GridLink 2 1/4" Squares Chessboard, FIDE Compliant (GLH5712-050_Chess)

GridLink-Chess: A modified subest of the GridLink system, for a traditional 2.25 inch square cornice edged chessboard that meets the requirements of the Fédération Internationale des Échecs (International Chess Federation) for competition. 

NOTE: Other sizes and styles of GridLink Chessboards are available, as well as a nice set of chess pieces. Most are FIDE compatible.

Squares in this board are 2.25in (57.15mm), with 2.25in flat borders and a 10mm cornice style edge. You'll notice that there are separate models that appear to be identical for black and white squares. These are the same shape, but rotated 90 degrees for recommended print orientation. (Was easier to do this than to explain.) For printers that produce a slight warp, this will cause the warp of multiple pieces to cancel each other out, rather than adding up to make a curved board.
 

PHOTO NOTE: Number orientation has been corrected (as of 2025-05-06). But I epoxied my board together and am not remaking for photos. It will be great if someone posts a “Make” showing the current complete board.
 

TOLERANCES:

Tolerances are intentionally very tight. Start by printing 2 small pieces and fit them together. This will test that the tolerances work with your printer. It is expected that you will need to hammer them together with a mallet or dead blow hammer.

• If they fit together without some hammering, they may be loose enough to slip or come loose when you pick the chessboard up.

If these fit too loosely or too tightly, a quick fix is to temporarily adjust flow rate. Higher to make them tighter. Lower for looser. 
 

HOW TO:

This project makes two half-chessboards which are joined together to make a complete one. Some parts seem inverted, but that is because you are going to turn that part around after putting it together.  

Because of the hidden fastener design, assembly is trickier than it looks. If you create an ‘L’ shape as you put these together, in a way that has both socket and tab parts, you will be blocked from continuing. And this is surprisingly easy to do.

To keep this simple, I recommend starting with the corner piece that has 2 tabs. Work only in the direction either of those two tabs point, and it will always work. Fully complete one side before starting the other.

For a non-hinged/flat board, replace the folding edge on one side with the normal black and white squares, making that side full of tabs. And replace the other side's folding edge with the “Dual Slot Joiner” in the “No Hinge” folder, making that side full of slots.
 

STYLE OPTIONS:

For a standard FIDE compatible chessboard, use a neutral color for all borders.
 

CHESS PIECES FOR YOUR BOARD:

I've made these Traditional Modern Chess Pieces to go with my boards. Alternately, this Dubrovnik 3.86" set prints beautifully and looks great.. The best (and most economical) weights I have found to add weight to chess pieces are steel BBs like these. 

REMOVING TIGHT STUCK PIECES:

If it is only a single tab connecting, you can usually hold it against the edge of a desk and alternately press left or right of the tab down. It will go a mm at a time for a few mm, then should release. 

For longer connections, place the joint-line over the edge of a square edged table. Put the tabs visible side down and pointing toward the table. Make sure the tabs are very close to the edge of the table, but not blocked by it. Clamp the piece down if possible, or hold it very firmly to the table. Hit firmly with a mallet very close to the joint on the tab side that is overhanging the table. If the piece moves a little, repeat near other tabs until all are roughly the same amount disconnected. Then repeat from the start until they are dislodged enough to come apart.
 

NOTES:

• Mounting holes and holes for 2.4mm (5/32") reinforcements have not been removed in the conversion from GridLink-48. I kind of like the look. But if you prefer a clean smooth look, let me know (comment here or message). I'll be happy to upload other styles if there is interest.
   

SUPPORTING YOUR FAVORITE DESIGNERS:

The Amazon links below are affiliate links, and it costs you nothing to use them. If you use an affiliate link to get to Amazon the next time you need to buy something, the designer associated with that link will get a small percentage of any sale made during that browsing session. I hope you'll pick a designer here once in a while to support in this way. Frankly, it tends to be more symbolic than anything, but it lets designers know that you connected with their designs, and it feels good.

‘Likes’, ‘Follows’ and ‘Downloads’ all help to elevate goods designs, like any other social media. If you like a thing, please click ‘like’.
 

BOM: 

• Filament:
  • PLA+ (brightest white I've found, good black): https://amzn.to/4cCAQSb 
  • PLA+ (a great marble): https://amzn.to/3Y0e40r 
  • ABS: (black, white and diamond gray for pieces): https://amzn.to/3X3hUVO 
     
• Hinges:
  • 8mm Hidden Barrel: https://amzn.to/4isyExW 
  • 10mm Hidden Barrel: https://amzn.to/4iemY1l 
     
• (optional):
  • Dead Blow Hammer: https://amzn.to/3R7addX 
  • Inexpensive BBs for chess piece weight: https://amzn.to/4jOU2yS 
  • Self-leveling Epoxy to fill chess pieces: https://amzn.to/4jLaxvM 
     

REVISIONS: 

2025-05-06: 
  - Really really actually fixed the side number orientation.
  - Added joiner part for making non-hinged/flat chessboard.
2025-05-05 (special thanks to Dumitru for error checking and reporting): 
  - Added in missing “abcd” files.
  - Corrected side number orientation.
2025-05-01: Added weight and epoxy links.
2025-04-30: Initial release of chess-specific set.