Chessbazaar 1960s Ultimate Soviet 4.4" WC Pieces (THE MIKHAIL TAL SET)

I've been drooling for this one but I don't want in such a large size (4.4). A 3.5" to 3.7 fits my space perfectly. 

It would be a nice duo to own with my 2.0 Crimson Dubrovnik.

It's not noj but... any thoughts?

That's not the Tal set that NOJ reproduced. It's a reproduction of a sixties GM tournament set, and not one of CB's better ones. There are plenty of street level originals available for less on Etsy and EBay.

The Latvian set is CB's most accurate Soviet reproduction. Their misnamed "1935" Botvinnik Flohr set (it should be 1933) is good but for the rook, which is too fat and curvy. I prefer it to House of Staunton's version (which I trust was based on HOS's independent research and not Alan Dewey's for CB). The renamed 1935 tournament set, currently out of stock, is a decent reproduction, though stockier than the originals. But it more than makes up in historical significance what it lacks in historical accuracy. Go with one of these three sets if you want a decent CB reproduction.

If you want the sixties set, consider an original. If you want the Tal set, buy one from NOJ. They did the research and development to resurrect the lost design.

That was helpful. Thanks.

The CB Latvian has also been on my radar.

You're very welcome. CB did a great job with that Latvian set. It's a very good reproduction--their best Soviet reproduction--and by scaling it up and weighting it well, they've made it a very playable set as well.

The Chessbazaar "Latvian" is indeed a magnificent reproduction... although I must admit that I also have a soft spot for their "Dubrovnik 2.0 Red" and "Flohr Botvinnik 1935" sets as well... they all look so nice on the board!

Hmmm... so many great Soviet/Yugo designs, it's impossible to pick a fave!

 The Botvinnik Flohr "1935" set is misnamed. That was not the set they played on in 1935. It was the set they played on in 1933.

cgrau,

Yeah, I know.  I also have the "1935" Flohr/Botvinnik set that CB calls the "Soviet" set... so I actually own both "Flohr" reproductions.  I just posted with the name that CB uses, so as to not cause confusion if someone wants to order one.

Damn these chess set sellers... you would think that the least they could do would be to get the year right when they name these things!   

I think a true Soviet set should have the contrasting finial on K&Q . Aand even bishop. But the B-F set has its own stunningness. And it was good enough for Botvinnk,

so I not dare speak a foul word about it.

Actually the Botvinnk-Flohr was in USSR soil, in a match involving Soviet world champion, with a Soviet made set.

So it is true Soviet design set.

Their practice on the finials varied. I like the contrasting finials, but they were not universally invoked.

CB must read this forum. After I started harping on the existence of two sets they added a blurb to their Soviet set description stating that it first appeared in the 1935 Moscow Tournament and then was used for decades after. LOL.

I don't think anyone was questioning that, I think Bawker used quotation marks to denote that's how CB referred to the '35 set.

Was that a young Smyslov between those great set photos, Chuck?

Indeed it is. That set was made specially for the Moscow Central Chess Club in 1940. It's clearly bakelite. It may have been used in the 1940 Soviet Championship, which was held in Moscow, but I haven't been able to find the positions on the boards in photos of the set. There are several photos of Keres with it, and one with Bondarevsky. Bondarevsky's photo depicts the same position as one of the Keres photos, but it didn't arise in their game of corresponding colors in the '40 championship.

Bondarvsky

Keres with the same position from the other side of the board...