Agreed that show pieces aren't the best types to use during play,but they are beautiful and many folks want them in their collections....It's all good.
However DKW...You do have a history of reminding people how their fancier sets aren't good for playing(you're not all that innocent in this regard).....I think they'd be smart enough to buy what pleases them,while realizing these sets are more for show.
I own "one" and did not make the purchase for anything other than it was for display.
While I can understand and somewhat agree with people buying Chess sets for display, I only buy and have sets suitable for play. I have said it before. I am a chess player, not a collector.
I do not want to have to take any time or attention figuring out what a piece is to use it in play.
While I can understand and somewhat agree with people buying Chess sets for display, I only buy and have sets suitable for play. I have said it before. I am a chess player, not a collector.
I do not want to have to take any time or attention figuring out what a piece is to use it in play.
While I agree that pieces shall be playable ther is play and there is play. On a long winter afternoon with a good friend and a good whisky but no clock it´s a joy to play with the Lewis chessmen but they would be impossibly cumbersome in a blitz game.
Those luxury chess sets may be visually appealing to some. But they are totally impractical for game play.
What makes them totally impractical for game play?
DKW,you have to be kidding me if you think I want to make this about "any" of my sets.I could care less about your liking any of my choices and my Tsarist pieces never crossed my mind here,but thanks for posting that picture....My set comes in soon and I forgot what they look like,since I bought it on layaway.
Stand by all of your comments...If I remember correctly,it was "you" who got a thread locked!
Let's see...You have been negative about Noj,beautiful fancy sets and original/vintage Jaques pieces.
When you get pushback,you post a dumb "emoji"....My six year old grand daughter is way more mature than you.
The guy who posted that nice/fancy set a few posts ago may have gotten it as a gift from family,or a girlfriend.....You couldn't wait to knock it and take away his pleasure. You've done this many times in the past....You're not too nice a guy!
I rest my case! You're not going to goad me into a name calling contest.
You're just such a great guy.
I hate to inform you(since you won't stop with the childish insults....quite funny actually) but you got that past thread locked because of your negative comments.Please don't rationalize it was "you" speaking to yourself back then. You're showing the exact behavior here that you did there.
I do forgive you,since I realize I'm speaking to an adolescent.
You'll be happy to know that I won't respond to your next comment,which no doubt is coming.
Also,I don't want to demean myself to other forum members here,by continuing this.It doesn't make either of us look too good.
Behave, gentlemen! Or get a room...
Due to the fact that I started chess in Lockdown and I still have never been to a club nor seen a live competition (… and I hear many experienced members chuckle as I walk through these virtual halls😊)… I have no place in commenting on what works in certain environments but here are two sets in my home, currently replicating online games.
If an experienced chess player came to my home - I would not set up the red Biro Sandor pieces on the gloss red board - visually stunning though it is; there’s just not enough contrast nor space for my liking.
That said, when I place those same pieces on a larger ebony and maple board it is magnificent, the contrast is great and it’s very playable. The Biro pieces are brilliant.
The other set hails from New York in the ‘80’s - as best as I know - and the board I picked up cheaply, locally. I really like that combination … and so, hypothetically, if a GM knocked on my door now - to be polite I’d say choose your board … and my guess … while they might admire the red on red … we’d play on the other set.
So… we might toast the visual beauty of this combination … 
But we’d play on this old set and board…
And it would not be a timed game because there is no room for a clock!! 🤦♂️😊
I love ‘em both but the more I play the more I want form, function and clarity on the board. I’ll always display different sets though because I love the diversity of designs through history.
(..) Despite being luxury chess sets, they are not only visually appealing but also practical for actual gameplay. They seamlessly blend both strategic functionality and aesthetic beauty.
Khalifman versus Akopian, Las Vegas 1999
Set for tourists, brought to Germany from Mali, circa 1980ies
...the more I play the more I want form, function and clarity on the board..
That´s why I actually prefer decent plastic tournament sized Staunton pieces for serious play. Clarity and no distractions.
A new favourite! A Dubrovnik Standard (King 90/31 mm) set of pieces on a cheap wooden board with 40 mm squares and notation. Perfect for analyzing.
My Reykjavík II chess set and 15 books by or about Bobby Fischer. Jan Timman’s book arrived today.
Ziryab I like your set up. Where did you get the pieces and board? The board looks great.
Ziryab I like your set up. Where did you get the pieces and board? The board looks great.
I bought the set and my wife bought the board. Probably both came from USCF sales. The board was made in Spain. I’ve had them about 20 years. I used the pieces in tournament play until one got a small chip. Then I switched to plastic, then a French set, now a different French set. I’ve posted both French sets in this thread.
I love my Lewis chessmen but they are not the most playable set i own.