Chess Challenger

Product Description

What is a Chess Computer? A state-of -the-art chessboard with real chess pieces and electronic circuits that respond to the position of the chess pieces on the chess board. This enables you to play a game against the chess computer at any time without the need of another person. Plus with a memory saving function, you can turn off your computerized chess game and continue later without losing any positions. Chess Challenger Want the ultimate Chess Challenge? Try the Saitek Mephisto Chess Challenger! Designed for expert chess players, this powerful computer is designed to challenge your play, sharpen your tactics, and advance you to new playing levels. * 64 playing levels, info mode, coach mode, study mode * 50 move take-back * Hint system * All major openings and many famous grandmaster moves to study * Sensory chess board, LED board lights, piece storage compartment, LCD display * Chess clock * Automatic power down * Unfinished game memory * Included AC adapter Specifications: King Height: 1-7/8" Strength: Master (2000+ rating) Dimensions: 14.25 x 10 x 1.5" Batteries: Not Included (adapter included)

---

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #204801 in Sports & Outdoors
• Brand: ChessCentral

Features

• 64 Playing Levels: Normal, Infinite, Tournament, Blitz, Fun, Mate Search, Training and Adaptive
• Info Mode - to see inside the computers; Coach Mode - capture alert and tactical alert warnings; Study Mode - learn from the experts by replaying 20 famous games stored
• Option to play against the computer or a friend with Unfinished game held in memory - pick up where you left off
• Self-contained Unit: Sensory Board; 4-digit LCD display; builit in chess clock; piece storage compartment; automatic power down feature
• Pewter and Silver Effect Pieces - metallic look and feel - Batteries required (not included) - AC/DC Adapter included

Customer Reviews

Most helpful customer reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful.
Excellent quality and capabilties
By Roy Massie
I use this chess trainer in multiple modes to strengthen my playing. I am an advanced beginner/novice trying to increase my tournament rating. Chess Challenger by Saitek is very well made and responds quickly with good moves. You can lower the strength of its playing to a very low (what it calls adaptive mode) or through the Fun levels which start very easy and get quite a bit harder. Of course there are plenty of very tough levels as well. I especially like the ply mode where you can set how many half moves the computer will search for selecting its own best move. This allows you to train against a player who has excellent tactical judgment, but only looks into the position to a specific amount of depth. Very useful - really shows you how you are at tactics. The trainer also has an opening book built in. There is one mode where it is not used - I like it being on all the time so you don't get stupid openings from your opponnent in its weaker levels.

The board and keys all feel good - I find this much more enjoyable and portable (lighter) than playing against a laptop. This unit gives me a good game without taking up all the time a laptop needs to think of its next move. And it's much faster due to the dedicated processor being just for chess. I can get in a decent game when time is tight, (e.g. before I go to work) without having to wait on it to boot-up, start a program, etc. Of course you do have to set the pieces up each game and not on a laptop - otherwise it is superior. It is just the right size to set in your lap as you play on the couch - or just as a table top set...It's about the size of a large book laid open but not heavy at all. It also comes with a wall power unit if you don't want to use batteries. Many of these inexpensive trainers (less than $150) do not come with the wall power adapter. I wish it came with some sort of carrying sleeve, but it does not - but for the reasonable money it costs this is understandable. Easy to find something to protect it in if you wanted.

I tried the Excalibur Einstein E714 before this one, but it fell apart shortly after I got it out of the box (see my review). I spent the extra money (about $50 more) and got a real trainer - this Chess Challenger by Saitek. If you are a novice to late intermediate player serious about improving your game and want the experience of moving pieces instead of waiting on a laptop, this is your machine. Saitek also makes units in this same product line for stronger players (Expert+) but I have not tried those. I love the Chess Challenger !

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful.
Nice teaching game for the money
By Robert J Selders
If you are looking for a good game to learn and challenge yourself, then this is worth a try. It is reasonably portable with a trap door in the bottom for the pieces. While it has the ability to run off batteries (C cells), the board works off of AC current. The instructions are good with an excellent quickstart section to get going right away. The pieces themselves are of a good size and finish. You do have to place small green felt disks on the bottom of each piece but the felt is supplied. For those who have played electronic stratego, it has the same action where to press down the piece you are going to move and then press it in its new location. I ordered mine from the Chess Store via Amazon. Nice set, nice company.

24 of 29 people found the following review helpful.
a teaching tool/gift
By sp
A nifty little computer! One can spend hours deepening one's understanding of chess without having to sit for hours in front of a computer screen.
Or, play a few moves at time and save the game for later.. Not too difficult to operate.

See all 7 customer reviews...