 42mm king base, not the 89mm height. A board bought to suit an 89mm king would usually be 45mm or 50mm, and the back rank would be almost solid on either.
It is the defining feature of the pattern. The base to height ratio is 47 percent against a usual 38 to 43, which means the pieces have to lean much further before they tip. Combined with iron ballast in the base, they are very stable.
1,000g across 34 pieces, around 29g a piece. That is light. The stability comes from the wide foot and low centre of gravity rather than from mass.
Carving, dimensions and weight are identical. Rosewood is a mid brown with visible figure and moderate contrast. Ebonised is near black with high contrast and reads faster under club lighting.
No. This listing is for the 34 pieces only, including the two spare queens. Boards are sold separately across our chess boards collection and no storage box ships with the set.
|
Spec |
Detail |
|
King height |
89mm (3.5 inch) |
|
King base diameter |
42mm (1.6 inch) |
|
Queen height |
71mm (2.8 inch) |
|
Queen base diameter |
38mm (1.5 inch) |
|
Bishop height |
67mm (2.6 inch) |
|
Bishop base diameter |
36mm (1.4 inch) |
|
Knight height |
65mm (2.5 inch) |
|
Knight base diameter |
34mm (1.3 inch) |
|
Rook height |
52mm (2.0 inch) |
|
Rook base diameter |
35mm (1.4 inch) |
|
Pawn height |
46mm (1.8 inch) |
|
Pawn base diameter |
29mm (1.1 inch) |
|
Dark pieces |
Rosewood or ebonised wood, by option |
|
Light pieces |
Boxwood |
|
Weighting |
Weighted with an iron stud in each base, thick green felt |
|
Piece count |
34, including two spare queens |
|
Total set weight |
1,000g approximate |
|
Recommended square size |
55mm |
|
Origin |
Hand carved in India |
|
Board |
Not included |
32 chess pieces in the timber option you select
2 spare queens, one per colour
Chess board not included
Storage box not included
All products sold by Sterling Chess are backed by a 12 month limited manufacturer warranty. This covers manufacturing defects and cracking, and ensures every product is 100% genuine. If you need assistance, our team is only a call or email away.
Is shipping really free?
Yes — we offer free standard shipping on all orders across Australia, with no minimum spend. The price you see at checkout is the price you pay.
Are there any exceptions to free shipping?
No exceptions. Every order ships free, regardless of size, weight, or order value.
How long will my order take to arrive?
Orders are typically dispatched within 1–2 business days, with delivery times depending on your location. You'll receive tracking details by email once your order is on its way.
Do you ship to all areas of Australia?
Yes, we deliver Australia-wide, including regional and remote areas — all at no shipping cost to you.
Can I track my order?
Absolutely. As soon as your order ships, we'll email you a tracking number so you can follow its journey to your door.
What if I need my order quickly?
Get in touch before ordering and we'll do our best to help. Standard shipping is free, and we'll advise on the fastest available option for your area. To contact us, simply email us at support@sterlingchess.com.au, call (03) 7037 0931 or open the live chat.
Changed your mind? You can return unused, unopened items within 100 days of your order date, provided they’re in original packaging and resaleable condition. Sterling Chess will cover the cost of shipping return items under our 100-day free returns policy.
All Sterling Chess products are backed by Australian Consumer Law and include a minimum 12-month Australian warranty. If there’s an issue with your product, our team is here to help and will work to make it right.
Click here to view our full returns policy.
If you're shopping for a new chess set, you're in the right place—and here's why.
1. We know chess inside and out
At Sterling Chess, we're not just another online store. We’re chess lovers, players, collectors, and game night fanatics.
That means we care about quality, balance, and feel—and we only stock sets we’d use ourselves. From tournament-grade boards to handcrafted wooden pieces, we’ve got what real players want.
2. Unmatched variety for every player
Whether you're just learning or a lifelong grandmaster, we have something for you.
Looking for a folding set for travel? A stunning showpiece for your home? A kid-friendly set for your budding chess champion? We’ve got it all—and more.
3. Fast and FREE shipping on all orders
Shipping is FREE on all Sterling Chess orders.
We ship quickly from local and international warehouses, so you’re not waiting weeks to get your game on.
Most orders are packed and sent within 24–48 hours. Plus, you’ll get tracking updates every step of the way.
4. Customer support that actually helps
Have a question? Need help choosing a set? Our friendly team is ready to help—no scripts, no bots, just real people who care about your experience.
You can call our team anytime between business hours on (03) 7037 0931 or email us at support@sterlingchess.com.au. Alternatively, you can use our live chat during business hours to contact our helpful support team.
5. Thousands of happy customers
Don't just take our word for it—our reviews speak for themselves. Sterling Chess is trusted by thousands of players who keep coming back for more. Great products. Great service. No hassle.
6. Classic games, too
We're all about chess—but we also carry backgammon, checkers, poker and other timeless strategy games. If you love the classics, you’ll feel right at home.
Ready to make your move?
Choose a chess set that fits your style, skill level, and space—and enjoy the Sterling Chess difference. You’ll love how it looks. You’ll love how it plays. And you’ll love buying from a team that loves the game just as much as you do.
