Is the ChessUp 2 or Chessnut Evo worth it?

December 4, 2024 1:04 PM

I started getting back into playing chess after a dear Welsh friend and I would play several games many moons ago at a cafe. I have been using a wooden walnut board (non-electronic) which was $63 in total and it looks pretty decent. I do like playing chess bots and with friends online at chess.com as well.

I think the ChessUp2 looks fantastic, especially with the lights. But I also hear downsides with e-boards such as it might be difficult to play rapidly because you will have to move your opponent's pieces if playing online, which can slightly deter your clock time. Maybe playing classical chess or a longer rapid game on ChessUp2 makes more sense. The Chessnut Evo looks wonderful too, but the expansive tablet I wonder would distract me from the game, whereas, the ChessUp2's screen is minimalist and smaller. Plus, ChessUp2 is less expensive than the Chessnut Evo. Plus, reviewing your games from on the board to chess.com seems like a neat feature to have. I am hoping to join a chess club in a year or so when I move to a different city perhaps, as we do not have one here in my small city. That is why I thought an e-board would be great for now, as I only have a few real life friends who can play with me right now.

posted by RearWindow to Technology (1 answer total)

I really think playing with a mouse and a computer screen is going to be much easier over distance, such as on chess.com or lichess.org. But if you want to improve your in person times with your own hands, seek out a local chess meetup! My city has several casual chess nights at different bars around different neighborhoods. And surely there are chess teams or leagues in your area. I would only invest in an e-board if you quite dislike the mouse-and-screen experience.
posted by panhopticon at 12:49 PM on December 5, 2024 [1 favorite]