Chess sets

To answer your question- yes.

Numerous makers of chess sets offer the exact same functionality as a Staunton set for only $9.99.

I believe Staunton refers to a style of pieces, which can be had from many different makers for as little or as much as one cares to pay. Staunton-style pieces are often regarded as a "standard" chess set.

The history of Staunton (from a web site somewhere):

"In early 1849 Nathaniel Cook, Howard Staunton's editor at the Illustrated London Times, designed the Staunton chess set at a time when players were refusing to play with each other's pieces because of the difficulty in distinguishing the various chess pieces. The main patterns prior to the Staunton pattern were the Lund, Merrifield, Calvert, Barleycorn, Selenius and St George patterns. Cook used symbols in their plainest form. The king had a crown, the queen had a coronet, the bishop had a mitre, the knight was a horse's head, the rook was a castle, and the pawn was a ball. The horses' heads were based on the Elgin Marbles. These were designs found in the Parthenon frieze and taken to England by Thoms Bruce, 7th Lord of Elgin, in 1806. The pawns were developed from the freemason's square and compass. Every symbol was supported on a plain stem rising from a heavy, wide base which gave stability. The design so impressed John Jaques, leading wood carver, that he immediately suggested making the pieces on a commercial basis."

jay

A Froogle search does indeed result in Staunton sets from $8.95 to several hundred $.



(PS- I haven't played since I was 10 or so; I was giving Mickster, the forum's official personal shopper, a hard time.)

Ludwig,

I bought a new chess set last week for the princely sum of 7.99 CDN.
To my amazement, it was made in the US of A!



Fighting globalization and international diaspora,

Mike.

BTW, this is the finest chess set. For the true gentile:

That does indeed look like the classic Spock V's Bones set, or was it Kirk ? IT looks great either way, innit.
Fritz Von Chequers

Graham Ricketts

Chaps

I have played around on Google and it appears that Staunton is now a style rather than a maker.

You can pay any price according to the quality of the wood and carving.

Some of the pieces are works of art.

I think I will buy a good set second hand.

Regards

Mick

I shall call in at this shop as it is relativly close to my London office.

Many thanks.

I am only buying to play and hence I only want a traditional wooden set of pieces.

I suspect I will buy a good set off ebay.

Regards

Mick

Mick.

There is a shop here in Toronto with a large variety of styles in wood. They are all made in Germany. I think you should be able to find them in England or elsewhere in Europe and at a better price. They are wood, of various kinds, styles and weights. I think the prices range between $100 and $300 Canadian depening on the intricacy of the carving, the wood and weight.

tw

Mick,

Let me know how you get on at the chess centre - I'm planning an identical activity at the moment.

You may also consider http://www.bcmchess.co.uk

[This message was edited by Dobbin on THURSDAY 22 January 2004 at 15:50.]

I have a Lewis set (box wood & iron wood?) carved years ago by my uncle - it has a look and feel that are indeed a joy to use but it has has not advanced my ratings one iota.



Roy T

If you want to improve then I suggest a good chess progam. I'm using Fritz 8 (not to be confused with Von Innit chuck). It's an excellent (potentially unbeatable for mortals) chunk of ones and zeros and has the added advantage of working as a client for http://www.playchess.com , where interestingly I was well an truly trounced last night in a series of 3 minute blitz games

Argos do a good one with pieces in shot glasses. Best thing is when you load up the glasses with different spirits according to the value of the pieces - gets very messy after a couple of games but more socially fun