Staunton Tournament Chess Pieces, Triple Weighted with 3.75" King and 2 extra Queens

This is a great set for the price. It's pretty much as advertised. The style is a classic Staunton design with modest detailing. The look is clean and simple. Details come out much better in molded plastic than they do in carved wood or stone pieces in my opinion. The plastic is well molded and seems plenty strong. There are mold lines evident but hey, these are molded pieces. And the price is under $20.As for size and heft, I like them. The size makes them easy to grab and move but they aren't so big they look ridiculous set up on a coffee table. The triple weighted bases do a really nice job of keeping everything upright in the event of a little bump to the board and the weight just feels nice in my hand.The colors are nice traditional choices. The black is well.....black. The white is a nice muted off white like an old piece of ivory that's yellowed slightly. They look nice if you leave the board set up on a coffee table.I don't know why anyone would spend more for a set of chess pieces. As I said before, wood and stone sacrifices detail. Those materials just can't be carved to the level of detail that plastic can be molded to. And plastic is a lot more durable. And frankly, I'm not a fan of the cast metal pieces commemorating everything from Egypt to Rome to the Civil War to Dragons and Werewolves. Nah, this is what a chess set is to me, not some goofy werewolf.

I own several chess sets (to my wife’s dismay), and purchased these to compare them to the unweighted plastic Staunton set I’ve been playing with since I was in the 4th grade, 30 years ago. I always like the elegant simplicity of that set, but always wished they had a little more weight to them. These pieces are exactly what I was looking for. They look almost identical and have the triple weight. They feel great in the hand, but are not so heavy that they’re awkward to move. The only thing I wish were a little different about them (which is not their fault, simply a personal preference) is that the white pieces are a little too white. They disappear a little against the white squares on my canvas board, but I imagine they will yellow a little with time.This set is one which will probably last a very long time (another 30 years!) but seem durable enough to not need to be handled with particular care. I have several nice wood sets that require some special handling, and although those are nice to look at, these pieces here could absolutely be the only ones you ever owned.

It's plastic, but doesn't feel cheap.Love the finishing and the weights of the pieces. Yes, two queens in the set. Sturdy doesn't feel fragile and looks water proof, even the bottom pieces felt. I'm purchasing a back up set, in case a piece disappear! Actually to keep it ready to go. The pieces sizes are perfect, King as specified.

Nice set and they fit perfectly on a board with 2” squares.

I was able to find a good deal on this set just in time for a special occasion. It may not be something that could be considered heirloom-quality, but if you or anyone else in your family has considerable interest in chess, this is the set you should buy before anything else.First, let's explore why this set wouldn't be "heirloom-quality." For starters, the entire set comes in two transluscent plastic storage bags (one for each color), as opposed to a proper chess box. Second, the set is made of plastic rather than wood or stone, and its means of manufacture is rather evident upon acquiring the set. It's pretty clear to see that two halves of a given piece were molded separately, then paired and welded (sonic or otherwise) together. How high of a priority attention to detail regarding this made apparent upon closer visual inspection--the halves of some pieces aren't totally aligned in some way or another, while excess plastic can be gleamed along some of the edges where the halves meet (especially on the Bishops).Detailed as those nitpicks are, however, they are not enough to detract from this set's remaining qualities. The extra weight added provide a sense of heft that provides a sense of control and reassurance upon handling the pieces, especially during gameplay. The plastic has been given a texture that prevents the pieces from feeling cheap to the touch. The felt at the base of each piece helps with the preservation of both set and board. The size and shape of each piece make them feel easy and comfortable to grasp. The convenience of a spare Queen for each side is quite a relief. Finally, the fact that it's relatively cheap means that it is more suited to handle everyday wear, rather than be reserved for special events.I say "relatively" because, as cheap as it is, this chess set is still of MUCH higher quality than most of the chess sets widely available in retail. Indeed, the only retail set that could even dare compare to this one is the Chess for Dummies set, and even there, it falls short in a couple of areas (the pieces are neither weighted nor felted, which puts the accompanying board at greater risk for premature wear). Never mind that including spare queens with retail sets is unheard of, even with the Dummies set.One thing to note--this set welcomes an 18" board (i.e. 2.25" squares). A cheap Pressman board will easily be cramped.Overall, This is the chess set that can be used regularly and holds its own in the process. Its quality may not compare with a set made by Jaques of London, but for regular, everyday use, you cannot go wrong with this set.

Great chess set, with heavier than normal pieces.

These are a classy set that is fun to hold. They are beautiful and very impressive for their price tag. They came shipped in a sturdy box. I used them to upgrade my wooden travel chess set and they fit just perfect in the my folding wooden 12" chess board. They fill the 1.5" square without over powering it. They design is smooth and looks good.