Old and classic chess board with chess pieces on it

Learn to Play Chess

If you have never played chess before, are not yet familiar with chess pieces or have not yet mastered the rules of chess, you will find detailed instructions here on how to learn to play chess and improve your skills.

You will receive a detailed explanation of the rules of movement of all chess pieces, illustrated with examples, an explanation of all special rules and helpful tips for getting started.

And if something is still unclear, don't hesitate to ask via the contact form.

The Rules of Chess
  • Chess & Tactics: How to Accurately Plan Multiple Chess Moves Ahead

    Chess & Tactics: How to Accurately Plan Multipl...

    By targeted tactical training and systematic analysis, calculation skills in chess can be improved. A balanced combination of intuition and calculation allows for more precise decisions and advance planning of...

    Chess & Tactics: How to Accurately Plan Multipl...

    By targeted tactical training and systematic analysis, calculation skills in chess can be improved. A balanced combination of intuition and calculation allows for more precise decisions and advance planning of...

  • Chess & Tactics: Improving Cognitive Skills

    Chess & Tactics: Improving Cognitive Skills

    Chess, often regarded as the ultimate intellectual sport, is a game of strategy, foresight, and mental agility. In this in-depth exploration, we will delve into the science of chess tactics...

    Chess & Tactics: Improving Cognitive Skills

    Chess, often regarded as the ultimate intellectual sport, is a game of strategy, foresight, and mental agility. In this in-depth exploration, we will delve into the science of chess tactics...

  • Chess & Strategy: The Psychology of Chess

    Chess & Strategy: The Psychology of Chess

    The world of chess is not just a complex web of rules and tactical moves, but also contains a fascinating psychological dimension that determines victory, defeat and the personal development...

    Chess & Strategy: The Psychology of Chess

    The world of chess is not just a complex web of rules and tactical moves, but also contains a fascinating psychological dimension that determines victory, defeat and the personal development...

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    Global Search

    Selection of high quality chess pieces and chess boards

  • Chess piece symbol

    Handcrafted

    All chess pieces are handmade, felted and weighted

  • Wood symbol

    Noble Wood

    Only high quality woods are used for manufacturing

  • Advice symbol

    Advice

    Advice for the right purchasing decision

  • Quality check symbol

    Visual Inspection

    Each product is checked by hand before dispatching

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    Free Delivery

    Free delivery to all supplied countries in the EU

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  • A king from a chess game

    The King

    The king is the most valuable and vulnerable piece on the board. Defending him at all costs and at the same time checkmating the opponent's king is both the challenge and the goal of chess.

  • A queen from a chess game

    The Queen

    The queen is the second most valuable and also the strongest piece on the board. Despite her high standing, she is nevertheless a prioritized target of attack and must always be moved with caution.

  • A rook from a chess game

    The Rook

    The rook symbolizes both the castle and the walls of the kingdom. It is a valuable piece, protecting the king through castling, usually becoming active in the middlegame and often dominating the endgame.

  • A bishop from a chess game

    The Bishop

    The bishop symbolizes the religion and faith in a kingdom and has a far-reaching influence on the outcome of a battle, although he must limit his abilities to the color of his field.

  • A knight from a chess game

    The Knight

    The knight embodies chivalry and the element of surprise in chess. It is the most expressive piece on the field and has a unique movement pattern that can turn the course of the game at any time.

  • A pawn from a chess game

    The Pawn

    The pawn is an often underestimated piece. Even though he has only a simple movement pattern, he essentially shapes the battlefield and sacrifices himself for his king at every favorable opportunity.

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Tournament Size Chessboards Made of Wood

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Mechanical Turk playing chess

A Long History

With a history of over 1,400 years, chess is one of the oldest surviving board games in the world. In this time the chess game has changed a lot, be it in the appearance of the chessboard and its chess pieces, in the adaptation of the rules up to its political influence. The following is a review of the history of chess from the 7th century AD to the present day.

The History of Chess

Highlights - Chess Pieces

A carver carves wood on the wood lathe

Wood Types

The wood used makes up the soul of a chess set. Depending on the material processed, the chess pieces and chess boards appear in a wide range of colours, which can vary from deep black to radiant rosé. Below you will find an overview of the most common woods and their appearances.

Wood Types in Chess

FAQ

Is it worth buying a tournament chess set even if I don't play regularly?

Tournament-sized chess sets are very impressive and their size should not be underestimated. Setting up the chess board and pieces takes up quite a bit of space. However, the board can also be decoratively leaned against a wall and the pieces placed in front of it to save a little space. So, if decorative use is important to you in addition to playing, purchasing a tournament set is a good choice.

Are all your products made of wood and hand-carved?

All my products are made of wood and partly hand carved. The proportion of manual manufacturing depends entirely on the product. Chess boards are sawn to size and glued, while chess pieces are turned and in the case of the knight even elaborately carved.

Why can I only order chess products in tournament formats from you?

I have focused on tournament formats because, in my view, they offer the optimal game size for an original game experience and also have a lot to offer in a decorative sense. In addition, they immediately give the player a feeling of the value that chess should have.

To which countries do you deliver your chess products?

Currently I only deliver my products within the following countries: Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Slovenia.

How long does the delivery take?

The exact delivery time depends on the respective logistics partner. As a rule, the products should reach you in Germany within 2 to 4 working days. Deliveries abroad usually take 2 - 8 working days.

  • Staunton Chess Pieces

    Staunton chess pieces have been the design standard at international tournaments since the 19th century. Developed by Nathaniel Cooke and promoted by the famous chess player and eponym Howard Staunton, the design became groundbreaking for an attractive appearance and good handling in play. Today, there are a large number of Staunton chess pieces with different appearances. However, the king and queen always wear a crown and coronet. The bishop is modelled after a mitre. The knight, the most defining piece on the board, has a variety of shapes, all of which are modelled after a horse and which is thus the most characteristic element of the piece set. The rook has a solid and strong presence and the pawns are represented by a kind of knob. Although unusual in tournament sets, Staunton sets are sold commercially with additional queens to allow two queens to be represented on the board in the event of a pawn promotion. I offer a wide selection of Staunton chess pieces in my shop. All pieces are weighted, felted, carved by hand and each set is also equipped with additional queens. In addition, each set is checked personally by me before shipping.

    Staunton Chess Pieces 
  • FIDE Standard for Chess Equipment

    The FIDE standard defines a tournament standard in chess. In addition to the chess rules, the standard for chess equipment is also described. In particular, the requirements for the chess pieces and the chess boards are defined here. The standard is to use Staunton chess pieces, which must be clearly distinguishable from each other. Accordingly, the king should have a size of approx. 95 mm and its crown should distinguish him from the queen and her coronet. The bishop usually wears a mitre, which distinguishes him from the pawns. The knight may have distinctive features, but should be easily handled. Colours allowed for the dark pieces are black or dark brown, for the white pieces white or cream. The chessboard should have a field size of 50 to 60 mm, but boards with a field size of 55 to 58 mm are common. The colour of the boards can be light or dark, but gloss should be avoided and a matt surface should be used. All products in my shop correspond in the sizes of the FIDE standard and are compatible with each other. Each set of chess pieces has a king height between 90 mm and 104 mm and can be played on all chess boards available on Chess Chivalry (field size 55 mm).

    FIDE-Standard Chess Sets 
  • Chess Sets from Fine Woods

    Chess pieces made of wood are not only essential for professional players. Hobby players or occasional players for whom decorative appeal is important will not be disappointed by high-quality chess woods either. High-quality wood is easy to work with and is a natural raw material that is both sustainable and eco-friendly. In addition, the craftsmanship of wood in the manufacture of chess pieces and chess boards represents a passionate artwork that significantly shapes the value of a chess set. A good chess set lasts a long time and is usually also bequeathed, which is why a purchase should be well-considered and only made after extensive research. Common types of wood for chess pieces are acacia, palisander, rosewood or redwood. Mahogany, walnut, wenge and blackened woods are often used for chess boards. The types of wood are also the decisive criteria for the desired colouring and the contrast that is created between the chess pieces and the board. In my shop, I primarily offer acacia, rosewood and ebonised woods for chess pieces. My chess boards are available in black and wenge for rather dark sets, mahogany for reddish to brown sets, and walnut and maple for rather lighter sets.

    Learn more about Chess Woods 
  • Strategy and Tactics

    Chess equipment is not everything. It must also be able to be used and help you to be victorious over your opponent. If you are not yet familiar with chess, Chess Chivalry also offers a detailed explanation of the rules and, via the blog, a first orientation for strategic and tactical questions. So if you don't know where to start, read through the rules with all the movement patterns of the pieces and all the special rules. You want to work on your tactical understanding? Then take a look at the blog posts on chess openings, middlegame and endgame. You think you keep making blunders and want to avoid them in the future? I have written an article about methods that help you develop a more attentive playing style. And if you're wondering in general how chess and its playing techniques have evolved over its long history, feel free to read the history of chess. If you have specific questions, you can also send me a message directly via my form or by email to support@chess-chivalry.com.

    Have a Look at the Blog