Favorite Chess Set (Vintage, Modern, Tournament, etc.)

Post the set you use most often (rugged, dependable), your favorite set (can be same but should be more expensive, high quality etc.), and the standard tournament chess set/most popular chess set in your area/country/region.

Please post all three if possible!

Thanks!

The most rugged has got to be my Mechanics Institute set from HoS. Originally designed by a club member for a 1916 simul by Jose Capablanca, pieces later served as club sets, some of which survived daily use for over 40 years!

My fanciest set (most ornate) is the Encore set from House of Chess. Everybody should have at least one fancy-schmancy chess set. This is mine.

Most popular in my area (Wisconsin) is your standard variety Staunton style set, especially for tournament and club play. For that, the 4-1/8" boxwood & sheesham Olympian Titan set that I got on close out from the Chess Cafe for $39 is my go-to set. By trimming the indexing off a 2-3/8" vinyl chess board, I can fit a larger set in the same footprint as your standard 3.5"-3.75" set on a 2-1/4" vinyl board.

My beloved indajesa, best carry everywhere set ever.

The most common here is the same in plastic. Here a photo of a simultaneous game we played last year

Cool! Keep your submissions coming everyone!

I don't have pictures, but I enjoy a plastic Dubrovnik II, some Elite Colored Staunton chessmen from Chessusa.com in red and white and my pocket USCF set, I use them all! As for my favorite expensive/ornate chess set, I love the NOJ Tal set, which I am saving up for. Here in NYC plastic tournament sets and vinyl boards are standard, but sometimes the street hustlers have different colored chessmen!

I personally prefer something like the Gallant Knight chess design to the current standard tournament chessmen. I just don't like how they look.