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Yuri Averbakh played with this pattern at the 1949 Moscow Championship, and collectors have called it the Averbakh 1 ever since. The signature is a tall king on broad bases, with the bishop and knight both at 76mm so the officer rank sits level rather than stepping down.
Reproduced here at 105mm in ebonised and antiqued boxwood, weighted to 960g, and supplied with a 55cm board of 55mm squares in black dyed poplar and white erable.
Sits among our reproduction chess pieces and in the tournament end of the range.
The same Averbakh pattern is listed separately as pieces only, in a choice of antiqued boxwood or ebonised, alongside the rest of our chess pieces collection. If you already own a board with 50mm to 55mm squares, that is the cheaper way in and gives you the timber choice as well.
This listing pairs the ebonised version with a matched 55cm board. Fifty five millimetre squares against a 39mm king base is a generous fit: the officers do not touch and files stay readable with everything on the board, which is what a tall set at 105mm needs.
The supplier documents the pieces as suiting 50mm squares, so the board supplied here is the roomier option rather than the tighter one. Other square sizes are listed across our chess boards collection.
The bishop and the knight both stand 76mm. On most sets there is a clear step between them, and it is one of the cues you use without noticing to read a position quickly.
Here you lose that step and identify the two by their heads instead. The upside is a calmer, more horizontal middle to the back rank, and a 105mm king that stands well clear of everything below it. It is a Soviet habit of the period rather than an accident, and it takes a game or two to adjust to if you have only played on English patterns.
Thirty nine millimetres under a 105mm king is broad, and it is deliberate. Wide based pieces sit down firmly, do not tip when a clock is hit hard, and give a set the settled feel people associate with tournament equipment.
The detailing follows the same logic: turned collars, no delicate finials, nothing that snaps. The originals were made to be played on in halls, not admired in cabinets, and the reproduction keeps that character. Weighting is by hand, so the 960g total varies by around ten per cent between sets.
Black dyed poplar and white erable, 55cm square with 55mm squares, 13mm thick and finished matte. Erable is the French name for maple, the traditional light timber on continental boards. Matte matters on a dark board: gloss throws lamp glare straight back at you.
Thirty four pieces including two spare queens, plus the board. No storage box is included. Neither the pieces nor the board are waterproof or UV resistant, so keep the set out of direct sun and wipe with a dry cloth.
A good, honest tournament reproduction. The Averbakh proportions are the interesting part: a 105mm king on a 39mm base with a level 76mm officer rank gives a board that looks distinctly Soviet next to an English Staunton, and the broad bases make it genuinely stable to play on. Pairing it with a 55mm board is the right call over the 50mm the pieces are documented against, because a set this tall needs the room. Two things to weigh. Ebonised is a surface treatment, not ebony heartwood, so the high points can lighten after many years of handling. And the level bishop and knight remove a height cue, which is a real adjustment if you read positions partly by piece height. Neither is a fault, but both are worth knowing before it arrives.
- Blake Sterling, CEO & Founder, Sterling Chess
55cm x 55cm with 55mm squares, 13mm thick and around 3,044g, in black dyed poplar and white erable with a matte finish. Erable is the French name for maple.
No. The dark pieces are ebonised, meaning boxwood dyed and finished black. That gives an even black with no grain figure.
Both stand 76mm, which is how the pattern is proportioned. It removes a height cue and gives the officer rank a level look. It takes a game or two to adjust if you read positions partly by piece height.
A Soviet championship where Yuri Averbakh played with this pattern. Collectors have referred to it as the Averbakh 1 ever since, and it has been reproduced as a period tournament set.
No. This listing is the 34 pieces and the board only. Storage boxes are sold separately.
|
Spec |
Detail |
|
King height |
105mm (4.16 inch) |
|
King base diameter |
39mm (1.55 inch) |
|
Queen height |
88mm (3.50 inch) |
|
Queen base diameter |
37mm (1.47 inch) |
|
Bishop height |
76mm (3.00 inch) |
|
Knight height |
76mm (2.97 inch) |
|
Rook height |
53mm (2.08 inch) |
|
Pawn height |
52mm (2.02 inch) |
|
Officer base diameter |
34mm to 36mm, bishop, knight and rook |
|
Dark pieces |
Ebonised boxwood |
|
Light pieces |
Antique boxwood |
|
Weighting |
Weighted, thick green felt on every base |
|
Piece count |
34, including two spare queens |
|
Chess pieces weight |
960g approximate |
|
Board size |
55cm x 55cm (21.6 inch) |
|
Board square size |
55mm (2.16 inch) |
|
Board thickness |
13mm |
|
Board construction |
Black dyed poplar and white erable, matte finish, 3,044g |
|
Origin |
Hand carved in India |
|
Storage box |
Not included |
34 chess pieces, including two spare queens
One 55cm poplar and erable chess board with 55mm squares
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.
Yuri Averbakh played with this pattern at the 1949 Moscow Championship, and collectors have called it the Averbakh 1 ever since. The signature is a tall king on broad bases, with the bishop and knight both at 76mm so the officer rank sits level rather than stepping down.
Reproduced here at 105mm in ebonised and antiqued boxwood, weighted to 960g, and supplied with a 55cm board of 55mm squares in black dyed poplar and white erable.
Sits among our reproduction chess pieces and in the tournament end of the range.
The same Averbakh pattern is listed separately as pieces only, in a choice of antiqued boxwood or ebonised, alongside the rest of our chess pieces collection. If you already own a board with 50mm to 55mm squares, that is the cheaper way in and gives you the timber choice as well.
This listing pairs the ebonised version with a matched 55cm board. Fifty five millimetre squares against a 39mm king base is a generous fit: the officers do not touch and files stay readable with everything on the board, which is what a tall set at 105mm needs.
The supplier documents the pieces as suiting 50mm squares, so the board supplied here is the roomier option rather than the tighter one. Other square sizes are listed across our chess boards collection.
The bishop and the knight both stand 76mm. On most sets there is a clear step between them, and it is one of the cues you use without noticing to read a position quickly.
Here you lose that step and identify the two by their heads instead. The upside is a calmer, more horizontal middle to the back rank, and a 105mm king that stands well clear of everything below it. It is a Soviet habit of the period rather than an accident, and it takes a game or two to adjust to if you have only played on English patterns.
Thirty nine millimetres under a 105mm king is broad, and it is deliberate. Wide based pieces sit down firmly, do not tip when a clock is hit hard, and give a set the settled feel people associate with tournament equipment.
The detailing follows the same logic: turned collars, no delicate finials, nothing that snaps. The originals were made to be played on in halls, not admired in cabinets, and the reproduction keeps that character. Weighting is by hand, so the 960g total varies by around ten per cent between sets.
Black dyed poplar and white erable, 55cm square with 55mm squares, 13mm thick and finished matte. Erable is the French name for maple, the traditional light timber on continental boards. Matte matters on a dark board: gloss throws lamp glare straight back at you.
Thirty four pieces including two spare queens, plus the board. No storage box is included. Neither the pieces nor the board are waterproof or UV resistant, so keep the set out of direct sun and wipe with a dry cloth.
A good, honest tournament reproduction. The Averbakh proportions are the interesting part: a 105mm king on a 39mm base with a level 76mm officer rank gives a board that looks distinctly Soviet next to an English Staunton, and the broad bases make it genuinely stable to play on. Pairing it with a 55mm board is the right call over the 50mm the pieces are documented against, because a set this tall needs the room. Two things to weigh. Ebonised is a surface treatment, not ebony heartwood, so the high points can lighten after many years of handling. And the level bishop and knight remove a height cue, which is a real adjustment if you read positions partly by piece height. Neither is a fault, but both are worth knowing before it arrives.
- Blake Sterling, CEO & Founder, Sterling Chess
55cm x 55cm with 55mm squares, 13mm thick and around 3,044g, in black dyed poplar and white erable with a matte finish. Erable is the French name for maple.
No. The dark pieces are ebonised, meaning boxwood dyed and finished black. That gives an even black with no grain figure.
Both stand 76mm, which is how the pattern is proportioned. It removes a height cue and gives the officer rank a level look. It takes a game or two to adjust if you read positions partly by piece height.
A Soviet championship where Yuri Averbakh played with this pattern. Collectors have referred to it as the Averbakh 1 ever since, and it has been reproduced as a period tournament set.
No. This listing is the 34 pieces and the board only. Storage boxes are sold separately.
|
Spec |
Detail |
|
King height |
105mm (4.16 inch) |
|
King base diameter |
39mm (1.55 inch) |
|
Queen height |
88mm (3.50 inch) |
|
Queen base diameter |
37mm (1.47 inch) |
|
Bishop height |
76mm (3.00 inch) |
|
Knight height |
76mm (2.97 inch) |
|
Rook height |
53mm (2.08 inch) |
|
Pawn height |
52mm (2.02 inch) |
|
Officer base diameter |
34mm to 36mm, bishop, knight and rook |
|
Dark pieces |
Ebonised boxwood |
|
Light pieces |
Antique boxwood |
|
Weighting |
Weighted, thick green felt on every base |
|
Piece count |
34, including two spare queens |
|
Chess pieces weight |
960g approximate |
|
Board size |
55cm x 55cm (21.6 inch) |
|
Board square size |
55mm (2.16 inch) |
|
Board thickness |
13mm |
|
Board construction |
Black dyed poplar and white erable, matte finish, 3,044g |
|
Origin |
Hand carved in India |
|
Storage box |
Not included |
34 chess pieces, including two spare queens
One 55cm poplar and erable chess board with 55mm squares
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.
