Matching piece color to wooden board?

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JSCjr64

I'm looking to put together my first decent set, and I'm quite fond of this Rechapados Ferrer board. I understand the guidelines for appropriate size of the pieces to fit a board, but what about color? I generally have a preference for ebony/ebonized coloring for the dark pieces, but is that a poor aesthetic match for a board where the dark-colored squares are relatively light? For example, would something like Shelby's Fischer Ultimates look OK on a layout like this? Any advice or recommendations would be welcomed.

Eyechess

Since the Black pieces of the set you will use is black and not some other wood color, you can use pretty much any dark wood color on the board, except a solid black to be identical to the pieces.

What you don’t want is a complete match of the wood colors where the piece would visually be lost in the background of the square.  This would make it difficult in identifying what piece is on the square at first glance, which makes playing Chess harder.

So, having a lighter color than complete black for the dark squares gives better contrast with the black pieces making it easy to quickly identify what the piece is.

With the complete black of Ebony or Ebonized most woods would be light enough for contrast.  And the black will look good or match on any color.  The DGT boards used in the elite tournaments use Walnut, for example.  Mahogany, Oak, Rosewood, and other woods like Bubinga, Wenge, or some of the burley woods have been used on boards and they look fine with Black for the Black pieces.

I would say you should choose a dark wood that you like the looks of with a black set.  This really is an easy to match situation.

gpett0000

So much of board selection and color are personal, but here's a thought. I pair natural boxwood and emory Chess pieces with a Rechapados Ferrer teak and maple board that features thin black "marquetry" between the squares and the teak border.


The wood grains add some additional interest. (The pieces are the Staunton Castle 4.4" Bridal Series on 2.37" squares).

This is my "show" set reserved for special occasions.  Mostly I play with old and nondescript APF Rolland pieces (No. 535) and a battle-scarred Drueke board (No. 62). A rustic aesthetic.

Both give great pleasure.  Good luck.

gpett0000

Did I mention they are magnetic and can be played upside down?

gpett0000
 
KnightsForkCafe

Ebonized Boxwood 1972 Fischer/Spassky set on folding Mahogany & Sycamore chessboard.

I would suggest staying in the Medium Brown woods for dark squares. Walnut and Mahogany are the most common woods for dark squares. If you go with a dark brown wood for dark squares. It tends to make the Black blend too much. I prefer to contrast colors an not match colors. Not saying the colors need to clash but they need to contrast.  

JSCjr64

Just to close out the thread (thanks for the comments and photos), I ended up with the following combination:

- Rechapados Ferrer deluxe walnut and maple board

- Chess House British Staunton pieces in (ebonized) boxwood. I really covet that NOJ Minceta set - OMG, those rooks! - but couldn't justify that sort of investment at the moment. This more affordable set does meet my aesthetic desire for imposing rooks and smaller pawn heads.

Quite happy with the combination, and think this will serve as a nice study/display set for years to come.

Eyechess

This looks very nice.

gpett0000

To JSCjr64: Nice selection. it's natural to covet the NOJ sets, but you have an outstanding combination to enjoy! Cheers

JSCjr64

@sound67, not sure that I could look at that set for more than a few minutes without getting a headache! wink.png

KnightsForkCafe

@sound67 Love the color combination!

Powderdigit
Hi @JSCjr64,
I think you’ve chosen a wonderful colour combination - classic, stylish and I imagine, great to play. Thanks for the update.