What Is a ChessUP Board and Why You Might Love One
There are four viable ways to learn chess. You can get a knowledgeable playing buddy, hire an instructor, start reading, or invest in a smart chess board.
Smart chess boards are often the best option for training chess because they are efficient, convenient, and affordable. They are a chessboard, an instructor, and a playing buddy (minus the conversation skills) in one.
When it comes to smart chessboards, ChessUP almost always comes highly recommended. But is it really worth it?
ChessUP Board: What is It?

ChessUP is an interactive chess set with integrated smart technology for chess gaming and training. It is a smart electronic chessboard with an in-built AI-powered chess engine and instructor to help you learn chess from scratch or improve your gaming.
The integrated chess engine facilitates solo games. It allows you to play chess against yourself or the board.
The board’s AI-powered instructor, on the other hand, offers assistance in deciding the best move. It highlights the best possible move, allowing beginners to learn how each piece moves around the board and the best strategies.
Additionally, the board offers online connectivity to enable players worldwide to play chess interactively. ChessUP is an all-in-one typical chessboard, an e-board, a chess instructor, and a playing partner.
How Does ChessUP Board Work?
ChessUP has three basic functionalities; it can be used as a typical e-board, chess player, or chess instructor.
As a Chess Instructor
ChessUP is a trainer that can help you learn and improve your chess game significantly regardless of your prowess in the chess game. Its smart chess engine analyzes the board setting and identifies the current position of each chessman on the board. To help you out, it lights up all the possible moves for each piece you touch. Depending on your experience level, the board can also show you the best moves for a specific piece and highlight blunders, mistakes, and inaccurate moves.
The board offers six assistance levels designed to meet the player's experience level. The first level is for complete beginners. Here, the chessboard shows the current position and where the selected chessman can go, giving you the hang of chess basic moves. As your skills level up, you can get higher-level assistance for more complex chess play and training.
The best thing about ChessUP is that it does not play for you (it does not tell you what move to make). It only gives you available options and their strengths, and lets you decide what move to make or not make. This enables you to learn fast and enjoy the game.
Besides move assistance, ChessUP also has a mobile app that records your games and does a deep analysis of your past games for even faster learning. With the app, you can learn why a certain move(s) was suggested and better alternative move(s).
Even better, it features a comprehensive chess lesson library created by top-notch chess talents, making it an even easier, more efficient, and highly effective chess training tool.
As A Chess Playing Partner (For Stand-Alone Games)
As a gaming partner, ChessUP features an AI opponent who can play against you quite effectively. The AI analyzes your moves and makes its best move as a real human. The board allows you to choose your opponent’s strength, meaning you can play at your experience level or higher. You can also get assistance while playing against the AI.
As an Electronic ChessBoard
ChessUP is also a typical electronic chessboard, besides being a sophisticated trainer and player. The board is a perfect link between online and over-the-board chess gaming.
It is embedded with Lichess to allow chess enthusiasts to play interactively online. With its online feature, you have over 10 million players you can match up with from around the globe. Better yet, its companion app allows you to play with anyone – with or without the ChessUP board – in real time. Plus, you can use the assistance feature when playing online. You can play informal or rated games.
ChessUP Board Features
What makes ChessUP stand out against other smart chessboards is its unmatched features. Here are some highlights:
Built-in smart AI technology

ChessUP features a highly adaptive AI technology that makes it a perfect opponent for anyone despite their skill level. The tech also offers unparalleled assistance to help chess lovers learn and improve their skill levels.
Light Indicators
The board has four different color light indicators that complement its interactivity. The indicators facilitate communication between you and the board. They show the selected chessman's current location and potential moves. They highlight the moves with different colors per their strengths. The colors include:
- Purple: Highlights the selected piece
- Green: Indicates best moves
- Blue: Highlights good moves (that are okay but not best)
- Red: Mistake and blunder moves
Notably, the color indication depends entirely on the level of assistance you have selected.
Dedicated Companion Mobile App

The board also features a companion mobile app that enhances its efficiency. The app enables easy setup, enhances learning, and boosts interactivity between you, the board, and the online world. It also enhances flexibility by allowing over-the-board and mobile gaming.
More interestingly, the app is highly responsive, and it is compatible with nearly all devices, including iOS and Android-powered mobile devices. Better still, it is available in six languages: English, Dutch, French, German, Italian and Spanish.
Lichess Integration
This board is linked to Linchess, enabling online gaming. The integration allows you to learn and test your skills from anywhere by playing against millions of players from around the world.
ChessUP Academy
The chessboard also features a learning platform ideal for all chess lovers. It has a collection of comprehensive chess lessons with interactive over-the-board content to facilitate learning.
Additionally, its companion app helps you better understand different strategies by deeply analyzing your previous games. This makes ChessUP the best tool for learning and gaming, ideal for all chess lovers.
Who can Benefit from Using ChessUP?
The ChessUP smart board is well-suited for everyone interested in chess, regardless of skill level and specific needs and preferences. The board also offers unlimited flexibility. Its designated clock and touch piece sensors enable flexibility in chess game types. Additionally, its Lichess integration enables this board to accommodate online and over-the-board gamers.
What’s more, this board also offers a stand-alone gaming feature, which enables its users to decide and customize their gaming environment limitlessly.
Why You Might Love ChessUP
- Efficient integration of the online and onsite chess gaming
- Seamless blend of learning and gaming environment
- Enhanced learning experience
- Unlimited flexibility in terms of chess game options, gaming environment, and chess experience
- Easy setup, use, and maintenance
Final Words
Whether you are a beginner player or a professional gamer looking to buy a chess set, the ChessUP is certainly a top choice. The board gives you unlimited flexibility and millions of potential opponents. Even better, it provides endless opportunities to learn, test your skills, and, most importantly, improve your game.
FAQs
Q1. Is ChessUP worth it?
Yes. A ChessUP smart chessboard is worth both your money and time. Its intelligent features and integration of the online and over-the-board make ChessUP a great alternative to typical chessboards and e-boards.
Q2. What is the ELO rating of the ChessUP board?
ChessUP is 1000 ELO rated when not using its mobile app and over 3000 when using the app.
Q3. Where can I buy a genuine ChessUP board?
You can buy a genuine ChessUP board online from The House of Staunton.