[arh68]

What do I picture? 2D pieces, to be honest. Computer chess is just so prevalent. I picture what I'd call "USCF style" [1] because that's what they'd use in the Chess Life magazine to annotate games. I also picture the "old style" pieces [2], used in other periodicals & some books (especially puzzles).

I bet a lot of people picture the default set on Chess dot com. I find it very hard to adjust to new sets, for whatever reason.

As far as real pieces, I picture plastic pieces & vinyl board. Either what I'd call the "triple-weighted set" [3] (my favorite), the plastic "Dreuke set" [4], or the "basic USCF set" [5].

I had no idea there were so many variations, especially in the last 100 years. Most I've never seen before. I still dislike the real abstract/bauhaus style but there's a lot of artistry in the sets.

[1] on lichess, it's called "companion"

[2] on lichess, it's called "leipzig"

[3] https://www.chessset.com/collections/weighted-chess-pieces-h...

[4] Player's Choice, like https://www.wholesalechess.com/reproduction-of-the-drueke-pl...

[5] https://www.uscfsales.com/single-weighted-regulation-plastic...

[helloplanets]

A spinoff piece on the visual evolution of illustrated and digital chess pieces would be interesting. How they relate to specific physical designs, and the limitations of the format they're bound to.