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Hello from Burgos

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Good afternoon; I am Joaquín, I live in Burgos and I feel very happy to be writing in this space. I discovered Certabo a short time ago and am still choosing which board to buy. They are all very pretty, especially the reddish ones.

It seems like a very good project to me: the philosophy of free software, the collaborative brainstorming ideas in the forum, Pietro's closeness and the non-obsolescence thanks to interchangeable hardware.

My final purchase (which I am still thinking about) is linked to this:

The large boards (square 55) are perfect for large pieces (height 10'2cm with a base diameter of 4'5) and they seem somewhat large for smaller pieces (of 9.2 with a base diameter of 4'2) which in turn they are the most common; Furthermore, they are more difficult to transport and store at home.

The 45 square ones are small for these pieces that I have indicated (base 4'2 on 45 square ones), and the 35 square ones do not have a wide variety of pieces of that size on the market but they do have the advantage of being more manageable.

I am finding pieces without cross, beautiful like the Dubrovnik model or like some Russian models, also without cross, but always in large sizes so I may have to limit myself to the large board.

I will be happy if everyone wants to give me their opinion based on their experience.

I toss up some questions:

Is there any idea of ​​taking 50 square boards?

Have you thought of folding boards capable of holding all the electronic components? An example: https://youtu.be/ZDDEnBZZvmo 

Have you thought of DaVinci modules that integrate battery and screen ( a lengthened one) in a size format and in a wooden (of similar) format that serves as an extension to the Chess board and that can be attached to the board by means of screws?

Thank you very much, good week and good games.

Joaquín from Burgos. 😉

Hello Joaquin

Welcome to the forum!  Thank you for appreciation and happy you find project good and look forward to having you on board.

Well yes the 55mm size is good for most of the size between 3.5"and 4,5" why you say the square 55mm is too big for 42mm base it is well proportioned we think.

I will tell a a funny thing which coincidentally match with your note. In one of last bacth we made we got 5 Fazio brown units which looked bit strange. Looking closer they were standard Fazio size but had square of 50mm  🙂 that's why they looked strange. Of course it was an error but rather discard as it was a pity we decided to keep as they looked very particular. The electronic board of 55mm Fazio will fit well but leds and detection square will be in wrong position. We think we can adapt manually to the new positions the production electronic board so will make sooner or later those 5 units, need to have bit of time to play with geometry 🙂

That video looks nice piece of equipment, reeds keeps havin sort of fascination. I did not know that video but i like the fact when piece is lifted will show legal position looks quite cool!  We though to different solution it's kind of long dispute e-board or chess computer or both....eboard with extension....We tried an add on on small board and it was bit bulky i think on big board will be very bulky to add in the end a small computing device and battery. Anyhow we do not stop thinking on possible things and solution.

All the best and welcome again

Pietro

 

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joaquin

Hola Joaquin. This is Jaume, from Valencia.

I have bought a Lucien Certabo chess board that have 45mm squares 6 months ago. This is not a common dimension; as you now the majority of competition chessboards have 50mm squares. But there are some ones, high level normally, that have 55mm squares. It is easier to find pieces for that dimension (50 and 55). But after my experience with Lucien-45mm- I have to afirm that the best dimension to play alone is 45mm. Why? The main reason is that you have to do your moves and also the rival moves, so with this bit smaller dimension is easier and more confortable to do. And the dimension of the chess board is big enough to have a good playing experience.

And you can find chess pieces for that dimension. Normally you have to order Stauton n.4 (instead n.5 that fills with 50mm or stauton n.6 for 55mm squares).

Here a picture of my chessboard and pieces.

Regarding to other questions you did, in my opinion, it is not a good idea to integrate computer and battery into the chessboard. It will do it heavier and bigger, and of course, the hardware will be obsolete after the time passes. So now, we have a electronic chessboard for a long long time.

I hope this message could help you.

Bienvenido por aquí!

Jaume

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joaquin

Jaume, thanks a lot for your answer (and thanks Pietro for your answer too).

I think in the same way. In my flat, relaxed on my sofa 55 is big, 45 is perfect and 35 is fine too, but I not finding pieces without crosses in that size. That’s the reason I’m already looking for.

By now I have found 2 sets that I like the most: A Dubrovnik one and a Soviet one, both without crosses (but they are recommended for bigger chessboards).

Do you know that it would be possible to create a completely university grade about the pieces sizes (in mm and in inches), the heights, the colours, and the models? There are 3 Dubrovnik set types depending of the decades and no one has the same sizes in each shop!!! I need to buy it right now or I will develop a mental large castling without pawns defending the position.

 

Here are some examples, if you have an idea  I’m opened...

 

Thanks;-)

Pd: the box for your pieces is nice and the whole photo conjunction.

Pd2: it’s true that to include items in the chessboard like batteries or cpu would do it heavier.

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Jaume Martínez

I have the Lucien Brown (medium-sized) Certabo eboard, and for me the Staunton #5 set (King height 89mm) is fine. Pieces not too small, not too big either.

I bought them at a Dutch website which offers all sorts of materials (plastic and several sorts of wood pieces).
I chose the  weighted chikri and acacia wooden pieces, also because I thought that would match nicely with the wood sort used in the Lucien board itself (also acacia is used there)

It's this set here:
https://www.raindroptime.com/staunton-weighted-polished-chikri-and-acacia-king-height-89-mm-5.html

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Jaume Martínez

Hi Joaquin

We dropped a message to our suppliers in India and for a king without cross or bit more articulated design normally yes you find pieces from 4,0" and above. But you are not alone they said they made some custom set 3,5" without cross or kind of on more luxury design they said they have some sample set weighted of this design, in Boxwood, Ebony or Padauk which is the red of board. Or eventually you may look at some Calvert set they also have some in 3,5" size with no cross.

Btw in next week  ten days we are having new version of the 35mm  and 45mm board in Red Padauk and Black Ebony we are finishing manufacturing now, so in case you like mostly the Red you can have choice for that color also in that size and 35mm and 45mm too.

All the best

Pietro

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joaquin

Hola de nuevo Joaquín. I bought my pieces in ajedrez 21 (but in wood finishing, it seemed they are out of stock now)

https://www.ajedrez21.com/piezas/4208-piezas-classic-2000010013012.html

If you are looking for a king without cross, I don't know where to buy them...

Regarding to the dimension, you can compare my set (n. 4, king height 75 mm and 34 mm diameter base) and Michiel's set (n. 5, king 89mm and the base I don't know). The board is the same in both cases (45mm square, Lucien).

Any question, feel free to comment.

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joaquin
Quote from Jaume Martínez Vanaclocha on February 7, 2021, 5:47 pm

Hola de nuevo Joaquín. I bought my pieces in ajedrez 21 (but in wood finishing, it seemed they are out of stock now)

https://www.ajedrez21.com/piezas/4208-piezas-classic-2000010013012.html

If you are looking for a king without cross, I don't know where to buy them...

Regarding to the dimension, you can compare my set (n. 4, king height 75 mm and 34 mm diameter base) and Michiel's set (n. 5, king 89mm and the base I don't know). The board is the same in both cases (45mm square, Lucien).

Any question, feel free to comment.

Upon reconsidering to be honest I think that the No. 4 sized pieces are just better matching with these 45mm squares then the No. 5 sized pieces.

It's just my personal preference to have them slightly larger, it does not really look odd, but No. 4 size would be the normal size for 45mm squares I agree. All comes down to personal taste though. For me my board looks a bit "bigger" with the slightly bigger pieces set. But you could also argue the squares themselves look slightly smaller having a wider surface of the square covered by slightly wider diameter of the bottom of the pieces.

So you either like larger squares or you like larger pieces 😉

But either No.4 or No.5: you can't really do wrong.

EDIT: mmm my King seems to have a 34mm diameter bottom as well, the pawns roughly 25mm in diameter.

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joaquin

Michiel, Jaume, Pietro, finally I have taken a decision. Dubrovnik pieces were the ones I liked the most because of their minimalist simplicity, so at the end I will buy the big 55 Fazio Red. I will send you a photo with the set with the chessboard in a couple of weeks.

Thanks for all your ideas and pieces of advice , I feel that this is a little community around a proyect and that makes me feel fine.

I hope playing soon... combining with my work and studies, jejeje.
I did’t mentioned when I introduced myself in the forum, I’m teacher, I study International cooperation and I love riding motos, campings and the sunny days.

best wishes for all of you!

Joaquín.

Pd: do I need extra things for connecting with my usb-c computer?

 

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Hello Joaquín.

Please join our team in Lichess

https://lichess.org/team/certabo-international-club

And prepare yourself for the next tournament in March. See you!

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