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The quickest way to tell a Soviet set from an English one is to look at the bishop. English bishops carry a mitre with a diagonal slot cut into it, a piece of ecclesiastical shorthand inherited from 1849. This one has no slot at all, and no mitre either. It is a smooth dome, and that was a deliberate choice.
The pattern reproduced here dates from the period between 1935 and 1960, and is associated with the Botvinnik and Flohr match of 1935. Squat bases, contrasting finials on the light pieces, and a 113mm king on a 45mm base give it a look nothing else in the range shares.
Sheesham on the dark side, natural boxwood on the light, and 1,430g of iron weighted timber across 34 pieces. It sits in our reproduction chess pieces.
Reproductions of English patterns are all working from the same source and the differences between them are matters of degree: a slightly taller king, a narrower base, a knight cut with more or less relief. Soviet reproductions are a different lineage entirely.
Here the queen reaches 100mm against a 113mm king, a gap of only 13mm where an English set would give you twice that. The bishop drops the mitre. The bases are wide and the finials on the light pieces are finished in a contrasting tone. None of that is a variation on the Staunton theme; it is a different answer to the same problem.
Whether that suits you depends on what you want from a board. If you want the familiar English silhouette, the Staunton chess pieces range is the place to look.
The 1935 match between Mikhail Botvinnik and Salo Flohr was one of the defining events of Soviet chess in the interwar years. Botvinnik went on to become world champion and a central figure in the Soviet coaching system that dominated top level chess for decades. Flohr was among the strongest players in Europe at the time and later a significant organiser in his own right.
Equipment of that period was produced across regional workshops rather than by a single maker, so the pattern is a family resemblance rather than a single registered design. What the family shares is exactly what you see here: wide feet, compact height differences between the royal pieces, and bishops without the ecclesiastical detailing that English sets kept.
Sheesham is a moderately dense timber, so the weight in this set comes from an iron stud set into the base of every piece before the green felt goes on. At 1,430g across 34 pieces the average is around 42g, and because the mass sits at the very bottom the pieces settle firmly rather than feeling top heavy.
The finish is buff polish rather than lacquer. Lacquer gives a higher shine and a harder shell, but it sits on top of the timber and can chip. Buff polishing works the surface itself, which resists scratching over years of handling and keeps the sheesham grain visible instead of sealing it under gloss.
The 45mm king base puts this set on 50mm to 55mm squares, and of the two, 55mm is the more comfortable. On a 50mm board the base occupies ninety percent of the square and the back rank will look packed, which is authentic to how club equipment was actually used but not to everyone's taste.
No board is included with these pieces. Our chess boards collection is filtered by square size so you can match the requirement directly.
The mitreless bishop is the reason to own this set. It is the single clearest visual marker of a Soviet pattern and most reproductions quietly restore the mitre because buyers expect it. This one does not, and the compressed king to queen gap backs it up. The caveats are practical: a 45mm base on a 50mm board is very tight, so buy the 55mm board, and at roughly 42g a piece it is moderately rather than heavily weighted. We would recommend it to someone who already knows what they are looking at.
- Blake Sterling, CEO & Founder, Sterling Chess
Squares of 50mm to 55mm, and 55mm is the better choice. That comes from the 45mm king base rather than the 113mm height. On 50mm squares the base fills almost the whole square.
That is the Soviet pattern this set reproduces. Workshops of the period turned the bishop as a plain dome without the diagonal mitre cut that English Staunton sets carry. It is a deliberate feature, not a missing detail.
Double weighted, with an iron stud set into the base of each piece under thick green felt. Total set weight is around 1,430g.
No. This listing is for the 34 pieces only, including the two spare queens. Boards are sold separately and no storage box ships with the set.
A finish worked into the timber surface rather than laid over it like lacquer. It keeps the sheesham grain visible and resists scratching, at the cost of a lower shine. Most sets in our wood chess pieces range use one or the other.
|
Spec |
Detail |
|
King height |
113mm (4.44 inch) |
|
King base diameter |
45mm (1.77 inch) |
|
Queen height |
100mm (3.93 inch) |
|
Queen base diameter |
42mm (1.65 inch) |
|
Bishop height |
90mm (3.54 inch) |
|
Knight height |
82mm (3.22 inch) |
|
Rook height |
65mm (2.55 inch) |
|
Pawn height |
59mm (2.32 inch) |
|
Dark pieces |
Sheesham |
|
Light pieces |
Natural boxwood |
|
Weighting |
Double weighted with an iron stud in each base, thick green felt |
|
Finish |
Buff polished, not lacquered |
|
Piece count |
34, including two spare queens |
|
Total set weight |
1,430g approximate |
|
Recommended square size |
50mm to 55mm |
|
Origin |
Hand carved in India |
|
Board |
Not included |
32 chess pieces in sheesham and natural boxwood
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.
The quickest way to tell a Soviet set from an English one is to look at the bishop. English bishops carry a mitre with a diagonal slot cut into it, a piece of ecclesiastical shorthand inherited from 1849. This one has no slot at all, and no mitre either. It is a smooth dome, and that was a deliberate choice.
The pattern reproduced here dates from the period between 1935 and 1960, and is associated with the Botvinnik and Flohr match of 1935. Squat bases, contrasting finials on the light pieces, and a 113mm king on a 45mm base give it a look nothing else in the range shares.
Sheesham on the dark side, natural boxwood on the light, and 1,430g of iron weighted timber across 34 pieces. It sits in our reproduction chess pieces.
Reproductions of English patterns are all working from the same source and the differences between them are matters of degree: a slightly taller king, a narrower base, a knight cut with more or less relief. Soviet reproductions are a different lineage entirely.
Here the queen reaches 100mm against a 113mm king, a gap of only 13mm where an English set would give you twice that. The bishop drops the mitre. The bases are wide and the finials on the light pieces are finished in a contrasting tone. None of that is a variation on the Staunton theme; it is a different answer to the same problem.
Whether that suits you depends on what you want from a board. If you want the familiar English silhouette, the Staunton chess pieces range is the place to look.
The 1935 match between Mikhail Botvinnik and Salo Flohr was one of the defining events of Soviet chess in the interwar years. Botvinnik went on to become world champion and a central figure in the Soviet coaching system that dominated top level chess for decades. Flohr was among the strongest players in Europe at the time and later a significant organiser in his own right.
Equipment of that period was produced across regional workshops rather than by a single maker, so the pattern is a family resemblance rather than a single registered design. What the family shares is exactly what you see here: wide feet, compact height differences between the royal pieces, and bishops without the ecclesiastical detailing that English sets kept.
Sheesham is a moderately dense timber, so the weight in this set comes from an iron stud set into the base of every piece before the green felt goes on. At 1,430g across 34 pieces the average is around 42g, and because the mass sits at the very bottom the pieces settle firmly rather than feeling top heavy.
The finish is buff polish rather than lacquer. Lacquer gives a higher shine and a harder shell, but it sits on top of the timber and can chip. Buff polishing works the surface itself, which resists scratching over years of handling and keeps the sheesham grain visible instead of sealing it under gloss.
The 45mm king base puts this set on 50mm to 55mm squares, and of the two, 55mm is the more comfortable. On a 50mm board the base occupies ninety percent of the square and the back rank will look packed, which is authentic to how club equipment was actually used but not to everyone's taste.
No board is included with these pieces. Our chess boards collection is filtered by square size so you can match the requirement directly.
The mitreless bishop is the reason to own this set. It is the single clearest visual marker of a Soviet pattern and most reproductions quietly restore the mitre because buyers expect it. This one does not, and the compressed king to queen gap backs it up. The caveats are practical: a 45mm base on a 50mm board is very tight, so buy the 55mm board, and at roughly 42g a piece it is moderately rather than heavily weighted. We would recommend it to someone who already knows what they are looking at.
- Blake Sterling, CEO & Founder, Sterling Chess
Squares of 50mm to 55mm, and 55mm is the better choice. That comes from the 45mm king base rather than the 113mm height. On 50mm squares the base fills almost the whole square.
That is the Soviet pattern this set reproduces. Workshops of the period turned the bishop as a plain dome without the diagonal mitre cut that English Staunton sets carry. It is a deliberate feature, not a missing detail.
Double weighted, with an iron stud set into the base of each piece under thick green felt. Total set weight is around 1,430g.
No. This listing is for the 34 pieces only, including the two spare queens. Boards are sold separately and no storage box ships with the set.
A finish worked into the timber surface rather than laid over it like lacquer. It keeps the sheesham grain visible and resists scratching, at the cost of a lower shine. Most sets in our wood chess pieces range use one or the other.
|
Spec |
Detail |
|
King height |
113mm (4.44 inch) |
|
King base diameter |
45mm (1.77 inch) |
|
Queen height |
100mm (3.93 inch) |
|
Queen base diameter |
42mm (1.65 inch) |
|
Bishop height |
90mm (3.54 inch) |
|
Knight height |
82mm (3.22 inch) |
|
Rook height |
65mm (2.55 inch) |
|
Pawn height |
59mm (2.32 inch) |
|
Dark pieces |
Sheesham |
|
Light pieces |
Natural boxwood |
|
Weighting |
Double weighted with an iron stud in each base, thick green felt |
|
Finish |
Buff polished, not lacquered |
|
Piece count |
34, including two spare queens |
|
Total set weight |
1,430g approximate |
|
Recommended square size |
50mm to 55mm |
|
Origin |
Hand carved in India |
|
Board |
Not included |
32 chess pieces in sheesham and natural boxwood
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.
