Chess is a board game played by two players on
a chessboard with 64 squares in an eight by eight square configuration. Each
player has 16 chess pieces made up of 1 king, 1 queen, 2 rooks, 2 knights, 2
bishops, and 8 pawns. Placement of the pieces on the board is: In the front
row rook, knight, bishop, queen, king, bishop, knight, rook. In the second row
8 pawns. The game is won when an opponent’s king is in check whereby it can
not be moved from the attack position and is declared checkmate.
The game of chess is considered to be one of
the most popular board games in the world played by millions of people
worldwide in various clubs, on the internet, by means of correspondence, and
tournaments. There are various types of chess sets for the novice or
the seasoned pro and numerous themed
chess sets for the fantasy chess fan.
Chess is a board game of tactics and strategy
that is thousands of years old. Many people enjoy chess for challenge of the
game as well as the beauty of the chess sets. There are various materials used
to construct chess
sets and all have their unique beauty. Chess pieces are made of ivory,
marble, pewter, wood, or glass. are Many beautiful antique chess sets still
exist today made of these materials, and many more new chess sets are
manufactured using modern methods that are also beautiful.
A very popular material that has been used
since the game’s inception to create stunning game pieces as well as boards is
wood. The type of wood used to make chess sets vary and all have a unique look
and style. Wooden
chess sets are usually very durable and require very little maintenance
which makes them a excellent choice for players who want a functional yet
beautiful chess set.
Glass is another material used to make sets and
has also been used for many centuries. Glass
chess sets vary widely in style and durability. Some glass chess games are
made of hand blown glass which is hollow and very fragile. Others are made of
solid glass which is more durable. These sets come in a variety of colors
depending on the type of glass used and many come with a glass or mirrored
board which makes the set exceptionally beautiful.
Marble
chess sets are beautiful and
marble is one of the most durable materials you can find for this board game.
Many sets made to be used outdoors are made of marble as this material is
impervious to the elements. Marble pieces often resemble small statues and can
be crafted in any shape or form desired.
Many collectors like chess sets made of pewter,
and this material adds a distinct type of style and beauty to the pieces
crafted from it. Pewter is often used when making themed
chess sets and is often embellished with crystals, gems, and even gold or
silver. Pewter is a durable material although it requires periodic maintenance
and cleaning. No matter what material your chess set, you are sure to find
something that is beautiful as well as functional.
The collection of chess sets design available
is very broad, from tiny cosmetic changes to highly exaggerated
representations to themed sets such as Civil War, Fantasy, Medieval chess sets
or from sets the Renaissance period. Themed designs are often intended for
display as much as actual play and can enhance home décor.
Chess pieces used in this board are usually
pieces that are taller than they are wide. Case in point, a set of chessmen
designed for a board with 2¼ inch (57 mm) squares will generally have a king
that is 3¾ inches (95 mm) tall. There are numerous designs, with the most
well-known Staunton
design which is named after Howard Staunton (a 19th century English chess
player), which was designed by Nathaniel Cook.
Wooden chessmen are usually made of the light
wood boxwood or perhaps maple. Black wooden chess pieces are made of a dark
wood such as rosewood, ebony, red sandalwood, or walnut; or made of boxwood
and stained or painted black, brown, or red. Plastic or resin white chess
pieces are made of white or off-white plastic and black pieces are made of
black or red plastic. Other materials used, are bone, ivory, or a composite
material.
The Staunton
chess sets are considered the standard for play. The height of the king should
be between 85 mm and 105 mm (3.35 to 4.13 inches). USCF rules recommend a king
height between 3⅜ and 4½ inches tall (86 to 114 mm). A height of approximately
95 to 102 mm (3¾ to 4 inches) is preferred by most players. The diameter of
the king should be 40 to 50 percent of its height. The size of the other
chessmen should be in proportion to the king in the set. The chess pieces
should be well balanced. The size of the squares of the chessboard should be
approximately 1.25–1.3 times the diameter of the base of the king, or 50 to 65
mm (2 to 2½ inches). Squares of size of approximately 57 mm (2¼ inches)
normally are well-suited for pieces with the kings in the preferred size
range. These criteria are from the United States Chess Federation's Official
Rules of Chess, which is based on the Fédération Internationale des Échecs
rules.