Electronic Chess Sets

Our take

The mistake we see most often with electronic chess is buying the wrong kind of board. There are three different products in this range and they solve three different problems. The DGT USB e-Boards are for players who want to analyse and record their games, and they need a computer running Fritz 19 or PlayChess to do anything at all. The Pegasus is for online players who want Lichess or Chess.com on real pieces instead of a screen, and it needs a phone or tablet nearby. The Centaur is the only one that needs nothing else: board, pieces, computer and adaptive AI in a single unit.

Every set here is put together and tested before it goes into the catalogue, and if you are buying your first electronic set and you want an opponent rather than a recording device, start with the Centaur. If you already run chess software and want your over the board games captured properly, the USB e-Boards are the better spend. Worth knowing before you commit: the electronic pieces are not interchangeable between the two systems, so it is not a decision you can easily reverse later.

Blake Sterling, Founder, Sterling Chess

Which electronic chess set is right for you?

Every set in this range is a DGT product, and they divide on one question: what else do you need to own before the board will do anything?

• USB e-Boards (timber and Smart Board): connect by USB-C to a computer running Fritz 19 or PlayChess. Best for analysis, recording games and broadcasting.
• DGT Pegasus: connects by Bluetooth to a phone or tablet. Best for playing Lichess and Chess.com on real pieces.
• DGT Centaur: fully self-contained. Best if you want an opponent and nothing else to set up.

The timber USB e-Boards

The Walnut, Rosewood and Wengé USB e-Boards are the premium end of the range: real timber, 54 x 54cm playing surfaces, and full size DGT electronic pieces with a 95mm king. They connect by USB-C to a computer or tablet and work with Fritz 19, PlayChess.com and other desktop chess software.

You can buy these as a complete set with Royal, Timeless or Classic pieces, or as a board on its own if you already own DGT electronic pieces. The board only versions sit in our electronic chess boards collection alongside the complete sets.

The DGT Smart Board

The Smart Board is the accessible way into USB e-Boards. The playing surface is plastic with a walnut print rather than solid timber, which brings the price down and makes the board easier to move and store. The software bundle is the same.

It comes with or without board indices, and with Timeless or plastic pieces depending on the configuration. If you want the function of a DGT e-Board without the timber, this is the one to look at.

DGT Pegasus: online chess on a real board

The DGT Pegasus is the only board here built specifically for online play. It connects by Bluetooth Low Energy to your phone or tablet, you find a game on Lichess or Chess.com, and then you put the phone down and play the whole game on real pieces. Pulsing LED rings around the squares show you your opponent's moves.

At 35 x 35cm with 40mm squares and a 70mm king, it is noticeably smaller than the USB e-Boards, and at 1360g it is light enough to travel with. Every game is saved as a PGN file for review afterwards.

DGT Centaur: a complete chess opponent

The DGT Centaur is the one product in this range that needs nothing else. Board, weighted Staunton pieces, computer and display are all in a single 40 x 40cm unit with an internal rechargeable battery.

What makes it worth the money is the adaptive AI. It reads your strength from your first move and keeps adjusting, so you are always playing an opponent that is beatable but not easy. For most people buying their first electronic chess set, this is the right answer.

Where this range sits

If you want the boards on their own rather than complete sets, start with our electronic chess boards range. For the sensor pieces that pair with a DGT e-Board, see electronic chess pieces.

Everything in this collection is DGT, so the full brand line-up including clocks and accessories sits in the DGT collection. If you decide electronic is not what you are after, all chess sets covers the timber, marble and themed ranges.

Frequently asked questions

What is an electronic chess set?

It is a physical chess board with sensors that detect where the pieces are, paired with real chess pieces. The board registers each move and passes it to a computer, a phone, or its own built-in engine, depending on the model. You get the feel of over the board play with the game recorded or an engine playing against you.

Do I need a computer to use one?

It depends which set you choose. The DGT USB e-Boards, including the Smart Board, need a computer or tablet running Fritz 19 or PlayChess. The Pegasus needs a phone or tablet. The Centaur needs nothing at all, because the computer is built into the board.

Which one should I buy if I mainly play online?

The Pegasus. It connects by Bluetooth and lets you play Lichess or Chess.com opponents on real pieces. One thing to check first: Chess.com support runs through an Android app only, so if you are an iPhone player who lives on Chess.com, Lichess is the route that will work for you.

Are the electronic pieces interchangeable between DGT boards?

No. The USB e-Boards use DGT electronic pieces with sensors inside them. The Centaur uses touch sensors built into the board instead, with ordinary weighted pieces. The two systems use different detection technology and the pieces cannot be swapped between them.

Do these sets come with pieces included?

Most of them do. The complete sets come with Royal, Timeless, Classic or plastic pieces depending on the configuration you choose, and the Pegasus and Centaur both include their own pieces. The three board only USB e-Boards are the exception, and are intended for players who already own DGT electronic pieces.

Can I use an electronic chess set to record my games?

Yes, and it is one of the main reasons players buy them. The USB e-Boards record games through the connected chess software, and the Pegasus saves every game as a PGN file you can open in Lichess, Chess.com or any analysis tool.

What warranty do DGT electronic chess sets come with?

All DGT products sold by Sterling Chess carry a 2 year limited manufacturer warranty covering manufacturing defects, and every unit is sourced directly from DGT. That sits alongside Sterling Chess 100 day free returns.

Backed by Sterling Chess

Sterling Chess is an authorised Australian DGT retailer. Every set is checked and set up before it goes into the catalogue, so what arrives is genuine, current stock rather than a grey import. Orders ship from Australian stock with local support behind them, and everything is covered by 100 day free returns.

Electronic chess is the part of the catalogue people most often want to talk through before they buy, and that is worth doing. If you are weighing up a USB e-Board against the Centaur, or you are not sure which pieces suit the board you already own, the team is a call or email away on (03) 7037 0931.