PacificChess.com Makes Finding USCF Standard Tournament Equipment A Breeze!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) March 9, 2011 -- Pacifica, CA, March 9, 2011 – PacificChess.com now makes it easier for chess enthusiasts and beginners to find and select USCF standard tournament equipment just in time for 2011 tournaments including the All-Girls Nationals, Junior High Nationals, High School Nations and Elementary School Nationals in April and May of this year.

You can now search PacificChess.com specifically for USCF standard tournament equipment and non-standard tournament-style chess sets. There are many sets and kits available from many places that say they are Tournament Sets and Tournament Kits but they don't actually fit published USCF standards. PacificChess.com is one of those rare places where you can actually buy chess equipment that meets these standards.

United States Chess Federation (USCF) guidelines for standard tournament chess sets include:

• Chess pieces as Staunton or Staunton Style, i.e. minor variations
• King's height between 3-3/8" and 4-1/2" (8.65cm to 11.54cm)
• King's base diameter/height ratio between 40-50% of the King's height
• Chessboard's square between 2" and 2-1/2" (5.08cm to 6.35cm)
• King base diameter/chessboard square ratio between 74-78%

These standards are easily met by most chess pieces and chessboards separately. But in combination, many chess sets, even those labeled "Tournament" that you see advertised on the internet do not meet the king base diameter/chessboard square ratio criterion. For example, even on the USCF official website you will see a common "Tournament Combination" sold that includes a King height of 3.75" (9.53cm), a King base diameter of 1.50" (3.81cm), and a chessboard square of 2.25" (5.72cm). If you do the math, you'll find that the chess pieces and chessboard standards fit, except the king base diameter/chessboard square ratio is only 67%, well below the 74-78% standard!

Gary Johnson says "Finding USCF standard tournament equipment has always been difficult for the chess community so PacificChess.com made it a priority to simplify the process by categorizing equipment correctly and making it easier to search."

Gary Johnson founded PacificChess.com in 2009 to add value and offer products to the chess community and those who want to learn the game of chess. PacificChess categorizes all chess pieces, chessboards, and chess sets as Tournament (USCF Standard) or Tournament Style (USCF Non-Standard), helping chess enthusiasts to more easily select their equipment and offers quantity pricing for registered chess clubs. For more information visit http://PacificChess.com.

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