Reviews (17)

A good little pocket chess companion
This little chess computer is exactly what it says it is, and it's exactly what I wanted. I'm not a super strong chess player (around 1400UCF) so obviously even not-so-strong chess computers/software provide all the challenge I need to keep me entertained. If I were to assign a maximum strength rating, I'd say (with my limited qualification to do so) it could perform probably no better than 1600UCF. It has 72 levels of play, so it has a fairly wide range of strength for beginning to intermediate players. So if you're looking for something to make you a better chess player, you may be better served by some good chess software or a more expensive tabletop chess computer. But if you're looking for someone to play a good game of chess anywhere you go, this is exactly it.

The interface is pretty solid. It uses a Palm Pilot-like stylus for it's user interface. Being able to simply touch the piece I want to move and it's destination is extremely easy. I don't generally have a problem seeing the display indoors. Direct sunlight can affect it a bit, but the LCD knob on the top allows me to adjust the strength of the display. The LCD menu system is perfectly reasonable, but not totally intuitive, so reading the manual is necessary. You can undo moves, set up your own positions on the board, and it even has a simple rating system it uses to try and rate your play.

This is the smallest chess computer on the market, and what made it most attractive to me was it's price. ...you really can't beat the value. So for its reasonable price, it can fit in my pocket, its ease of use, and it provides me a good chess challenge, I recommend this product.

one Major problem
There is a lot to like about this handheld chess game. But, do not waste your money unless you plan on using it only in well lit places. The LCD is almost impossible to read (so much do that I've had to look for a different handheld chess unit). In this day and age, I don't think its asking too much to expect a better display. My recommendation is to wait for a better product. But its your decision.

Get the Saitek Cosmic instead
This is not a bad little chess computer, it is just the interface that is its downfall. Everytime I wanted to quit a game a start a new one the game would cut off. The start and off areas are above each other. In addition, the manual is almost non-existant. The Saitek cosmic, even though a little more expensive is much better, although both models suffer from lack of a back light. The Saitek model uses a touch screen, but also uses menu keys and a message area at the bottom of the screen to make a much better package. It also uses standard chess notation when giving hints etc. The excalibur model just flashes pieces.

Its P-E-R-F-E-C-T
This is a great little chess toy. It is exactly what it says, and the screen is bigger than looks in the picture. I would highly recommend this. it has 73 levels of play, you can watch famous games, play against a human also, and you can easily recognize the pieces. If your just starting out in chess, thats alright because Touch Chess will teach you just fine. The contrast button is very helpful also. This was definitely worth my $40 bucks. I strongly recommend this to anyone who wants to play chess immediately or is on the go. It works perefectly. You can also make it so the noise level is "off" if someone doesnt want to hear it. It's an awesome toy with great stuff. Definetely worth my $40 bucks. I'm actually surprised it isnt worth more:) But, you must be very careful if you touch the screen. (even comes with a case) Whoever doesnt like this must be very picky! and im serious!! Its P-E-R-F-E-C-T

[Weak]
This product is based on 1970's era technology. The LCD is simply atrocious and it is very difficult to distinguish the pieces from each other. You're better off getting chess software for your Palm pilot. When I first saw this product I thought, "Great! The whole machine is devoted to chess processing! It must be fast and smart!" However, the machine takes several minutes to move and, sadly, it doesn't always make the intelligent moves, even at the higher levels.

... ... Read more

Features

• Better than ever on the chess, Ivan uses his 500 word vocabulary to insult and threaten you in deep, commanding tones
• But he can also be a powerful and patient mentor
• Now includes a full size LCD in addition to Ivan's magnetic sensory board
• Use the LCD to play without pieces or confirm the position of pieces on the big board
• 100 power levels with an 1850 strength rating

Reviews (4)

Good Set For the Inexperienced
I bought this set as a replacement for a travel set I owned. The electronic handheld is good for people on the go. The docking station/board is not really that portable. It is als not very sensitive. The square has to be pushed a bit to get it to register a move when playing against the computer. Over all I would reccomend it for novices. I am not sure how goos it would be for experts but it does have many levels.I enjoy my set. It is just what I needed. Another set to look into might be the chess portfolio. It looks good to me but I have not bought one yet.

A Good Friend
I recently brought the Chess Station and I really like it. I have played chess on and off, more off for many years. It is hard finding another person to play with, especially in my house. I can pick up the Chess Station any time I want and play a few moves, or a whole game. I can play it with the whole board of just use the hand held game. Heck, sometimes I win and that feels good. I can switch sides, and if I get desperate I can ask for help. The game has a lot of features that I am still learning about, like changing levels, or playing great games, things like that. The game is easy to see, even when I use my cheap reading glasses. If you like the game of chess and do not get to play that much because of time or not having a person to play with, get this game. One of the best things is when you are playing against the computer no one will laugh at you for a dumb move.

Is it suitable for novices, preteens, etc?
Can the chess program be set to allow a novice to win some games against the computer? Or will the computer always win? My rating of 3 in all categories is bogus. This is the only way I could register a question about the product. There was insufficient information provided about the product. I don't know whether to buy it or not. Thanks.

Great handheld and board
I am very pleased with my new Chess Station. The handheld unit seems sturdy, though it will probably damage if dropped from waist high onto a hard surface. It fits well in my hands, and the controls are not difficult to work. The screen is easy to see even in a dim room, but is less a strain on the eyes if viewed in brighter conditions.
There is not much weight to the handheld device, so it is easily carried in a coat or shirt pocket. I have not encountered any problems docking it with the board, and am not worried about the use since the connecters are well made.
The board and pieces are small, but they are proportionately sized. Both are well suited to a fun chess match with a partner. There is no problem with the computer registering moves from board to handheld when docked, but I have noticed that the pressure points on the board are not consistent on all 64 squares (some acknowledge slight pressure and some need a heavier press). Though while this is the case, it is nothing more than a minor inconvenience. It certainly won't stop me from buying another one in the future.
Besides playing chess against the computer, there are a number of additional computer modes to explore (checkmate problems, learing opening moves, hints, etc.). They add some variety to an already fun game.
All in all, I am very satisfied with the unit and the price. This handheld chess computer and board is an excellent combination. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

I understood it.
This is a good travel Chess game. The pieces, despite most reviews, were distinguishable, at least to me. Once I recognized that the Queen has deer antlers, the Rooks have benchpress bars, the King has an embroidered triangle, and the Bishops have crosses, it was easy. I do, however, agree that the white pieces were kinda hard to see. I would often have to tilt the game to see them better. There is a way to turn off the sound in the options mode. The manual is inside the package's folded cardboard and is (hidden) between the two halves. Having no pieces is great, this is why I spent days looking for a computerized version. I only wish it were illuminated for nite-playing.

This is good for Beginners. I have no rating, I don't play everyday. But I do love Chess.

It's hard to tell the pieces apart.
It's hard to tell the pieces apart; they invented their own weird symbology instead of using the standard 'newspaper icon' pieces you see in books.
Also, it's not that strong (1750? pschh!). Other than that, though, it's small, convenient, and durable.

Its not that good
This thing may look like the perfect toy for someone you know but its not... its actually really hard to move the pieces on it battery instalation is tough (requires Screwdrive) Just get your kid a computer and let him play chess on that he'll like it more!

Not 1750 USCF!!
I just purchased this and King Arthur. I beat them both without
too much difficulty on the strongest settings. I even pitted
them against each other, and they played a rather even, weak
game but King Arthur won eventually. I am rated 1480 and play
regular tournaments. The
claims that these are 1750 USCF is not true. I'd say they are
about 1300-1350. LCD Chess is a lot of fun, though for someone
in the 1200 range or below. No pieces means that they won't shake out when you carry it in your pocket. The module truly
is small and convenient to carry in your coat pocket. However it
accidentally turns on sometimes if you bump it, so many times I've brought it out of my pocket and it's on. It offers a very
bad opening book package (30 openings) which only go a few moves
deep, so that's a worthless feature. Plus, the openings are rather sophisticated (Bogo-Indian? c'mon!) for novices, which is
the only player this thing is fun for. The piece diagrams are a little weird too, and take some getting used to. Also, it "saves" your game, but not your move history, so unless you write your game down, forget it. But ... what do you expect?

Give it a chance. It's OK.
There aren't many handheld chess games around so I gave this a chance. I enjoy playing it although I don't get into the menu for much of anything. Difficulty level feature is well designed, the competition does get tougher as the level goes up. The white pieces are hard to see and the move sequences take some getting used to, particularly when playing the black. There are beeps but I live with them. I've gotten so I don't really hear them. I've played it a lot and the durability is not a problem. For the price, it's a good game. Hopefully Excaliber, the distributor, will offer up an improved version. I'll buy it. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Basic Game only
For a beginner to Dominoes, this is a nice a little game. Unfortunately for those hard-core players, they will find this game a bit too basic. One is unable to play off the initial spinner and points are not accumulated during the game. Again, a good game for the basic player - boring to the advance player.

Double Six Dominoes - Do really know DOMINOES? Then try it!
The Excaliber Double Six Dominoes handheld game - what more could you expect from dominoes? Surely a fine crafted instrument such as this may fill all your hours of interests with domino games! As a recent author on dominoes game books (the best selections of games and most up to date variations is my forte) I highly recommend a decent electronic handheld such as this one for your down time between participating compatriots rounds of playing dominoes and for your own pursuit of honing your skills further. I know what I say - the plays the thing! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Great For Beginners
The Saitek Travel Chess Computer has many of the virtues of its more powerful cousins at a fraction of the cost. It has a multi-move "take back" feature, 64 playing levels, teaching modes, and a rudimentary stock of openings. It can be slow and, like just about all computers, will make the same tactical blunders repeatedly. Its playing strength is strictly for beginners but at the highest level it can be challenging to the beginner who will soon move into the intermediate ranks. The Saitek is a useful, entertaining teaching tool for the child who knows the moves to the game. It can be a boon companion on a long car trip or flight (it can beat the woeful on-board chess programs) without all the beep-beep and toot-toot of those mindless hand-held computer video games. The manufacturer's suggested age range of eight years and up is too cautious; this game can be both entertaining and beneficial to the child of four who knows how the pieces move. It is not overly daunting. It will build confidence.

improvements could be made
I'm not an excessively strong chess player (at my best I'm in the 1500s). If you're around 1200 or 1300 and patient this will be a fine game to carry when you travel; but it's too slow and even on the highest level surprisingly beatable even by me.

However, if you're even worse than that, if you just need practice avoiding blunders, the levels are fine. You can move up as you improve; at the highest level you'll need a little positional understanding as well as tactical discipline to beat it consistently. So it's a decent trainer for beginners.

Past that, it needs to be faster and smarter; I suspect there are cell phones that can beat it. I'm not an expert though. Shop around before you buy this one, at any rate.

One final note: the pieces are very small, they are not magnetic and they do not settle very securely into their places on the board. That is, they fall out and get lost too easily. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Excellent but not durable
The entire family had a lot of fun playing with this game,but after 2 weeks of use few of the buttons stop working.I don't recommend to pay $50 for a toy that is going to last for just 2 weeks. ... Read more