I fell in love with chess as a kid.
None of my friends really liked the game so finding someone to play was frustrating. I saw a computer chess game – I’m not going to lie, it was expensive for the time – and begged my parents to get it for me as a birthday gift.
My parents did surprise me with the game and I found the beginner mode was impossible to beat. I got the book “Bobby Fisher Teaches Chess” and promised myself I would not play computer chess again until I finished the book. Well, I did finish the book and I beat that computer chess game easily (on beginner mode) the next time I played.
Fast forward decades later and I discovered a computer chess set that sort of made my first game look like stone-age technology.
This new game is the Chessnut Move and, boy oh boy, did it get my attention.
The Big Picture
The Chessnut Move is a great looking chess board with your choice of wooden or plastic pieces. (You pay a premium for the wooden pieces.) And because it powered by a formidable chess engine, it plays against you. And the crazy thing is the pieces move themselves. Imagine sitting down at for a chess game. And the AI gives you a great game as you watch the pieces move as if guided by an invisible hand. But it gets better.
You can play real opponents from a distance and – again – the game moves the opponent’s pieces for you. So whether you want to play against the AI or a real person, you’re covered.
And this game gives you plenty of ways to challenge yourself and improve your game like providing chess puzzles and taking chess lessons through third-party learning platforms like Chess.com, Chessable, and Lichess.
Open Up The Box And Here’s What You Get
There’s the board. It has a tournament-sized playing area. Nice!!! There is extra space on the sides to place captured pieces. (Make sure you put those captured pieces on the side so the AI can keep track of it.
Then you get 34 pieces. (Like any quality chess set, you get an extra Queen.)
There’s two USBC to USBC cables for charging. There’s a docking station to charge the pieces, because the mechanisms for those pieces “magically” moving are built right into each piece.
Lastly, you get an instruction manual, four replacement bases, and a little screwdriver to help you easily swap out or repair the self-moving bases on the bottom of the chess pieces. (just in case they wear out over time).
Is Chessnut Move Well Designed?
In my humble opinion, I love the look of the board and the pieces.
Again, the board has a tournament-sized playing area. Sweet! The board is heavy … you’re not going to want to carry this board all over the place to play. I think it’s better for that special spot in your home where you like to play. Put it there and keep it there. I also appreciate how the board positions are clearly labeled. (I have told you yet, but you can use voice command to move your pieces if you don’t want to put your coffee or tea down while you’re playing. The clearly labeled board will help you with voice command.)
I like the look of the pieces. Some chess players are extremely particular about the design of a set’s chess pieces. I want the pieces to look nice … but I’m much more concerned about easily being able to tell there difference between my bishop and my pawns. (Believe it or not, I’ve seen boards where it’s not so easy to tell the different pieces apart. I hate that.)
And the button layout is easy to use. You’ll see the buttons (like power, Bluetooth, and mode button) in the front.
The Playing Experience
No surprise here. The playing experience is wonderful. I find it a little magical to watch the pieces move around by themselves. But not having to move my opponent’s pieces does help to keep me immersed in the game a little better.
If you’re wondering how a knight and move if it’s obstructed by other pieces, those other pieces will automatically move out of the way to let the knight through, then resume their original places.
There is a Chessnut app that works with your board that provides a world of extra opportunities to play and learn. But you don’t HAVE to connect to the app to play. The board is powered with independent built-in AI engines (like Stockfish). So, you can play or practice offline (no need to connect to a smartphone, tablet, or PC).
Also, the Chessnut App lets you play against human opponents on platforms like Chess.com or Lichess. It’s easy to connect with the app and it opens up a whole new world of fun, play, learning.
One note on play … give the Chessnut pieces time to do their thing. If you try to move before the pieces are done, the game will just move your piece back to its starting point.
Note On Speed Play: If you love to play Blitz games (fast-paced match where both players have a total of 10 minutes or less on their clocks to make all of their moves), this is not the set for you. With the time it take for the chess pieces to move on their own and the fact that you can’t slam your pieces down because of the mechanized bases, choose a different set for Blitz games.
The voice command function is easy to use. I don’t use it because I like to physically be involved and move my pieces. But if you’re the type who wants to sit back relax while playing, you’ll appreciate voice command. Just say the square you’re moving from and the square you’re moving to. That’s it. The clearly labeled board makes it easy.
Here’s The Price (You Might Want To Sit For This)
Get ready for a little sticker shock. At the time I’m writing this, the Chessnut Move is going for $719.10 (with wooden pieces) and $647.00 (with plastic pieces). That’s a lot of cash. Is the Chessnut Move worth it? That depends on how much you love and play chess.
For example, a new PlayStation 5 on Amazon.com is going for $669.99. And people have no trouble parting with their cash for that.
The good news is that Chessnut has A WIDE RANGE of models. You can get the Chessnut Air Electronic Chess Boar for $249.99 and it still provides a great experience.
When I consider the countless hours of great play I’ve had … it’s actually been a rather good buy.
This Review: The End Game
There are a lot of computer chess brands out there. And they all have their own strengths and weaknesses.
In my humble opinion, the Chessnut line of products have a lot of strengths … design, quality of build, functionality, and features.
Some of their highest end products come with a steep price tag (like the Move and Evo). But, man oh man, are they sweet machines. And, of course, Chessnut has less expensive models that provide great games and an amazing experience.
So, no matter what model a chess lover like you goes for … I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. And my last piece of advice: Castle early. 😊
About the Author:
George Berger
Ever since a young George was disappointed with a toy that did match up to the advertising, he became a tireless advocate for consumers. He’ll review anything that folks have to spend their hard-earned dollars on. George is grateful that he gets to use his skills as a writer and an artist to help connect with consumers and help them make the best decisions possible.
This article is for informational purposes only and reflects the author’s independent opinion. Readers should verify details directly with the manufacturer or retailer before making a purchase decision.
