The pieces being used at the US Chess Championships are dgt enabled, provided by House of Staunton. They are beautiful. That said, I think that they are not properly proportioned for play on 2 1/4" squares which is how all dgt eBoards are configured. I have a dgt eBoard and I’ve placed a comparably sized House of Staunton set on it and the pieces look “crowded” on the board. Here’s a photo from the current US Championship that sort of shows the clutter, IMO, although is shows Anna Sharevich marvelously well.
Here’s a photo of a dgt eBoard with Timeless pieces. I think slightly shorter pieces with smaller diameters are visually easier to play games with. IMO, the set being used in St. Louis would play better on a board with 2 3/8" squares, which dgt does not yet make. Thoughts? I’d like to contact dgt about making eBoards with larger squares…
Unfortunately, the pics so far this year are shot with a low angle that doesn’t really give a feel for the pieces in relation to the squares. Try these.
dgt eBoard with dgt Timeless set
dgt eBoard with HoS Margate set
HoS Margate set on a board with 2 3/8" squares.
Two caveats. Margate is, IMO, a bit cleaner in lines (less chunky?) that the set being used in St. Louis. The photos are of course two dimensional and don’t fully give a 100% accurate view.
That said, my preference on boards with 2 1/4" squares is to have a King no taller than 3 3/4" and a King base diameter of no more than 1.6"
I play most games at home on a board with 2 1/4" squares using either HoS Windsor or Championship chessmen. When playing with the HoS Margate or Zagreb chessmen, I prefer the 2 3/8" squared board.
IMO, it would be really super if dgt came out with an eBoard having 2 /38" squares.
European and Canadian tournaments feature chess boards that are slightly smaller, while the sets have 3.5 to 3.75 inch Kings. It takes a bit to get used to it as sometimes one tips over other pieces while moving a piece. The DGT boards and sets do not look too bad. Yes, it would be better to have a smaller, stubbier set whose bases do not fill the squares, but the set in front of GM Sharevich is fine.
From a perceptual viewpoint, it might be better to play on a smaller board as it requires us to pay more attention to the whole board and all of the pieces. On a larger board with smaller pieces, the pieces seem to swim and the visual focus tends to allow missing the edges. When using a smaller analysis board and set, combinations and key squares seem to pop up faster, just as they do when using 2D computer chess boards. Of course, this awareness requires paying attention and noticing the differences without it becoming a distraction. Some players, like R. Fischer, are more sensitive to piece size and proportion than others. For some any ratty old set and board will do.
The boards and sets at CCSC STL are customized for the club. They are not standard DGT equipment. The club elicited help from Frank Camaratta and developed a board and set that are slightly smaller than the design on which it is based to enable players to reach the pieces more easily.
Interesting. I know HoS makes semi-custom chessmen. Sensor sets for pieces are available from dgt and can be placed in wood chessmen of ones choice by any relatively well skilled woodworker. The dgt equiped custom sets that have been for sale post Sinquafeld Cups and US Championships have generally been high end HoS sets made dgt enabled. Kings have generally been 3.8 inches with a base diameter of 1.7 or 1.75 inches. They also currently have two other sets of theirs dgt enabled, both with 3.75 inch Kings and bases of 1.6 and 1.7 inches respectively, IIRC.
What size are the squares of the dgt eBoards being used in the present US Chapmionship? I’d like to hear more about these custom sets and boards designed to allow players to reach pieces more easily.
The dgt Timeless chessmen used in many European tournaments are 3.75 and 1.5. The dgt official chessmen are slightly taller and have a larger diameter. I’m only aware of dgt having available commercially boards with 2.25 inch squares. Presumably dgt could custom make boards of greater or lesser square size, but they would likely be very costly due to the underlying frame structure that might need adapting.
As I wrote, my favorite board size has 2.25 inches with the dimensions of the dgt Timeless chessmen or that of the HoS Windsor pieces.
Right. They’ve been doing this for several years after these tournaments. The Kings are 3.75 with a diameter of 1.75. The pieces appear to be set up on a dgt board with 2.25 inch squares. To me the pieces look too large for that square size. To each their own.
I’d very much like to see dgt come out with a board having 2 3/8" squares, but I doubt that there’s enough of a market for that.
Most tournaments are competed using standard 30" wide tables. A board with 2 3/8" squares will be too big for that—the playing surface itself will take up 27". The tables from St. Louis look to be 42" (??) wide which is a very comfortable space, but it can be a long reach to the 8th rank for someone short.
Looking at the photo, I think the base of the pawns are a tad larger in the DGT set than in many regular chess sets. I don’t think the bases are wider than normal, but are subtly shaped to be larger. Because of that, the shortened slender middle part of the pawn is almost a caricature compared to the top and bottom of the DGT pawns.
The set overall is thicker than many chess sets, especially the pawns, but I’d have to do a side-by-side with an exact non-DGT version of your set to see if it’s any different. I think if it there was any difference, it would primarily be in the shape of the bottoms of the pieces.
I understand and agree. I’m more interested in having a 2 3/8" dgt board for home use. It would be fun to try putting sensors into the Margate or Zagreb pieces that I have.
As to reach, perhaps we need a tale of the tape as in boxing and a minimum reach requirement for certain tournaments. Pity players like Lenderman…
It appears that the pawns in the sets being used this year are quite tall as in previous years. It reminds me of some 19th century sets. I have one set purchased from House of Chess (not long after House of Staunton forced them change their business name from HoS) that has tall pawns. Not my favorite.
For pawn size with a fairly wide King base, I like the HoS Players chessmen of which I have three sets.
Rex had Yasser and some others sit down and one of the tables and consult about the size of the board and sets so that they had something easily reached for pretty much all players.
My dgt eBoard has an OD of 21.25 inches and the squares are actually 2 1/8 inches square. My non-dgt board with 2 3/8 inch squares has an OD of 21.25 inches with a slightly more narrow border as can be seen from my photos above.
I suspect the dimensions of the tables in St. Louis are more akin to what HoS sells as their basic table. It’s dimensions are
as follows: Specifications: The table is crafted from the finest Mahogany and stands 30" tall with a playing surface measuring 34" long with 28" between the players. The playing field is 19" square. The top features 2-3/8" squares of Rosewood and Curly Maple.
The table dimension I like best is 30 inches square or between the players. Extra width is great. Here’s a photo of the HoS table followed by a Polish made, possibly FIDE approved table Square Size: 2 1/4", Recommended King Base: 1 3/4" - 2 1/4"
Overall Dimensions: 35" x 35" x 28"
FIDE requirements are: For all official FIDE tournaments the length of the table is 110 cm[43.3 inches] (with
15% tolerance). The width is 85 cm [33.46] (for each player at least 15 cm).
The height of the table is 74 cm [29.13]. The chairs should be comfortable for
the players. Special dispensation should be given for children’s events.
Any noise when moving the chairs must be avoided.
OK…Can someone who is in St. Louis get the measuring tape out and give us the definitive measurement of tables, boards and chessmen being used? It’s a thankless task, but inquiring minds need to know.
Oy. Sorry, my arithmetic is way off. The playing area on 2 3/8" is just 19", though with the border on a wood board, you’re probably taking up about 22" width, which gives just 4" on each players’ side on a 30" table which is awkward (particularly with a raised board).
I agree that 30" with a 2 3/8 board is cutting it close, but the problem is more pronounced if the table is 30" square. Then there’s little room for clock and score sheets. If the table is wider, there’s less of an issue.
My preference though is 30" with a 2 1/4 regular board or dgt eBoard. That works well for me giving room for an elbow pad (wrist typing pad from Staples). Of course I’m 6’ 1" and shrinking with arms long enough to box with God unlike the Lenderman’s of this world.
I also like to be seated high looking down more than most banquet hall chairs allow. To solve that issue, I bring my meditation cushion which gives me about 4" extra in height. I played against a fellow back in 2008 in Western MA who was my height but wanted to sit higher. He grabbed an extra stacking chair and put it on top of the first chair. Whatever works.
OK…let’s have the tale of the tape from St. Louis!
