Please recommend a chess set

Hi. I'm looking for a new chess set. 

Until now, Dubrovnik, Zagreb and Soviet Latvian set are on my list. 

I love dark pieces are black than brown.

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But since I play that guitar, I know how hard real ebony is to manage... especially 

in a climate where humidity changes very dramatically, such as Korea. 

So rather than real ebony, looking for a lacquered set, which are more familiar to me and glossy. 

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I love HOS's Dubrovnik, it's similar to minceta, the third variation of original according to Noj. (I tried to buy at Noj but they don't accept new orders until 2025.)

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So I want to ask you guys if there is a fine chess set  that suits my taste. 

(Black and Natural, historical, durable... )

Even if it's not on the list I wrote down (Dubrovnik, Zagreb, Latvian) I want you to recommend a set that's moderately cool and doesn't have Knight's mouth open and showing their teeth. I hate their teeth. 

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And also I wonder if Zagreb is a really historic set. 

I found some articles that saying Zagreb is just sold as a variant of Dubrovnik, like Reykjavik set. 

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Thank you so much!

Thanks for the reply!

Do you think CB Dubrovnik 3.0 is better than HOS one? 

I mean, this:

https://www.houseofstaunton.com/the-dubrovnik-chess-pieces-3-75-king-lacquered.html

Thank you so much again!

Yes, the CB v3 is better than the one you referenced. In my opinion, the best one from HoS is this one https://www.houseofstaunton.com/the-fischer-dubrovnik-series-chess-pieces-3625-king.html. This one is a close copy to an original set. Frank has a photo comparison of the original vs his copy. https://chessantiques.com/product/1960-fischer-dubrovnik-chessmen/. However, @TheOneCalledMichael recently reviewed the anjan version.  https://www.chess.com/forum/view/chess-equipment/review-house-of-staunton-1960-fischer-dubrovnik-chessmen. There were issues with the set... mostly with the knights. Supposedly the issues with the knights were not present in the black lacquered version. Perhaps you can consider this one since you like black over brown.

I should say that I do not own any of the sets I mentioned. The only Dubrovnik I own is from Noj. However, if I were to pick one, I would likely pick the SC Dubrovnik in mahogany or the HoS Fischer Dubrovnik in black. The CB v3 would be my backup choice to the HoS one.

• I agree with above mentioned. I'd go for Staunton Castle Dubvrovnik, it's a beautiful full size 1950 interpretation. If you like the fatter rook like in the 1960 version than go for the HoS 1960 Dubrovnik Fischer 3.625" the ebonized version (I've seen someone posted this version and the knights are beautifully done) and as good alternative the CB Dub v3.

To expand a bit on the SC Dubrovnik version: For more money, it also comes in ebony and padauk. Padauk Ebony In addition, Mandeep, the owner, will usually do special requests. So, if you don't want ebony, you can ask him for a to do ebony-stained boxwood. The mahogany is stained; so ask him if he will do ebony stained for the same price. I have three sets from SC, including the Dubrovnik, and think SC does exquisite work.

Thank you guys all! 

I'm gonna buy HOS Fischer Dubrovnik first, because I attracted to thick knight like Minceta ver.

don't know why CA's one is cheaper than HOS... however.

Good luck! Just a tip for you seeing you're a buying overseas customer for them. If something goes wrong it's a real hassle dealing with their customer service. You might want to ask pictures of the knights in advanced to see what you're getting. Their advertising pictures are not always what you're getting.

Talking about SC, maybe also consider the boxwood & ebonised boxwood Leningrad set (black & natural, cool & durable, doesn't have Knight's mouth open...). Not historical, though. But so nice and not that expensive (40% less than the Dubrovnik).

If you're looking for a Dubrovnik, don't forget this one from Oldset: https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/1146779715/reproduction-dubrovnik-minceta-weighted

Finished to high quality similarly to Noj, made from Canadian hard maple and American walnut, very good stuff for the price.

I would recommend either the CB Dubrovnik V3.0 or the Oldset Dubrovnik.

I own the CB V3.0 in Sheesham and boxwood, which I purchased in June of 2021. The quality of the set is excellent. I did find two cracked pieces, of which I took pictures and requested replacement. They replied they would replace and did so without additional cost or shipping charges. It did take a while for them to replace them; but that was due to the intense problems in India from the Delta variant of Covid.

I purchased a set from Oldset the end of December 2021 and promptly received it the end of January 2022.  The quality of his workmanship is excellent.  From the pictures of his Dubrovnik set, the quality appears to be as good as the set which I purchased.  Please be aware that Oldset lives and works in Kyiv, Ukraine so with the current political issues between Ukraine and Russia, there may be issues with making a purchase from him.

@F1Lightning Just curious did you purchase the Dubrovnik set from OldSet?

No, I purchased the 1900 European Reproduction set. It reminded me of the Czech Club sets and when I compared his reproduction to some pictures from the Chess Museum of their Czech Club sets, it was a pretty close match. I recently did a review of the set.

Link to my review here: https://www.chess.com/forum/view/chess-equipment/review-of-oldsets-reproduction-of-vintage-european-set#comment-67497323

Ahh I remember now. That is a nice set!

Hello guys.

HOS Dubrovnik set is just arrived, and everything is perfect, except a white knight. 

The mane’s left side is not carved! 

And It looked suspicious at first because only that knight has not been packed in a small poly bag.

It is quite small but, I think it’s a faulty product. Am I wrong?

That protuding part should also have been carved, they definitely forgot that part. Also the snoot is botched just like what I got. What wood combo did you ordered?

lacquered one, maybe boxwood. 

Other knights are well, and they look like exactly what some guy uploaded here from Facebook. 

Could you post pictures of the 4 knights together?

here. I like the

other horses 

Thanks! The other white knight is how it should be, that's mister Frank's design. That's beautiful. The other 3 horses are totally different, and the botch white knight seems to come from another set.