I have been looking for a nice Staunton set made from wood. Found a vintage set made in France. I was then in the hunt for a chess board. Found a David Levy board for a steal. But I think the pieces are too small. Thoughts?
Nice set and board too. I certainly would play on the set up. What really matters is what you think. Thank you for sharing!
Thanks. The more I look at it the more I like it. I like the 4 pawn measurement idea I can actually do it with this setup.
Measure the diameter of the base of the king and measure the length of a square.
Take king diameter and divide by length of the square. 75% to 85% is the USCF standard but a lot of people are more comfortable with 66% to 70%.
Don't bother with diameters. If you like it, then it's fine. Personally I'd prefer the set-up to be a little more cramped, but the pieces are definitely not too small for the board.
Chess Set Sizing - Pieces vs Board...
The primary sizing criteria for the pieces vs board is that of square size vs King base diameter...
A good rule of thumb is...
King base diameter = 0.75 * square size
or equivalently....
Square size = 1.33 * King base diameter
Any variation from these ratios, or the size of individual pieces and pawns, becomes a matter of personal preference...
https://blog.chesshouse.com/how-to-select-the-right-size-chessboard-for-pieces/
See also...
https://www.chess.com/forum/view/chess-equipment/a-system-for-sizing-chess-pieces-and-boards-long
You might also want to consult the FIDE Manual, Sections 2 and 3 on equipment regulations...
https://www.fide.com/FIDE/handbook/Standards_of_Chess_Equipment_and_tournament_venue.pdf
Wow. Thanks everybody. I have learned a great amount. The King covers 66% of the square which is right at the cusp of being too small. I know beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but I want to make sure people are not put off by playing with this set up. I still feel these are some the best purchases I have made on eBay. I can't wait to replay some Capablanca endgames with this set.
First you should set it up correctly before worrying about size. It's a little airy but still perfectly fine.
Pieces definitely NOT too small for the board. It's important to have space. I would say that those pieces are perfect for the board.
Old school rule :
4 pawns should fit laying in a square.
So to my eyes that board is perfect.
I have been looking for a nice Staunton set made from wood. Found a vintage set made in France. I was then in the hunt for a chess board. Found a David Levy board for a steal. But I think the pieces are too small. Thoughts?
