BraRoe Chess Blog

To me there is no other chess I would rather play with than the Staunton chess set.  It is a classic and its design embodies the game of chess.  I’ve seen quite a few chess sets, with their different designs and styles of chess pieces, and always I come back to the Staunton.  How could I not?

For over one hundred and fifty years the Staunton chess set has been the favorite of anyone who is familiar with the game of chess. There’s reason most chess clubs and tournaments use the Staunton chess set.  It has a wonderfully classic design and a utility to its design that makes the pieces easy to handle.

Though Howard Staunton himself did not design the chess set, it was named after him for good reason.  In the middle of the eighteen hundreds, chess was becoming an increasingly popular past-time and he was seen to be the strongest of the competitive chess players at that time.  He loved the design of the chess set so much that he publicly endorsed it and when as far as speaking out against other chess designs for their inferior utility of design.  He was right in his opinion of other chess sets.  What other design has been so time-honored and long-enduring?

Fancy designs and novelty chess sets will never take the place of the Staunton chess set for me. The crown of the king, the beautifully carved equine head of the knight, and the fantastic battlement-like rooks will always be my chess pieces of choice.

Chess Sets, Staunton Chess Sets

Tags: Chess Sets, Chess Opinion by BraRoeChess
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Some people think that playing chess will make them look smarter. I hate to be the one to tell them this, but they are wrong.  It only makes you look smarter if you actually know how to play and can hold your own against your opponent.  Simply sitting down to play at a chess set with just a little bit of knowledge of the rules isn’t fooling anyone.  You can’t just randomly move the chess pieces around and hope for the best. People will notice when you are faking it.  So, don’t go into a game of chess thinking that onlookers will be impressed by your intellect just because you are sitting at a chess board.  You have to actually have some knowledge to back up your actions on this one.

 

That being said, if you do have the know-how and the will to play, chess can make you smarter.  This is a game that forces you to think and consider your moves carefully.  Each piece moves differently from the other pieces and you have to keep that in mind while playing.  So there you are with multiple pieces that move multiple ways trying to oppose multiple pieces also moving multiple ways.  If that doesn’t get your mind running, I don’t know what would.  Strategy is essential as well as a subtle attention to detail.

 

Crossword puzzles? Soduko?  Those are a good warm up, but if you want to really give your mind a workout, sit down and play a game of chess.  You’ll find yourself having quite a bit of fun as well as developing your problem solving skills and organizational abilities.

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Tags: Chess Sets, Chess Opinion by BraRoeChess
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There are more than a hndful of chess players that keep their chess sets on display. Not only do I not blame them, I encourage them! A well selected chess set is a remarkable site, and certainly the talking point to most any room that houses it. The concerns that is brought up most often is whether or not to display a chess set with all the pieces aligned and ready to play, or to leave them in set as if a game where already in progress.

Proponents of the first choice like the clean look of the chess set. Ready to go, with endless possiblities just waiting, the game beckons to be played. Seeing the chess set gives that sense of hope when looking a board ready to go.

The other option is too set the board up as if there were a match already in progress. Showing off the battle of wits that has been engaging two players. When one walks by such a chess set on display, the natural inclination is to stop and look at the game.

Either way, it really doesn’t matter. Both ways show off a chess set, and gives people a good idea of a hobby or interest of yours.

Chess Sets, display chess sets

Tags: Chess Sets, Chess Pieces, Chess Boards by BraRoeChess
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Sometimes, a chess set is more than a chess set. A little philosophical, I know. But the fact remains that there are a class of chess set that go beyond the pleasures of playing chess and become a little bit more. There are several reasons that a person obtains a themed chess set, and the primary one is rarely for playing chess.

To begin, there are more than enough themes out there for anyone. Anything from Medieval themes that take the literal representation of the chess piece name (i.e. an actual bishop for the bishop), to sports, to literature and pop culture. Most themes prevent instant recognition of the pieces, especially once the pieces have developed. Most people are not going to remember that the Giraffe is the knight on an animal chess set.

So then why have a themed chess set?

A themed chess set is often times bought because of the theme itself. Civil war buffs will flock to chess sets depicting that confrontation. Golf fans enjoy a chess set depicting their favorite past time. Personal interests are often the biggest factor when selecting a themed chess set.

Another reason for selecting a particular themed chess set is for is decorative value. A good themed chess set can be the highlight or accent in most any sitting room or den. Tall and distinct, A Renaissance Metal Chess Set can easily control the feel of the room from the corner. Most themes can easily start conversation in nearly any room that they are placed. A well coordinated chess set theme can also just blend in as part of the room, with the right décor.

Whatever the reason, a theme chess set is certainly a popular choice amongst chess admirers. A theme exists for most every enthusiast. What one will you choose?

Chess Sets, themed chess set

Tags: Chess Sets, Online Shopping by BraRoeChess
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One of the defining traits of a chess set is the knight. While each of the other pieces can bring their own flair to a chess set, especially the crown of the King or the coronet of the Queen. But with the Staunton chess set, the knight is the one piece that offers the greatest opportunity to find a chess set with exceptional detail.

While there are several different styles of knights, and many areas where a craftsman may showcase his work, there are generally three different types of knights: German, French, and Russian Style.

German Style
German Style chess pieces are where the nose of the knight is cut so that it is at a 45 degree angle. There is nothing overly significant about the angle, it just a way to have the knight stick out.

French Style
The French style is when the nose is straight across. More often than not, designers are going to create chess sets where the knight is fashioned at this level. Again, there is nothing special about the angle, but it does allow the knight to have a more prominent display of a mane.

 

Russian Style
The final style is the Russian Style. Here, the knight is the most head strong, with the nose pointing straight up and down. Symbolic of the history that the Russians have brought to the game and history of chess, the knight stands proud amongst the rest of the chess pieces.

No knight is right or wrong, but now you have an idea of the different designs behind the knight the next time you view a chess set.

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Tags: Chess Sets, Chess Pieces by BraRoeChess
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For the longest time, chess has been a game where its knowledge and tradition has been passed along from generation to generation through games that were played  face-to-face, on a physical chess set. 2 chess players sitting at opposite side of each other, pouring over every detail of the chess board, positioning and even the mannerisms of your opponent. Often times the only sounds that would emerge are that of deep sighs and clocks being ticked.

Now, a new breed of chess players is being nurtured in chat rooms and through chess sites that are dedicated to playing the game on-line. This has to force chess fans the world over to ponder the benefits and disadvantages of chess learning in this manner.

The pros are pretty convincing:

• Never having to wait for an opponent
• Chess playing is now global, not local
• There is always a better player to learn against

The cons are still unavoidable

• People too dependent on a computer generated rating
• There is no learning chess etiquette
• There is no learning the subtleties of playing face-to-face
• A chess set in 3 dimensions is foreign to a player used to the computer screen

So, as players are trying learn the game away from the traditional chess set, and in front of the screen, tell me what you think: Are Computers Ruining Chess?

chess, computer chess

Tags: Chess Sets, Chess Opinion by BraRoeChess
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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.

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Tags: Chess Sets, Chess Boards by BraRoeChess
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There is a lot of credence given to whether or not a chess set is a tournament chess set. For anyone interested in testing their skills in a contest, this is an important notion when purchasing a chess set.

A tournament chess set that is permissible by FIDE regulations. it turns out, there are not alot of restrictions placed on what type of chess set can be used.

 The first is that the material must be wood or plastic. Unfortunately, metal chess sets will not make the cut with FIDE in tournament play.

Next is the size of the chess pieces. The king should stand at 3.75 inches (9.5 cm). Its base diameter should be between 1.5 and 1.9 inches (3.8 to 4.8 cm). The rest of the pieces should be appropriately scaled from there. Since the pieces must be of the Staunton design, this should almost be a standard expectation.

The weighting is also important. Pieces that can be easily knocked of should not be used. Plastic pieces that are hollow are an example of this. Weighted pieces are better for the tournament.

The dark pieces are encouraged to be black or brown, and the light pieces are suggested to be white or cream color.

For the chess board. It is recommended that the colors be similar to the pieces. As longs as the colors are distinguishable, it should be fine. There is always a Chief Arbiter at every tournament if there is a concern about the board. The board should be made from wood, plastic or card. The board must be rigid. The boards should have squares with 2.0 - 2.5 inch sides (5.0 - 6.5 mm).

So a tournament chess set is one that is easily obtained and really should be of no difficulty to find.

All information here was found at FIDE website.

Chess Sets, tournament chess sets

Tags: Chess Sets, Chess Pieces, Chess Boards by BraRoeChess
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Alabaster Chess Sets are a unique type of chess set. They have been celebrated for years for the way that they feel in your hand as you move the pieces across the board. They have been lauded for the way light hits the set and creates a sight never before seen.

Alabaster has been used for ornate applications for over 5000 years now. Chess sets made from alabaster almost exclusively come from Volterra, Italy, where the alabaster is mined for use. The Chiellini family is responsible for the beautiful creations for years now, have mastered how too work with this material to fully bring out its beauty. A well crafted alabaster chess set mixes vivid colors with its natural translucent nature - a marriage that produces chess sets that are not easily replicated.

alabaster chess sets, Chess Sets

Tags: Chess Sets, Chess Pieces by BraRoeChess
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