Prior to 1849, there was no such thing as a “normal chess set.” At least not like we think of it today. Over the centuries that chess had been played, innumerable varieties of sets of pieces were ...

Last week we published a history of the Staunton chess set, which was developed, in part, out of a need to standardize pieces for international competition. In a response on his blog, Jason Kottke ...

Perhaps our 1840s designs have been playing us for a pawn terraced house. Check out a new cityscape for the game. The Staunton chess set has been the worldwide standard for the game for more than 160 ...

We independently review everything we recommend. We may get paid to link out to retailer sites, and when you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more› By James Austin James Austin ...

On September 8, 1849, readers of the Illustrated London News were greeted by an advertisement for a newly designed collection of chess pieces. It read: “A set of Chessmen of a pattern combining ...

It spread from India into ancient Persia in the 6th Century, but did not arrive in Britain until the 12th Century, when it was brought back by Christian knights returning from the First Crusade in ...

Think chess, and chances are a certain, generic set of images will come to mind: that of stout, rounded-headed little pawns; crenelated towers for the rooks; the split mitre of the bishop; horses' ...

Chess is the oldest game of skill in the world - and one of the most collectable. It spread from India into ancient Persia in the 6th Century, but did not arrive in Britain until the 12th Century, ...