DGT Centaur Chess Computer

Product Information

It has a rechargeable battery, e-Paper display, intuitive settings in many languages and weighted plastic chess pieces. The computer moves are indicated by unique circular LED lights. This means that you'll have to setup a custom position via it's menu and buttons which IMO is, like I mentioned earlier, very tedious. I've done it once myself and decided there are better ways to do this (ie. Lichess, Lucas Chess). Other, more expensive, boards by DGT and I believe also boards by Millenium have chipped pieces. If you insist on easily setting up custom positions, it might be worthwhile investigating those. I own one and had the pleasure of meeting with the CEO of DGT. He took me through the product, it’s features, and some of the engineering elements. As someone with quite a few chess computers, I was pleased to see a lot of improvements made. The board is thin and lightweight. Those cups underneath actually work as a sort of prism to help illuminate the board when moves are made. The extra queens is a nice touch. None of my electronic sets included those. Compared to my Grandmaster, the piece size slightly smaller but still satisfying to move.

Two adaptive difficulties: friendly and challenging, at which I win 99% and <50% respectively. Adaptive as in it determines your strength from your play and adjusts it's own strength accordingly, making it an ideal opponent for almost everyone. Many other chess computers are designed to play at top strength, thereby failing to provide an optimal realistic experience at lower levels. That's where the Centaur is specifically made to excel. Whether you're a beginner, strong player, home or club player, Centaur will adjust to your level as you play. This means you'll always see a challenging game that is both educational and fun!Centaur knows 3 fold repetition and fifty move rule but it does not offer a drawer outside of those rules. It does not offer to resign either. Also when I get tired of being in the house it would be nice to be able to sit in the garden under the roof of the pergola in the fresh air. Having a DGT PI or maybe a Centaur board one can play against the computer and get used to real figures.

That advertisements said it learns in just one game but it crushed me for about the first 3 or 4 games and then started to even out. I won the last two. No individual piece recognition, so setting up a custom game position via the menu/GUI is very tedious. The most innovative Chess Computer that automatically adapts itself to your playing strength. It gives you a fair chance to win, to learn and, most importantly to have fun! No advanced chess computer knowledge is required. Just use the Centaur to play, learn, train, analyze and improve your skill level.I think you need to determine what your goals are. Are you interested in playing OTB (over the board) chess once this COVID19 is over? Centaur was made to give everyone a good game. Whether you are a beginner or a strong player, whether you are a home player or a club player, Centaur will adjust to you as soon as you make your first move. Its smart algorithm will automatically adjust to your level and always gives you a challenging game that is both educative and great fun! It has a hint system and the option to set up any position. There are many ways to learn to play chess ... and not just on the monitor because nowadays we have it ... and everybody can have different habits of how to learn something ...

There's no need for computer screens or tablets. Just start playing chess naturally with intelligent auto-sensing technology. Impressive looking weighted pieces and on board lighted display within the squares themselves engage you in a fully contained, highly-tactical chess play experience that you will enjoy for hours upon hours. According to DGT the full set weighs including cables about 10 pounds. for me that is not heavy. Also it comes with a carrying bag holding everything. So that is for me no reason not to get a DGT board.You don't need to buy anything whilst you are a beginner. Just practice lots of tactics, openings, watch the videos, use the lessons on here, and play live games and see where you went wrong in analysis- no need for anything else. Also use the forums for advice for beginners. I did read, cannot recall where, that right from the get go, before internet chess was a thing, standalone chess computers were designed as a learning aid and that includes learning mating schemes. Such learning would be compromised if the computer was habitually resigning or offering draws. It is understandable, in my opinion, that programmers of entry level and mid ranged computers would omit the option even though mid ranged computers would have been capable of making such decisions. I have not experience any problems with my Centaur making moves and captures which is why I make this post because occasionally I come across folk who who blame the chess computer because they are not understanding the strict move inputs the computer requires. DGT would like to thank the many software developers who made it possible to develop Centaur for the many chess lovers around the world. Centaur is not compatible to connect to your computer or online chess portals. That is not necessary at all, use the Centaur to play, to learn, to train, to analyze and to improve your skill level. Above all, use it to have fun!