Customer Reviews

Expert Travel Chess Computer

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I suppose I could have just been unlucky but, within a few days of using this machine, the LED that is used when the computer wants to make a move on the E file stopped working. I can usually get it going again with a couple of hard taps but this does not feel like a robust machine to me.

The lid is poorly designed. It doesn't always keep all the pieces in their respective holes, and this can lead to pieces spilling out when the lid is opened. I also don't much care for the lid itself - there's no effective way to 'store' it when it's open, and it gets in the way if you want to play as black without the tedium of setting up all the pieces the other way around.

It has 30 holes on the side of the board for captured pieces. Whilst it is true that only 30 pieces can be captured in a game, the set comes with 8 spare pieces (2 pawns and 2 queens for each side). So, as I diligently practice my king, knight and bishop vs. king endgame, I run out of places to put the spare pieces. Annoying.

My last issue is around the programming itself. The machine does have an impressive range of options, and can play chess from beginner to advanced level (I can't confirm how advanced though, as I'm certainly no grand master). However, if I set it to its `Fun' levels and then try to set it back to its normal modes, it suddenly becomes stupidly easy to beat. This was explained in a loose piece of paper in the packaging - apparently, the fun levels restrict its search algorithm, but they forgot to program it to remove this limitation when it's switched to the other modes. There is a workaround - it involves using the master reset button, but this loses all your settings. This has probably been fixed in later versions, but it's no help to me.

Overall, a good chess machine ruined by sloppy implementation.

This is my fourth chess computer, not counting chess software. I own an old Radio Shack chess computer, Chessmaster for Nintendo DS, and Excalibur's tournament size Grandmaster chess computer. I bought the Saitek Expert Travel Chess Computer because I wanted a chess computer I could play while reclining in bed or on a couch, that is larger than the Nintendo. The Saitek fills the bill with it's pegged pieces.

As another reviewer notes, the lid is easily removed by pulling on the pins on either side of the hinge. This makes the Saitek easier to hold. I took a star off for durability because the catch on the lid looks like it could easily break. Otherwise the Saitek appears to be well-built for its price.

Before buying it I looked at every photo I could find on the web to get a sense of its size - knowing the dimensions wasn't enough - and after all that it seems a tad smaller to me than what I'd expected. I wish the pieces were a big larger, but they are okay as they are.

According to Chessmaster software for the PC, my ELO is about 1000, though I don't know if one can really go by a chess software rating. That said, the Saitek is a challenge for me at the non-"Fun" levels. I haven't even bothered playing the Fun levels, because I would get little satisfaction from winning because my AI opponent made a "deliberate" mistake or mistakes. (Plus I don't want to have to reset the unit after using a Fun level, which an addendum to the manual says one must do.)

The manual that comes with the unit is nice, but for my older eyes I find it easier to read the manual in Adobe format, which is available free at Saitek's website. The unit also comes with a stiff, photocopyable scoresheet.

I don't like having to press squares on the Radio Shack chess computer I own. One must press squares either with the edge of the pieces or with one's fingertip. The Excalibur Grandmaster doesn't require any pressing; you just lift each piece and move it and the moves register. The small Saitek Expert Travel pieces must be pressed into the peg-holes to register each move, but I don't find this a bother at all. And it is nice that I can lie back in bed or on a couch or in a recliner and angle the unit to just about any position I like without fear that the pieces will fall out.

Dutch professional chess programmer Frans Morsch, who co-authored Fritz chess software, developed the program for the Expert Travel computers.

I suppose I could have just been unlucky but, within a few days of using this machine, the LED that is used when the computer wants to make a move on the E file stopped working. I can sometimes get it going again with a couple of hard taps but this does not feel like a robust machine to me.

The lid is poorly designed. It doesn't always keep all the pieces in their respective holes, and this can lead to pieces spilling out when the lid is opened. I also don't much care for the lid itself - there's no effective way to 'store' it when it's open, and it gets in the way if you want to play as black without the tedium of setting up all the pieces the other way around.

It has holes on the side of the board for storing captured men. However, because the set comes with 8 spares (2 pawns and 2 queens for each side), it doesn't actually have enough holes. So, as I diligently practice my king, knight and bishop vs. king endgame, I run out of holes, and so have to leave some of the tiny men lying precariously on the table. Annoying.

My last issue is around the programming itself. The machine does have an impressive range of options, and can play chess from beginner to advanced level (I can't confirm how advanced though, as I'm certainly no grand master). However, if I set it to its `Fun' levels and then try to set it back to its normal modes, it suddenly becomes stupidly easy to beat. This was explained in a loose piece of paper in the packaging - apparently, the fun levels restrict its search algorithm, but they forgot to program it to remove this limitation when it's switched to the other modes. There is a workaround - it involves using the master reset button, but this loses all your settings. This has probably been fixed in later versions, but it's no help to me.

Overall, a good chess machine ruined by sloppy implementation.

The Amazon seller of this computer wants $20 OVER the MSRP of $99.95. In fact, you can buy this computer at Saitek's website for exactly that. And there are other chess-related sites that sell it for $75.

As for the Expert Travel Chess Computer itself, it's very portable and extremely STRONG. Perfect for playing in waiting rooms or on an airplane.

Learned to play chess when I was a kid, but pretty much forgot about it. My grandson joined a chess club at school, so I decided to pick it back up a few months ago. Don't have my own computer, so I bought Chessmaster for our PS2 (which we have for my grandson) and then bought this so I'd have something portable to play. If you're already good at chess, ignore what I'm about to say. I'm sure this game would probably be fun and challenging. The problem I have with it is that there is no level of play that is neither too easy or too hard. There are many different levles of play. There are, for example, 8 "fun" levels. The "fun" levels are supposed to be for beginners and get increasingly harder as you progress through them. So I go to fun level 5 and basically, after a few moves, Mephisto will make a stupid move like trading its Queen for Knight. Okay, too easy, so I go to Fun Level 6. It kills me - over and over again. I then play Mephisto level F6 (black) versus a number of Chessmaster (white) computer "personalities". Mephisto easily beats 1900 rated players in Chessmaster (didn't try any higher than that). I can play pretty well against Chessmaster up to "players" rated around 1500-1600, but I have no chance against those rated at 1900. Anyway, the point is, you jump from level F5 where Mephisto makes boneheaded moves that essentially give you the game to 1900+ at level F6. Seems like they're missing some levels in between. All-in-all, it is a good learning tool, but it would be nice, with all the levels it has, to find something that's a challenging to beat but not too easy.

This is a great portable game....(not just a toy)!
If the "play levels" do not work properly, all you have to do is get a pin and reset it with the small reset button at the bottom of the playing board! Even at the 3 or 4 ply levels, it is very tough for most players to beat. Well worth the selling price. Easy to set up test positions and problems. Has a nice large display that shows what it is "thinking"....etc.

There is one major advantage that this set has - that the pieces do not fall from the board and therefore this comes in very handy when you are traveling or are playing in bed in an akward position. I would say that is the only reason to get this set. I would say that the claim of the strength of this piece is overrated. I would rate myself as a "bright beginner" (I am rated about 1100 on chess.com) and so far I have beaten the computer on every level I've played (I wouldn't say it plays ridiculously and I am still having fun, but I do not find it to be as challenging as I would like). Now, I ust say that I have not tried the levels where the machine spends several (like 5-10) minutes per move thinking and it may be that it plays very well with that mode, but frankly I do not have the patience for a 5 hour game. So - if you are looking for a very strong game and a quick computer AND are planning to just play at home, do not get this machine. Also I have to say that it is quite flimsy and the pieces are poorly manufactured. I also have to say that all in all I would have probably still gotten this game because I travel a lot and want to be able to play on the plane, so for me this works as a good option. I also use it at home when my wife is on the computer; otherwise I play on chess.com, which is excellent (you can play against others or again a very strong computer where the moves are made nearly instantaneously).

I have owned this computer for a long long time. It works perfectly. You have to spend time READING and learning the manual! I am a USCF 2160 player and I set mine up to play the strongest possible chess. If you spend time reading the manual you will see you can set it to play weaker, play weaker openings, not think on your time, etc! I bet that is why some of these reviewers were able to beat it. Set it up at the strongest level like I did and they will lose every time! I use it as a training partner to practice my openings and typical middlegame positions and tactics, so I bring an opening book along, force the first 10 to 15 opening moves and then play it. For me this is the best computer to have, I set it up in the infinite mode so it will always give me toughest game. I sometimes for fun play blitz or 10 minute chess. Before a tournament I play it at the same time control the tournament will be to get me ready to rumble. I lose most games but do get draws once in a while and even less so I do win sometimes, but rarely, but I enjoy playing a strong master player all the time to improve my chess. This is a great chess computer, peg style so the pieces stay in place, I do not mind playing with the cover so I won't be taking mine off! It is very easy to switch piece colors for the bottom of the board so I do not find a need to take cover off. Batteries last a long time, I use duracell rechargeable types and it lasts for over 40 hours of play. If you want to set yours up to play strongest here are the parameters: +Auto, +Snd, -Sil, -Coch, -tic, +cdn, -top, +aPd. I hope this helps you get strongest play from your computer.

When the machine arrived it refused to record any moves on row 3. No matter what I tried, it simply refused to function.

I am happy to accept that there are manufacturing faults - it happens. So I contacted Saitek for a warranty claim. The box doenst even tell you where to return your defective product for a warranty claim.

6 unanswered emails later, 3 calls placed on hold - not a single response.

I even tried Saitek Europe. They responded within the day - saying that they didn't have responsibility for US sales. That I understand. However, why Europe is able to respond and the USA company is not is beyond belief.

If you are able to buy this from a shop and can make sure it works, then perhaps its a good buy. If you buy it online you may get one that doesnt work and no one will ever respond to your claims. This is just ridiculous.

ZERO stars

This chess game was exactly as described. I'm also very happy that the board is set up so you can stop turn off the game close the lid leaving all your men in place.