I don’t think there are really any great board color options for red sets; probably best to stick with a traditional maple (cream) and light walnut (light brown) board colouration.
Padauk on Green Vinyl
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According to the quick research I did on the subject a while back (when I purchased a red-stained set), red and green do not contrast well for the purpose of reading (e.g., red text on a green background, or vice versa) and are therefore hard on the eyes (for reading); how much this actually matters for/translates to a real life chess set/board combination is difficult to say. I thought the red-green combo was good, but the color experts say otherwise.
I don’t think there are really any great board color options for red sets; probably best to stick with a traditional maple (cream) and light walnut (light brown) board colouration.
I don’t think there are really any great board color options for red sets; probably best to stick with a traditional maple (cream) and light walnut (light brown) board colouration.
When I have good lights here, I'll shoot my SC Dubrovnik in padauk on green vinyl.
Nice! You already have the patina going on with your padauk.
"I don’t think there are really any great board color options for red sets;" - @MGT88
This is what I'm worried about. I generally think the best board/piece combination is one where the squares are lighter than their respective piece. So pure white squares with natural boxwood pieces. Brown squares with black pieces. etc.
@MCH818 - thank you for the pictures - I'm going to be taking a hard look at these and thinking this through before I make any purchases...
What does everyone think about the combo @MCH818 posted? Would you be irritated to play with this in a tournament / club game?
I'll be curious to see your pictures too @TheOneCalledMichael
Its honestly almost better that it lost its red. For contrast reasons. Do you agree?
felonet wrote:
What does everyone think about the combo @MCH818 posted? Would you be irritated to play with this in a tournament / club game?
I'll be curious to see your pictures too @TheOneCalledMichael
There is enough contrast between the padauk pieces and the greens so no problem at all for me.
I have checked my green vinyl, I thought I had 55mm one but it is 50mm, too small for my SC dub so I can't make the shoot, way too crowded.
felonet wrote:
Its honestly almost better that it lost its red. For contrast reasons. Do you agree?
The set appears very dark, almost black, so yeah, it offers nearly the same contrast as black pieces.
I do have a red set on 50mm green vinyl, more red than this you will not find lol
felonet wrote:
"I don’t think there are really any great board color options for red sets;" - @MGT88
This is what I'm worried about. I generally think the best board/piece combination is one where the squares are lighter than their respective piece. So pure white squares with natural boxwood pieces. Brown squares with black pieces. etc.
@MCH818 - thank you for the pictures - I'm going to be taking a hard look at these and thinking this through before I make any purchases...
You may find these charts helpful:
TheOneCalledMichael wrote:
When I have good lights here, I'll shoot my SC Dubrovnik in padauk on green vinyl.
@TheOneCalledMichael Come on man, break out your padauk Porat Jacobson "Smyslova" 
I think there are plenty board color combinations for padauk.
macassar ebony
rosewood
Walnut
and light colored board, not sure what wood this is.
Pawnerai wrote:
TheOneCalledMichael wrote:
When I have good lights here, I'll shoot my SC Dubrovnik in padauk on green vinyl.
@TheOneCalledMichael Come on man, break out your padauk Porat Jacobson "Smyslova"
haha great minds think alike my friend! 
MGT88 wrote:
felonet wrote:
"I don’t think there are really any great board color options for red sets;" - @MGT88
This is what I'm worried about. I generally think the best board/piece combination is one where the squares are lighter than their respective piece. So pure white squares with natural boxwood pieces. Brown squares with black pieces. etc.
@MCH818 - thank you for the pictures - I'm going to be taking a hard look at these and thinking this through before I make any purchases...
You may find these charts helpful:
I’ve actually noticed that black on orange or yellow offers fantastic contrast and I’ve considered getting a board in maple/bubinga (orange colored wood) or maple/yellowheart (yellow colored wood); I think maple/bubinga is a great combo.
TheOneCalledMichael wrote:
I think there are plenty board color combinations for padauk.
macassar ebony
rosewood
Walnut
and light colored board, not sure what wood this is.
You have great photography skills.
This is not a stock board as it's very old board, originally it's green but if you get a greyish/greenish board it looks really great with padauk.
This one is for @pawnerai
Dark reddish wood fits well, to my opinion:
For comparison purpose, bright red painted pieces:
Hello to the One , TheOneCalledMichael if we take the color chart of MGT88 , Then take" like" a fashion consultant , in days passed like the 80's , 90's who would match handbags , make up / shoes / etc/ with a outfit , Then apply this to chess sets I am sure , would be a big help to many + king base + Sq size 
I’m curious to see what this combo looks like - and whether it’s hard on the eyes. Thank you in advance.