Ultimate Chess Pieces in Wood - Chess Forums - Page 2

TundraMike · 2021-01-23T00:58:49-08:00

Made this topic specific to the Wooden Ultimate sets that are arriving soon. My question is, and might be a question others have once they read the description, is can you purchase 2 extra queens for the sets? I noticed they came with 32 pieces, no extra queens. I do know that keeps the cost of th

loubalch

Jan 24, 2021

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#21

Micahsmith wrote:

Under FIDE rules, if you promote a pawn and replace it with an upside down rook, it is still a rook and not a queen!

https://www.sudburyriverchess.com/USChess%20and%20FIDE%20rules%20differences.pdf

"It is not allowed to use an inverted rook to mean “queen” when promoting a pawn. If a promotion piece is not readily available, the player must stop the clocks and ask the arbiter
for assistance. An upside-down rook is treated as promotion to a rook. If the arbiter sees this, he will turn the rook right side up and the game continues with the pawn promoted to a rook."

I'm curious, in the days of Lasker, Capablanca, Alekhine, and others, what did they do when promoting a pawn to a second queen?

MCH818

Jan 24, 2021

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#22

Eyechess wrote:

MCH818 wrote:

I would definitely assume the set came with extra queens so this thread is really good for those who want to purchase the wood set. I agree the add-on would be the best option to satisfy all.

From what Shelby did and didn’t say to me, I don’t believe the extra Queens have been made or decided upon doing until now. So this shipment does not have extra Queens and there are none available yet.

Thanks @Eyechess! I was just trying to agree with a previous post. I forgot to include the name of the member.

TundraMike

Jan 24, 2021

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#23

I hope Shelby will offer the extra queens down the road for the different types of wooden Ultimate Sets. Would only be good to do. As far a giving people a choice there is nothing wrong with that. Like I said some would rather pay less and not have the extra queens. For many people, these sets will never see an "official" tournament never mind a FIDE sanctioned. tournament. So it is fine they do not come with the set.

Looking at the base prices for the 32 pieces I do not see where 2 extra queens should be priced much more than $25-$30.

Shelby, please chime in.

GChess

Jan 24, 2021

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#24

TundraMike wrote:

I hope Shelby will offer the extra queens down the road for the different types of wooden Ultimate Sets. Would only be good to do. As far a giving people a choice there is nothing wrong with that. Like I said some would rather pay less and not have the extra queens. For many people, these sets will never see an "official" tournament never mind a FIDE sanctioned. tournament. So it is fine they do not come with the set.

Looking at the base prices for the 32 pieces I do not see where 2 extra queens should be priced much more than $25-$30.

Shelby, please chime in.

Yes, I need to talk with you as well Shelby when you get the chance DM me please. Your local mods apparently are in need of new chess equipment.

-GChess325

Micahsmith

Jan 26, 2021

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#25

TundraMike wrote:

I hope Shelby will offer the extra queens down the road for the different types of wooden Ultimate Sets. Would only be good to do. As far a giving people a choice there is nothing wrong with that. Like I said some would rather pay less and not have the extra queens. For many people, these sets will never see an "official" tournament never mind a FIDE sanctioned. tournament. So it is fine they do not come with the set.

Looking at the base prices for the 32 pieces I do not see where 2 extra queens should be priced much more than $25-$30.

Shelby, please chime in.

I agree with everything you said.

TundraMike

Jan 28, 2021

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#26

ShelbyLohrman wrote:

theendgame3 wrote:

ShelbyLohrman wrote:

Hey All,

Just to let you know, the pieces will be in at the end of business day in the shop. I will post real life pics tomorrow of each of the sets in each wood selection. Tomorrow should be a BUSY day.

thanks

Shelby Lohrman

American Chess Equipment

Wood Expressions

no mention of the extra queens I see...

Theendgame3,

You have to know the process of how sets get manufactured for a customer. Everyone has seen that cool video on how they make the pieces, but you truly do not see the whole process.

Customers buying wood chess pieces are VERY detail conscious. This is not only something they enjoy playing with...it is usually the accent piece for a room.

Making extra queens after the sets have already been made is a disaster waiting to happen. It is very important to make sure the wood comes from the same batch and preferably the same tree. As a manufacturer, I need to make sure the pieces take the stain the same, that they have the same coloration, and make sure there are no huge variances in the grain of the wood. Making queens after the fact I cannot guarantee the pieces will match up with the particular set someone has bought. Pure and simple.

It's not like plastic where everything looks the same. If I sent out extra queens and they did not match up correctly I would get sacrificed to the gods here in the forums...and rightfully so.

When we do the next run of pieces I will do what I can to get some sets made with extra queens. On that you have my promise. But as for right now I am not going to do it.

thanks

Shelby Lohrman

American Chess Equipment

Wood Expressions

That makes sense, very understandable. I will not deter my wanting to buy the wood Ultimate as long as Shelby says they are a hit when he checks some over.

Micahsmith

Jan 29, 2021

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#27

Just noticed the price of the wood Ultimate pieces went up. Darn, I hadn't pre-ordered yet!

Pawnerai

Jan 29, 2021

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#28

Micahsmith wrote:

Just noticed the price of the wood Ultimate pieces went up. Darn, I hadn't pre-ordered yet!

I wasn't going to order anything until I saw real, in-stock photos of the pieces. Not just studio stock photos from who knows where. I'm so tired of getting jerked around recently. Not from ACE/Shelby. But just "chess stores" in general. In the US. In France. And in India. If it costs me an extra $35 so be it.

DrChesspain

Jan 29, 2021

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#29

Pawnerai wrote:

Micahsmith wrote:

Just noticed the price of the wood Ultimate pieces went up. Darn, I hadn't pre-ordered yet!

I wasn't going to order anything until I saw real, in-stock photos of the pieces. Not just studio stock photos from who knows where. I'm so tired of getting jerked around recently. Not from ACE/Shelby. But just "chess stores" in general. In the US. In France. And in India. If it costs me an extra $35 so be it.

I'm assuming the reason the pre-order price was discounted is because the pre-orders helped Shelby (or any manufacturer) cover the production costs.

Once sets are produced the incentive drops for a manufacturer to offer a "pre-order" discount.

shifty803

Jan 29, 2021

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#30

I am also curious to see actual photos prior to putting in an order.

chessroboto

Jan 29, 2021

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#31

I want those so bad.

chessroboto

Jan 29, 2021

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#32

Something just snapped in me. I think it was reason and self-control.

TundraMike

Jan 29, 2021

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#33

@ShelbyLohrman looks just amazing. I may have to get a new board to go with this, oh I did buy one off of you before the QG craze, this will go perfect!.

MCH818

Jan 29, 2021

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#34

Looks good to me. I would buy one if I didn't already have the Fischer-Spassky from HoS.

SybotCB

Jan 29, 2021

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#35

Despite just ordering a few sets of the plastic ultimates for my club. I'm kind of excited that I decided to go ahead and put in a preorder for the Boxwood/Ebonized set. Can't wait 'til they arrive. Thanks Shelby, those look excellent!

lotsoblots

Jan 29, 2021

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#36

Wow, those pieces are beautifully carved. Resistance falling....

GrandPatzerDave-taken

Jan 29, 2021

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#37

MCH818 wrote:

Looks good to me. I would buy one if I didn't already have the Fischer-Spassky from HoS.

C'mon! You just know you want it... Besides, what else ya gonna do?

KnightsForkCafe

Jan 29, 2021

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#38

Having dealt directly with a chess manufacturer for a custom made set. Paying $240 for a Rosewood and Boxwood 4 inch set with extra Queens shouldn't really be an issue. There was one piece that didn't match and it wasn't the extra Queen. It was a Rosewood Bishop. It was too Brown and not enough Red. To make a long story short. The Chess Empire was able to remake a Rosewood Bishop that matched closer to the set that was sent. Shelby I love what you do but don't you think that not getting the sets with extra queens is shorting your customers. If House of Staunton and Chesshouse along with other direct Indian sellers can produce sets with extra Queens and match the sets. Why can't you have your supplier make these sets with extra queens? I personally don't by the reason being cost. Since I could get a custom 4 inch set that is close to the price you are selling your Ultimates. I fell like it is really cheating your customers to a full set by today's standards.

SybotCB

Jan 29, 2021

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#39

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that anybody complaining about not getting extra queens in a set when it clearly states it's a 32 piece set on the sales page is really being nit picky. I mean, People played chess for literally 2000 years before extra queens in a chess set became a thing.

Most of the time, you don't need them, growing up, in the rare instances you got two queens on the board and the game wasn't ending nearly immediately, the extra rook turned upside down worked just fine.

I really think the only time you have a truly valid case, is if these pieces were say DGT enabled to use on eboards or something. Then, there is a true reason for needing a piece that will read as a Queen for the electronic board. As that's not the case here, and you hate upside down rooks, say, grab a queen from one of the other 10 chess sets you have lying around for that once in a blue moon moment where it matters.

I'd be interested if someone with ChessBase could do a search for the percentage of Chess games where 2 queens were on the board for one side for more than say about 4 moves before the game ended.

KnightsForkCafe

Jan 29, 2021

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#40

SybotCB wrote:

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that anybody complaining about not getting extra queens in a set when it clearly states it's a 32 piece set on the sales page is really being nit picky. I mean, People played chess for literally 2000 years before extra queens in a chess set became a thing.

Most of the time, you don't need them, growing up, in the rare instances you got two queens on the board and the game wasn't ending nearly immediately, the extra rook turned upside down worked just fine.

I really think the only time you have a truly valid case, is if these pieces were say DGT enabled to use on eboards or something. Then, there is a true reason for needing a piece that will read as a Queen for the electronic board. As that's not the case here, and you hate upside down rooks, say, grab a queen from one of the other 10 chess sets you have lying around for that once in a blue moon moment where it matters.

I'd be interested if someone with ChessBase could do a search for Chess games where 2 were on the board for one side for more than say about 4 moves before the game ended.

It is what we come to expect out of sets today. I know that extra Queens is a new addition but the addition has changed the expectations of buyers of sets today. It is today's needs and expectations that matter. Not the expectations of years past. I can play chess without extra Queens but the set fells unfinished without them. It is what we have grown accustomed to. Tournaments across the globe have extra Queens. I believe that it is a FIDE tournament rule to have and use an actual Queen if the original one is still on the board.