The York Series Chess Pieces - 3.5" King

A classic Staunton set in golden rosewood and natural boxwood, hand-carved and weighted, with a 3.5-inch king. It is made for play: heavy enough to sit still on the board, finished cleanly enough to live on a table between games. Thirty-four pieces, so both sides have a spare queen for promotion.

Details

• Wood: golden rosewood (dark side) and natural boxwood (light side)
• King: 3.5 in (8.9 cm) tall, 1.6 in (4.1 cm) base
• Board to match: 2.25-inch (5.7 cm) squares
• Weighting: weighted pieces, billiard-cloth base pads
• Set weight: about 30 oz (850 g)
• Included: 34 pieces — a full set plus two extra queens; pieces only, board sold separately

Good to know

A 3.5-inch king is the standard club and tournament height, so the set fits most 20–21-inch boards. Natural wood varies in grain and tone, so no two sets are exactly alike.

A wooden board and boxwood pieces will outlast you if you keep two things away from them: water and extremes. Everything below follows from that.

The board

Keep it dry. Water lifts veneer and swells solid wood; a spilled glass should be wiped at once. Keep it out of direct sun and away from radiators, air conditioners and fans: heat and dry air make wood shrink, humidity makes it swell, and a board that lives next to a heater will eventually gap at the joints.

Dust it with a dry, soft cloth. Smudges and fingerprints come off with a cloth that is barely damp. If the surface feels sticky, wipe it dry. Once a month or so, a little beeswax or a furniture polish such as 3M keeps the lacquered boards looking new; our boards have a melamine lacquer that takes polish well.

The pieces

Boxwood wants the same thing as the board: no damp, no heat. Store the set in its box or pouch, not on a windowsill. Do not use polish on the pieces; a dry cloth is all they need. A piece that has taken a knock can be re-felted; write to us.

Folding and travel boards

Close them with the pieces inside their compartment, not loose on the board. Magnets do not mind temperature, but the felt does mind damp, so dry a travel set that has been in the rain before it goes back in the bag.

If something has gone wrong with a set, see the warranty or write to shop@worldchess.com.

Orders over $300 ship free to the US, UK and EU. Return any order within 14 days of delivery.

Visa, Mastercard, American Express, PayPal, Shop Pay, Apple Pay, Google Pay and more.