Chess set

[1] There are sixteen pieces of each color: one king, one queen, two rooks, two bishops, two knights, and eight pawns.

Chess sets are made in a wide variety of styles, sometimes for ornamental rather than practical purposes.

[2] In the abstract designs, both the king and the queen resemble a throne, with the queen being smaller; the bishop displays two small protuberances, representing elephant tusks; the knight presents a single protuberance, representing the head of a horse; the rook has a V-shaped cut on the top; and the pawn usually has a simple shape.

[2] Notable archaeological chess sets include the following: The variety of designs available is broad, from small cosmetic changes to highly abstract representations, to themed designs such as those that emulate the drawings from the works of Lewis Carroll, or modern treatments such as Star Trek or The Simpsons.

United States Chess Federation rules call for a king height between 3.375 to 4.5 inches (85.7 to 114.3 mm).

This helps in blitz games as the speed of movement doesn't offer enough time or precision in dropping the pieces onto the intended squares.

The length of each side of the squares on the chessboard should be about 1.25–1.3 times the diameter of the base of the king, or 2 to 2.5 inches (51 to 64 mm).

Squares of about 2.25 inches (57 mm) are normally well suited for pieces with the kings in the preferred size range.

Chess offers a lifetime of enjoyment for just a few dollars well spent at the outset.The most expensive chess set is the Jewel Royale which was made in 2005 by the British jewelry company, made of solid gold and platinum with nearly 1000 rubies, diamonds, and sapphires valued at $9.8 million.

The chess box is typically rectangular but can be done in a variety a shapes including a coffer top or sliding drawers.