Electronic Travel Set

Hi All

I've searched the forum but struggling to find an answer so please accept apologies if this has been asked before. 

I've played on and off casually since for years and not very good but I enjoy the game although rarely have anyone to play against.  I've played online but find it a bit lifeless without the touch of the pieces.  My son mentioned he's been playing with his friends which prompted me to buy a set and we've had a few games together.  Its reignited my interest, however at 18 years old playing chess with his dad on a regular basis is not really top of his to do list 🤣  

I've started looking for an electronic set and looking for suggestions for a small travel sized set that will let play / practice and won't cost a fortune.  I used to have fold up one as a kid that had flat magnetic discs which I seem to recall was quite compact and gave me a challenge.  I've had a browse on ebay but have no idea what to look for that would let me play / learn and ideally have different difficulty settings. 

Any ideas for small electronic travel set would be gratefully appreciated.

Hello,

I own few dedicated chess computers, so I have experience with some of them.

I could try to answer specific questions you have on units, have you found anything you like so far?

The ones I've seen on ebay are;

1. Systems Meteor Electronic Chess

2. Vintage Scisys Travel Mate II 2 Chess

3. Horizon Electronic Chess Computer

Open to any other suggestions or ideas.

And good old google helped me find the one I had as a kid (CGL Chess King)..

One of the strongest compact travel chess computers was the Saitek Cosmos (ELO 2021), which contains the same engine as the Kasparov GK 2100, but in a neat little frame with a very, VERY small pressure-sensitive chessboard and pieces. It occasionally appears on eBay, too.

Thank you.

I'd seen the Kasparov Compact and added this to my consideration list. The Cosmos looks like it might be a bit pricey for what I'm after. May be worth a look later down the line if the interest stays with me.

Why not just use your smart phone, and a travel chess set. There are many free chess engines that you can adjust the Elo level that are free.

A more expensive options would be the square off pro. If you insist on having the computer detect your move without out relaying the moves.

I use the cheaper option myself. As it is no different then you using the Novag Vip with the disc chess pieces and chess board.

I have a couple of chess games on the phone which I come back to now and then. Playing with my lad on a 'real' board made me realise I miss the feeling of physically moving pieces. Being able to grab a small travel set with a computer to play against, would hopefully help scratch that itch. Being small it also means I can just grab / set it up quickly if I fancy a quick game or two now and then.

I remember the CGL Chess King, my friend had one (I may have bought it from him, I need to look through my stuff).

The selection you have are about the same level (if not better, I remember the Chess King could not find mate in 2 and it was not possible to setup positions)

The process I would follow to select a computer is:

- Is there a manual? (With the computer or available online). Without a manual, some of them are hard to use.

- How many levels selectable/functionalities,

- level of play. (comes last, most chess computer that are not good enough do not have many levels to select from/functionalities, so they would be eliminated)

Of the one you have suggested, Krypton Pioneer appears as favourite. ( I have found the manual, albeit in French, on Alain Zanchetta website http://www.zanchetta.net/)

Second would be the Saitek Compact (I can't find the manual, however Saitek computer are nearly all identical in level settings)

Last would be Travel Mate II (only 8 level of play) and Horizon (unless the manual comes with it, difficult to find).

Hope this help.

I had a Kasparov Alchemist 20yrs ago (ish) which I played against. It'll go in a rucksack no problem, the pieces tuck away in a compartment at the bottom. It was a better player than I was then (and now probably). I sold it eventually as I was playing against the PC much more.

There's one on eBay for £35 which I'm fighting the urge to get as a retro toy.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/275927751488?var=0&mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=710-53481-19255-0&campid=5338268676&toolid=10044&_trkparms=ispr=1&amdata=enc:1VaDKM2NFQbC89X7EMVjLAQ46&customid=CjwKCAjw44mlBhAQEiwAqP3eVrezRZioAIvN0RqOF63Z13LpHCtaYGt1KvUWWr1vGdYDT6zM-KuZjxoC_6cQAvD_BwE

Tandy 1650 - Sensory chess game (1200 elo ) 8 levels of play 0-7 including problem solving on level 8 . Level 0 - 2 secs up to level 7 - 2 hours . These are illustrative only and during level 7 games will frequently keep you waiting all day.

Highlights include eventually mastering it at level 7 in one game with a planned move to win a queen only upon playing said move all the leds lit up and the game promptly died . So cons would certainly include watching battery life. Good luck with your search plenty of sites with collections / websites for more details .

When discussing chess computer, there is a must-know website: https://www.schach-computer.info (in German).

On this page is listed all known clones of chess computer.

The Systema Meteor and the Krypton Pioneer are indeed the same computer, so manual for one is valid for the other one.

I have bought over 20 old chess computers over the last year - they range from 1000 up to 2000 elo. So I have had my eye on the UK ebay quite a lot!

Going by your level and comments the Meteor/Horizon will suit you well (it's actually stronger than the Alchemist) - in fact if you bide your time you should be able to get one for £5 less. As far as I know it is actually difficult to get a manual for the computer. If the Kasparov Compact is any good it will fetch more than £15.

A good alternative in the sub-£20 category would be the Kasparov Plus, they turn up once a month or so.

Best buy atm imo would be Krypton Saturn 6-In-1 Mindsport for £14. Comes with instructions and you can ignore the other 5 games etc. In all likelihood it has the same chess program -if not better - as the Meteor/Horizon but would be larger than a true portable - also has 300+ GM game build in (this is a very useful feature). One drawback - and this is a guess - the instructions are likely to be very complicated as I suspect the chess part of the computer is a clone of the Orion 2000 (extremely complicated instructions -mainly because of the huge feature set - and hence why many are for sale!). The Horizon is pretty well priced as well, but has no instructions.

If you have any doubts the Meteor - at £15 + postage - will suit you fine. Quite a cute little machine that will play to over 1000 elo and is truly portable, has instructions and a very variable number of levels. I think it is slightly overpriced but nothing to cry over.

The only real drawback of these types of chess computers - aside from sub-1200 max playing strength - is that they will tend to have limited opening books - for this reason I would recommend ones that have a multi-move/two-player button so you can easily enter your own opening lines. But have no doubt - giving your chess.com rating - they will be capable of giving you a very tough middle game.

All this aside go for the one you like the looks of - you can always resell at little loss.

PS: The portables I own are the Novag Solo (1000 elo), New York Times (1400), and Mephisto Marco Polo (1700) but have a number of the Krypton/Systema larger computers and have a OTB elo rating of 1400+. Krypton is the UK branding of some better known clones, unfortunately this means knowledge about these computers is tricky, but don't let the name tag put you off. Pretty much all of these computers mentioned would beat over 50% of the players on chess.com.

For online and offline play, I suggest the Chessnut Air (of course, you need a smartphone/tablet to challenge bots but you can play OTB games with other persons too, the board automatically records moves), it's overall a good quality board, wooden frame and plastic board/pieces. Ciao

If you also consider tabletop chess computer, not only a portable one, there is a Go 1680X available as buy it now, complete in box with manual. (Direct Link)

In any case, I would recommend a unit with a screen, it is almost always better to have feedback from the computer.

Good luck in you journey in the chess computer world!

My preference for portability and robustness would be the Systema Meteor and as others have already mentioned certainly will help your progress in becoming a better chess player. On a side note the suggested german site by DalilMod has highlighted an error in my memory allocation so I'm off to change my username - every cloud.....

I've gone for the Systema Meteor and hopefully it should arrive in the next few days 😁

Great username and profile photo! Happy to have helped clarify the memory situation

@Pep2012, let us know how you get on once you receive it

I'll let you know how I get on.....One thing is for sure though, it'll be whooping my butt 🤣🤣🤣