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These are Soviet chess pieces in the plainest and most useful sense of the phrase. The Leningrad Schoolboy pattern was turned for classrooms and clubs rather than for display cabinets, and the reproduction keeps that character: tall, legible, and stripped of ornament. If you want a set with a story behind the shape, this is one of the more interesting entries in our chess pieces collection.
Every piece is hand turned from solid timber. Choose sheesham, a dense Indian rosewood with visible figure and a warm red brown tone, or ebonised boxwood, dyed to a deep even black that reads almost flat under lamplight. Both options play against natural boxwood, so the contrast across the board is strong either way.
The king stands 106mm on a 40mm base, with 34 chessmen in the set including two spare queens. That is a full playing roster with room to promote twice without borrowing a rook.
Most reproduction sets chase the great tournament patterns, with heavy bases, deep knight carving and a good deal of ornament. The Leningrad Schoolboy went the other way. It was made to be cheap to produce, quick to identify and hard to break, and the reproduction is faithful to that brief rather than dressing it up.
What you get is a piece that reads clearly from a standing position and takes up presence on the board through height rather than bulk. Next to a carved Staunton reproduction it looks austere. Next to a modern club set it looks considered.
It sits in the middle of our range, more affordable than the ebony reproductions and a clear step up from a moulded club set. If you want to see how the timbers behave across other patterns, browse the rest of our wood chess pieces.
The full set runs to 1530 grams across 34 pieces, which averages out to a light to moderate piece rather than a heavily ballasted one. In practice that means a set you can move quickly and reset without effort, and one that travels far better than a double weighted tournament set of the same height.
The trade off is honest and worth knowing before you order. These do not plant themselves on the square the way a lead weighted piece does, and a knocked board will scatter them. Players who like a fast, light touch tend to prefer this. Players who want the pieces to sit like anchors will not.
Sheesham is the warmer choice. It is a dense Indian rosewood, and because it is finished rather than dyed the grain stays visible, so no two kings look quite the same. Against natural boxwood it gives a softer, more traditional contrast that suits a lighter timber board.
Ebonised boxwood is the sharper choice. The dye takes the timber to a deep, even black that suppresses figure almost entirely, which is exactly what makes the silhouette read so cleanly at a distance. It is the option to pick if you want the pieces to look graphic rather than grainy.
The usual guide is a square roughly 1.25 to 1.3 times the king base. With a 40mm base that puts the ideal square at 50mm to 52mm, and anything up to 55mm still plays comfortably if you prefer more air around the pieces. Go below 50mm and a crowded opening position starts to feel tight, particularly once both spare queens are in play.
These pieces are sold on their own, so you will need a playing surface to go with them. Our chess boards collection lists square size on every board, which makes matching straightforward.
The strength here is the roster and the proportions: 34 chessmen with two spare queens, and a 106mm king on a 40mm base, which is a genuinely usable club size rather than a display size. The caveat is weight. At 1530 grams for the whole set these average well under what a double weighted piece of the same height would come in at, so they feel light in the hand and they will not hold a bumped board.
We would put these in front of someone who is drawn to the Soviet design story and wants a tall, clean, unfussy piece to play with. Anyone whose first priority is a heavily weighted tournament feel should look at the weighted sets in our full pieces range instead.
- Blake Sterling, CEO & Founder, Sterling Chess
Players who want a tall, easily read set for regular games, and collectors interested in Soviet era chess design. The unadorned shape and the light playing weight make them a poor match for anyone after a heavily ballasted tournament set, so it is worth being clear on that before ordering.
Sheesham is a dense Indian rosewood left with its grain visible, giving a warm red brown tone that varies piece to piece. Ebonised boxwood is dyed to a deep even black that hides the figure almost completely. Both are played against natural boxwood, and the dimensions and piece count are identical across the two.
A square size of 50mm to 52mm is the closest match to the 40mm king base, and up to 55mm still plays well. Below 50mm the opening position gets crowded. Every board in our range lists its square size, so you can match it directly.
No. This is a pieces only listing, so neither a board nor a storage box ships with it. You are buying the 34 chessmen on their own, which lets you pair them with a board and a case chosen to suit.
Keep them out of direct sunlight and away from heat sources, both of which dry the timber and can lead to cracking over time. Dust with a dry soft cloth. Avoid water and household cleaners, and if the pieces look dull after a few years a light wax will bring the finish back.
Yes. The Leningrad Schoolboy is one of several historical patterns we carry, and the others range from tournament reproductions to earlier club designs. You can see the full selection in our reproduction chess pieces collection.
Spec |
Detail |
Pattern |
Reproduction 1930s Leningrad Schoolboy, Soviet schools design |
Material options |
Sheesham and boxwood, or ebonised boxwood and boxwood |
King height |
106mm |
King base diameter |
40mm |
Queen height and base |
91mm high, 38mm base |
Bishop height and base |
86mm high, 35mm base |
Knight height and base |
86mm high, 35mm base |
Rook height and base |
65mm high, 35mm base |
Pawn height and base |
59mm high, 32mm base |
Number of pieces |
34 chessmen, including two spare queens |
Set weight |
1530 grams |
Recommended square size |
50mm to 55mm |
Construction |
Hand turned solid timber |
32 chess pieces in your chosen dark timber and natural boxwood
2 spare queens, one per colour, for 34 chessmen in total
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.
These are Soviet chess pieces in the plainest and most useful sense of the phrase. The Leningrad Schoolboy pattern was turned for classrooms and clubs rather than for display cabinets, and the reproduction keeps that character: tall, legible, and stripped of ornament. If you want a set with a story behind the shape, this is one of the more interesting entries in our chess pieces collection.
Every piece is hand turned from solid timber. Choose sheesham, a dense Indian rosewood with visible figure and a warm red brown tone, or ebonised boxwood, dyed to a deep even black that reads almost flat under lamplight. Both options play against natural boxwood, so the contrast across the board is strong either way.
The king stands 106mm on a 40mm base, with 34 chessmen in the set including two spare queens. That is a full playing roster with room to promote twice without borrowing a rook.
Most reproduction sets chase the great tournament patterns, with heavy bases, deep knight carving and a good deal of ornament. The Leningrad Schoolboy went the other way. It was made to be cheap to produce, quick to identify and hard to break, and the reproduction is faithful to that brief rather than dressing it up.
What you get is a piece that reads clearly from a standing position and takes up presence on the board through height rather than bulk. Next to a carved Staunton reproduction it looks austere. Next to a modern club set it looks considered.
It sits in the middle of our range, more affordable than the ebony reproductions and a clear step up from a moulded club set. If you want to see how the timbers behave across other patterns, browse the rest of our wood chess pieces.
The full set runs to 1530 grams across 34 pieces, which averages out to a light to moderate piece rather than a heavily ballasted one. In practice that means a set you can move quickly and reset without effort, and one that travels far better than a double weighted tournament set of the same height.
The trade off is honest and worth knowing before you order. These do not plant themselves on the square the way a lead weighted piece does, and a knocked board will scatter them. Players who like a fast, light touch tend to prefer this. Players who want the pieces to sit like anchors will not.
Sheesham is the warmer choice. It is a dense Indian rosewood, and because it is finished rather than dyed the grain stays visible, so no two kings look quite the same. Against natural boxwood it gives a softer, more traditional contrast that suits a lighter timber board.
Ebonised boxwood is the sharper choice. The dye takes the timber to a deep, even black that suppresses figure almost entirely, which is exactly what makes the silhouette read so cleanly at a distance. It is the option to pick if you want the pieces to look graphic rather than grainy.
The usual guide is a square roughly 1.25 to 1.3 times the king base. With a 40mm base that puts the ideal square at 50mm to 52mm, and anything up to 55mm still plays comfortably if you prefer more air around the pieces. Go below 50mm and a crowded opening position starts to feel tight, particularly once both spare queens are in play.
These pieces are sold on their own, so you will need a playing surface to go with them. Our chess boards collection lists square size on every board, which makes matching straightforward.
The strength here is the roster and the proportions: 34 chessmen with two spare queens, and a 106mm king on a 40mm base, which is a genuinely usable club size rather than a display size. The caveat is weight. At 1530 grams for the whole set these average well under what a double weighted piece of the same height would come in at, so they feel light in the hand and they will not hold a bumped board.
We would put these in front of someone who is drawn to the Soviet design story and wants a tall, clean, unfussy piece to play with. Anyone whose first priority is a heavily weighted tournament feel should look at the weighted sets in our full pieces range instead.
- Blake Sterling, CEO & Founder, Sterling Chess
Players who want a tall, easily read set for regular games, and collectors interested in Soviet era chess design. The unadorned shape and the light playing weight make them a poor match for anyone after a heavily ballasted tournament set, so it is worth being clear on that before ordering.
Sheesham is a dense Indian rosewood left with its grain visible, giving a warm red brown tone that varies piece to piece. Ebonised boxwood is dyed to a deep even black that hides the figure almost completely. Both are played against natural boxwood, and the dimensions and piece count are identical across the two.
A square size of 50mm to 52mm is the closest match to the 40mm king base, and up to 55mm still plays well. Below 50mm the opening position gets crowded. Every board in our range lists its square size, so you can match it directly.
No. This is a pieces only listing, so neither a board nor a storage box ships with it. You are buying the 34 chessmen on their own, which lets you pair them with a board and a case chosen to suit.
Keep them out of direct sunlight and away from heat sources, both of which dry the timber and can lead to cracking over time. Dust with a dry soft cloth. Avoid water and household cleaners, and if the pieces look dull after a few years a light wax will bring the finish back.
Yes. The Leningrad Schoolboy is one of several historical patterns we carry, and the others range from tournament reproductions to earlier club designs. You can see the full selection in our reproduction chess pieces collection.
Spec |
Detail |
Pattern |
Reproduction 1930s Leningrad Schoolboy, Soviet schools design |
Material options |
Sheesham and boxwood, or ebonised boxwood and boxwood |
King height |
106mm |
King base diameter |
40mm |
Queen height and base |
91mm high, 38mm base |
Bishop height and base |
86mm high, 35mm base |
Knight height and base |
86mm high, 35mm base |
Rook height and base |
65mm high, 35mm base |
Pawn height and base |
59mm high, 32mm base |
Number of pieces |
34 chessmen, including two spare queens |
Set weight |
1530 grams |
Recommended square size |
50mm to 55mm |
Construction |
Hand turned solid timber |
32 chess pieces in your chosen dark timber and natural boxwood
2 spare queens, one per colour, for 34 chessmen in total
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.
