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✔ Questions? Call Us: (03) 7037 0931
The knight is grinning. That is the joke, and it is the whole reason this set exists.
Everything around it is a conventional Staunton, which is exactly what makes the knight land. The rest of the army plays it completely straight, so the one odd piece gets to be funny without the set becoming a gimmick.
At 81mm it is a genuinely compact set, easy to leave out on a side table and easy to live with. It does not demand a room the way a large army does.
It is a set for a room more than a tournament, and it makes an unusually good gift, because it is a proper chess set with something to say for itself.
Look for it among our Staunton chess pieces.
This is a set with a sense of humour, and it does not overdo it.
Only the knight is unusual. The king, queen, bishop and rook are ordinary Staunton shapes, so the set still reads instantly as a chess set from across the room, never as a novelty.
The restraint is the clever part. A set where every piece was a joke would get tiring fast. One good one does not.
The scale is the other half of the appeal. It is small enough to leave set up permanently without dominating the room, and the pieces are weighted despite that size, so it never feels like a toy.
These pieces suit smaller boards, with squares of 45mm to 50mm, and 50mm is the size we would choose. Watch the upper limit rather than the lower one, because 50mm is the top of its range and a larger board leaves the pieces looking marooned.
Both options share the same carving and the same boxwood light army. Only the dark pieces change.
Ebonised boxwood is the near black choice and gives the crisper contrast, which shows the knight's expression more clearly. If the joke is why you are buying it, this is the option that lets people see it.
Golden rosewood is a warm mid brown with the grain showing through, which softens the whole set and makes it sit more comfortably in a room with timber furniture.
Neither is better; they suit different rooms.
The knight is the piece people pick up first, and it holds its own close up.
Care is simple. Keep the set out of direct sunlight and away from heaters and air vents, dust it with a dry soft cloth, and leave oil, furniture polish and solvent based cleaners alone.
Buy this one because it makes you smile. It is a well made compact Staunton with one good joke in it, and that is a nicer thing to own than another identical tournament set.
The restraint is what I would point to. Getting a humorous piece right means making everything around it completely straight, and whoever drew this understood that.
It is a modern design, so do not buy it expecting history. Buy it because you want a set that is a pleasure to leave out. If history is what you are after, see our reproduction chess pieces.
- Blake Sterling, CEO & Founder, Sterling Chess
45mm to 50mm squares, and 50mm is the size to choose. The upper limit matters more than the lower one here, because a larger board leaves the pieces looking marooned.
Only the dark timber. Ebonised boxwood is a near black with crisper contrast; golden rosewood is a warm mid brown with the grain showing through. The light army is boxwood either way and every dimension is the same.
It is cut with an open, grinning expression where the usual knight is stern, and it is the only piece in the set drawn that way. Everything else is a completely conventional Staunton.
No, it is a modern design. The outline is a familiar Staunton shape, but the knight is an original touch, not a historical one, so it is not a reproduction of anything.
It is how the set is drawn at this compact scale. You tell them apart by the battlements against the rounded head, which is completely normal on small sets.
34 pieces, which is two more than a game array uses. No board is included, so that is chosen separately.
|
Spec |
Detail |
|
King |
81mm high (3.2 inch), 36mm base |
|
Queen |
70mm high (2.8 inch), 34mm base |
|
Bishop |
63mm high (2.5 inch), 29mm base |
|
Knight |
56mm high (2.2 inch), 29mm base |
|
Rook |
50mm high (2.0 inch), 28mm base |
|
Pawn |
49mm high (1.9 inch), 28mm base |
|
Weighting |
Weighted |
|
Ebonised option |
Ebonised boxwood dark pieces, boxwood light pieces |
|
Golden rosewood option |
Golden rosewood dark pieces, boxwood light pieces |
|
Recommended square size |
45mm to 50mm (1.75 inch to 1.96 inch) |
|
Total weight of pieces |
750 grams (1.65 lbs) |
|
Piece count |
34 |
|
Chess board |
Not included |
34 chess pieces in the timber pairing chosen
Two pieces more than a standard game array uses
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.
The knight is grinning. That is the joke, and it is the whole reason this set exists.
Everything around it is a conventional Staunton, which is exactly what makes the knight land. The rest of the army plays it completely straight, so the one odd piece gets to be funny without the set becoming a gimmick.
At 81mm it is a genuinely compact set, easy to leave out on a side table and easy to live with. It does not demand a room the way a large army does.
It is a set for a room more than a tournament, and it makes an unusually good gift, because it is a proper chess set with something to say for itself.
Look for it among our Staunton chess pieces.
This is a set with a sense of humour, and it does not overdo it.
Only the knight is unusual. The king, queen, bishop and rook are ordinary Staunton shapes, so the set still reads instantly as a chess set from across the room, never as a novelty.
The restraint is the clever part. A set where every piece was a joke would get tiring fast. One good one does not.
The scale is the other half of the appeal. It is small enough to leave set up permanently without dominating the room, and the pieces are weighted despite that size, so it never feels like a toy.
These pieces suit smaller boards, with squares of 45mm to 50mm, and 50mm is the size we would choose. Watch the upper limit rather than the lower one, because 50mm is the top of its range and a larger board leaves the pieces looking marooned.
Both options share the same carving and the same boxwood light army. Only the dark pieces change.
Ebonised boxwood is the near black choice and gives the crisper contrast, which shows the knight's expression more clearly. If the joke is why you are buying it, this is the option that lets people see it.
Golden rosewood is a warm mid brown with the grain showing through, which softens the whole set and makes it sit more comfortably in a room with timber furniture.
Neither is better; they suit different rooms.
The knight is the piece people pick up first, and it holds its own close up.
Care is simple. Keep the set out of direct sunlight and away from heaters and air vents, dust it with a dry soft cloth, and leave oil, furniture polish and solvent based cleaners alone.
Buy this one because it makes you smile. It is a well made compact Staunton with one good joke in it, and that is a nicer thing to own than another identical tournament set.
The restraint is what I would point to. Getting a humorous piece right means making everything around it completely straight, and whoever drew this understood that.
It is a modern design, so do not buy it expecting history. Buy it because you want a set that is a pleasure to leave out. If history is what you are after, see our reproduction chess pieces.
- Blake Sterling, CEO & Founder, Sterling Chess
45mm to 50mm squares, and 50mm is the size to choose. The upper limit matters more than the lower one here, because a larger board leaves the pieces looking marooned.
Only the dark timber. Ebonised boxwood is a near black with crisper contrast; golden rosewood is a warm mid brown with the grain showing through. The light army is boxwood either way and every dimension is the same.
It is cut with an open, grinning expression where the usual knight is stern, and it is the only piece in the set drawn that way. Everything else is a completely conventional Staunton.
No, it is a modern design. The outline is a familiar Staunton shape, but the knight is an original touch, not a historical one, so it is not a reproduction of anything.
It is how the set is drawn at this compact scale. You tell them apart by the battlements against the rounded head, which is completely normal on small sets.
34 pieces, which is two more than a game array uses. No board is included, so that is chosen separately.
|
Spec |
Detail |
|
King |
81mm high (3.2 inch), 36mm base |
|
Queen |
70mm high (2.8 inch), 34mm base |
|
Bishop |
63mm high (2.5 inch), 29mm base |
|
Knight |
56mm high (2.2 inch), 29mm base |
|
Rook |
50mm high (2.0 inch), 28mm base |
|
Pawn |
49mm high (1.9 inch), 28mm base |
|
Weighting |
Weighted |
|
Ebonised option |
Ebonised boxwood dark pieces, boxwood light pieces |
|
Golden rosewood option |
Golden rosewood dark pieces, boxwood light pieces |
|
Recommended square size |
45mm to 50mm (1.75 inch to 1.96 inch) |
|
Total weight of pieces |
750 grams (1.65 lbs) |
|
Piece count |
34 |
|
Chess board |
Not included |
34 chess pieces in the timber pairing chosen
Two pieces more than a standard game array uses
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.
