This Set Has It All: The Leningrad Chessmen

If you are looking for a set that has it all:  great looks, great price, collectibilty and playablity then I would highly recommend Official Staunton's Leningrad Chessmen.  The set is offered in boxwood with either black (ebonised boxwood) or golden rosewood pieces. Pieces are nicely polished and finished.  Kings measure 3 7/8" in height and have have a 1 5/8" (1.625) diameter base. Pawns are 2" in height. The 34 piece set (extra Queens) is weighted and weighed in at just over 3 lbs (1.362 kg). The Knight carvings are extremely well done. The Knights look similar to those in the Zagreb and Yugo sets, but with much more  detail to the Knight's head and mane. The other pieces are finely turned and look similar to pieces in the vintage Jaques sets from the 1920s.  A great set for tournament, blitz or home play. And a great collectible set.   A quality set for the budget minded collectors and players. You will not be disappointed with this set.  Here's the links to my YouTube Slide Show Review  on the set and its particulars on the Official Staunton website:

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUCxgDpKaik

http://www.officialstaunton.com/collections/chess-pieces/products/the-leningrad-boxwood-black-chessmen 

Set is shown on my chess table with 2.25" squares 

No pictures?

This is just an ad?

Mike, what's the diameter of the pawns?

Lou, pawns have a 1.25" diameter base

Thanks, Mike. How do you like the dimensional balance between the pieces and pawns?

According to my calculations (I'm beginning to sound like a mad scientist), the Leningrad is a perfectly matched set, where the ratio of the King's Diameter to the Square (1.625"/2.125") and the ratio of the Pawn's Diameter to the King's Diamter (1.25"/1.625") are both equal to 76.5%. [In this case, the Leningrad set has a Deviation Factor of only 0.2, nearly smack dab on the mark!]

Because the set is integrally balanced as outlined above, if a 2.125" board was not to your liking, you could move up to 2.25" board, or down to a 2" board, and the set would still look great. Like the Piatigorsky set, the Leningrad can easily accommodate three different chess boards.

Thank you Dr Frankenstein, I think the pieces are well proportioned. Maybe the pawns could be a little shorter, but many players like tall pawns, particularly for speed and blitz play.

Thanks for your interesting and informative calculations on the appropriate board square size. Its great that the set will accommodate 3 different board square sizes.  I think the set matches perfectly with my chess table 2.25" squares.  

Mike, here's a perfect example of the set's flexibility. You're using a 2.25" board with this set (and it looks great), I would use a 2.125" board with the set, and Carl recommends using a 2" board.

[I think the Europeans are used to closer quarters. I mean, they've jammed 50 countries into an area roughly the same size as our 50 states.]

Excellent points Lou, this set is a winner in all respects!

The seahorses don't look very natural.  The stretched necks of the pawns makes me suspect a chiropractor had something to do with the design.

In Leningrad, they don't need no stinkin' whimpy pawns!

TY GNM you do this forum a service posting sets on you tube and pictures on here.  They are much better pictures that the sellers have on their web site so before one spends their hard earned money they can take a very good look.  I have seen you post many sets from multiple chess vendors so I know you do not do this as an ad or to get special discounts.  You have a real passion for chess sets and I consider you an expert in many topics of chess sets.  And as I said you do us a great service by posting the chess sets. If posting pictures of a chess set is considered an ad then at least a 100 of us are guilty of the same. I thought this was the forum for chess equipment and books?  N'est-ce pas?

This looks great. If I could change anything it would be to make the Bishops a little more different. The knights are awesome!

Your welcome WiscMike, your comments mean a lot to me as you share my passion for collecting chess sets.  I love posting about the sets that I  love. Its such a pleasure sharing my set pictures and videos with colecctors like yourself.  

Thanks Another, I'm glad you like the set

Well, dang!  I hope mine mean a little sumpin' to you to...

Sorry Chasity, I don't agree with your commemts, but thanks for your input

I'm intrigued by the intricate carving of the manes.

Yes Chuck, its a fascinating Knight

Hum! i am not too much happy with you Mike, because i was focusing to buying another chess set, and while waiting, i saw this really nice (and affordable) chess set with these original knights, and now... i want one!

Thanks for sharing

Well MySet, What can I say? I'm happy that you're unhappy! You'll love the Leningrad set.  Thanks for your positve feedback on my post.