Customer Reviews

Advanced Travel Chess Computer

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I received this as a gift for Christmas. I hadn't touched Chess since 3rd grade, but wanted to get into the game. So, given that, I was ill-prepared. It is simply too challenging for me at the moment. Even at the easiest settings, it is beating me all the time.

It has "training", but I don't think it will be that helpful, because it will be a bit difficult to follow along. I'm planning on using the US Chess website, or perhaps chessclub.com or books to actually learn some things that will help me get off the ground.

Once I get better, I think this will prove to be a worthy challenger for a very long time.

I do have a few nit-picky items though:

It came with plenty of extra game pieces. However, each color has only one King. I suppose you don't move it that much, but if you did lose it, you'd have to "fake" the king with some other piece which could get confusing.

The pieces generally fit into the board snugly, but occasionally, I do have a loose piece. So you need to be careful. The pieces are small, but I don't find them hard to grab with my hands.

The lid is detachable and snaps onto the back. However, it doesn't seem to snap on very well, so I'm paranoid that it'll drop off somewhere if I'm not careful.

Over all, I'm very excited to have this and plan to enjoy it for a long time.

I bought this advanced travel chess computer about 2 years ago, and it still works great. That speaks to the durability. Just change the batteries about once or twice a year and it should keep going no problem.

It comes with extra pieces, and I still have them in a drawyer, and haven't lost any yet. I don't see how you'd lose a piece, unless it fell where you couldn't retrieve it. The lid snaps on tight. One thing about the bishops is they are a bit hard to tell from the pawn, for old eyes. So I notched the base of the bishops with a pen knife so they stand out more.

I'm about a 1300 to 1400 rated player. There are many levels to this game. I'm actually best matched at beginner level 6. There are plenty of higher levels that are much stronger that I can't win against at all. I'd guess this game could give a master a good run for the money. Maybe I'm not the position to say that for sure, but I've played against a master, and that's what this computer game feels like at the higher levels.

One reviewer says he can't beat the computer yet. I'd say if you go to beginner level 1, and have the opening book turned off, and set the option to not allow it to think on your time, it'd be a fairly easy game where the computer would occassionally drop enough pieces that most adult beginners should win. Just saying it does have some dumb down options (that I've occassionally used myself just to see what happens).

But at beginner level 6, letting it use the opening book, and letting it think on your time, it has got to be playing at about 1600 strength, my guess. That's not even at the "normal" levels yet, which are super hard. Be sure to use the instruction book to figure set your correct level, because there is a big difference between "beginner" and "normal". Even though I've won some tournament games in my life, I guess I'm still just a beginner according to this computer!! For reference, I have an old Radio Shack Kasparov 1450 game, that I can beat on it's highest level. I'd guess that old game plays at about 1200 strength at most (and takes a long time for the computer to make it's moves on the highest levels). But this advanced travel chess game can kick my butt with only seconds used for each move by the computer.

As for the play itself, it uses a lot of different openings, so it keeps it interesting. Also, on some of my best games at the higher levels, it will rather go into a draw by 3 fold repetition, instead of making a bad move. It will flashes "end" in that situation. It is nice to have the feeling the computer isn't going to just make random dumb moves. At the higher levels, you can't wait for them, because they won't happen. My 2 cents :)

I think we would prefer a game that talks to us and also a game that is strictly electronic, without the plastic chess pieces which are likely to get lost because they're so small. It's good that it comes with a second set of pieces. One of its outstanding features is that it lets the player take back plays.

I bought this toy for my child and it has been very helpful for him. He is enjoying it very much!!