Excalibur Grand Master Electronic Chess Computer

Product was sent back ,with requests refund for because product was not working properly I had no response from 2nd party gave up after several months

I am not a 'great' chess player, bought this so I could practice... but 2 out of 3 games I have to 'restart' because there are so many glitches - not recognizing a move, VERY sensitive about how pieces are picked up and very very sensitive on how/where they are placed in the square.And as reported in other reviews, once the system gives you an error message, it locks up so that none of the other functions can be used (functions that would help you find out where the problem is and be able to continue the game).As I said, 2 out of 3 games are never completed because I have to restart the entire game. Out of all the 1 in 3 games I have completed I have only won ONE game... and that's on the easiest setting. I'm far from being an powerful player... but even on the easiest setting I don't just lose, I get slaughtered.I could go on, but I wish I had read more reviews before I had made this purchase. The free chess game app on my phone is a better in just about every way.ADDITIONIAL COMMENT: After playing other compterized chess games, I had to knock this down from 2 stars to just 1, especially for the price they are asking.

First of all Excalibur makes very cheap products. The computer strength on this is actually great. The concept and thought for this idea is really cool. But what the other reviews say are true. This is a very sensitive machine. You mess up and it will lock up and your done for the game. I found how to not have this issue and I haven't had problems in a long time. You really have to focus on picking up the piece intended to move and doing so almost straight up. And then placing to the to go square in the same fashion. When capturing another piece same process by picking up the to move piece and then taking off the piece to be captured as if moving it by picking it straight up. Then placing the intended piece moved straight down onto its square. This has been my success and next to no problems since.The problem with this is the game was designed to give you a real game feel when moving pieces. But leave it to Excalibur to screw that up. This is the only thing I own from the company. I picked it up for a hundred bucks new 6 years ago. After getting used to playing in this manner when moving pieces I've really enjoyed the machine. I love the fact that you can use 4AA batteries or ac adaptor. I love having the batteries so in the late evenings I can play a game out on the deck. plus its just nice not having the plugged wire there. I just use rechargeable batteries and good to go.I bought this because I wanted a large chess computer to play and this is the largest the market ever saw. Unless you touch it, it looks nice and is also a good conversation piece where it sits in my living room. But upon handling the machine its made of flimsy plastic and the bottom is like a card board. I handle it carefully when moving and its been fine. The playing board is nice and the plastic tournament pieces are really good and have heavy weight. The last thing that bothered me a lot is I can't stand my chess computers beeping and always turn the sound off. For what ever reason this doesn't have that feature. I ended up un screwing the under side and by the little speaker I disconnected the wire.I think I enjoy most for the original reason I bought it and that is to have a large game board and pieces to look on while playing the game. If you find one you can expect to pay quite a bit now since this was long discontinued. If the price is cheap it will probably be because it has cosmetic issues. You really do want this in new or like new condition. Good luck!

A GREAT PRODUCT FOR NASTALGIC VALUE. GREAT FOR THE BEGINNER WITH ALL SORTS OF FEATURES. NOT FOR ANY STRONG OR "SEASONED" PLAYER. THEY RECENTLY STOPPED MAKING "STAND ALONE" COMPUTER SYSTEMS, EXCEPT FOR THE PROFESSIONAL PLAYER. THIS PRODUCT IS A GREAT COLLECTOR'S ITEM - WHICH IS EXACTLY WHY IT WAS PURCHASED. I NOTICED THAT OTHER REVIEWS REPORTED QUIRKS WITH THIS PRODUCT; THESE "QUIRKS" ARE EASILY FIXABLE BY PRESSING THE PROPER KEYS, ALTHOUGH THIS WAS NOT DESCRIBED IN THE MANUAL. IF YOU COLLECT STAND ALONE CHESS COMPUTERS, THIS IS A GOOD ADDITION TO YOUR COLLECTION. THE ADVANCED PLAYER SHOULD USE A PROFESSIONAL DGT BOARD OR IT'S RECENT UPGRADE, TITLED REVELLATION II - VERY EXPENSIVE - NOT FOR THE BEGINNER OR CASUAL PLAYER.

I've had this game for several years and as long as I'm attentive to what I'm doing I've had no problems with malfunctions.It provides competitive games on many levels. It's many different functions are a great aid in learning more about all aspects of chess. It can definitely help you become a better chess player.

This chess computer has too many glitches; reporting errors where peices aren't even on the squares is a primary one, so is not noting a move until the square is solidly struck a few times. Too many games not finished because of the board's insistance of nonexistant errors. I finally junked this poorly manufatured, costly piece of trash.