Rendered in Cycles:
Samples: 1000
Denoising: OptiX
PIECES REFERENCES:
FINAL RENDER:
RENDER FOR PIECES
Notes: I have such a hard time with lighting a scene. I’m never happy. I definitely need to study more about it.
About the second render I just tried to show a bit more of the pieces, didn’t mind at all about the game rules, I was too tired!
It was a fun project!
What’s bothering you?
Nice set, and board. Still simple but different. Though you missed out doing the bishop’s notch Boolean exercise.
I don’t know. Sometimes I feel like I’m just guessing. I think I definitely need to study more about it.
I know! Such a shame! I think I will actually practice a bit with Booleans. I got so caught up with this chess set that I forgot about the exercise of the notch. 
Blender is capable of doing realistic stuff, but it is hard to do!!
See Blender as a creative tool and use it in a creative way.
Don’t expect to do everything in Blender.
Use the output in other tools and or software.
Creating realistic images does need a lot of Blender, 3D, and observation skills.
Like using Kelvin as a way of coloring sunlight.
Add HDRI images to add ambient light.
So much more to learn, be patient and follow the course and show u your progress.
