Chess is one of the most ancient and most fascinating traditional games in the world. It can be learned and played by children as young as 5-years-old while also presenting a challenge to the greatest minds in the world.
At Frontline Hobbies, we stock a handpicked selection of chess sets, chess boards and chess pieces from top international brands for your chess playing pleasure.
A brief history of chess
The oldest known complete chess sets were found on the northern Scottish island of the Isle of Lewis and have been dated to the 12th century CE. These sets were most likely made in Norway or Iceland but the origins of chess can be traced back to a completely different time and place.
The earliest iterations of chess can be traced back almost 1500 years to roughly 7th century ancient India where a game called chaturanga, an early precursor to chess, was played. From India, chess spread to Persia and then to southern Europe, finally evolving into its modern form around the year 1500 CE.
Today chess is played by hundreds of millions of people worldwide.
Fun facts about chess
- We get the English term “checkmate” from the saying “Shah Mat” which is Persian for “the King is dead”.
- There are 10 to the power of 120 possible unique games of chess — that’s 1 followed by 120 zeroes! To put that into perspective, there are only 10 to the power of 79 electrons in the entire universe which means there are more than 50% more possible chess games than there are electrons in existence.
- Theoretically, the highest number of moves possible in a single game of chess is 5,949. The longest official game actually played was in 1989 and took 269 moves over the course of 20 hours.
- It’s estimated that 600 million people or around 7.5% of the world’s population know how to play chess.
- The second book ever printed in the English language was about chess.
Browse our range of chess boards, chess pieces and chess sets
Chess Boards
We stock a range of stunning modern chess boards from famed Italian maker Dal Rossi. This world-renowned chess brand creates beautiful and affordable chess pieces, boards and sets from premium materials in a diverse range of styles. Dal Rossi also makes a range of other classic games including Mahjong sets, and Backgammon sets.
Chess Pieces
Treat the chess lover in your life to a new set of chess pieces. Dal Rossi produces a brilliant range of chess pieces, with everything from metal and wood chess pieces to sleek white stone and gold pieces.
Chess Sets
Whether you’re a chess set collector or looking for a stunning milestone birthday present, our range of premium chess sets from Dal Rossi will have something to suit your needs. From the intricately detailed Dal Rossi Egyptian Chess Set to the timelessly elegant Dal Rossi Italy Staunton Metal/Wood Chess Set With Drawers, this famous Italian chess maker has something for even the most discerning chess set connoisseur.
FAQs about our chess sets
What’s a good chess set for children?
If you want an affordable chess set that’s not too precious to let the kids play with, our Chess - Family Game set is a great choice. This set comes with a board game-style board rather than a traditional solid chess board along with plastic chess pieces made in the classic style. This set is ideal for teaching kids the fundamentals of chess without worrying about them damaging your expensive or heirloom chess set.
The chess set I want is out of stock, can you help?
You may notice a red “Sold Out” label on the item you want. If this is the case, we may be able to source it for you from one of our suppliers.
Please get in touch with our helpful team and we’ll do all we can to arrange a special order for you. If we’re able to order the chess board, pieces or set for you we’ll provide you with an estimated arrival date for your item.
What payment options do you offer for your chess sets?
We offer a range of flexible online and in-store payment options for our chess sets including PayPal, ZipPay, AfterPay, Google Pay and Apple Pay.
When will my chess set arrive?
We aim to dispatch all orders within 24-48 hours. Our couriers work from Monday to Friday so please factor this into your delivery timeframe. Depending on your location within Australia, you can expect to receive your order within 2-5 working days but delays may occur, particularly in regional and rural areas.
We use trusted Australian couriers including Australia Post, Fastway Couriers, Toll and TNT to deliver our online orders with a flat rate shipping fee of $9.95. Some eligible orders of $150 or more may qualify for free shipping — please note this does not apply to dangerous goods and oversized items.
We also offer free click and collect for local Newcastle orders — call us to learn more and arrange an in-store pickup of your new chess set.
We ship chess sets Australia wide with free shipping on eligible orders over $150 — shop online today!
