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✔ Questions? Call Us: (03) 7037 0931
There were two Soviet Championships in 1961. The first was in Moscow; the second, in Baku, was won by Boris Spassky. The pieces used at Baku had a distinctive squat build with a heavy 103mm king on a 39mm base and rings turned into the collars, and this reproduces that pattern in sheesham and boxwood.
Original Baku sets were often not lead weighted at all but packed with sawdust, which tells you they were made to be shipped and played rather than admired. These are properly weighted, at 1,450g across the 34 pieces.
Two boards to choose from, both sheesham and boxwood with green velvet underneath: a 48cm board with 50mm squares, or a 53cm board with 55mm squares. Sits among our reproduction chess pieces.
The pieces are the same pattern on both, in the same timbers at the same weight. The choice is how much room you want around them, and how much table you have.
The 48cm board runs 50mm squares and is 22mm thick. Fifty millimetres is a snug fit for a 39mm king base, which gives a dense, closely packed board that looks much like the period photographs. It is the more compact option and the easier one to find space for.
The 53cm board runs 55mm squares and is 20mm thick, weighing around 5,600g. Fifty five millimetres is the more generous fit and the one the supplier recommends for these pieces: files and diagonals stay visible with everything on the board, and the officers do not touch. If you have the table for it, this is the better playing surface. Both sit alongside the rest of our chess boards collection.
The signature is bulk low down. A 103mm king on a 39mm base is not unusual on its own, but the bishop reaches 83mm and the rook 68mm, so the whole officer group sits high and close behind the royals rather than stepping away from them. Add the turned rings at the collars and the set reads as heavy and compact rather than tall and elegant.
That was a Soviet house style through the 1950s and 60s, and it is a genuinely different look from the English patterns of the same period. Pieces this broad are also hard to knock over, which mattered in tournament halls where the clocks were being hit hard.
Sheesham is Dalbergia sissoo, a true Indian rosewood, and it is the timber these reproductions are usually turned in. The heartwood runs from golden brown to a deep reddish brown with darker streaks, and the grain is open enough to see and feel across a piece.
Against boxwood it gives a warm, moderate contrast rather than the hard separation of an ebonised set. The boards use the same two timbers, so the pieces and the squares share a palette: the dark pieces sit on dark squares without disappearing, which is easier to read than it sounds.
If you are unsure, take the 53cm. Fifty five millimetre squares are what the supplier recommends for a 39mm base, and the extra room is worth more over a long game than the saving in table space. Take the 48cm if the board has to live somewhere small, or if you prefer the tighter period look.
Either way you get 34 pieces including two spare queens, plus the board. No storage box is included. The same pieces are listed separately if you already own a board, across our chess pieces collection.
Baku sets are among the more distinctive Soviet patterns and this reproduction gets the important part right: the low centre of gravity and the heavy officer group, which is what separates them from an English Staunton of the same height. At 1,450g the weighting is honest, and it is worth knowing that many of the originals were sawdust filled rather than lead weighted, so this is actually a better playing set than the sets it copies. On the board, take the 53cm unless space forces your hand. Fifty millimetre squares under a 39mm base is workable but tight, and the 55mm board gives the position room to breathe. The one thing to set expectations on is contrast: sheesham against boxwood is warm and moderate, not the sharp black and cream of an ebonised set, so it wants decent light.
- Blake Sterling, CEO & Founder, Sterling Chess
Square size and overall size. The 48cm board has 50mm squares and is 22mm thick. The 53cm board has 55mm squares, is 20mm thick and weighs around 5,600g. Both are sheesham and boxwood with green velvet undersides.
The 53cm with 55mm squares, if you have the space. That is the square size the supplier recommends for a 39mm king base, and it keeps the back rank from crowding. The 48cm is the right call if table space is tight or you prefer the tighter period look.
Yes, the same pattern in the same timbers at the same 1,450g. The supplier measures the king at 103mm on a 39mm base for one option and 104mm on a 41mm base for the other, which is the ordinary variation between two measurements of one hand made pattern rather than a real difference.
The second of two Soviet Championships held in 1961, won by Boris Spassky. The pieces used there had this squat, ring collared build, and the pattern has been reproduced ever since.
No. Both options include the 34 pieces and the board only. Storage boxes are sold separately.
|
Spec |
Detail |
|
King height |
103mm (4.05 inch) |
|
King base diameter |
39mm (1.53 inch) |
|
Queen height |
87mm (3.42 inch) |
|
Queen base diameter |
38mm (1.49 inch) |
|
Bishop height |
83mm (3.26 inch) |
|
Knight height |
79mm (3.11 inch) |
|
Rook height |
68mm (2.67 inch) |
|
Pawn height |
60mm (2.36 inch) |
|
Officer base diameter |
37mm to 38mm, bishop, knight and rook |
|
Dark pieces |
Sheesham, an Indian rosewood |
|
Light pieces |
Boxwood |
|
Weighting |
Weighted, turned collar rings, thick green felt on every base |
|
Piece count |
34, including two spare queens |
|
Chess pieces weight |
1,450g approximate |
|
Board size |
48cm or 53cm square, depending on option |
|
Board square size |
50mm on the 48cm option, 55mm on the 53cm option |
|
Board thickness |
22mm on the 48cm option, 20mm on the 53cm option |
|
Board weight |
5,600g on the 53cm option; not stated by the supplier for the 48cm option |
|
Board construction |
Sheesham and boxwood, green velvet underside |
|
Origin |
Hand carved in India |
|
Storage box |
Not included |
34 chess pieces, including two spare queens
One sheesham and boxwood chess board, in your chosen size
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.
There were two Soviet Championships in 1961. The first was in Moscow; the second, in Baku, was won by Boris Spassky. The pieces used at Baku had a distinctive squat build with a heavy 103mm king on a 39mm base and rings turned into the collars, and this reproduces that pattern in sheesham and boxwood.
Original Baku sets were often not lead weighted at all but packed with sawdust, which tells you they were made to be shipped and played rather than admired. These are properly weighted, at 1,450g across the 34 pieces.
Two boards to choose from, both sheesham and boxwood with green velvet underneath: a 48cm board with 50mm squares, or a 53cm board with 55mm squares. Sits among our reproduction chess pieces.
The pieces are the same pattern on both, in the same timbers at the same weight. The choice is how much room you want around them, and how much table you have.
The 48cm board runs 50mm squares and is 22mm thick. Fifty millimetres is a snug fit for a 39mm king base, which gives a dense, closely packed board that looks much like the period photographs. It is the more compact option and the easier one to find space for.
The 53cm board runs 55mm squares and is 20mm thick, weighing around 5,600g. Fifty five millimetres is the more generous fit and the one the supplier recommends for these pieces: files and diagonals stay visible with everything on the board, and the officers do not touch. If you have the table for it, this is the better playing surface. Both sit alongside the rest of our chess boards collection.
The signature is bulk low down. A 103mm king on a 39mm base is not unusual on its own, but the bishop reaches 83mm and the rook 68mm, so the whole officer group sits high and close behind the royals rather than stepping away from them. Add the turned rings at the collars and the set reads as heavy and compact rather than tall and elegant.
That was a Soviet house style through the 1950s and 60s, and it is a genuinely different look from the English patterns of the same period. Pieces this broad are also hard to knock over, which mattered in tournament halls where the clocks were being hit hard.
Sheesham is Dalbergia sissoo, a true Indian rosewood, and it is the timber these reproductions are usually turned in. The heartwood runs from golden brown to a deep reddish brown with darker streaks, and the grain is open enough to see and feel across a piece.
Against boxwood it gives a warm, moderate contrast rather than the hard separation of an ebonised set. The boards use the same two timbers, so the pieces and the squares share a palette: the dark pieces sit on dark squares without disappearing, which is easier to read than it sounds.
If you are unsure, take the 53cm. Fifty five millimetre squares are what the supplier recommends for a 39mm base, and the extra room is worth more over a long game than the saving in table space. Take the 48cm if the board has to live somewhere small, or if you prefer the tighter period look.
Either way you get 34 pieces including two spare queens, plus the board. No storage box is included. The same pieces are listed separately if you already own a board, across our chess pieces collection.
Baku sets are among the more distinctive Soviet patterns and this reproduction gets the important part right: the low centre of gravity and the heavy officer group, which is what separates them from an English Staunton of the same height. At 1,450g the weighting is honest, and it is worth knowing that many of the originals were sawdust filled rather than lead weighted, so this is actually a better playing set than the sets it copies. On the board, take the 53cm unless space forces your hand. Fifty millimetre squares under a 39mm base is workable but tight, and the 55mm board gives the position room to breathe. The one thing to set expectations on is contrast: sheesham against boxwood is warm and moderate, not the sharp black and cream of an ebonised set, so it wants decent light.
- Blake Sterling, CEO & Founder, Sterling Chess
Square size and overall size. The 48cm board has 50mm squares and is 22mm thick. The 53cm board has 55mm squares, is 20mm thick and weighs around 5,600g. Both are sheesham and boxwood with green velvet undersides.
The 53cm with 55mm squares, if you have the space. That is the square size the supplier recommends for a 39mm king base, and it keeps the back rank from crowding. The 48cm is the right call if table space is tight or you prefer the tighter period look.
Yes, the same pattern in the same timbers at the same 1,450g. The supplier measures the king at 103mm on a 39mm base for one option and 104mm on a 41mm base for the other, which is the ordinary variation between two measurements of one hand made pattern rather than a real difference.
The second of two Soviet Championships held in 1961, won by Boris Spassky. The pieces used there had this squat, ring collared build, and the pattern has been reproduced ever since.
No. Both options include the 34 pieces and the board only. Storage boxes are sold separately.
|
Spec |
Detail |
|
King height |
103mm (4.05 inch) |
|
King base diameter |
39mm (1.53 inch) |
|
Queen height |
87mm (3.42 inch) |
|
Queen base diameter |
38mm (1.49 inch) |
|
Bishop height |
83mm (3.26 inch) |
|
Knight height |
79mm (3.11 inch) |
|
Rook height |
68mm (2.67 inch) |
|
Pawn height |
60mm (2.36 inch) |
|
Officer base diameter |
37mm to 38mm, bishop, knight and rook |
|
Dark pieces |
Sheesham, an Indian rosewood |
|
Light pieces |
Boxwood |
|
Weighting |
Weighted, turned collar rings, thick green felt on every base |
|
Piece count |
34, including two spare queens |
|
Chess pieces weight |
1,450g approximate |
|
Board size |
48cm or 53cm square, depending on option |
|
Board square size |
50mm on the 48cm option, 55mm on the 53cm option |
|
Board thickness |
22mm on the 48cm option, 20mm on the 53cm option |
|
Board weight |
5,600g on the 53cm option; not stated by the supplier for the 48cm option |
|
Board construction |
Sheesham and boxwood, green velvet underside |
|
Origin |
Hand carved in India |
|
Storage box |
Not included |
34 chess pieces, including two spare queens
One sheesham and boxwood chess board, in your chosen size
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.
