Chess Sets -- A Comparison Review

A review of my three chess sets. I have done no editing or added annotations -- because I'm old like that, but any errors get cleared up right away or are obviously wrong and not misleading.
(1) The Library Reykjavik II Set from The House of Staunton
(2) The Fierce Knight Set from The Chess Store
(3) The St. Petersburg Set from Wholesale Chess
All three sets are boxwood, both the white and black pieces, and run from $80 (The St. Petersburg Set) to $120 (the other two sets). The St. Petersburg set is single weighted only, while the other two are double weighted.

[@jdraven0890]

This was exactly what I needed to help decide - thanks

[@braininahat]

You're most welcome.

[@paxvostrum4824]

"Less of a castle look - more of the flower look" exactly! i always had that problem with my rooks x)

[@Ethan-mo6xe]

i have that same problem lol

[@braininahat]

I have the same problem with my anus. WOW!!!

[@TheDnaitsirc]

Hi I like your doing of chess reviews and understand about taste but you should know a bit of history before "liking" to really appreciate those amazing chess sets you have: All these are based on Jaques London design by Nathaniel Cooke and named after Howard Staunton. The original design had: - Rook smaller than Knight (so if a Rook approaches a pawn that's a good representation of the original). - Queen really dwarfed against King. That's it, it shouldn't be that the Queen were a King without crown, but it should be really smaller than it. - Original Bishop has a wide mitre, so the most valuable of yours should be the one of the fierce Knight set. Also it's harder to produce. Additionally, your HOS set is itself a reproduction of the Fischer Spassky match set, also produced by Jaques London. Indeed the rock with deep crenellations is totally correct, matching the original. Thanks for the video! It's great to see chess sets fans. Original 1849: images.chesscomfiles.com/proxy/i.imgur.com/8jcXTZ6/http/47edfaec9f.jpg Fischer Spassky set: www.realclearlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Bobby-Fischer-Boris-Spassky-Chessboard-1_1200.jpg (from www.realclearlife.com/auctions/chessboard-used-1972-bobby-fischer-vs-boris-spassky-match-sale/)

[@braininahat]

I'm sure we all appreciate the knowledge you just dropped. Thanks.

[@Ethan-mo6xe]

nerd

[@OKBAOK]

I like the knight on second row is beautiful, the rook in second row doesn't look good. Thanks for the comparison 🙂 good video👍🏻

[@braininahat]

Thanks, man.

[@josephenriquealvaradoardil2435]

The second set is my favorite.

[@braininahat]

I think you're in the majority.

[@Leonarden]

Very nice sets, the House of Staunton makes the best, but I do like that Wholesale set. Good info video thanks.

[@braininahat]

Much appreciated.

[@saved03]

I actually don't mind if the Bishops in a set has a spherical head. However what does bother me about Bishops in a set are miters that are like the ones in your Fierce Knight set. I like my Bishops to have a simple straight miter cut without the flairing out at the bottom. Also hate miters that cut the ball on top in half. Multi-cut turrets on Rooks I don't mind because castles in real life don't have only 4 ramparts. As long as the Rooks are either fat or tall I will enjoy their design. I do like Knights that have a natural downward head tilt as well. The Chess Store has their Pro Tourney plastic set that has the best looking Knights of any plastic or wooden sets I have come across. Even better than HoS plastic Hastings series set. Pawn are pawns and I have no design issues with them. To me if the Queen's ball is at the base of the King's cross or finial. It is a good height proportion between the King and Queen. The German style of cross is my favorite cross for the Kings. It is more of a robust cross in my opinion. As far as color goes. I like ebonized boxwood the most but I will also do rosewood. Sheesham I am not the biggest fan of but will get it if I like the design of the set and Sheesham is the only option for the set.

[@braininahat]

I like how you're very specific about what you like. Funny shit (no offense).

[@paulfogarty7724]

I notice these days people seem to have a preferance for taller Queens arguing that such a powerfull piece should be " bigger " but as far as im aware, ideally the top of the Queens finial should be level with the " rim " on the Kings crown.

[@braininahat]

Fair enough. I suppose we all have our own preferences, some having nothing to do with anything but how the sets strike us.

[@jrlakin370]

Good video! 👍

[@braininahat]

Thanks, brother.

[@lucianomontanha]

I really love Reykjavik set!

[@braininahat]

It's noice.

[@ChessReviews]

Awesome video man!

[@penssuck6453]

Awesome comment, dude!

[@MrUnterward]

I would like to see the opposing pieces. 👍

[@braininahat]

No!

[@1bongocero]

Hello BIAH, Can you tell me if the total weight of each set to see if they match their website description of total weight for their respective sets? The St. Petersburg review had the most stinging review, not all, but for a possible purchase of a Rosewood set I have in mind could you give the total weight of that set in particular which I'm interested in the most? I have obtained 2 Fierce night sets from the Chess Store back in 2013 in Golden Rosewood and Ebonized Boxwood @ a 4.0" height and bought them for $119.95 for the Golden Rosewood and $!29.95 for the Ebonized boxwood set back then. Those sets today are sold for $10 & $20 higher respectively. If I'm to pay $119.99 for a St. Petersburg set in Rosewood, I'd like to purchase the set as advertised in weight as well. I'm kind of new to the game in the respect of playing regularly and I haven't weighed those two sets to date, but this review you posted sparked my interest with the sway of difference in weight numbers you've described. I like the St. Petersburg set because they have that heft presence on the board. I have other smaller sets that have a good feel for blitz or speed games but when it comes to playing without a clock I love bigger, heftier pieces but I will not ever buy a set that goes over 4.4" in height for the king. That's a bit much. I also have obtained the Zukert plastic set from The Chess Store and those pieces are massive but within my height parameters for a set. I bought the 5 color combination set. When a family member starts to show interest in the game I'll gift one of those sets over to him or her. Thanks for the in depth analysis by the way. Regards...Jorge.

[@braininahat]

+1bongocero Sorry, dude, I didn't see this until today. I don't have a scale that will measure these sets. I only have a scale for small weights like individual chess pieces and for large weights like myself.

[@thomasanderson404]

What is the exact name of that chessboard and its dimensions? And where did you get it from? If you can answer these, that'd be awesome, thanks!

[@braininahat]

This is the Walnut & Maple board (2 1/8 squares) from Wholesale Chess.

[@ghassankhz2056]

dear please can you tell me where can i buy them ? i'd really appreciate it. and many thanks for the beautiful video !

[@braininahat]

Wow, so long ago. If I remember correctly, The House of Staunton, The Chess Store, and Wholesale Chess -- all online stores.

[@Ryu552]

Where is black set ?

[@braininahat]

Off to the side, defeated, as usual.

[@ErikAmerica100]

Sorry, but… Which is which?

[@braininahat]

The which is the which, and the other which is the other which.

[@gurpreetmann6629]

I don't like the middle knight

[@braininahat]

Tell us how you really feel.

[@tomislav2814]

Dubrovnik 2 pices is the best

[@braininahat]

Anything named "Dubrovnik" is the best.

[@VenusChessWorld]

Hlw Masters!!!

[@KaiserWilhelmIV]

OMG. what is wrong with you? Do you ever show the Black half of the Chess sets?

[@braininahat]

I'm a closet racist.

[@jakebishop7822]

amazing responce

[@philosophiaentis5612]

Is your board a DGT board?

[@braininahat]

No. I wish I had that kind of skrilla. Does your name mean Philosophy of Being?

[@philosophiaentis5612]

@@braininahat Yeah, it is the core of Metaphysics.

[@philosophiaentis5612]

@@braininahat Your board have very simillar colors with the DGT Board. Where did you buy it?

[@braininahat]

@@philosophiaentis5612 This is the Walnut & Maple board (2 1/8 squares) from Wholesale Chess.

[@Sarah-no7lv]

Why 3 of the same set?

[@braininahat]

They're three different sets. Yes, I get that they're similar -- but so are twin sisters, and I would sleep with both.

[@ChessersTV2]

How Much that ??? :)

[@braininahat]

I don't know which one you're referring to, but each of these sets is between $90 and $120 without a board.

[@kevinlaraphoto]

What board is that?

[@braininahat]

Sorry for the late reply. This is the Walnut & Maple board (2 1/8 squares) from Wholesale Chess. I don't see it listed on their site now, not in that size at least, but both their 2" and 2 1/4" versions are $99, so I think that's how much i paid (but I don't recall entirely). I like the board. It does its job without making itself part of the game by being flashy. Overall it's about 21 3/4 x 21 3/4 inches, so it's not small by any means. Perfect for Kings with a 1 5/8 inch base. That half inch difference between square size and the King's base size works nicely.

[@ryanjavierortega8513]

braininahat You can get the Board that the board in the video is attempting to look like by searching Drueke. It's a company out of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and it was begun in 1914 when European imports were difficult due to mistakes of the (then)-present. William Drueke has a Grandson who is an amazing guy who is making them himself at very reasonable prices. It's really cool to know that the board you have is made specifically for you, especially when it's from a legendary company in the Chess World.