for me, 2" is much too small.
4" chessmen on 2" square board?
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I have played on sets where the squares were too big in relation to the pieces being used as well as when they were too small . When they are too small the board seems "crowded" and this bothers me more than when they are too big and the pieces seem lost in space ... I also prefer squares larger than 2 " and most of my pieces are too large for 2 " squares . A set of pieces with a 4 " king would be very crowded on a board with 2 " squares .
I thought it was too small too but I wasn't so sure. Now I am certain. Thanks.
I have always used the guidelines here:
http://www.chessusa.com/CHESS_BOARD_SIZE.html
I fit 4 pawns on the board, they should just touch or slightly (very slightly) overlap the square) as noted in the USCF Rules:
"The chess pieces should fit comfortably on the chess board, being neither too crowded nor too isolated on the squares. The king and queen, for example, should be subject to easy placement on a square without touching any edge. Chess boards for standard sets should have squares of approximately 2 - 2 1/2 inches (5.08 - 6.35cm). One convenient test is that the square formed by the bases of four pawns should be about the same size as any square on their board." - The USCF's Official Rules of Chess/compiled and sanctioned by the U.S. Chess Federation. -4th Ed., ISBN 0-8129-2217-4, David McKay Company, INC., pgs. 165-166
Just my opinion, YMMV.
@goldendog. Thanks for the link. Those are nice sets you got there. The pictures help in visualizing how my chessmen would look like on a 2" square board. 2" is definitely too small.
@Rsava. Thanks for pointing out the USCF's guide. Based on that, I suppose 2 1/2" is the perfect square for my chessmen as the pawns fit perfectly there. But I am thinking that 2 1/2" may be a bit too roomy. Maybe 2 1/4" is best.
The problem right now is with finding the board that fits.
Why would a go player need a chess set? ;)
When I first started playing chess I recall my first cheap plastic set came from a dime store . The board was folding cardboard with red and black squares and the cheap plastic chess pieces were red and black and some were white and black . In a tourney today I would refuse to play on such a set ...
Here' is a tip for determining chessboard size:
http://www.chess.com/blog/ifekali/best-chessboar-size
-Izmet
Cnacnel wrote:
Why would a go player need a chess set? ;)
LOL. Well, in go, you can't assign names to your pieces. 
Thanks all for the replies. They are very useful.
honinbo_shusaku wrote:
Hi,
I have been looking for an ideal solid wood board for my 4" chessmen. The other day I saw a chessboard that interests me, but it is only available in a 2" square. Is 2" square a good size for my chessmen?
Thanks.
More important than the height is probably the diameter. Unless you're going to use the pieces in a tournament with rules to satisfy, then it comes down to what looks good, really.
I've been investigating this particular issue in some detail, as I bought a nice set of wooden pieces and then have been struggling to find a board for them. I'm almost decided to have a table made, which still leaves the question of the square size open.
I hadn't seen the "four pawns on a square" item before, but being outside the USA lean more toward FIDE rules than USCF, and (as a personal preference, but I think widely shared) would prefer squares a shade too large than a shade too small.
A web search will turn up various official rules and unofficial commentary on them. I suggest a grain of salt when the commentary is from a retailer.
I'd *love* a qualified arbiter (FIDE and/or USCF) to provide some guidance on what degree of precision is expected/accepted/allowed when interpreting the rules.
[ Edited to fix typo. ]
ollave wrote:
honinbo_shusaku wrote:
Hi,
I have been looking for an ideal solid wood board for my 4" chessmen. The other day I saw a chessboard that interests me, but it is only available in a 2" square. Is 2" square a good size for my chessmen?
Thanks.
More important than the height is probably the diameter. Unless you're going to use the pieces in a tournament with rules to satisfy, then it comes down to what looks good, really.
I've been investigating this particular issue in some detail, as I bought a nice set of wooden pieces and then have been struggling to find a board for them. I'm almost decided to have a table made, which still leaves the question of the square size open.
I hadn't seen the "four pawns on a square" item before, but being outside the USA lean more toward FIDE rules than USCF, and (as a personal preference, but I think widely shared) would prefer squares a shade too large than a shade too small.
A web search will turn up various official rules and unofficial commentary on them. I suggest a grain of salt when the commentary is from a retailer.
I'd *love* a qualified arbiter (FIDE and/or USCF) to provide some guidance on what degree of precision is expected/accepted/allowed when interpreting the rules.
[ Edited to fix typo. ]
Yea. It'd be nice if someone knowledgeable from FIDE could enlighten us about this.
In my case, I find 2.25" is a nice fit for my 4" chessmen. It's neither too crowded or too spacious. Now the problem is with finding a proper board that fits. I love solid wooden boards, but so far they are either too pricey or poorly made. Perhaps, I am a bit picky when it comes to wood. I am thinking of building one myself. Just gotta find the time for it.
Hi,
I have been looking for an ideal solid wood board for my 4" chessmen. The other day I saw a chessboard that interests me, but it is only available in a 2" square. Is 2" square a good size for my chessmen?
Thanks.