Buying a first wooden chess set

Hello everyone, 

I am a chess beginner, who has recently become very interested in the game. In the recent weeks I have been playing a lot of chess and I really came to enjoyed it. Now I have decided to motivate treat myself and buy a new wooden chess set.

I checked some of the online chess stores in order to find a suitable wooden Stauton chess set, however I have soon realised that there are so many different sets to choose from... So in short I am stuck. I need an ordinary chess set, which would be of suitable size and style for tournament use (If I ever decide to play tournaments), the pieces should be heavy enough for blitz (does this mean that the  the pieces have to be double/triple weighted). I am prepared to spend up to 200€ for the set. 

I would be really grateful for your help :)

With 200 € you can buy a real real nice set. Pieces havy, made by wooden, triple weighted... you said everything... The type is particular... some guys like taller rooks, other smalls ones... 

I would be great if you could post a link to some particular sets 

I actually think you would be better off getting a good tournament style plastic set.  For one thing, although 200 euros will certainly get you a decent set, it's not going to be heirloom quality by any means.  Knights are so important to the look of a set and nice ones, being handcarved, usually come with really expensive sets.  Now if you prefer the typical tournaments set with German knights, then you shouldn't have a problem finding something in your price range.  

As a relative beginner you have to be a little careful about making an investment in something that you might later regret.  Tastes do change.  You're doing the right thing by doing your research.  I'd also add Ebay to your online shoppine sites.  You have to use a filter like "staunton" to weed out all the goofy theme sets, but there are bargains to be had and you can get a better feel for the market.  After a few months of watching listings and checking out all the online chess shops, you should be ready to make an informed purchase.  Best of luck to you.

Privet.  I'd never use a 'nice' set for blitz.  (I've two tournament sized sets, one's plastic pieces for blitz, the other's very nice triple weighted wood for tournaments [from the USCF online site] and fancier occasions).   I got my mom to do up some nice blue jeans material pouches and fancy pull cords, to carry them about.

sftac

ps.  I also have a USCF leather chess board (rolls up into a tube) as well as the more conventional leatherette chess board (ditto), for improved portability.  Large enough wooden boards for tournament chess are pretty awkward to lug around though the folding versions are manageable.

I've several smaller sized sets, so I can always be sure of having a set at hand.

Since you're asking, I can't help but plug my own, I designed these:

http://bestchessmenever.com

-Izmet

Click on this link to see my set & board, which you might like

http://www.chess.com/blog/NimzoRoy/nimzoroy-and-chess-set

That's no small chunk of change.  Is the wood 'seasoned' (for at least three years) before being shaped?  Else it'll be prone to crack in a year or two imo (a 90-day warranty would not be helpful).  My USCF set started cracking at the 12-month point and they sent a satisfactory replacement set (undoubtedly mine was not the first complaint about that particular set that used wood that had not been properly seasoned).  Even so, the white King in the new set developed a small hairline crack after a few years.

How reputable is your organisation?  Got any product review sites to refer us to?

sftac

ps.  My first thought would be:  potential opponents would dislike the non-Staunton design (at least, this variation at first glance does not look like a normal Staunton design).  So I think it is likely the pieces could not be used in most tournament or serious club chess.  But perhaps not a bad choice for the chessplayer who already has everything conventional and is looking for a 'novelty'.

pps.  I like your 'beta' version http://www.bestchessmenever.com/blog/files/archive-jun-2012.html  better than this newest one, probably because the rooks look easier to handle and it's more like the Staunton design that I'm used to.

@sftac

Proper seasoning of wood is important but if you don't maintain proper humidity, the wood will eventually crack.  It's not as critical as in musical instruments like guitars or violins where the wood is under stress, but it will happen if you don't run a humidifier in the winter especially during extreme cold spells.  For some reason this is something most chess players don't know about.  Even a moistened sponge tossed in the same drawer that you keep your set in will help.   If you already knew all this, then great.  Musical instrument owners get pretty obsessive about humidity; you don't have to get crazy over it but it's something to keep in mind.

Nice set! Since your flag is from an African country I figured you lived in a grass hut or something instead of the nice home you apparently do live in. 

Dr Frank thanks for giving me a big belly laff at your assumption I lived in a grass hut  but I think you may be too hung up on stereotypes here. 

Guys thank thank you for all the replies so far. ifekali I have seen your set, I realy like it but it is a bit too expensive expensive and besides I am currenty looking for a more traditional set.

I am currently choosing between the following sets: 

http://www.regencychess.co.uk/supreme-red-rose-chess-set-p-268.html

http://www.regencychess.co.uk/victoria-black-and-maple-chess-set-p-348.html

They are not triple weighted, but the pieces are quite heavy (pawn 16g and 25g ) the weight should not be a problem? Anyway I would appreciate if you could tell me what you think about the above sets :)

What's your idea of "quite heavy?" An oz is 28.35 grams. I checked out  your links the first one says pawns are 16 grams (1/2 oz) and the King is 50 grams (almost 2 oz) So all the pawns weigh 8 oz and all the pieces weigh 800 grams tops (16x50) = 28 oz the whole set is maybe 36 oz (2.25 lbs = 1 Kg) TOO LIGHT!

The 2nd link indicates pawns = 25 gs (about 1 oz) and the King is 60 gs (2 ozs) 16x25 = 400 and 16x60 = 960, total weight 1360 gs (3 lbs about 1.36 Kg) Better, but not much

My set was advertised at 80 oz total = 2268 grams/2.27 Kg*. I like heavy sets which is why I looked around for one way heavier than "triple weighted." BUT if a much lighter set will cause you any problems is tough for me to say...I presume the heights (K is either 3.5" or 3.75" tall) are OK by you. I originally was looking at sets with 4" Kings but ended up with a 5.25" tall King in order to get the heaviest set I could afford 

* Does this include the 2 extra Queens? Who knows?

Both sets you're considering look nice btw 

Slightly small? FIDE (so far as I understand it) pretty much specify 5.5cm squares (side, not diagonal). UCSF allows more variation.

Now, I'm not familiar with how strictly those rules are interpreted, but if you're thinking of tournament play, you might bear it in mind.

I'd strongly suggest a roll up vinyl board and plastic set whatever else you get as well: easier to transport, less expensive if lost/damaged, fine for blitz.

One reason I'm not sure about interpretation of the rules is that In Australia every tournament I've played in has had equipment supplied. I'm not sure if that's a good idea or not; sometimes it can be pretty tatty and down on the lower boards it's guaranteed plastic pieces. Frankly, I'd _prefer_ to provide my own board and pieces.

This is the wooden set I have and I'm really happy with it. Also have a plastic triple weighted tournament set--which is fine, but the wooden set is really nice to play with: http://www.uscfsales.com/chess-sets/wood-chess-sets-1/the-grandmaster-chess-set-and-board-combination.html It's also a tournament set.

As Ollave has pointed out, the boards supplied with the sets you're looking at are a little small.  Generally speaking you want around a .75 ratio between the diameter of the king and the square size;  a king with a 1.5" base is perfect for a 2" board.  USCF specifies .78 or within an 1/8" of that if I remember correctly which is the ratio between a king with a 1.875 diameter and a board with 2 and 3/8" squares.  The most common tournament choice is of course for a 1.75" diameter king on a 2.25" board.

Obviously for personal use nothing matters but what you like but if you're thinking of using your set in a tournament then you want to be sure it meets specifications.   Another reason to consider a nicely weighted plastic set while you save up for your ideal wooden set.

Of the two you mention I would prefer the supreme red rose.  It has a simple and traditional elegance to it.

I don't much like the knights in the set though

Of course!

Seriously the knights on that set are wierd, they spoil the set IMO.