Best board colors

I have purchased a couple of sets that I chose Boxwood and Ebonized Boxwood for the piece color.

In the opinion of the great posters here that have some of the best looking sets I have seen, what color board would be the best to use with pieces of these colors? (links would be appreciated ...  )

[EDIT} - In looking at the setups posted here with ebony/ebonized pieces, I think perhaps a black and maple board may be the best option. Thoughts on that?

On a Black & Maple Board your black pieces would blend in way too much IMO. It would look good on a Walnut & Maple Board & even better on a Rosewood & Maple Board which is used in the Sinquefield Cup. The black pieces come alive on this board IMO.

it's all a matter of personal taste, of course, but I would suggest not picking black squares for a set w/ black pieces. You want something w/ better contrast. The typical choices would be light brown (eg Walnut), reddish brown (eg Mahogany) or dark brown (eg Rosewood)... You can get standard boards w/ these woods (together w/ Maple) almost anywhere.

<edit: looks like 9kick9 beat me to it. Ditto what he says...>

I agree with both of the above.  In fact the USCF rules say something about making sure there is a good contrast between the pieces and the squares.  Black pieces on black squares is not good.   

I have a set that is ebonized and I have it on a Mahogany and Maple board.  I also have used it on a Walnut and Ash board, Drueke.  Also having Green for the dark squares works very well.  Of course the standard Green and Buff vinyl boards would work, but also a Green dyed wood, like Sycamore, for the dark squares and a Maple or other light wood for the light squares works very well.  I have an inexpensive Green and White inlaid board that this set works on very well, for instance.

The Drueke boards, in particular, seem to go well with everything, so walnut and maple gets my vote.

Green and white boards are known to activate key parts of the brain that aid in chess-related visual cognition.  This is what I've heard, and I have experienced a noticeable increase in awareness when playing on this kind of board, compared to others.  This goes, so long as your pieces aren't of a similar color, and probably best with black and white pieces.

So are you looking for aesthetic or functional purposes?  

Green & Buff squares are proven to be best over the years & in most USCF Tournaments I have seen are the Dominent Board color so Milliern is correct IMO.

I am an optometrist and have expertise in vision and light wavelengths, colors, and how they affect vision.

The Green and Buff (an off white color more soft and muted than a pure white) gives a very relaxing color scene to the eye and receptors in the brain.  I have never heard anything about these colors activating any part of the brain, let alone helping in spatial perception and cognition.

I have found, from personal and professional experience and talking with players that have played many, many games, that Green for the light squares and a buff or even beige color, like Maple, makes for less visual stress while playing a game, especially one taking hours.

When ur eyes is less stress u can think better.. Makes sense

Thanks for the suggstions/advice all.

@milliern - David, I am looking for a wood board for playing on but it will most likely be out on display when not using it.

I have a board now of walnut and maple but it has a set on it. Looking to have a couple more sets with boards available when friends come over to play miniature tournaments.

Anybody have experience with "sapele"?

Like in this http://www.chesshouse.com/15_Sapele_Maple_Veneer_Board_p/w45400sm.htm?

I know this is a veneer but I was windering about the wood/wood color itself.

(Here is one on etsy, don't necessarily like the boards without a border though https://www.etsy.com/listing/224558679/maple-and-sapele-chessboard?ref=related-2 )

Hmmm...  I am not sure about aesthetic boards.  I've seen some beautiful boards, but I don't recall names.  I think one that I've seen that I really liked was a deep reddish brown mapple with a wonderful glossy finish.  A fellow actually borad it to play tournament games on.  I particularly recall that it cost him a steep price, but it really was beautiful.  Take your time looking, if it is for display as much as playing.  Happy hunting.

I agree with most here. Dark and ligth browns.

About boards for display... I would recomend marble instead of wood, on that case.

Over time the sun ligth tents to change the color of the wood, and if you leave a set on display on wood, then the pieces will cover areas of the wood, and you will end up with dots of diferent color where you leave the pieces in position for display...

So if you plan to have a display on wood, then it is better to change the positions of the pieces often or just have a board on stone or other material.

I would personally go with the Chesshouse Board as it has a Border. Boards without Borders sounds like the USA to me. I have a couple Veneer Boards over 30 years old & they hold up just fine. The Polish & Spanish Boards are better IMO.

R, I'll try to post some comparative shots of different combinations later.

I've posted some combinations in a new thread.

http://www.chess.com/forum/view/chess-equipment/some-board-amp-piece-combinations

Bingo! 

I would suggest a green and off-white (buff) board with a matt finish for boxwood and ebony (or ebonized) chessmen.