---
title: "Staunton pieces in chess"
url: "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/staunton-pieces.md"
canonical_url: "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/staunton-pieces"
last_updated: "2026-11-07"
type: "reference"
summary: "Staunton pieces are the standard design of chess set used in tournaments, with a distinct silhouette for each piece."
related: ["https://georgelichess.com/glossary/piece.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/chessboard.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/starting-position.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/rules-of-chess.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/algebraic-notation.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/knight.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/category/rules-notation.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary.md"]
---

# Staunton pieces in chess

> **For AI agents:** the complete index of GeorgeLiChess pages is [llms.txt](https://georgelichess.com/llms.txt). Every page is also served as markdown at its URL plus .md.

Staunton pieces are the standard design of chess set used in tournaments, with a distinct silhouette for each piece.

Staunton pieces are the standard design of chess set used in tournaments, with a distinct silhouette for each piece, and the design the Laws name for the specially made boards used by visually disabled players.

When people picture a chess set, they are usually picturing the Staunton design, which became the standard in the middle of the nineteenth century and replaced the more ornate regional styles of the time. Its strength is clarity. The pawn is a small round figure, the [knight](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/knight.md) is a carved horse head, the [bishop](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/bishop.md) has a notch, the rook is a castle turret, the queen has a coronet and the king a cross. Because each piece is instantly recognizable even from the other side of the table, the design reduces [mistakes](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/mistake.md) in long games, and tournament organizers prefer it. The Laws show the pieces in this form and require that the pieces on the special board for blind and visually impaired players are of Staunton design, with the black pieces specially marked and a peg that fits a hole in each [square](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/square.md). Training tip: practice with a real set at home, because moving a Staunton piece by hand is part of the skill of over-the-board play.

Also called: Staunton set.

Once "Staunton pieces" is familiar, the next question is what to work on at your rating, which the [improvement plans by rating band](https://georgelichess.com/improve.md) answer with game and puzzle data.

## Related terms

- [Chess pieces](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/piece.md)
- [Chessboard](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/chessboard.md)
- [Starting position](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/starting-position.md)
- [Rules of chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/rules-of-chess.md)
- [Algebraic notation](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/algebraic-notation.md)
- [Knight](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/knight.md)

## Guides that go further

- [How to choose a chess coach](https://georgelichess.com/how-to-choose-a-chess-coach.md): What to decide first, the questions to ask, what a first lesson should show and the red flags to avoid.
- [How much does chess coaching cost?](https://georgelichess.com/chess-coaching-cost.md): Published rates for private, group and subscription chess coaching, with the source and the date of each.
- [The first lesson](https://georgelichess.com/book/first-lesson.md): A game review, a read on your level and a written study plan from George Li.

## Sources

- FIDE Laws of Chess (effective 1 January 2023) (Article 2.2), read 2026-10-21: https://handbook.fide.com/chapter/E012023
- FIDE Laws of Chess (effective 1 January 2023) (Appendix D.1.4), read 2026-10-21: https://handbook.fide.com/chapter/E012023

[Book your first lesson](https://georgelichess.com/book.md) and George Li reviews your games and builds a study plan around them. Questions about lessons: write to hello@georgelichess.com.

## Related

- [Chess pieces](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/piece.md)
- [Chessboard](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/chessboard.md)
- [Starting position in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/starting-position.md)
- [Rules of chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/rules-of-chess.md)
- [Algebraic notation in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/algebraic-notation.md)
- [Knight in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/knight.md)
- [Chess terms: Rules, notation and equipment](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/category/rules-notation.md)
- [Chess terms glossary: plain definitions](https://georgelichess.com/glossary.md)