Customer Reviews

Excalibur Electronics 747K Grand Master - Black

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This game is great compared to other electronic chess games. The simple fact that you don't have to enter your moves on some sort of keypad makes play much more fluid, and the magnetic sensors under the board work rather well. Also, the range of difficulty levels, training levels and other options should be enough for anybody.

My three complaints are:

1. how come there is no AC adapter included? that's not very smart.

2. inserting or replacing batteries is much more complicated than it should be

3. the plastic finish of the board and pieces looks rather cheap. it's a shame the manufacturer didn't try to make a really good looking product.

First I'll list the few things I like about this product:

I like that it's a tournament sized board with a feel that will be familiar to chess tournament players. I like that it is auto-sensory (senses the movement of pieces without pressing down on a square). I like that one of the playing levels tries to match the human players play rate (if a human plays quickly at first, then slows down in mid-game, the computer will do the same).

Everything else is negative. The quality of workmanship is quite poor. The vinyl play surface is merely glued on, and starts to peel quickly. The computer plays a weaker game of chess than the comparably priced units from Saitek and Novag, and lacks several features that are common in high end chess machines. And the method of communication with the player (LCD notation only) makes rapid chess very difficult.

The approx $200 price tag seems attractive compared to the other available auto-sensory boards (novag citrine at $350, Saitek Exclusive at over $500), but those machines are much nicer and stronger (though all play pitifully compared to modern PCs).

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This ... chess computer ... looks and feels like an actual tournament set. However, this Grandmaster ISN'T ALL THAT GRAND.

FIRST, the computer sometimes doesn't recognize checkmates between humans and lists them only as "check".

SECOND, the computer ALWAYS shows your human opponent which one of his pieces you are threatening by flashing the word "threat" for 8 seconds on his small LCD screen.

THIRD, you can't play against the computer without it telling you which one of your pieces IT is threatening.

FOURTH, there are no LED lights (those little red lights) to show you where the computer wants you to move its piece. You have to read your LCD, find the "from" square on the board, then the "to" square, then move the piece.

LAST, although the GM is recommended for all players, it is too difficult for beginners, even on the easiest level.

Even though a tournament-like chess computer may sound great, you're better off saving your money for a chess computer that REALLY IS GRAND.

Thank you for reading my review.

Jake

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Length:: 2:44 Mins

Everything you've heard about the Grandmaster is true. The good, and the bad. But the Grandmaster sets itself apart from other computers in two ways: It's strength and it's size. If you're looking for a chess computer, this is the Rolls Royce! :-D

This is the best electronic chess game you can buy for the money (I paid $100). It has big good looking pieces, great looking board, it is tounament size, not a tiny little cheap looking toy. It has great teaching modes. It moves fast even at the harder levels so you can play alot of games (I had a board that took hours to make a move). You dont have to push on the board at all, just move your piece and it automatically senses the piece. And it is really hard, belive me, this machine is going to punish you unless you are some sort of master yourself.

Big! Tournament scale board and large weighted pieces. If you are like me, and don't really care for the typical one half size
electronic table top chess games, then this attractive set is for
you. The vinyl topped board doesn't look at all like an electronic game. No lopsided controls on one side. Perfectly
suitable for just a normal two person game. Comfortable. To the semi-serious hobbyist, a perfect companion. The computer program is capable of defeating well over 90% of all chess players at it's top level of play. I'll never wear it out or get bored.

I was really disappointed when this chess computer arrived; guess it's my own fault, though. I THOUGHT this was the absolute ELITE chess computer that I was buying (being "sensory" etc), as other chess computers that I've owned have lights on each square that blink to signal when and where the computer wants to move. This grandmaster doesn't have lights on each square; rather, you must read the coordinates from the lcd screen, then find the coordinates on the board in order to move the piece (for the computer's move). This was truly a big disappointment for me, (...) I'm stuck this time, but I'm hoping I can save some grief for someone else....

i'm a USCF member and have never entered a tournament because i know i lack the skills to do well. i've purchased a ...radio shack portable computer, a ...wood chess set(who can i play if no one knows how?) that was overpriced! and i've even played [online]. i absolutely love this set!!! now the "bad" stuff that is only MY opinion. if you're looking to buy an easily portable, compact computer set, this is not for you. there are no containers or spaces to carry the pieces. i love the king and queen height/shape difference and the bishops stand-out from the knights(the experienced players will know what i mean by that). and last, read the section on the levels of play!!! level 1 is not the easiest!!!

After messing around with several other chess computers, I opted for the grandmaster.

The good: Great computer play and very nice to play with the normal sized tournament pieces. I was having problem playing humans because I was too use to looking at the computer screen (I always seem to miss bishops.) It is great to simply pick up the piece and move it without messing around with pressing here or there, possibly knocking other pieces over.

The bad: It seems to be of slightly lower fit and finish quality for a ... chess computer. The plastic pieces still had flash and the raised lettering on board wear off quickly. The board also had some skuff looking marks which elbo grease is needed to clean. Also a battery eater, BUY THE AC adapter as I went through a fresh set of batteries in about a week.

Saddened that it had no storage at all for the set, not for pieces or anything. The original shipping is too hard to use and gets the pieces covered with Styrofoam.

Would I buy it again knowing what I know now, yes for price here, not for the retail price.

I bought this product at a store vs. "online".. so i didn't have "shipment problems" that seem to have dissatisfied other reviewers. (Dear reviewers, shipment/damage problems are not product problems.) I also spent less than as advertised online! This is a finely weighted, wonderfully sized, nice to handle tabletop chess product. You get a real feeling of playing "over the board"... for a decent price, rather than the several hundreds that some others cost.. (and I think some of which play less strongly!) An affordable and attractive alternative for we who like a game anywhere, anytime, without turning our PC on and looking at some screen... or playing against a small tabletop set that's nice but... well... small!! (Both of which leave me wanting to handle a real chesspiece anyway). The only thing I might suggest improving besides it's look (a little cheap as mentioned by another, but not really bad!)... is differing time controls for White and Black. I don't think this can be done... (i just got it so haven't checked this totally)... but as an intermediate player, I'd like to be able to give myself more time than I give the 'puter. (har har!!)