How to Choose Your First Chess Set
Buying your first chess set should be exciting, not confusing. This guide covers everything you need to know: the Staunton standard, sizing your pieces to your board, choosing materials, and the best value at every budget.
Choose Staunton pieces
The Staunton design is the universal standard for chess pieces. It has been used since 1849 and is required for all official tournaments. The pieces are immediately recognisable: the king has a cross, the queen a crown, the bishop a notch, the knight a horse head, the rook a castle turret. Avoid novelty or themed sets for serious play.
Size your king
The king's height determines the set's overall size. Standard heights: 3.75" (95mm) for tournament play, 3" (76mm) for casual/travel, 4.4" (112mm) for display/club. Match to your board size.
Material guide
- Plastic (weighted): £10-25, perfect for beginners and tournaments.
- Wooden: £30-200+, beautiful, durable. Boxwood and rosewood are popular.
- Marble/glass: decorative, heavy, impractical.
- Electronic: £200+, tracks moves digitally.
Budget recommendations
- Under £20: vinyl board + weighted plastic pieces.
- £20-50: wooden board + wooden pieces.
- £50-150: high-quality wooden set, tournament-ready.
- £150+: collector sets, premium woods. For your first set, the under-£20 option is perfectly fine and what most club players use.