Chess computers have come a long way over the past few years. In the late 70s and 80s, we had Boris and other basic chess computers that were capable of responding to your moves but had a very weak engine. The latest models not only have Stockfish and other strong engines but let you play on Chess.com, Lichess and other platforms. The DGT Centaur and Chessnut Air+ are two of the best smart chessboards on the market. The former doesn’t require an app to work. It has a 3000 ELO engine that can beat most grandmasters. It has an adaptive engine that plays to your level. You can set it up with the buttons on its right bottom corner.
The Chessnut Air+ has a gorgeous wooden construction with hidden LEDs under the board to show the moves. It works with your smartphones, tablets, and computers. Its app lets you easily set up positions, train, and analyze positions. The Air+ has a USB-C port built-in. It supports Chess960. You can use it with the official Chessnut app or third-party apps such as WhitePawn. You can even livestream your games.
If you are looking for the strongest disconnected chessboard, you shouldn’t look past the Centaur. It has an e-ink display built on the side. It has friendly, challenging, and expert modes. The computer can play both sides. It can also analyze positions. This board shows the moves with LED circles. Both these boards have a lightweight design but the Air+ is a much smaller, so you can easily fit it in your backpack.
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