The set is beautiful, but there is not enough distinction between the two colors. Apart from the possibility of actually confusing which side a piece belongs to, the position just does not "pop" with enough clarity. This can affect play; I know it would affect mine.
Are you referring to the original picture, or the OP's revised choice of Blood Rosewood and Boxwood? Because I think the latter provides enough contrast, providing you have a suitable board.
Please don't pay retail for your set. HOS auctions sets on Ebay all the time. Two Zagreb '59 prestige sets have sold within the last month. One went for $178 and the other for $213. If you are willing to go ebonized and boxwood they can be found for around $60. The rosewood and boxwood and ebony and boxwood go for something inbetween. They aren't seconds and they ship from the same warehouse as if you bought from their website. Higher end sets can be had for even more extreme savings. My 4.4" Sheffield set in bud rosewood and boxwood is $1300 on their website. I paid $271 on Ebay.
Well, since you say that this is your *first* set, I'd question the whole idea of having it be an expensive work of art. I think that a better choice for a first set would be one of the higher grade plastic ones -- something rugged and practical that you wouldn't have to worry too much about. Personally, it'd make me nervous to expose a nice, expensive set to the rough and tumble work of speed chess, where it's easy for pieces to fall onto tile floors, or get doused with spilled soda, etc. If I were you, I'd make your 2rd or 3rd set the nice, expensive one (one which wouldn't be likely to see much travel).
Im assuming because of the price, that this is a nice set your are
going to keep at your house most of time to use every once in a while.
for club use i would recommend something else, plastic preferably,
I know the red will surely turn some club player off from experience.
I once bought a blue and white board and brought it to my local
club a few times and got complaints about it, because it was
not traditional (just as a side note i have never been very impressed
with house of stauton, they are overpriced and their selection is no
better than several other well known sites on the internet.
so long
In a later post, OP clarified that by "first set" he means first set that is not plastic.
Hi - In the UK I go to the London Chess Centre. Their sets offer a good combination of looks and play-ability. I have these:
http://www.ukgamesshop.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=chsewoo102&Category_Code=chsewoo
I should have added that the weight is important. Mine are triple weighted and it does make a quality feel.
Not enough contrast between the two colors.
I agree. Red v. White is better than Red v. Black.
Please don't pay retail for your set. HOS auctions sets on Ebay all the time. Two Zagreb '59 prestige sets have sold within the last month. One went for $178 and the other for $213. If you are willing to go ebonized and boxwood they can be found for around $60. The rosewood and boxwood and ebony and boxwood go for something inbetween. They aren't seconds and they ship from the same warehouse as if you bought from their website. Higher end sets can be had for even more extreme savings. My 4.4" Sheffield set in bud rosewood and boxwood is $1300 on their website. I paid $271 on Ebay.
It's true you can get some good prices on HOS sets on Ebay; just remember to add in the shipping; HOS does jack up the S/H there. Plus, I just hated waiting till the auction ends! 
Don't go with the "Buy It Now" IIRC there's not much savings there.
With all things considered it actually works out about the same whether you buy from ebay or from the HOS website, and when you consider the extra wait for the auction to finish (and it might not finish in your favour) and the other hassles of the eBay system, it's really just easier to buy direct.
As for weighting, HOS doesn't use the single-double-triple weighting system, but I believe they work out to roughly triple weight. My 3.875" Zagreb Kings weigh 72.82 and 71.93 grams.
vadsamoht has a point there...I've won a couple of HOS auctions on Ebay but never on the 1st try; it was always the 2nd or 3rd shot!
choose a chess set that can do this:
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When I was looking for a set I realized that shipping was going to cost a good percentage of the set. This site has free shipping. Worldwide.
choose a chess set that can do this:
That is insanely cool
Nicely done fellas, I bought the Zagreb, or Yugoslavia style of Cheemen+board+box combination from HOS, in Boxwood/Blood Rosewood which is not currently in stock.
The live chat assistant was very helpful, straightened out my concerns. They currently doesn't hold any stock for the wood combination, but it will be shipped when they have a stock.
I could used promotion code for 15% discount and my lifetime membership (yes!) provided 10% discount so in total it was $571.68 with Fed Ex shipping.
It is understandable that some of you questioned about the idea of buying this much expensive chess set for "first" time purchasing, but it was kind of my personal dream :) And it will last for lifetime! So I decided to invest.
Thank you again for your help guys!
Congratulations, I am sure you will enjoy your set.
You are right, red and black is no good. What you want to do is ask for 'Staunton' piece in black and light yellow on a two inch square, cream and black square board.
Your budget will more that cover it.
You are right, red and black is no good. What you want to do is ask for 'Staunton' piece in black and light yellow on a two inch square, cream and black square board.
Your budget will more that cover it.
Of course this advice won't work for folks in the US (if you are planning any tournament play), since USCF rules require 2.25" square on the board IIRC. From personal experience, any board withwhite/cream & black squares is misery for the eyes...
Of course this advice won't work for folks in the US (if you are planning any tournament play), since USCF rules require 2.25" square on the board IIRC. From personal experience, any board withwhite/cream & black squares is misery for the eyes...
The USCF rules are explicit in regard to piece size, for the most part, but just express that the board ought to be proportional to the pieces, mentioning that 2 to 2-1/2" is standard. The rulebook goes on to some tests of proportionality such as king base size and having 4 pawns fit in a square.
I imagine the td would have to sort out disputes when the equipment isn't the 3.5"-4" kings and 2-1/4" squares. Just use standard equipment at tournies and you'll hopefully be past any of that nonsense.
For home use, why not get black and red pieces, if that's what you want? I have the red/natural plastic HOS Collector and even though I'd hesitate to bring it to a tournament (red strictly speaking seems to be non-standard) I have enjoyed it a lot at home. It's very playable for me though I wouldn't force it on anyone.
The set is beautiful, but there is not enough distinction between the two colors. Apart from the possibility of actually confusing which side a piece belongs to, the position just does not "pop" with enough clarity. This can affect play; I know it would affect mine.