Premium Chess Sets: High Quality Weighted Staunton Sets

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Cream and black weighted Staunton kings and a cream knight in close up under a hard studio light

A premium chess set is usually sold on its wood. Ours is sold on how it plays. Every piece carries an iron insert under a felt base, each colour has a spare queen, the board is silicone that lies flat and grips the table, and the set ships with two bags and a 32 page guide. It is built to be played every week, and it still looks right left set up on a table.

Which one is right for me?

The best set for a home table Best Chess Set Ever 4X Tournament ModernThe heaviest pieces and the tallest king we make See this one

Premium, but carried to a club Best Chess Set Ever 3X TournamentTriple weighted, lighter to carry, the same board See this one

A present that should feel special Best Chess Set Ever 4X Tournament ModernThe larger set, boxed with its bags and guide See this one

Shop both premium chess sets

-8%

Best Chess Set Ever 3X Tournament

$54.99 USD

~~$59.99 USD~~

-7%

Best Chess Set Ever 4X Tournament Modern

$64.99 USD

~~$69.99 USD~~

What high quality means in a chess set

Four things, and you can check each one. The pieces are weighted, so they sit firmly and do not topple. The bases are felted, so they slide rather than scrape. The pattern is Staunton at a proper size, so every piece is recognisable at a glance. And the board lies flat and stays put.

The weight you feel when you pick up a piece

The 4X king weighs 3.35 oz and stands 4.4 inches, and all 34 pieces together come to about 4 lb. The 3X is lighter, about 2.4 lb for the set. Either way a move is made with a piece that has some presence, which is the first thing people notice about a good set.

Wood or weighted pieces

A wooden set is beautiful and needs looking after. It dislikes damp, the finish marks, and a dropped knight can lose an ear. Our pieces are moulded, weighted and felted, which is the construction clubs choose for sets that get played every week. The 4X comes in natural cream and black, the 3X in ivory white and black.

A board that matches the pieces

Good pieces on a creased vinyl mat is the most common mismatch in chess. The board here is silicone, 20 by 20 inches with 2.25 inch squares, reversible from green and white to black and white, with notation printed on both faces.

Details that show after a month of play

Two extra queens, so a promotion never borrows a rook. Two drawstring bags that keep the colours apart. A 12 month guarantee that covers the set down to a single piece, with the return shipping paid by us.

Designed in the USA by a chess player

The set was designed in the USA by Galen Pyle, a ranked player who captained the Reed College chess team.

Frequently asked

What makes a chess set high quality?

Weighted pieces, felted bases, a recognisable Staunton design at a proper size and a board that lies flat. The material matters less than those four.

Are the pieces wood?

No. They are moulded Staunton pieces with iron inserts and felt bases, the construction clubs and tournaments use for sets that are played often. They do not need oiling, and a dropped piece does not chip.

Which is the more premium of the two sets?

The 4X: quadruple weighted, a 4.4 inch king and about 4 lb of pieces, in natural cream and black. The 3X is triple weighted with a 4.0 inch king, in ivory white and black. Same board, same contents.

How do I look after it?

Wipe the board with a damp cloth and let it dry, and keep the pieces in their bags so they do not rub against each other. Nothing needs polishing.

What does the guarantee cover?

Anything wrong with the set inside 12 months. We replace the whole set or a single piece, and we pay the return shipping.

Where is the set designed?

In the USA, by Galen Pyle, a ranked player and former captain of the Reed College chess team.