Chess Set Sizes & Classifications Explained(With Pictures)

I think I understand my library would be the smallest, but why would club be bigger than tournament?  Is it becuase you can have more people looking over your shoulder tsk-tsking my last move?

Is this set big enough?  Is that a museum in the background?

I made some picture changes

0_0 i made many pictures, please have a looksee 

Awesome thread!!

Thanks so much for this

Thanks. What size board a pieces are recommended for display and play at the home?

I personally like all 3 sizes.  It really just depends on what you're in the mood for.  Plus, sometimes it depends on how much room you have.  The smaller pieces can sometimes be harder to get your hands on, a problem you'll never have with a 4" set.  But, sometimes (with the larger sets) the captured material can become a HUGE pile, so on a smaller table, it's sketchy, because if you drop one of those large rooks, It can create quite an impact(likely to ding the piece).  

Overall(if you just want one perfect set, for all occasions), I'd recommend a 2"-2.25" board, with a 3.75" king.  

Wow!  Those are some great pictures you spent all that time posting!

<<Overall(if you just want one perfect set, for all occasions), I'd recommend a 2"-2.25" board, with a 3.75" king.  

Is that the "tournament" size? Or is that the "library" size?

It would be considered tournament size.  There is an area were the sizes intersect, but there can be gray area.  The chart on this link breaks it down.  http://www.chess-museum.com/question--answer.html

Thanks OP for all these pictures. Also, would a 3.5 inch king be too small for tournament use or is it just fine?

FIDE is 3.5"-4.25"   The base size, and board square size would be important also.  'Girth' is a big part of chess sizing.  So, if the base is less than 1.5" the set is gonna be a little too small for FIDE.

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