Why this discount? The quality standard for these boards is high. Each one is inspected with an eye for quality. This listing is for a board that didn't pass for one reason or another. The reasons may be quite insignificant or barely perceptible unless described. Another reason a board may be sold at a discount is that imperfections could appear during the manufacturing process and it would be a shame to discard after the effort and has material already committed. Sometimes we receive a few of these boards at a discounted rate and pass the savings on to those who want the chessboard at a discount. Original Description: Players, admirers, and those who enjoy well-made products will appreciate the workmanship evident in this chess board that is ready to pair with a variety of suitably sized chess pieces. Each board is crafted to near perfection and various styles are accomplished with the perimeter design. The Queen Anne JLP chessboard features a beautiful curved perimeter surrounding and highlighting the playing area. Handcrafted in Pennsylvania from locally sourced premium walnut and maple woods, it takes months from drying, curing, cutting, and assembly to the perfect multi-coat finish that gives it the luxurious and distringuished smooth surface. The artist is from a Pennsylvania family with a rich heritage of woodworking and farming passed down through five generations originating in Switzerland. The lost art of woodworking is continually refined, blending timeless methods with the latest knowledge on living wood behavior. Wood is "living" after it is cut down, not a rigid block. Due to the circular ringed nature of a tree, the direction of cuts is very important to the natural expansion and contraction of the wood as humidity levels change from one environment to another. This unique expansion of both woods used in this work of art, require great attention in every phase of production. The square chess board with squares and 3/4" thickness is ideally suited to standard 3 3/4" to 4 1/2" tall chess men with a base no larger than 2".