Surprisingly enough, even in today's age of video games and "instant gratification" entertainment, board games are still wildly popular. And many would suggest that chess reigns supreme as one of the world's most popular board games, both in the U.S. and around the world.

Because of that, chess sets, chess pieces and related items still continue to be popular gifts. If you're in the market for a complete chess set, including both the pieces and a matching board, you'll find many suppliers online that provide you with chess set combinations that are already properly matched. But if you need a new chess board to go with an existing set of pieces, or you're looking for a set of pieces to play on an existing chess board, then it helps to know how to choose the right size product before you make your purchase.

Scenario #1: You Already Have Chess Pieces and Need a Chess Board to Match

As you shop around for chess boards online, you'll notice that most websites list the dimensions of the entire board as well as the size of the squares that the pieces sit on. The size of the board is somewhat important, but more from a standpoint of where you'll be placing the board (e.g., on a coffee table, in an office, etc). The more important factor for choosing the right board to match with your chess pieces is the size of the squares. First, you'll need to know the size of the base of the king. Then take that number and multiply it by 4/3 (or 1.33). That will tell you the MINIMUM sized squares you should look for when picking out your new chess board. Okay, at the risk of doing math in public, a quick example:

- Base of the King: 1.5" - Minimum square size: 1.5" x 1.33 = 1.995"

In this example, a board with 2-inch squares or larger would be just fine. However, you don't want to go smaller since you run the risk of the pieces being too close together on the board, making them hard to move without bumping against each other. In addition, a board with squares that are way too large would just look out of proportion.

Scenario #2: You Already Have a Chess Board and Need Chess Pieces to Match

Of course, the other option is that you already have a chess board and simply need to find the right chess pieces to match. In this case, the procedure is just the opposite as above. You will need to know the size of the squares on your board. Then, simply take that number and multiply it by 3/4 (or 0.75). That will tell you the LARGEST measurement you would want in terms of the base of the king. Again, a quick example:

- Size of the squares on your board: 2.5" - Maximum size of the base of the king: 2.5" x 0.75 = 1.875"

In this case, pieces with a base of 1.75" or even 1.5" would be appropriate, but obviously that great looking set of pieces with the 2-inch base might be pushing it a bit.

By following those simple tips, you'll see that finding the right size chess pieces or chess board is quick and easy. And wouldn't your math teacher be proud?


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