Letter #26 -  2010

Sub:    Chess pieces
Date:   07/13/10  03:21:19 PM EDT
From:  Boka_000
To:      service@Chess-poster.com

Hello,

Any reason why the Staunton type Chess pieces are the standard and the official set used in tournaments?

Regards.

Dear viewer,

Back in the 1800's, most Chess players used to play with their own type of pieces and quite often confusing the opponent because of the difficulty in distinguishing the various designs.

In the 19th century, the most common Chess design was the St. George Chessmen. There were other main patterns such as Lund, Merrifield, Calvert, Barleycorn, and Selenius.

In early 1849 Nathaniel Cook designed the Staunton pieces although it is believed that John Jaques actually designed it but his relative, Nathaniel Cook registered the wooden Chess pattern under the Ornamental Designs Act of 1842.

Staunton Chess pieces

When the Chess sets were available, Howard Staunton recommended and endorsed them in the Illustrated London News and had his signature on the box of Staunton Chess pieces.

The simplicity of the Staunton design probably contributed the most to its success. The Chess Staunton pattern was adopted by FIDE in 1934 and it is the standard Chess pieces design used worldwide and the most popular.

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