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Most players buy the pieces first and put up with whatever board arrived in the same carton. This is the board you buy when that stops being good enough. It is 48cm across with 50mm squares, and there is enough weight in it that the position stays where you left it when somebody leans on the table.
The dark squares are sheesham, an Indian rosewood that runs warm brown with darker streaks through the grain. The light squares are maple, pale and close grained, so the two read apart cleanly in ordinary room light without the glare of a bright white. The board is 22mm through and around 4,000g, and the whole underside is felted in green velvet so it sits quietly and does not mark the table beneath it.
It is offered two ways, plain or with notation along the edges, and both take pieces with a king base of 35mm to 40mm. Other sizes and timbers sit across our chess boards collection.
If you are weighing this against the Player's Choice board at 53cm with 55mm squares, start with what the two share. Same two timbers, same green velvet underside, and both are handmade. What changes is scale: that one is 53.3cm across on 20mm, it weighs around 5,600g, and it is cut for a king base of 40mm to 45mm.
So the choice is made by the pieces you already own rather than by the board. A club set on a 38mm base belongs here. A heavier tournament pattern on a 43mm base belongs on the larger board, where the extra 5mm of square gives the back rank room to breathe.
Against a folding board the difference is what the object is for. A folding board packs away and is built light on purpose. This is 22mm of timber that lives on a table and gets set up rather than carried, which is a different way to own a chess board and a better one if you play at home.
Square size decides almost everything about how a game looks from a chair. At 50mm the squares are large enough that the back rank does not feel packed at the start, and small enough that the whole 48cm surface still sits comfortably on a study desk or a normal dining table with room beside it for captured pieces and a clock.
The 22mm section is what you notice in play. A heavy board does not skate across a table when a piece is set down firmly, and the felted underside stops it creeping under the same load. Combined with the 4,000g mass, it means a long game can be played hard without anyone reaching out to straighten the board between moves, which is exactly what you want on a club night or through a practice session against a clock. It sits in our tournament chess boards.
The notation option carries the coordinates that describe a chess board: the files lettered a to h and the ranks numbered 1 to 8, running along the edges outside the playing squares. Everything else about it is the same board, 48cm across on 50mm squares at the same thickness and weight.
The point of them is speed and accuracy. If you write your games down, replay a master game from a book, follow an engine line on a phone, or teach a beginner who is still counting squares to find d4, the coordinates take the arithmetic out of it and let you keep your eyes on the position. Coaches and improving players tend to want them, and anyone playing through annotated games at home will use them constantly.
The plain board exists because not everyone does. If the board is going to sit out as a piece of furniture between games, the uninterrupted grain of the plain version is the quieter object of the two. Neither plays any differently.
This board is cut for pieces with a king base between 35mm and 40mm, and that range is not arbitrary. The convention players work to is that the king base should cover roughly three quarters of the square it stands on, leaving a clear margin of timber visible around it. On a 50mm square, three quarters is 37.5mm, which is why the window lands where it does.
Go wider than 40mm and the back rank crowds. Bases meet at the corners, the square edges disappear behind them, and picking up the right piece in a time scramble becomes clumsy. Go much below 35mm and the opposite happens: the pieces look marooned in the middle of their squares and the board reads as empty from a normal seated distance. Inside the window a set simply looks like it was made for the board.
In practice that points at club and tournament patterns with a king around 95mm. The Tournament Staunton German Knight Sheesham 96mm pieces sit on a 38mm base, close to the middle of the window, and the Reproduction 1849 Original Staunton Heavy Ebony 95mm pieces sit on a 40mm base at the top of it for a fuller looking board. Plenty more to choose from across our Staunton chess pieces.
The 22mm section is the reason to look at this one. A board with that much timber in it and 4,000g behind it does not shift when a piece goes down hard, and the felted underside means it can live on a good table without a cloth underneath. The honest limit is the square size: 50mm puts a firm ceiling on what can stand on it, so a broad based tournament set will look cramped here and belongs on the 53cm board instead. Worth knowing too that this is a handmade item, so the grain and colour of the one that arrives will not match the photograph exactly. It suits a player who already owns pieces in the 35mm to 40mm base range and wants a permanent playing surface rather than something that folds away.
- Blake Sterling, CEO & Founder, Sterling Chess
No. This listing is the board on its own. It is cut for pieces with a king base of 35mm to 40mm, which covers most club and tournament patterns with a king around 95mm.
The notation option carries the file letters and rank numbers along the edges of the board. Size, squares, timbers, thickness and weight are identical on both.
Look for a king base between 35mm and 40mm. Piece height matters less than base width, so check the base measurement on the listing rather than the king height alone.
Around 4,000g. It matters in play, because that weight plus the felted underside is what keeps the board still when pieces are set down quickly.
Yes. The 50mm squares and the 48cm surface suit club play and timed practice, and the weight keeps everything steady through a scramble.
Wipe it with a dry or barely damp cloth, keep it out of direct sunlight and away from heaters, and keep the felted underside dry. Timber this thick dislikes rapid changes in humidity.
|
Spec |
Detail |
|
Board size |
48cm x 48cm (19 inch) |
|
Square size |
50mm (2 inch) |
|
Board thickness |
22mm (0.9 inch) |
|
Board weight |
4,000g approximate, handmade so it can vary by 10 percent either way |
|
Dark squares |
Sheesham, Dalbergia sissoo |
|
Light squares |
Maple, Acer oblongum |
|
Underside |
Felted in green velvet |
|
Options |
Plain board, or notation with coordinates along the edges |
|
Recommended piece size |
King base 35mm to 40mm (1.4 inch to 1.5 inch) |
|
Pieces |
Not included |
One 48cm x 48cm sheesham and maple chess board with 50mm squares
Plain or notation, whichever option you select
That is the whole carton. Pieces are sold separately, chosen to suit the 35mm to 40mm base range
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.
Most players buy the pieces first and put up with whatever board arrived in the same carton. This is the board you buy when that stops being good enough. It is 48cm across with 50mm squares, and there is enough weight in it that the position stays where you left it when somebody leans on the table.
The dark squares are sheesham, an Indian rosewood that runs warm brown with darker streaks through the grain. The light squares are maple, pale and close grained, so the two read apart cleanly in ordinary room light without the glare of a bright white. The board is 22mm through and around 4,000g, and the whole underside is felted in green velvet so it sits quietly and does not mark the table beneath it.
It is offered two ways, plain or with notation along the edges, and both take pieces with a king base of 35mm to 40mm. Other sizes and timbers sit across our chess boards collection.
If you are weighing this against the Player's Choice board at 53cm with 55mm squares, start with what the two share. Same two timbers, same green velvet underside, and both are handmade. What changes is scale: that one is 53.3cm across on 20mm, it weighs around 5,600g, and it is cut for a king base of 40mm to 45mm.
So the choice is made by the pieces you already own rather than by the board. A club set on a 38mm base belongs here. A heavier tournament pattern on a 43mm base belongs on the larger board, where the extra 5mm of square gives the back rank room to breathe.
Against a folding board the difference is what the object is for. A folding board packs away and is built light on purpose. This is 22mm of timber that lives on a table and gets set up rather than carried, which is a different way to own a chess board and a better one if you play at home.
Square size decides almost everything about how a game looks from a chair. At 50mm the squares are large enough that the back rank does not feel packed at the start, and small enough that the whole 48cm surface still sits comfortably on a study desk or a normal dining table with room beside it for captured pieces and a clock.
The 22mm section is what you notice in play. A heavy board does not skate across a table when a piece is set down firmly, and the felted underside stops it creeping under the same load. Combined with the 4,000g mass, it means a long game can be played hard without anyone reaching out to straighten the board between moves, which is exactly what you want on a club night or through a practice session against a clock. It sits in our tournament chess boards.
The notation option carries the coordinates that describe a chess board: the files lettered a to h and the ranks numbered 1 to 8, running along the edges outside the playing squares. Everything else about it is the same board, 48cm across on 50mm squares at the same thickness and weight.
The point of them is speed and accuracy. If you write your games down, replay a master game from a book, follow an engine line on a phone, or teach a beginner who is still counting squares to find d4, the coordinates take the arithmetic out of it and let you keep your eyes on the position. Coaches and improving players tend to want them, and anyone playing through annotated games at home will use them constantly.
The plain board exists because not everyone does. If the board is going to sit out as a piece of furniture between games, the uninterrupted grain of the plain version is the quieter object of the two. Neither plays any differently.
This board is cut for pieces with a king base between 35mm and 40mm, and that range is not arbitrary. The convention players work to is that the king base should cover roughly three quarters of the square it stands on, leaving a clear margin of timber visible around it. On a 50mm square, three quarters is 37.5mm, which is why the window lands where it does.
Go wider than 40mm and the back rank crowds. Bases meet at the corners, the square edges disappear behind them, and picking up the right piece in a time scramble becomes clumsy. Go much below 35mm and the opposite happens: the pieces look marooned in the middle of their squares and the board reads as empty from a normal seated distance. Inside the window a set simply looks like it was made for the board.
In practice that points at club and tournament patterns with a king around 95mm. The Tournament Staunton German Knight Sheesham 96mm pieces sit on a 38mm base, close to the middle of the window, and the Reproduction 1849 Original Staunton Heavy Ebony 95mm pieces sit on a 40mm base at the top of it for a fuller looking board. Plenty more to choose from across our Staunton chess pieces.
The 22mm section is the reason to look at this one. A board with that much timber in it and 4,000g behind it does not shift when a piece goes down hard, and the felted underside means it can live on a good table without a cloth underneath. The honest limit is the square size: 50mm puts a firm ceiling on what can stand on it, so a broad based tournament set will look cramped here and belongs on the 53cm board instead. Worth knowing too that this is a handmade item, so the grain and colour of the one that arrives will not match the photograph exactly. It suits a player who already owns pieces in the 35mm to 40mm base range and wants a permanent playing surface rather than something that folds away.
- Blake Sterling, CEO & Founder, Sterling Chess
No. This listing is the board on its own. It is cut for pieces with a king base of 35mm to 40mm, which covers most club and tournament patterns with a king around 95mm.
The notation option carries the file letters and rank numbers along the edges of the board. Size, squares, timbers, thickness and weight are identical on both.
Look for a king base between 35mm and 40mm. Piece height matters less than base width, so check the base measurement on the listing rather than the king height alone.
Around 4,000g. It matters in play, because that weight plus the felted underside is what keeps the board still when pieces are set down quickly.
Yes. The 50mm squares and the 48cm surface suit club play and timed practice, and the weight keeps everything steady through a scramble.
Wipe it with a dry or barely damp cloth, keep it out of direct sunlight and away from heaters, and keep the felted underside dry. Timber this thick dislikes rapid changes in humidity.
|
Spec |
Detail |
|
Board size |
48cm x 48cm (19 inch) |
|
Square size |
50mm (2 inch) |
|
Board thickness |
22mm (0.9 inch) |
|
Board weight |
4,000g approximate, handmade so it can vary by 10 percent either way |
|
Dark squares |
Sheesham, Dalbergia sissoo |
|
Light squares |
Maple, Acer oblongum |
|
Underside |
Felted in green velvet |
|
Options |
Plain board, or notation with coordinates along the edges |
|
Recommended piece size |
King base 35mm to 40mm (1.4 inch to 1.5 inch) |
|
Pieces |
Not included |
One 48cm x 48cm sheesham and maple chess board with 50mm squares
Plain or notation, whichever option you select
That is the whole carton. Pieces are sold separately, chosen to suit the 35mm to 40mm base range
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.
