Table of Contents
An electronic chess board as the word goes is a computerized board that allows you to play against it or human either one-on-one or online. These boards are more or less like the standard chess boards. The only thing that sets them apart is the fact that electronic chess boards rely on modern technology. Unlike the common chess boards, therefore, they will effectively record your games, allow for a real-time online play and help you analyze the games.
At this juncture, the question of what electronic chess board is the best might be hard to answer. The reason for that is that people have different likes and the features of these boards also differ. With that in mind, we discuss some of the features that a quality electronic chess board should have. From there, you should be able to choose a board that aligns with your needs.
Are Electronic Chess Boards Worth it?
Electronic chess boards have a similar classic look to regular chess sets. However, an electronic chess board has in-built power from modern technology. You will therefore be able to register and also record your games, play online in a real-time manner, broadcast live games, and also analyze your games. Electronic chess boards also have quality craftsmanship of their wooden chess pieces. This combined with the powerful computer software options makes these boards worth investing in.
How To Use An Electronic Chess Board?
The electronic chess board looks much similar to the standard wooden chess set. It is only different in the fact that it has USB ports as well as extra lighting indicators. The board connects to your devices through Bluetooth or USB. It is from here that you can play against an online opponent, a human opponent one-on-one, or challenge the computer powering it. The latter happens through a GUI (Graphical User Interface) or AI (Artificial Intelligence).
These boards have piece recognition. They, therefore, have the info about all the pieces in terms of value and color. This information will be transmitted to your device upon making any move. There are some boards that come with light indicators around all the squares. This allows you to where the opponent (computer) wants you to move the pieces. It does so by flashing around a certain square.
How To Choose An Electronic Chess Board
Electronic chess boards are huge purchases that need to be well-thought-out. Whenever you are spending so much money on a single product, it is only good to have the assurance that you are getting the right thing. We take all the guesswork away by listing some of the key features to look for when settling for an electronic chess board. Have a look below!
- Reliability
It is definitely heartbreaking to splurge on a costly electronic chess board only to have it become obsolete or break in a year, right? It is for that reason that you need to select your chess board from brands that stand behind their products. This helps to guarantee that should you have issues with the chess board, the company will do to the best of its abilities to have the problem solved. Make sure to settle for boards that are future-proof. A board that has replaceable hardware and regular software updates will be a good pick. You will be able to upgrade the chess board as technology advances as opposed to buying new ones.
- Functionality
When we talk of chess board functionality, there are several aspects to look into. A good digital chess board should have a real-time game analysis. It should also store the played games in its memory automatically. Apart from that, your chess board ought to play against the computer software and online opponents without sweat. If your board has all these important features, it would be worth owning it.
- Board Size
This is yet another important factor that you need t keep in mind when choosing an electronic chess board. In case you are the kind of person who would love to play chess on the go, a lightweight and portable board should be a priority. On the other hand, standard chess bards will prove to be good for office or home use. The other factor that dictates the board will be the available space where you live. It beats common sense going for large electronic chess boards while you have a compact or limited space.
- Analysis
In case you are competing with a human opponent, the boards provide real-time game analysis. This greatly helps by offering insights on how you are playing and how best you can improve the game. That proves to be a great feature, especially for newbies to have access. It could help you to improve the game drastically within a very short period of time and outshine your competitor.
- Computing Power
A simple computer algorithm is not as accurate or powerful to make the error-type moves a human makes. It, therefore, means that you are competing against the move logic based on some computerized outcomes. Having that in your mind, it is good to have a product that determines the difficulty. That allows you to learn some strategies as you play against the computer. In most cases, the electronic chess boards are pre-programmed with known chess moves. They could as well have extra functionality like learning the player’s common moves.
How Many Types of Chess Sets Are There?
#1. Standard Chess Set- this is among the most popular chess sets that you will come across. The set includes a board that has 32 pieces and 64 squares. In most cases, the pieces are made of wood or plastic and are brightly colored. This set is believed to be the best for people who are just starting out or people who are willing to play classic games. The rules are pretty simple and the pieces are easily visible.
#2. Tournament Chess Set- this is a good one for people who are looking to challenge themselves in the chess game. It similarly has 32 pieces and 64 squares just like the standard one. The only difference is that its pieces are either wood or metal. They are not as brightly colored as the standard chess set pieces. It is a good choice for people with vast experience in the game since the rules are a bit complex.
#3. Travel Chess Set- if you would like to play the game while on the go, this is the best set for you. It basically involves a foldable chess board and has small chess pieces that are stored on the board. In most cases, these types of chess sets are plastic-made.
#4. Electronic Chess Set- last but not least, we have the electronic chess board. It is much similar to the standard one but this one is powered electronically. It has a memory that records your games and helps you to analyze the games. You can as well play online or play against the computer itself. Overall, this one is friendly to beginners as it is very easy to learn.
Standard Vs. Electronic Chessboard
There are a few differences between the standard and the electronic chess board. If you have used both versions, it is very easy to notice the difference. Below, we highlight some of these differences:
Ease Of Use- there will be no easier way to take up your chess game mastery to the other level if not using the electronic chess board. When you connect the chess board to your PC, it will easily teach you some shrewd moves and how to get yourself out of tricky situations. On the other hand, the standard chess board requires you to learn by yourself or by having someone coach you.
Memory Function- one of the features that the electronic chess board prides itself in is the fact that it records and stores your game in the computer that powers it. This allows you to address those areas of the game that might require your attention. The standard chess board on the other hand lacks this important feature.
Modes Of Play- the electronic chess board has various modes of play. You can play against a human opponent face-to-face, play against the computer, or play online. This helps to eliminate any monotony. On the other hand, the standard chess board is only meant for playing against a human opponent one-on-one.
Feedback From Customers
According to customers, electronic chess boards are the best options for people who are serious about their mastery of the chess game. These boards help you to do the analysis by yourself since each game will be automatically stored in the memory. You can therefore go over every game looking for ways that you can improve your next game. Electronic chess boards allow you to see where your opponent began setting up a trap against you which you later fell into. You also get to see the moments when you missed the game and how you could have played differently. The boards have so much functionality that will keep you stuck for weeks exploring everything that they can do. Once you understand how these chess boards improve your game, you will never want to turn back.
Leave a Reply