What it is
The Staunton chess set is a style of chess pieces created in 1849, named after Howard Staunton, one of the strongest players of his era. It became the universal standard because the pieces are easy to recognize at a glance, balanced and stable, with clear shapes.
The design has been mandatory in all official tournaments since 1924 and is used by FIDE, USCF, and other chess organizations worldwide.

