This level of production deserves more than 11k views in 6 months. Maybe the video is a bit too slow in pace for the average youtuber to the algorithm, but this should have had mainstream appeal to get at least 20 times more views. Maybe with a title like "Why do chess pieces look the way they do today?"
This reminds us that, in those days, England was a leader in the world of chess. There was a time we were turning out grand masters. Now it seems that blue haired shouty people is the end product of a British education.
I purchased The Isle Of Lewis Chess Set (RCPB157) with Italian Briar chess board. I am beyond amazed at the beauty and craftsmanship of the set! I couldn't be more happy with the service i received or product. Thanks again!
Very detailed explanation about the origins of staunton chessmen and about the legend Howard Staunton who created chess men design that were easily recognisable and easy to play with.. This made chess game more popular as pieces were more distinguished and easy to play. Thanks regency chess for making all chess lovers aware of how chessmen were initially designed into Stauntons..
1.- Why give kind of overwhelming credit to Howard Stanton, when the evidence and history tell that Nathaniel Cooke was the designer (creator) of the "Staunton" pattern chessmen??? ("Nathaniel Cooke" Wikipedia). 2.- The creator only asked Staunton to advertise it publicly, probably because Staunton was famous and a prominent figure in chess matters and others at the time. I AGREE WITH IT! 3.- Does someone think if the creator had not asked someone famous to advertise the new design, the design itself would not have been accepted worldwide anyway??? The new pattern design was so innovative, required and a massive success by itself, that it would be a breakout everywhere, no doubt, with or without a famous advertiser.
Crazy to think if not for Staunton then some other great player from somewhere around the world may have designed their own standard. We could all be using Russian designs today or designs from anywhere really. And if we go further back and things played out differently, today chessmen could be flat tokens like checkers, with a drawing on it indicating what piece it is. And it would all feel totally normal to us.
When people play blindfold chess, do they have a physical chess piece pattern in their heads? They wouldn't need to presumably - the spirit of the chess piece, in whatever style (or no style) the player wishes, can roam free.
Yes. Nathaniel Cooke designed the Staunton pieces, which he patented on 1st March, 1849...and Paul Morphy was the greatest chess player in the world during Staunton's career. Staunton found every excuse possible not to play Morphy...and he never did. Adolf Anderssen was probably the second best.
In short: Various designs made it hard to adapt for players across the world. Staunton chess set saves the day by providing an universal rendition of the chess pieces. 11 minutes saved. Like to help others : ))
nice vid, EXCEPT the incorrect set was shown _1min 38sec_ for Barleycorn, similar but incorrect. also Persian and Chinese examples were left out of the original global options. _1min 21sec_
Enter the era of Magnus Carlsen and the World Chess set with its ridiculous pricing. I always wonder if there people who buy those sets given the astronomical prices. So far they are still in business.
You can pay a few pounds for excellent plastic sets, weighted or unweighted, felted or unfelted, up to pieces and boards which record your moves for you (to do with sensing the shift of pieces on the boards) and which are used in top GM tournaments, priced at many hundreds of pounds.
One of the three things I associate with Staunton is his going to extreme lengths to avoid playing Paul Morphy. The other two are the Staunton Gambit against the Dutch Defense, and this beautiful chess set pattern.
I think the Staunton chess set is dumb! Seriously though, I think it is a bit boring these days. There are better sets: for example the HOS Leningrad and Zagreb '59 sets, and my personal favorite: the 1950s Soviet Latvian style.
The Latvian design is a later modification of the Staunton design. Really, this is unmistakable if you look at the sets that came before the Staunton. Many of those late 17th and early 18th century sets just looked like balusters cut off the same staircase to different heights, with horse heads glued on top 4 of them. Many were unstable and with parts easily broken off. The Latvian does have a certain elegance to its curves compared to the original Staunton, but the pawns, bishops and queens don't deviate all that much and it certainly wasn't the first Eastern Block set to replace the kings cross with something else. Of course, all the gushing over Staunton's character in this video would ring a bit truer if he hadn't dodged playing Paul Morphy.
This level of production deserves more than 11k views in 6 months. Maybe the video is a bit too slow in pace for the average youtuber to the algorithm, but this should have had mainstream appeal to get at least 20 times more views. Maybe with a title like "Why do chess pieces look the way they do today?"
That’s the best explanation of the origins of the Staunton design that I’ve come across. Excellent work!
Thank you!
The traditional Staunton hasn’t faded at all. It’s still the traditional gold standard for anyone serious about wood pieces.
I have a handmade set and sometimes I just admire the beauty of the pieces. In my opinion it’s unmatched. No modern set even comes close to
This reminds us that, in those days, England was a leader in the world of chess. There was a time we were turning out grand masters. Now it seems that blue haired shouty people is the end product of a British education.
I purchased The Isle Of Lewis Chess Set (RCPB157) with Italian Briar chess board. I am beyond amazed at the beauty and craftsmanship of the set! I couldn't be more happy with the service i received or product. Thanks again!
I love your chess sets and this content is very well created. Definitely on my list to add to my collection
Thank you!
Very detailed explanation about the origins of staunton chessmen and about the legend Howard Staunton who created chess men design that were easily recognisable and easy to play with.. This made chess game more popular as pieces were more distinguished and easy to play. Thanks regency chess for making all chess lovers aware of how chessmen were initially designed into Stauntons..
You are welcome! Thank you for watching!
This was an awesome video! You should do other chess short documentaries. This was such a great piece. Great production!
I’ve actually seen the earliest Jaques Staunton surviving set, set #10, it’s in the British Museum in London.
I enjoyed this little bit of history.
That's great, Jennifer, thank you for watching!
Lovely video, thanks so much for making it and sharing this story.
Cool video. We all take this design for granted, amazing to learn how it came to be.
Loved it. I collect chess sets for their sheer beauty, However, I only play using electronic pieces. 😊
Lucky you, Regency! You got the best narrator on TH-cam! Bravo ✨
Glad you think so!
1.- Why give kind of overwhelming credit to Howard Stanton, when the evidence and history tell that Nathaniel Cooke was the designer (creator) of the "Staunton" pattern chessmen??? ("Nathaniel Cooke" Wikipedia).
2.- The creator only asked Staunton to advertise it publicly, probably because Staunton was famous and a prominent figure in chess matters and others at the time. I AGREE WITH IT!
3.- Does someone think if the creator had not asked someone famous to advertise the new design, the design itself would not have been accepted worldwide anyway???
The new pattern design was so innovative, required and a massive success by itself, that it would be a breakout everywhere, no doubt, with or without a famous advertiser.
Great explanation. Really enjoyed it and learned something, too. Keep it up! 😄
Glad you liked it! Thank you for watching!
"Unparalleled skills" What about Paul Morphy?
Crazy to think if not for Staunton then some other great player from somewhere around the world may have designed their own standard. We could all be using Russian designs today or designs from anywhere really. And if we go further back and things played out differently, today chessmen could be flat tokens like checkers, with a drawing on it indicating what piece it is. And it would all feel totally normal to us.
Amazing content
Thank you, Leanne and Spencer!
When people play blindfold chess, do they have a physical chess piece pattern in their heads? They wouldn't need to presumably - the spirit of the chess piece, in whatever style (or no style) the player wishes, can roam free.
Great video! Keep up the interesting uploads!
10:36 ah yes, sir Staunton would've been glad to see that guy over the chess board, right
John Jaques' name is pronounced 'Jakes'.
And a bishop wears a 'my-ter' not a 'meter'.
Yes. Nathaniel Cooke designed the Staunton pieces, which he patented on 1st March, 1849...and Paul Morphy was the greatest chess player in the world during Staunton's career. Staunton found every excuse possible not to play Morphy...and he never did. Adolf Anderssen was probably the second best.
A traditional wooden chess set blows away any chess set that involves technology.
Didn't Staunton duck Morphy? I'm just wondering since he was "incomparable".
Yes, he was very careful to avoid Morphy when he came over. Not a universally respected Victorian, Mr Staunton.
Excellent video!
The original chess set had a king , vizier not queen , elephant not bishop , knights , rooks and footmen not pawns .
In short: Various designs made it hard to adapt for players across the world. Staunton chess set saves the day by providing an universal rendition of the chess pieces.
11 minutes saved. Like to help others : ))
How much is a set of real wooden Staunton chess pieces? They are really a few hundred dollars a set?
nice vid, EXCEPT the incorrect set was shown _1min 38sec_ for Barleycorn, similar but incorrect. also Persian and Chinese examples were left out of the original global options. _1min 21sec_
Enter the era of Magnus Carlsen and the World Chess set with its ridiculous pricing. I always wonder if there people who buy those sets given the astronomical prices. So far they are still in business.
Yes. Both seem popular still
You can pay a few pounds for excellent plastic sets, weighted or unweighted, felted or unfelted, up to pieces and boards which record your moves for you (to do with sensing the shift of pieces on the boards) and which are used in top GM tournaments, priced at many hundreds of pounds.
That AI rotating effect is so distracting
If you’re making a serious chess video the leasr you can do is set up the board correctly. The board is incorrect at 0.06.
Howard Staunton was not officially a Grandmaster!
It wasn't until 1950 that FIDE officially recognized the title grandmaster.
Don't forget his correct name is Coward Staunton 😂😂😂
One of the three things I associate with Staunton is his going to extreme lengths to avoid playing Paul Morphy. The other two are the Staunton Gambit against the Dutch Defense, and this beautiful chess set pattern.
The bishops in Staunton's model are horrible.
Lol
I think the Staunton chess set is dumb!
Seriously though, I think it is a bit boring these days. There are better sets: for example the HOS Leningrad and Zagreb '59 sets, and my personal favorite: the 1950s Soviet Latvian style.
Love all 3 of those over the Staunton.
Lame
Sorry but Staunton set sucks! Soviet Latvian one is the best!
Sucks? I'm not sure many would agree with you TBH. Since 1800s millions of sets must have sold and it's still popular. It's a design classic!
The Latvian design is a later modification of the Staunton design. Really, this is unmistakable if you look at the sets that came before the Staunton.
Many of those late 17th and early 18th century sets just looked like balusters cut off the same staircase to different heights, with horse heads glued on top 4 of them. Many were unstable and with parts easily broken off.
The Latvian does have a certain elegance to its curves compared to the original Staunton, but the pawns, bishops and queens don't deviate all that much and it certainly wasn't the first Eastern Block set to replace the kings cross with something else.
Of course, all the gushing over Staunton's character in this video would ring a bit truer if he hadn't dodged playing Paul Morphy.
I find any other chess set to be better.