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Matching Chess Pieces to Your Chess Board

Perhaps you have found a great chess board that you couldn't pass up buying, or maybe you inherited a board that has no chess pieces or they were not what you were looking to own. Whatever the reason, matching the right chess pieces to the board that you own is a pivotal step in creating a chess set that you will cherish for years and pass onto future generations.

While there are no rules in selecting a set of chess pieces to match your board, there are a few loose guidelines that will help make the selection process an easy one for you.

There are three things that you want to be aware of regarding your board before you start this process. 1. What is the length of the squares for each of the chess pieces - this can range anywhere from 1.0 to 2.75 inches typically. 2. What are the 'black' squares made of - rosewood, ebony wood, etc. 3. Does the board have a glossy finish to it or a more muted matte finish?

After that, it is a pretty regimented.

Glossy Matter.
First, if your chess set is made with a glossy finish, typically you will want to select metal pieces. Conversely, when you have a quiet matte finish, the luster of wood chess pieces works best.

Matching sizes
Usually you want the chess pieces you select to have King whose base diameter is approximately 75% the size of the boar square. So if your chess board has squares that are 2.0 inches, your goal is to find chess pieces with a diameter of 1.5 inches. That is not to say that pieces with a 1.75 diameter are bad or a no-no, but that is the general guideline.

Matching material types.
Finally, you need to pay attention to the material that makes up the chess board. This is also pretty simple. Ebony or black looks best with ebony wood or black chess pieces, rosewood with rosewood, and sheesham (light brown) pieces with boards made of walnut or hazelnut. Usually in these cases, wood pieces work best.

If you chess board is made from pressed leather or pressed brass (traditional coloring or something like red or blue) usually you are looking get your hands on metal chess pieces. Metal chess pieces are available in both the typically Staunton design as well as themes.

A final note, these are the rules that apply when chess sets are being put together for others. The most important thing to remember is that you are aiming to produce a chess set that matches your life and personality. These principles work for the majority, but that is not to say that you can decide what works best for you.

About the Author

Bradford Roegner is webmaster for BraRoe Chess Pieces. He is available to help provide people with the tools to bring chess into their life. You can contact him Bradford@braroechess.com any time with questions.

Author Profile: braroechess

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