The Piatigorsky Has Arrived!

 Welcome to the club!

BTW Lou it looks perfect on the 2 1/4" board  2" would look too crowded, too bad most standard chess tables today are 2" unless you custom order. 

Lou, for comparison, here's the Piatigorsky on my chess table with 2 25" squares. I prefer the set on a board with 2.5" squares. But as you say, the set  works well on both size boards.

Nice chess tables.

Thanks Mike, What size board do you prefer to use with your Piatigorsky set? 

I finally got a chance to inaugurate my new Piatigorky set this afternoon against my chess buddy, Lloyd (aka "F. Lloyd Floyd"). Must be my lucky set. Played two hard fought games, and won both.

Haven't played with the set yet but will try it on a 2 1/4" board first when I do. 

Mike, let's meet for a game. I'll bring the board (2.25") seen in the photos above and we'll use your pieces.

P.S. I could bring a 2.375" or 2.5" board if you prefer.

I received my Piatigorsky set today, #14.  Here are my thoughts and opinions of the set:

1. This is a very nice set.  The workmanship and finish are excellent.  The staining of the dark pieces is also done very well.  I like this set.

2.  While this is a very nice set that I am happy to own and play with, it is not instantly my favorite.  This is certainly a Staunton design set, and of the Staunton designed sets I own, I would have to say my Morphy Series, 4", Blood Rosewood edges this one by a tad.  With that though, I feel more comfortable taking this Piatigorsky set to a rated game/tournament than the Morphy.

3.  After handling this set and going back to the pictures of the original I realize this is a tall set, intentionally.  And I agree with goodknightmike when he says he likes the 4.4" King size better than the 5" size of the original.  This Official Staunton version is better proportioned, in my opinion as well.

4.  Looking at the base diameters of the various pieces, it is kind of surprising how well this set works on very different square sizes.  Lou is right that a 2.25" square size works well.  I personally think a 2.375" square size looks very nice with this set.  And while the 2.5" square works with this set, I think the pawns kind of swim in the ocean on this size square.

Also I plan on actually playing Chess with this set so the 2.25" and 2.375" squares work the best, in my opinion.  Given enough table space, I will go with my HoS Signature Traditional board with Green dyed Ash and Bird's Eye Maple in 2.375" square size.  This set looks very sharp on that board.  Perhaps when I have time I will set it up and take pictures.

And a wood 2.25" square size board will also work well, playing-wise.

5. Carl did a very nice job in having this set created.  Looking at the pictures of the original design and comparing this creation, I think this creation is better than the original, by quite a bit.

So all in all, I am pleased with this purchase.  There certainly is a distinct spot in my Chess set collection/rotation for this set.  This set is different than any of the others I own and I welcome it into the "rotation of play".