How did the Staunton Chess Set become the standard for international Chess? | Short Documentary

The Staunton chess set is the most popular chess set in the world, but how did it come to be? In this video, we'll explore the history of the Staunton chess set and learn about the role that Howard Staunton played in its creation.
We'll also discuss the features that make the Staunton chess set so popular, such as its simple and elegant design, its weighted pieces, and its durability.
This video was narrated by James Deverell from @talesofhighstrangeness
Check out our Staunton Chess Sets:
🇬🇧 www.regencychess.co.uk
🇺🇸 www.regencychess.com

[@keaton718]

This level of production deserves more than 11k views in 6 months. Maybe the video is a bit too slow in pace for the average youtuber to the algorithm, but this should have had mainstream appeal to get at least 20 times more views. Maybe with a title like "Why do chess pieces look the way they do today?"

[@rianaplaysroblox7183]

That’s the best explanation of the origins of the Staunton design that I’ve come across. Excellent work!

[@TheRegencyChessCompany]

Thank you!

[@kishascape]

The traditional Staunton hasn’t faded at all. It’s still the traditional gold standard for anyone serious about wood pieces.

[@adityachopra2722]

Very detailed explanation about the origins of staunton chessmen and about the legend Howard Staunton who created chess men design that were easily recognisable and easy to play with.. This made chess game more popular as pieces were more distinguished and easy to play. Thanks regency chess for making all chess lovers aware of how chessmen were initially designed into Stauntons..

[@TheRegencyChessCompany]

You are welcome! Thank you for watching!

[@CheekyChefUK]

I love your chess sets and this content is very well created. Definitely on my list to add to my collection

[@TheRegencyChessCompany]

Thank you!

[@juancarlosl4133]

1.- Why give kind of overwhelming credit to Howard Stanton, when the evidence and history tell that Nathaniel Cooke was the designer (creator) of the "Staunton" pattern chessmen??? ("Nathaniel Cooke" Wikipedia). 2.- The creator only asked Staunton to advertise it publicly, probably because Staunton was famous and a prominent figure in chess matters and others at the time. I AGREE WITH IT! 3.- Does someone think if the creator had not asked someone famous to advertise the new design, the design itself would not have been accepted worldwide anyway??? The new pattern design was so innovative, required and a massive success by itself, that it would be a breakout everywhere, no doubt, with or without a famous advertiser.

[@blairhammers4964]

I purchased The Isle Of Lewis Chess Set (RCPB157) with Italian Briar chess board. I am beyond amazed at the beauty and craftsmanship of the set! I couldn't be more happy with the service i received or product. Thanks again!

[@orangemanbad]

This was an awesome video! You should do other chess short documentaries. This was such a great piece. Great production!

[@roxyabrooks864]

Lucky you, Regency! You got the best narrator on KZbin! Bravo ✨

[@TheRegencyChessCompany]

Glad you think so!

[@sonny5068]

Great video! Keep up the interesting uploads!

[@Bathguitarschool]

Great explanation. Really enjoyed it and learned something, too. Keep it up! 😄

[@TheRegencyChessCompany]

Glad you liked it! Thank you for watching!

[@jenniferlonnes7420]

I enjoyed this little bit of history.

[@TheRegencyChessCompany]

That's great, Jennifer, thank you for watching!

[@harmonicacompany]

Cool video. We all take this design for granted, amazing to learn how it came to be.

[@chucktodd60]

I’ve actually seen the earliest Jaques Staunton surviving set, set #10, it’s in the British Museum in London.

[@keaton718]

Crazy to think if not for Staunton then some other great player from somewhere around the world may have designed their own standard. We could all be using Russian designs today or designs from anywhere really. And if we go further back and things played out differently, today chessmen could be flat tokens like checkers, with a drawing on it indicating what piece it is. And it would all feel totally normal to us.

[@leanneandspencer]

Amazing content

[@TheRegencyChessCompany]

Thank you, Leanne and Spencer!

[@constantine_8m]

10:36 ah yes, sir Staunton would've been glad to see that guy over the chess board, right

[@yakkyuu12]

Just wonderful!! I wish there was a documentary done on the Soviet chess sets through ALL the years! I have seen some videos that are a good representation of the Soviet sets -- but not like this! Someone could make an elegant presentation like THIS, about other chess set designs from other manufacturers( the Lardy's, Chavet's and so many more), then add some sets from different countries( Austrian coffee house sets!) There are SO MANY just fantastic designs, the documentary could EASILY be 2 hours! Adding in the political, religious and social inferences of the sets! The combination of CRAFTSMANSHIP, HISTORY, SOCIAL and Religious associations of sets is a study ALL ITS own-- just ONE of the best parts IMO--- being able to handle( repeatedly play ) What are WORKS OF --ART! Most art is admired from AFAR, NEVER touched! In ART galleries- even knowing the history of HOW paintings were actually done, how sculptures were really crafted --ALL LEAVE OUT-- the --TACTILE- you are LEFT wanting! Those of us who play, repeatedly get to FULLY understand the importance of this! All of us who have sets we appreciate so much, we ALL repeatedly handle and gaze at our pieces, we ALL LOOK at the MINUTE details of the pieces, we get to REALLY KNOW our sets- every piece!

[@1977ajax]

John Jaques name is pronounced 'Jakes'. And a bishop wears a 'my-ter' not a 'meter'.

[@evelynn4273]

Didn't Staunton duck Morphy? I'm just wondering since he was "incomparable".

[@khalidrashad-xu8xe]

The original chess set had a king , vizier not queen , elephant not bishop , knights , rooks and footmen not pawns .

[@josemiguelplanton4613]

Don't forget his correct name is Coward Staunton 😂😂😂

[@dennisharrell2236]

One of the three things I associate with Staunton is his going to extreme lengths to avoid playing Paul Morphy. The other two are the Staunton Gambit against the Dutch Defense, and this beautiful chess set pattern.

[@ceuser3555]

Enter the era of Magnus Carlsen and the World Chess set with its ridiculous pricing. I always wonder if there people who buy those sets given the astronomical prices. So far they are still in business.

[@harmonicacompany]

Yes. Both seem popular still

[@josemiguelplanton4613]

The bishops in Staunton's model are horrible.

[@alieniverson8139]

Lol

[@Beery1962]

I think the Staunton chess set is dumb! Seriously though, I think it is a bit boring these days. There are better sets: for example the HOS Leningrad and Zagreb '59 sets, and my personal favorite: the 1950s Soviet Latvian style.

[@clandeszipp4564]

Sorry but Staunton set sucks! Soviet Latvian one is the best!

[@harmonicacompany]

Sucks? I'm not sure many would agree with you TBH. Since 1800s millions of sets must have sold and it's still popular. It's a design classic!

[@denisdooley1540]

The Latvian design is a later modification of the Staunton design. Really, this is unmistakable if you look at the sets that came before the Staunton. Many of those late 17th and early 18th century sets just looked like balusters cut off the same staircase to different heights, with horse heads glued on top 4 of them. Many were unstable and with parts easily broken off. The Latvian does have a certain elegance to its curves compared to the original Staunton, but the pawns, bishops and queens don't deviate all that much and it certainly wasn't the first Eastern Block set to replace the kings cross with something else. Of course, all the gushing over Staunton's character in this video would ring a bit truer if he hadn't dodged playing Paul Morphy.