As pointed out by @MCH818, this type of question will likely lead only to a heated debate about cost vs quality, which manufacturer is better and so forth, so I'll just tell you my preferences. In general, for pieces I prefer a 3.75" - 4" king, both the black and white pieces to be made from the same wood (boxwood or maple), and the black pieces to be stained black; for boards, I like maple/walnut hardwood, and the squares to be 2.25". I have 3 sets from Noj and a few boards from Chess House; I have reviewed all of them in this forum. If you're looking for an antique, Frank Camaratta's website "chessantiques" is great. Ebony is a beautiful wood which is just a little "less forgiving" than other woods in terms of care, hence its reputation; as long as you take care of it properly it will be fine (you should really be caring for any set the same way you would care for an ebony set, anyways). I think red-stain is cool and I'm looking to add a red-stained set to my collection in the future. Just go with what you like and enjoy it; you don't need to be Magnus Carlsen to "earn the right" to own a nice set, just make sure you take care of it properly (humidity etc.)!
What new set should I get?
I have given advice to a good number of people, with the majority being beginners, advice on buying a Chess set.
It looks as if you are not afraid to spend $600 on a set. I don’t know if you need to but having that as an option is alright.
Where in the US do you live? If the weather gets very dry, Ebony can crack more easily. Yes, other woods can also crack. Ebonized pieces give you the black color but in boxwood, which is less likely to crack and it usually costs less.
My favorite Staunton style, tournament set is in Blood Rosewood. I like the richness of the grain and coloring. This is my preference. You should get what you like.
There is quite a difference in playing experience between a 3.75” King height set and a 4.4” one. The 4.4” King set will need a larger square size to work. That set and board will also have a larger footprint, taking up more table space. If this is not a problem, I know people that like the larger size.
The 3.75” King size, especially thr Fischer-Spassky set works great on a more standard 2.25” square size.
You also should look at what kind of board or boards you will use. If you want the board to be more portable then the 2.25” square board is easier to carry around.
The Noj set will call for a smaller square size. The 2.25” square works great. If you decide this is what you want, their woods are European Maple for the white pieces and that stained for the Brown and Red. And it is European Walnut as the other dark piece wood option. I have found a Walnut and Maple board works well with any wood you choose from Noj.
The Fischer Spassky set in Blood rosewood will, as mentioned, take a 2.25” square size. I have found a Rosewood and Maple board works great with this wood combination.
If you get the Fischer Spassky set in Ebony, then either a Rosewood or Walnut for the dark squares seems most popular.
With a 4.4” King set, a 2.5” square is usually best. The wood choices are the same as mentioned above.
Of course you can also get green and buff boards in either square size for play.
For the Fischer Spassky design I would have told you, a few days ago, to go either with The House of Staunton or Official Staunton. Well Carl just announced he is no longer shipping to this side of the pond. So, House of Staunton seems to give the best of that design.
You might want to buy the HoS Fischer Spassky Commemorative set which is on clearance, at $149. You can get this set in Ebonized or Anjan, which is like a Golden Rosewood.
This set is a remarkable value and bargain at that price. It looks really good and it handles as good or better than a lot of sets costing a lot more.
Also, if you get this set Ebonized at this price, you can always decide to spend more on a set with different woods and/or different sizes.
Ebony is a gorgeous wood, and I would care for it (I live in Maryland), but it seems like the best route may be to get a boxwood stained Fischer Spassky on sale and a Noj set with the woods they use. I will then have to search this site to find the best board to use with those. I’ll let you guys know what I decide. The issue is that in quarantine there are not a lot of people to play with (my wife swears she won’t after watching me play nonstop and spend hours watching chess videos on YouTube the last couple weeks).
Yep, I’m there as well.
It looks as if you’re going to get a black Fischer-Spassky set. A board that I have and use is the HoS Indian Rosewood and Birdseye Maple folding board, in the 2.25” square size.
https://www.houseofstaunton.com/indian-rosewood-and-bird-s-eye-maple-folding-standard-traditional-chessboard.html
It is really nice.
I played lots of Chess when I was young. Then for maybe the last 20 years I barely played. This makes me a much worse player than I remember (hello 670 rating!). Coronavirus has given me the opportunity to rediscover my love of chess. Hang in there with me as I try to make it a permanent thing.
Like every novice who wants to make up for amateurism, I would like to spend a pretty penny to acquire a solid wood set that I can appreciate for a long time. I've trolled these forums and would like everyone's feedback on the ones I've narrowed it down to below:
First, wood choice: I love the look of blood rosewood but also genuine ebony. Which is better if I can't get both?
Second, the set and manufacturer:
1. Fischer Spassky Commemorative 1972 HoS. I love their blood rosewood luxury or ebony set. At $600 it's not cheap. However, I saw some old pics online of this set with red king stamps on the knights and rooks - I love it but can't find a current model with this. 3.75" King.
2. Jacques 1849. Wow. The price tag is insane, so I have considered getting the Staunton Castle 4.4" version, who is apparently likely the actual manufacturer of the Jacques.
3. Noj - I really like their Dubrovnik 1950 original (I think it was Fischer's favorite) but also like the Soviet style set they have. They are pricey too but seems like a better deal than a Jacques.
I'm curious to know your personal preferences in terms of wood and King sizes. Over the years I've worked with fat guys who get into cycling and buy the most expensive bike. I'm that guy...help me get the set that I can one day finally be worth of.
Good to see a return to the game. If you are willing to spend that amount of money on a set. There might be a few things to consider. If you plan on taking the set to clubs or tournaments or just casual games with friends and family at home. The wood choices you are wanting might not be the best choice for the club and tournament roles. Things happen and pieces get accidentally dropped and break. Also at tournaments you might loose a piece. I have a friend who took a Colombian Knight set to a tournament and ended up loosing a Pawn. He did get a replacement Pawn but it was an event that he was not too happy about experiencing. Also I have another friend from chess club who brings a nice Blood Rosewood set to club and he has chipped a few of his Blood Rosewood pieces during gameplay at the club. My point is if you are wanting to take a set to clubs and tournaments some day. I would not recommend either Ebony or Blood Rosewood due to the cost and the risks of something happening to the set in these circumstances. I personally would reserve these woods to display or in my own home gameplay. However if you are wanting a Blood Rosewood 1972 Reykjavik set. I would suggest getting this one from Royal Chess Mall. Majority of the wooden chess sets on the market are made in India. Some Indian chess set makers sell directly to the public. So what you get from HoS, chesshouse, Official Staunton and other online vendors. Is what you can get from Indian manufacturers but at a lower cost. Not lower quality due to cost.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/678522459/1972-championship-fischer-spassky-chess?ref=shop_home_active_86&frs=1
The price of the HoS clearance mentioned is not expensive at all. And the lesser expensive reproduction direct from India are not the same even though they are all made in India.
1972 is a great set at 80-150$ depending on quality. If spending over 500$ id get something else.
P.S. 1972 fischer set has a flaw - rook crenelations are thin and tall, with an often used set they will break at some point if you are not careful
Not the same only means that it was made by a different company in India. That is the only difference. Depends upon who's pocket you wish to fill.
For hand-made, solid wood boards, check out ColoradoWoodWorker (Brad Borkowski) on ETSY. Good quality, good prices, good service.....lots of wood combinations & permutations, you can customize as well...
https://www.etsy.com/shop/ColoradoWoodWorker
I own the Brazilian Cherry / Maple/ Walnut border board......love it!...
https://www.etsy.com/listing/498580706/brazilian-cherry-and-maple-drueke-style?ref=shop_home_active_63&frs=1
@ricamacho77 - that's a great list. Interestingly, I was in your shoes a mere six months ago. If I could go back, I would pick the best of the best of the best... which is the NOJ Dubrovnik 1950. This of course is my humble personal opinion. But it's also the set that lured Bobby Fischer out of a long seclusion in 1992. He risked everything to get his hands on it.
^^ That's a new one. Fischer came out of exile just play on a Dubrovnik set? Doesn't sound right to me.
My experience with different sets and woods isn't as extensive as a lot of folks' here but that doesn't keep me from having an opinion. Maple and walnut is hard to beat for a board but many woods will look just fine. I prefer boards that are not shiny and don't have extreme contrast in the brightness of the wood.
My favorite wood for pieces are boxwood and a darker rosewood. What's usually advertised as sheesham always looks too light to suit me. I only have two blood rosewood sets, both from HOS, and they are apparently two different woods. One looks like a reddish tinted rosewood that I like a lot. The other is obviously padouk. The padouk is a brighter red and has a more even grain pattern. It's a little too bright but not by much. Maybe I should let it get some sun as that is supposed to darken padouk.
For regular play and practice I like 3.75" pieces although I have some 4" pieces that work just as well. Both sizes look fine on a board with 2.25" squares but sometimes I use the 4" pieces on 2.375" squares.
4.4" sets are great for looks and genteel playing but, for me, they're too big and heavy for quick movement when studying or playing.
As for the actual design and weights of the pieces that's entirely to your taste. We all have our own preferences in that regard. My favorite practice set is also the set I've had the longest. I suppose it's my favorite just because of its familiarity. I also like it because it has wider bases compared to height and isn't as heavily weighted as many sets these days. The lighter weight makes it easy to whip around when studying variations and the wider bases keep them stable.
@jjupiter6 - Your reaction is understandable. After all, we Dubrovnik fans always try to interpret everything related to chess from Dubrovnik point of view. Anyway, Fischer was obsessed with various versions of Dubrovnik chess sets and one of his "requests" for the 1992 rematch with Boris Spassky was for THE original Dubrovnik chess set.
You can find more information about Dubrovnik chess set on Izmet's website:
http://bestchessmenever.com/blog/files/fischer-about-dubrovnik.html
http://www.bestchessmenever.com/blog/files/the-dubrovnik-chess-set.html
^^ That's a new one. Fischer came out of exile just play on a Dubrovnik set? Doesn't sound right to me.
Well, that and the $5 million purse, with $3.35m going to the winner
Back on topic - Eyechess knows his stuff with regards to chess sets and boards
Well, you look to have good plans.
I should have mentioned Colorado Woodworker. I actually use his boards the most.
Not the same only means that it was made by a different company in India. That is the only difference. Depends upon who's pocket you wish to fill.
Actually, not the same means, not the same. You know, it means different.
I said this particularly about that set sold by HoS. Official Staunton also sold that set and it WAS the same, because both places used the exact same manufacturer.
I also have experience with that set and have been able to directly compare the actual pieces with other manufacturer, in India and direct sellers, sets.
Can the people claiming quality equivalence say they have been able to do a hands on, physical comparison? I think not.
Buy all three. That will solve your dilemma and you can rotate playing them.
I agree!
Also, take a look at the Camaratta designed HoS Craftsman Series set in Blood Rosewood. I own it and it is my favorite set for slower play. Yes Rummy, I like it even better than my Noj sets for this 😏
@Eyechess I would much rather save $$$ from a direct seller then to pay extra $$$ to a vendor for the same thing. If there is a slight variation. It means nothing if I am saving $$$. That's what is really important. I know that you kiss up to vendors so that you can get sweet heart deals and that is why you promote them to any and everyone. So lets be honest with whom you are trying to help.
I played lots of Chess when I was young. Then for maybe the last 20 years I barely played. This makes me a much worse player than I remember (hello 670 rating!). Coronavirus has given me the opportunity to rediscover my love of chess. Hang in there with me as I try to make it a permanent thing.
Like every novice who wants to make up for amateurism, I would like to spend a pretty penny to acquire a solid wood set that I can appreciate for a long time. I've trolled these forums and would like everyone's feedback on the ones I've narrowed it down to below:
First, wood choice: I love the look of blood rosewood but also genuine ebony. Which is better if I can't get both?
Second, the set and manufacturer:
1. Fischer Spassky Commemorative 1972 HoS. I love their blood rosewood luxury or ebony set. At $600 it's not cheap. However, I saw some old pics online of this set with red king stamps on the knights and rooks - I love it but can't find a current model with this. 3.75" King.
2. Jacques 1849. Wow. The price tag is insane, so I have considered getting the Staunton Castle 4.4" version, who is apparently likely the actual manufacturer of the Jacques.
3. Noj - I really like their Dubrovnik 1950 original (I think it was Fischer's favorite) but also like the Soviet style set they have. They are pricey too but seems like a better deal than a Jacques.
I'm curious to know your personal preferences in terms of wood and King sizes. Over the years I've worked with fat guys who get into cycling and buy the most expensive bike. I'm that guy...help me get the set that I can one day finally be worth of.