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The German Knight is a different animal from the English one. Where the Staunton horse is modelled on the Parthenon frieze, with an arched neck and an open mouth, the German pattern cuts the head lower and further forward on a straighter neck, with the muzzle angled down toward the board. It is a working profile rather than a heroic one, and it is what the German and central European clubs settled on.
This is the compact version: a 77mm king on a 31mm to 32mm base depending on finish, sized for 40mm to 45mm squares. It is small enough for a folding board or a crowded table and properly weighted rather than hollow.
Two finishes with identical proportions: sheesham, or ebonised boxwood. It sits in our Staunton chess pieces range.
Height, proportion and carving are shared. The two options differ only in the dark side and by around ten grams across the full set.
Sheesham is Indian rosewood, warm golden to reddish brown with open grain and darker streaking. Against boxwood it gives a moderate contrast and the set looks like timber, which suits a pattern with this much club history behind it.
Ebonised boxwood is the same wood as the light side, dyed and finished black. The contrast is harder and reads faster in play, with no grain figure to compete with the knight. Because the colour sits at the surface, a deep chip will show pale wood underneath and years of handling can lighten the high points. Both appear across our wood chess pieces range.
The differences are small in millimetres and obvious on a board. The neck is straighter and less arched, the head sits lower and reaches further forward, and the muzzle points down rather than out. Where the Staunton knight looks like it is rearing, the German one looks like it is grazing.
Practically, the lower profile means less of the piece sticks out to be knocked, which is part of why the pattern became a club standard in Germany. Aesthetically it gives the set a calmer back rank, because the knights do not draw the eye the way a high headed carving does.
Compact sets are where corners usually get cut: hollow bases, thin felt discs glued into a recess, a spray finish that looks right for a season. This one is built the way the full sized sets are, with an iron stud set into each base under thick green felt that wraps the foot rather than sitting inside it.
The result is a 77mm set that behaves like a real one. Pieces settle when you place them instead of tapping, they slide without catching, and the felt protects the board. The knights are carved freehand, so the four in your set differ slightly in the angle of the head; everything else is turned against a metal profile and comes out consistent.
Squares of 40mm to 45mm, set by the king base, which is 31mm in sheesham and 32mm in ebonised. That is compact and folding board territory rather than full table sizing, so check what you own before ordering.
At 77mm the king sits well below the 95mm to 100mm tournament band despite the name on the pattern, so this is a travel, small table and casual club set rather than one for rated play. No board is included. Square sizes are listed on every board in our chess boards collection, and the wider chess pieces collection carries the recommendation on each set.
This is the set I recommend to people who want something small that does not feel like a compromise. The German Knight is a genuine pattern with a real history rather than a styling choice, and at 77mm you get proper iron weighting and wrapped felt where most sets this size give you neither. Two things to be clear about. The word tournament in the name describes the series, not the size: at 77mm this is below rated play height and always will be. And 40mm to 45mm squares is small, so this belongs on a folding or travel board rather than the one on your dining table. On finish, take the sheesham if you like seeing grain and the ebonised if you want the two sides to separate quickly.
- Blake Sterling, CEO & Founder, Sterling Chess
Squares of 40mm to 45mm, set by the king base, which is 31mm in sheesham and 32mm in ebonised. That is compact and folding board sizing rather than full table sizing.
Only the dark side, and about ten grams across the set. Sheesham is an Indian rosewood in warm brown with open grain. Ebonised is boxwood dyed and finished black, giving harder contrast and no visible figure.
A knight carved with a straighter neck and the head set lower and further forward, muzzle angled down toward the board, rather than the arched rearing profile of the English Staunton horse. It became the club standard in Germany and central Europe.
No. Tournament is the name of the series, not a size claim. At 77mm the king sits well below the usual 95mm to 100mm band for rated play.
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.
|
Spec |
Detail |
|
King height |
77mm (3.03 inch) |
|
King base diameter |
31mm to 32mm, by option |
|
Queen height |
66mm (2.59 inch) |
|
Queen base diameter |
30mm (1.18 inch) |
|
Bishop height |
60mm (2.36 inch) |
|
Knight height |
56mm (2.20 inch) |
|
Rook height |
40mm (1.57 inch) |
|
Pawn height |
38mm (1.49 inch) |
|
Officer base diameter |
26mm (1.02 inch), bishop, knight and rook |
|
Dark pieces |
Sheesham or ebonised boxwood, depending on option |
|
Light pieces |
Boxwood |
|
Weighting |
Weighted with an iron stud in each base, thick green felt |
|
Piece count |
34, including two spare queens |
|
Total set weight |
520g in sheesham, 530g in ebonised |
|
Recommended square size |
40mm to 45mm |
|
Origin |
Hand carved in India |
|
Board |
Not included |
34 chess pieces, including two spare queens
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 German Knight is a different animal from the English one. Where the Staunton horse is modelled on the Parthenon frieze, with an arched neck and an open mouth, the German pattern cuts the head lower and further forward on a straighter neck, with the muzzle angled down toward the board. It is a working profile rather than a heroic one, and it is what the German and central European clubs settled on.
This is the compact version: a 77mm king on a 31mm to 32mm base depending on finish, sized for 40mm to 45mm squares. It is small enough for a folding board or a crowded table and properly weighted rather than hollow.
Two finishes with identical proportions: sheesham, or ebonised boxwood. It sits in our Staunton chess pieces range.
Height, proportion and carving are shared. The two options differ only in the dark side and by around ten grams across the full set.
Sheesham is Indian rosewood, warm golden to reddish brown with open grain and darker streaking. Against boxwood it gives a moderate contrast and the set looks like timber, which suits a pattern with this much club history behind it.
Ebonised boxwood is the same wood as the light side, dyed and finished black. The contrast is harder and reads faster in play, with no grain figure to compete with the knight. Because the colour sits at the surface, a deep chip will show pale wood underneath and years of handling can lighten the high points. Both appear across our wood chess pieces range.
The differences are small in millimetres and obvious on a board. The neck is straighter and less arched, the head sits lower and reaches further forward, and the muzzle points down rather than out. Where the Staunton knight looks like it is rearing, the German one looks like it is grazing.
Practically, the lower profile means less of the piece sticks out to be knocked, which is part of why the pattern became a club standard in Germany. Aesthetically it gives the set a calmer back rank, because the knights do not draw the eye the way a high headed carving does.
Compact sets are where corners usually get cut: hollow bases, thin felt discs glued into a recess, a spray finish that looks right for a season. This one is built the way the full sized sets are, with an iron stud set into each base under thick green felt that wraps the foot rather than sitting inside it.
The result is a 77mm set that behaves like a real one. Pieces settle when you place them instead of tapping, they slide without catching, and the felt protects the board. The knights are carved freehand, so the four in your set differ slightly in the angle of the head; everything else is turned against a metal profile and comes out consistent.
Squares of 40mm to 45mm, set by the king base, which is 31mm in sheesham and 32mm in ebonised. That is compact and folding board territory rather than full table sizing, so check what you own before ordering.
At 77mm the king sits well below the 95mm to 100mm tournament band despite the name on the pattern, so this is a travel, small table and casual club set rather than one for rated play. No board is included. Square sizes are listed on every board in our chess boards collection, and the wider chess pieces collection carries the recommendation on each set.
This is the set I recommend to people who want something small that does not feel like a compromise. The German Knight is a genuine pattern with a real history rather than a styling choice, and at 77mm you get proper iron weighting and wrapped felt where most sets this size give you neither. Two things to be clear about. The word tournament in the name describes the series, not the size: at 77mm this is below rated play height and always will be. And 40mm to 45mm squares is small, so this belongs on a folding or travel board rather than the one on your dining table. On finish, take the sheesham if you like seeing grain and the ebonised if you want the two sides to separate quickly.
- Blake Sterling, CEO & Founder, Sterling Chess
Squares of 40mm to 45mm, set by the king base, which is 31mm in sheesham and 32mm in ebonised. That is compact and folding board sizing rather than full table sizing.
Only the dark side, and about ten grams across the set. Sheesham is an Indian rosewood in warm brown with open grain. Ebonised is boxwood dyed and finished black, giving harder contrast and no visible figure.
A knight carved with a straighter neck and the head set lower and further forward, muzzle angled down toward the board, rather than the arched rearing profile of the English Staunton horse. It became the club standard in Germany and central Europe.
No. Tournament is the name of the series, not a size claim. At 77mm the king sits well below the usual 95mm to 100mm band for rated play.
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.
|
Spec |
Detail |
|
King height |
77mm (3.03 inch) |
|
King base diameter |
31mm to 32mm, by option |
|
Queen height |
66mm (2.59 inch) |
|
Queen base diameter |
30mm (1.18 inch) |
|
Bishop height |
60mm (2.36 inch) |
|
Knight height |
56mm (2.20 inch) |
|
Rook height |
40mm (1.57 inch) |
|
Pawn height |
38mm (1.49 inch) |
|
Officer base diameter |
26mm (1.02 inch), bishop, knight and rook |
|
Dark pieces |
Sheesham or ebonised boxwood, depending on option |
|
Light pieces |
Boxwood |
|
Weighting |
Weighted with an iron stud in each base, thick green felt |
|
Piece count |
34, including two spare queens |
|
Total set weight |
520g in sheesham, 530g in ebonised |
|
Recommended square size |
40mm to 45mm |
|
Origin |
Hand carved in India |
|
Board |
Not included |
34 chess pieces, including two spare queens
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.
