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Hermann Ohme was a German designer working in the Bauhaus aftermath, and this pattern strips a Staunton back to turned geometry without going as far as the abstract solids Hartwig used.
The proportions are severe. A 95mm king on a 35mm base, a 88mm queen only seven millimetres below it, and a pawn at 58mm that comes up past halfway on the bishop. Nothing about the spacing is conventional.
Ebonised against natural boxwood, iron weighted to 750g, on unusually small squares. It sits among our minimalist chess pieces.
We carry several minimalist sets and they solve the problem differently. The Bauhaus reduces each piece to a geometric solid describing its move. The Geometric Minimalist puts every piece on an identical base. The Berliner keeps conventional shapes and plays with colour instead.
The Ohme is the one closest to a normal Staunton. The pieces remain recognisable, the ladder still descends, and what has gone is the ornament: no collars, no crown steps, no mitre. It is minimalism by subtraction rather than by reinvention.
That makes it the easiest of the group to actually play on, since nothing has to be relearned. The wider range sits in our chess pieces collection.
Forty to forty five millimetre squares, for a 95mm king. That inverts the usual relationship, where a 95mm set would take 50mm to 55mm.
The 35mm base is the reason. Square size follows the widest footprint, not the height, and a slim base fits a small square. What it produces is a board where the pieces stand unusually tall relative to their squares, which is exactly the vertical, attenuated look the design wants. On a 55mm board the set looks stranded rather than elegant.
Most Staunton patterns put twelve to twenty millimetres between the royals. Ohme allows seven, and the difference between the two is a crown against a simple rounded finial rather than a step in height.
On the board that means the royals read as a pair. It is consistent with the rest of the design, which everywhere prefers a smooth progression to a dramatic hierarchy, and it is the thing most likely to catch you out in the first few games.
An iron stud is set into each base rather than the lead used on heavier sets. At 750g across 34 pieces this averages around 22g, which is light in absolute terms but appropriate for pieces this slim.
The purpose is stability rather than heft. A 95mm piece on a 35mm foot would be genuinely tippy unweighted, and the stud lowers the centre of gravity enough to fix that without making a slim piece feel oddly dense. No board is included; our chess boards collection is filtered by square size and you want 40mm to 45mm.
Of the minimalist sets we carry, this is the one I would actually play a serious game on. Nothing has been reinvented, only removed, so the pieces stay readable and the ladder still descends the way your eye expects. The severe 35mm base and the 40mm to 45mm board requirement are what give it its attenuated look, and they are also the catch: this is a small board for a full sized king, and most people do not own one. Check that before anything else. At 750g it is light, which suits the proportions but will disappoint anyone chasing heft.
- Blake Sterling, CEO & Founder, Sterling Chess
Squares of 40mm to 45mm, which is small for a 95mm king. Square size follows the slim 35mm base rather than the height, and on a standard 50mm or 55mm board the set looks stranded.
Yes, with an iron stud set into every base, coming to 750g across 34 pieces. That is light in absolute terms and appropriate for pieces this slim.
It is the least radical of them. The pieces stay recognisably Staunton and only the ornament has been removed, where the Bauhaus and Geometric Minimalist sets rethink the shapes or the bases entirely.
No. The dark pieces are ebonised boxwood. Genuine ebony sets sit across our wood chess pieces range.
No. This listing is for the 34 pieces only, including the two spare queens. Boards and storage are sold separately.
|
Spec |
Detail |
|
King height |
95mm (3.74 inch) |
|
King base diameter |
35mm (1.37 inch) |
|
Queen height |
88mm (3.46 inch) |
|
Queen base diameter |
35mm (1.37 inch) |
|
Bishop height |
81mm (3.18 inch) |
|
Knight height |
76mm (3.0 inch) |
|
Rook height |
64mm (2.51 inch) |
|
Officer base diameter |
32mm (1.25 inch), bishop, knight and rook |
|
Pawn height |
58mm (2.28 inch) |
|
Pawn base diameter |
25mm (1.0 inch) |
|
Dark pieces |
Ebonised boxwood |
|
Light pieces |
Natural boxwood |
|
Weighting |
Weighted with an iron stud in each base, thick green felt |
|
Piece count |
34, including two spare queens |
|
Total set weight |
750g approximate |
|
Recommended square size |
40mm to 45mm |
|
Origin |
Hand turned in India |
|
Board |
Not included |
34 chess pieces, including two spare queens
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.
Hermann Ohme was a German designer working in the Bauhaus aftermath, and this pattern strips a Staunton back to turned geometry without going as far as the abstract solids Hartwig used.
The proportions are severe. A 95mm king on a 35mm base, a 88mm queen only seven millimetres below it, and a pawn at 58mm that comes up past halfway on the bishop. Nothing about the spacing is conventional.
Ebonised against natural boxwood, iron weighted to 750g, on unusually small squares. It sits among our minimalist chess pieces.
We carry several minimalist sets and they solve the problem differently. The Bauhaus reduces each piece to a geometric solid describing its move. The Geometric Minimalist puts every piece on an identical base. The Berliner keeps conventional shapes and plays with colour instead.
The Ohme is the one closest to a normal Staunton. The pieces remain recognisable, the ladder still descends, and what has gone is the ornament: no collars, no crown steps, no mitre. It is minimalism by subtraction rather than by reinvention.
That makes it the easiest of the group to actually play on, since nothing has to be relearned. The wider range sits in our chess pieces collection.
Forty to forty five millimetre squares, for a 95mm king. That inverts the usual relationship, where a 95mm set would take 50mm to 55mm.
The 35mm base is the reason. Square size follows the widest footprint, not the height, and a slim base fits a small square. What it produces is a board where the pieces stand unusually tall relative to their squares, which is exactly the vertical, attenuated look the design wants. On a 55mm board the set looks stranded rather than elegant.
Most Staunton patterns put twelve to twenty millimetres between the royals. Ohme allows seven, and the difference between the two is a crown against a simple rounded finial rather than a step in height.
On the board that means the royals read as a pair. It is consistent with the rest of the design, which everywhere prefers a smooth progression to a dramatic hierarchy, and it is the thing most likely to catch you out in the first few games.
An iron stud is set into each base rather than the lead used on heavier sets. At 750g across 34 pieces this averages around 22g, which is light in absolute terms but appropriate for pieces this slim.
The purpose is stability rather than heft. A 95mm piece on a 35mm foot would be genuinely tippy unweighted, and the stud lowers the centre of gravity enough to fix that without making a slim piece feel oddly dense. No board is included; our chess boards collection is filtered by square size and you want 40mm to 45mm.
Of the minimalist sets we carry, this is the one I would actually play a serious game on. Nothing has been reinvented, only removed, so the pieces stay readable and the ladder still descends the way your eye expects. The severe 35mm base and the 40mm to 45mm board requirement are what give it its attenuated look, and they are also the catch: this is a small board for a full sized king, and most people do not own one. Check that before anything else. At 750g it is light, which suits the proportions but will disappoint anyone chasing heft.
- Blake Sterling, CEO & Founder, Sterling Chess
Squares of 40mm to 45mm, which is small for a 95mm king. Square size follows the slim 35mm base rather than the height, and on a standard 50mm or 55mm board the set looks stranded.
Yes, with an iron stud set into every base, coming to 750g across 34 pieces. That is light in absolute terms and appropriate for pieces this slim.
It is the least radical of them. The pieces stay recognisably Staunton and only the ornament has been removed, where the Bauhaus and Geometric Minimalist sets rethink the shapes or the bases entirely.
No. The dark pieces are ebonised boxwood. Genuine ebony sets sit across our wood chess pieces range.
No. This listing is for the 34 pieces only, including the two spare queens. Boards and storage are sold separately.
|
Spec |
Detail |
|
King height |
95mm (3.74 inch) |
|
King base diameter |
35mm (1.37 inch) |
|
Queen height |
88mm (3.46 inch) |
|
Queen base diameter |
35mm (1.37 inch) |
|
Bishop height |
81mm (3.18 inch) |
|
Knight height |
76mm (3.0 inch) |
|
Rook height |
64mm (2.51 inch) |
|
Officer base diameter |
32mm (1.25 inch), bishop, knight and rook |
|
Pawn height |
58mm (2.28 inch) |
|
Pawn base diameter |
25mm (1.0 inch) |
|
Dark pieces |
Ebonised boxwood |
|
Light pieces |
Natural boxwood |
|
Weighting |
Weighted with an iron stud in each base, thick green felt |
|
Piece count |
34, including two spare queens |
|
Total set weight |
750g approximate |
|
Recommended square size |
40mm to 45mm |
|
Origin |
Hand turned in India |
|
Board |
Not included |
34 chess pieces, including two spare queens
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.
