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At its essence, timeless design marries function and aesthetics

in a way that endures through generations.

Chess Board Design

Chess 2100 Master Board.jpg

Chess Public

Designer - Jon Crooke

 

2017 witnessed the invention and design

of a chess board called 'Chess Public'.

It features playing pieces that move via

a matrix of slots that permanently tether the pieces

to the board.

This means, that for the first time in history,

chess sets can be deployed in public spaces.

Chessmen Design

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The modern Staunton army from Chess Public,

complete with the addition of two historic leapers.

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Great Chessmen

Designer - Jon Crooke

 

In 2015 Jon Crooke designed a new take on the

Staunton Chess pieces.

Featuring sturdy bodies with new body detailing,

a taller Tower to reflect its power and

it's size 'relative' to a real life siege tower it represents,

and a Knight with a synergised body.

Footnote: Recently the designer became aware of a

1891 Staunton design variation

by William Moffatt. See picture below.

A taller Tower and a synergised Knights body.

History is full of surprises.

BCC
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Royal Chessmen Imperial Mark 2

Designer - William Moffatt

 

In 1900, the British Chess Company (BCC 1891-1907) issued the

new Royal Chessmen Imperial Mark 2 set or “Improved Staunton”.

One of the distinguishing features was that the BCC owner and designer, William Moffatt, pursued the approach of aligning the

size of the pieces with their playing value, which led to a clear enlargement of the towers to signal their higher playing value compared to the knights and bishops.
He also gave the Knight a body to match his comrades.

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“Original Staunton”

Designers

John Jaques - Nathaniel Cooke

The Staunton set style and its variations have been

the only chess set design allowed

in major chess tournaments, since the 1920s.

Prior to 1849, complaints from players about the

unsuitability of many of the contemporary

chess piece designs for practical play,

led noted wood and ivory tuner John Jaques and

journalist - neoclassical architectural enthusiast,

Nathaniel Cooke, to draw up a standard design,

which Jaques could produce at a reasonable cost.

The chess design was patented in March 1849

by Nathaniel Cooke and the pieces

were named after the leading English chess master

Howard Staunton, who endorsed it.

The rest is history. The Staunton pattern chessmen

quickly became the World standard for serious and casual play.

The relatively low production cost brought chess to the masses

and did much to popularize the game.

 

Its clean, simple design looks as beautiful today as it did upon its introduction almost two century's ago.

Game Design

Great Chess

Designer - Jon Crooke

Great Chess game development

In 2010 Jon Crooke developed GREAT CHESS, played on a

8x8, 8x10 or 10x10 plus 4 corner Citadels.

 

With the re-introduction of two historical 'leapers' and

some move changes, GREAT CHESS is a fast, action packed game,

with a myriad of new tactical possibilities.

Designer

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Jon Crooke

Designer

The Jon Crooke is passionate about designing refined, elegant and exciting products.

​Jon works in the areas of game design, architecture and automotive design.

In the 80's, Jon Crooke ventured into board game design and in 2015 envisaged a 21st century take

on the game of chess, called Great Chess.

 

2017 Crooke invented and designed the chess board called 'Chess Public'.

It features playing pieces that move via a matrix of slots, that permanently tether the pieces

to the board, ensuring that your soldiers can never go AWOL.

This means, that for the first time in history, chess sets can be deployed in public spaces.

MORE . . . .

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