Chessnut boards are some of the best app connected chessboards we have tested. The Chessnut Air, Air+, Pro, and EVO all work with Lichess and Chess.com. The Air/Air+ models were already quite portable but the Chessnut Go takes it to the next level. It is the company’s smallest and most portable connected chessboard yet. The good folks behind it were kind enough to send us one to review. Let’s see what was inside:
Our Chessnut Go came in a small box. It has a protective case that holds the pieces, cable, manual, and the board. The Chessnut Go board is the sleekest portable chess computer we have seen. It is magnetic, so once you put the pieces on it, you don’t have to worry about them dropping off as you move the board around.
The Chessnut Go is not just any connected chessboard. It has full piece recognition, so the board knows which piece you are picking up, making it very easy to set up new positions. It works with a variety of devices, including iOS, Android, Windows, and macOS computers. It also works with third party apps such as Chess for Android, WhitePawn, Arena, and ChessBase.
This smart board has an OTB game recording feature, so you can save your games when the board is not connected and access them later. You will simply have to put the pieces on the board and press the + button to record a new game. When the game is over, press the same button for 3 seconds, and the game will be saved to the board’s internal storage.
The pieces for the Chessnut Go are a bit smaller than the other models but remain perfectly functional for play. Once you have paired the board to your Chessnut app, you can set up positions, play in Chess.com or Lichess, and practice. With drivers from Graham O’Neill, you can use this board with Arena or ChessBase for serious analysis. You can also play against Fritz, Stockfish, and various other engines.
The Chessnut Go is super thin, so you can easily fit it in a small bag. The included protective case does a good job keeping everything together. Even without it, the board seems sturdy enough for you to carry with your textbooks and other items. You will just want to avoid putting unnecessary pressure on it.
We have tested a variety of travel chess computers over the past few years (including many from the 90s and early 2000s). The Chessnut Go is by far the best in this category. It is thin, sleek, and smart. It works with a variety of apps, so you can run the latest version of Stockfish or LC0 on it without worrying about the board becoming obsolete. Well worth the investment if you need an uber smart travel chess computer.
