chess set games, the right size?
The United States Chess set Federation (USCF), in rule 41C, mandates that the size of the
chess sets square for tournament play be determined as follows: the size of the king base should be around 0.78 percent the size of the chess set square. This is to ensure that there is plenty of space-but not too much-between the pieces, so the players don`t begin to see a blur and become confused. The range for the size of the king base is usually given (although not by the USCF) as: 0.75 to 0.80 percent of the size of the chess set square. Note that the average of this range of values is 0.78. Here is what you you should do:
1. Measure the diameter of the round end of the king-also known as the “king base”.
2. Take that number, and divide it by the 0.78 from above.
3. The answer you get will be the size of the chess set square you are looking for.
4. If the answer does not fall on the size of a standard chess set square, simply select the next highest size chess set square for your chess pieces. It is important to note that you should select the next highest, not the next lowest, to ensure proper spacing between the pieces.
5. You may also do the calculation by multiplication, if you desire. Just take the reciprocal of 0.78 and multiply it by the diameter of the king base. The reciprocal of 0.78 is: 1/0.78 = 1.28
