BraRoe Chess Blog

Chess Board. They are so often overlooked as part of a chess set, yet a poorly chosen chess board will cause a chess set to look completely mismatched. One of the most important choices when selecting a chess board is to decide on the correct finish.

There are two options for a chess board finish, either a glossy finish or a matte finish.

Glossy finish chess boards are just the name implies. The protective finish of the board is a gloss or a semi-gloss. Glossy finishes are great for metal chess pieces and for wood chess pieces. The natural luster of metal complements well with the gloss of the boards, especially boards that are made from Burl wood. Also, chess pieces that have a high luster finish (more expensive, especially made from ebony and bud rosewood) are complementary to these chess boards. 

Matte finishes are the other option. Satin-matte finishes are muted in comparison to their glossy counterparts. While it is not a lustrous an options, it is still a classy and dignified option that works well for a chess board, regardless of it use. A matte finish is an excellent choice that is used for wood chess pieces. Chess boards that have a matte finish are the choice for any wood chess pieces, especially sheesham, rosewood, and ebonized pieces. This finish is what FIDE dictates in their regulations that a tournament chess board must have for play.

Glossy or Matte? The right finish is the final key for producing a chess board that will complement your chess pieces. If you need further information for selecting a chess board, be sure to visit us at http://www.braroechess.com , or e-mail me at Bradford@braroechess.com.

Tags: Chess Sets, Chess Boards //