✔ Australian Owned & Operated
✔ FREE Shipping On All Orders
✔ 100 Day FREE Returns
✔ Authorised Australian Dealer
✔ Questions? Call Us: (03) 7037 0931
A compact timber board at the accessible end of the range, and a sensible first proper board for anyone moving on from something that folds. It is 43cm across with 45mm squares, sheesham (Dalbergia sissoo) on the dark side against maple (Acer oblongum) on the light. Eight squares of 45mm give a playing grid 36cm across, with roughly 3.5cm of board around the outside.
Sheesham is the warm one. Also sold as golden rosewood, it runs a golden brown with open, visible grain, and against pale maple it makes a chequer that is clearly legible without being stark. It is a friendlier surface than near black timber gives, which is part of the reason it turns up so often on boards meant to be left out in a living room rather than packed away after a club night.
At 22mm in section and 3,000g it is more board than its footprint suggests, and the underside is felted in green velvet so it can sit straight onto a polished table. Larger sizes, and other timbers at this square size, run across our chess boards collection.
The comparison worth making at this size is timber, since several boards on the site run these 45mm squares within a few centimetres of this footprint. The 43cm ebony and maple board with a sheesham border puts near black ebony against maple with a sheesham border around the play, which gives the hardest contrast available in wood but builds lighter at 15mm and 2,100g. The ebony and maple board at the same square size takes ebony again on a slightly larger surface at the same 22mm section. Sheesham sits at the warm end of that group, with far more visible grain than either and a gentler separation between dark and light.
Our 45cm Spanish board approaches the same square size from a different tradition, thinner in section at 12mm and lighter in the hand. What this board offers against it is depth and mass: 22mm and 3,000g is a substantial build for 43cm, and the felted underside means it can go straight onto furniture without a mat beneath it.
It is also the more affordable way into a full timber board at this square size, which is the honest reason a lot of people choose sheesham over ebony. The timber costs less, the board is no less well made for it, and what you give up is the last degree of contrast rather than any part of the build.
Base diameter decides the fit, not the height of the king. Two sets standing at the same height can differ by eight or ten millimetres at the foot, and the foot is the part that has to share a square. On 45mm squares the useful target is a king base of roughly 30mm to 38mm.
The proportion behind that is worth knowing rather than taking on trust. A base covering about three quarters of its square leaves a clean margin of timber all round, and three quarters of 45mm is roughly 34mm, which is the middle of the window. Towards 38mm the back rank fills tightly, with only a few millimetres between neighbouring feet. Much below 30mm and the army looks small against 36cm of playing grid, particularly once material has come off.
Compact reproduction and analysis patterns are the natural pairing. The Laughing Knight 78mm stands on a 30mm base and is cut for 45mm squares, sitting at the lower end of the window with plenty of timber visible around each foot. The Reproduction French Lardy Compact 76mm is a touch broader at 31mm and drawn for 40mm to 45mm squares. A full tournament set footing at 40mm or more will crowd this board and belongs on a 50mm square surface instead.
The whole base of the board is covered in green velvet felt, and it earns its place three times over. It keeps bare timber off a polished dining table, so the board can be put down anywhere without a mat or a cloth underneath it. It stops the board travelling on a smooth surface when a player leans on the table. And it takes the hard click out of each move, because the sound of a piece set down firmly has nothing rigid underneath to ring against.
There is a fourth benefit that only shows up over years. Felt keeps a small air gap between the board and the surface it stands on, which means moisture trapped under a board on a cold table has somewhere to go instead of sitting against the timber. On a board meant to live out permanently, that is quietly useful.
It is worth checking the felt occasionally and keeping it dry. A soft brush lifts dust out of the pile, and the board should be stored flat rather than leaning on an edge so the velvet is not crushed in one place.
This is the board for a room with no spare room. At 43cm square it sits on a coffee table, a side table or the corner of a desk, and on a dining table it leaves generous space either side for captured material and a clock. At 3,000g it is still light enough to lift with one hand and stand on a shelf when the game is finished, which a heavier board of the same size would not be.
It is also the size that works for a household where the board is shared. Children can reach across it, it does not dominate a table when a meal needs the space back, and 45mm squares are large enough to handle comfortably without being so large that a compact set looks lost on them.
Care is undemanding. Keep it out of direct sunlight and away from heaters and vents, wipe the playing surface with a dry or barely damp soft cloth, and do not stand glasses on it. Store it flat rather than on edge. As with any handmade item the finished weight can vary by up to 10 percent either way, and the grain on the board that arrives will be its own rather than a match for the photography.
The case for this one is that it puts a genuine 22mm timber board with a felted underside at a compact 43cm, which is a better build than a footprint this size usually attracts and a straightforward way into a real board without a large table or a large outlay. The honest caveat is contrast: sheesham against maple is a golden brown against cream, not black against white, so a crowded middlegame separates less emphatically across a room than it would on an ebony board, and anyone who values maximum legibility above warmth should look at the ebony board at the same square size instead. It suits a home player short of space, a family board that lives on a coffee table, and anyone pairing it with a compact set in the low thirties at the base. It is not the board for a full tournament set, which will crowd these 45mm squares.
- Blake Sterling, CEO & Founder, Sterling Chess
No. This listing is the board on its own. It suits a set with a king base of roughly 30mm to 38mm, which covers compact and mid sized patterns rather than full tournament ones.
Dalbergia sissoo, an Indian timber also sold as golden rosewood. It is a golden brown with open, visible grain, warmer in tone than ebony or Indian rosewood and one of the most widely used timbers in traditional chess board making.
A king base in the low to middle thirties. Measure the widest part of the base rather than relying on the quoted king height, because sets of identical height often differ by several millimetres at the foot.
Green velvet felt across the whole base. It protects a polished table, stops the board sliding on a smooth surface and softens the sound of every move.
Same 45mm squares and a similar footprint. The ebony boards give a much harder contrast between dark and light, which reads faster from a distance. This one is warmer, shows far more grain and is the more affordable way into a full timber board.
Keep it out of direct sunlight and away from heaters, wipe it with a dry or barely damp cloth, and store it flat rather than leaning on an edge. Avoid leaving anything wet standing on the playing surface.
|
Spec |
Detail |
|
Board size |
43cm x 43cm (17 inch) |
|
Square size |
45mm (1.75 inch) |
|
Playing grid |
36cm across eight squares |
|
Board thickness |
22mm (0.9 inch) |
|
Board weight |
3,000g |
|
Weight tolerance |
Handmade, up to 10 percent either way |
|
Dark squares |
Sheesham (Dalbergia sissoo), also sold as golden rosewood |
|
Light squares |
Maple (Acer oblongum) |
|
Underside |
Felted in green velvet |
|
Recommended king base |
About 30mm to 38mm (1.2 inch to 1.5 inch) |
|
Chess pieces |
Not included |
One 43cm sheesham and maple chess board with 45mm squares and a green velvet felted underside
Playing pieces are sold separately and are not part of this listing
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.
A compact timber board at the accessible end of the range, and a sensible first proper board for anyone moving on from something that folds. It is 43cm across with 45mm squares, sheesham (Dalbergia sissoo) on the dark side against maple (Acer oblongum) on the light. Eight squares of 45mm give a playing grid 36cm across, with roughly 3.5cm of board around the outside.
Sheesham is the warm one. Also sold as golden rosewood, it runs a golden brown with open, visible grain, and against pale maple it makes a chequer that is clearly legible without being stark. It is a friendlier surface than near black timber gives, which is part of the reason it turns up so often on boards meant to be left out in a living room rather than packed away after a club night.
At 22mm in section and 3,000g it is more board than its footprint suggests, and the underside is felted in green velvet so it can sit straight onto a polished table. Larger sizes, and other timbers at this square size, run across our chess boards collection.
The comparison worth making at this size is timber, since several boards on the site run these 45mm squares within a few centimetres of this footprint. The 43cm ebony and maple board with a sheesham border puts near black ebony against maple with a sheesham border around the play, which gives the hardest contrast available in wood but builds lighter at 15mm and 2,100g. The ebony and maple board at the same square size takes ebony again on a slightly larger surface at the same 22mm section. Sheesham sits at the warm end of that group, with far more visible grain than either and a gentler separation between dark and light.
Our 45cm Spanish board approaches the same square size from a different tradition, thinner in section at 12mm and lighter in the hand. What this board offers against it is depth and mass: 22mm and 3,000g is a substantial build for 43cm, and the felted underside means it can go straight onto furniture without a mat beneath it.
It is also the more affordable way into a full timber board at this square size, which is the honest reason a lot of people choose sheesham over ebony. The timber costs less, the board is no less well made for it, and what you give up is the last degree of contrast rather than any part of the build.
Base diameter decides the fit, not the height of the king. Two sets standing at the same height can differ by eight or ten millimetres at the foot, and the foot is the part that has to share a square. On 45mm squares the useful target is a king base of roughly 30mm to 38mm.
The proportion behind that is worth knowing rather than taking on trust. A base covering about three quarters of its square leaves a clean margin of timber all round, and three quarters of 45mm is roughly 34mm, which is the middle of the window. Towards 38mm the back rank fills tightly, with only a few millimetres between neighbouring feet. Much below 30mm and the army looks small against 36cm of playing grid, particularly once material has come off.
Compact reproduction and analysis patterns are the natural pairing. The Laughing Knight 78mm stands on a 30mm base and is cut for 45mm squares, sitting at the lower end of the window with plenty of timber visible around each foot. The Reproduction French Lardy Compact 76mm is a touch broader at 31mm and drawn for 40mm to 45mm squares. A full tournament set footing at 40mm or more will crowd this board and belongs on a 50mm square surface instead.
The whole base of the board is covered in green velvet felt, and it earns its place three times over. It keeps bare timber off a polished dining table, so the board can be put down anywhere without a mat or a cloth underneath it. It stops the board travelling on a smooth surface when a player leans on the table. And it takes the hard click out of each move, because the sound of a piece set down firmly has nothing rigid underneath to ring against.
There is a fourth benefit that only shows up over years. Felt keeps a small air gap between the board and the surface it stands on, which means moisture trapped under a board on a cold table has somewhere to go instead of sitting against the timber. On a board meant to live out permanently, that is quietly useful.
It is worth checking the felt occasionally and keeping it dry. A soft brush lifts dust out of the pile, and the board should be stored flat rather than leaning on an edge so the velvet is not crushed in one place.
This is the board for a room with no spare room. At 43cm square it sits on a coffee table, a side table or the corner of a desk, and on a dining table it leaves generous space either side for captured material and a clock. At 3,000g it is still light enough to lift with one hand and stand on a shelf when the game is finished, which a heavier board of the same size would not be.
It is also the size that works for a household where the board is shared. Children can reach across it, it does not dominate a table when a meal needs the space back, and 45mm squares are large enough to handle comfortably without being so large that a compact set looks lost on them.
Care is undemanding. Keep it out of direct sunlight and away from heaters and vents, wipe the playing surface with a dry or barely damp soft cloth, and do not stand glasses on it. Store it flat rather than on edge. As with any handmade item the finished weight can vary by up to 10 percent either way, and the grain on the board that arrives will be its own rather than a match for the photography.
The case for this one is that it puts a genuine 22mm timber board with a felted underside at a compact 43cm, which is a better build than a footprint this size usually attracts and a straightforward way into a real board without a large table or a large outlay. The honest caveat is contrast: sheesham against maple is a golden brown against cream, not black against white, so a crowded middlegame separates less emphatically across a room than it would on an ebony board, and anyone who values maximum legibility above warmth should look at the ebony board at the same square size instead. It suits a home player short of space, a family board that lives on a coffee table, and anyone pairing it with a compact set in the low thirties at the base. It is not the board for a full tournament set, which will crowd these 45mm squares.
- Blake Sterling, CEO & Founder, Sterling Chess
No. This listing is the board on its own. It suits a set with a king base of roughly 30mm to 38mm, which covers compact and mid sized patterns rather than full tournament ones.
Dalbergia sissoo, an Indian timber also sold as golden rosewood. It is a golden brown with open, visible grain, warmer in tone than ebony or Indian rosewood and one of the most widely used timbers in traditional chess board making.
A king base in the low to middle thirties. Measure the widest part of the base rather than relying on the quoted king height, because sets of identical height often differ by several millimetres at the foot.
Green velvet felt across the whole base. It protects a polished table, stops the board sliding on a smooth surface and softens the sound of every move.
Same 45mm squares and a similar footprint. The ebony boards give a much harder contrast between dark and light, which reads faster from a distance. This one is warmer, shows far more grain and is the more affordable way into a full timber board.
Keep it out of direct sunlight and away from heaters, wipe it with a dry or barely damp cloth, and store it flat rather than leaning on an edge. Avoid leaving anything wet standing on the playing surface.
|
Spec |
Detail |
|
Board size |
43cm x 43cm (17 inch) |
|
Square size |
45mm (1.75 inch) |
|
Playing grid |
36cm across eight squares |
|
Board thickness |
22mm (0.9 inch) |
|
Board weight |
3,000g |
|
Weight tolerance |
Handmade, up to 10 percent either way |
|
Dark squares |
Sheesham (Dalbergia sissoo), also sold as golden rosewood |
|
Light squares |
Maple (Acer oblongum) |
|
Underside |
Felted in green velvet |
|
Recommended king base |
About 30mm to 38mm (1.2 inch to 1.5 inch) |
|
Chess pieces |
Not included |
One 43cm sheesham and maple chess board with 45mm squares and a green velvet felted underside
Playing pieces are sold separately and are not part of this listing
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.
