Chess Computer Vintage (Hardware and Software)

[AlexChess]

It's those beeps that really brings back the memories.

There were really a lot of dedicated chess computers until 2000. Millenniums and DGT are OK and still here, but I don't understand why other manifacturers don't sell anymore cheap plastic boards with all open source GM master level engines that could be easy imported from a USB pendrive using a Raspberry PI 4 8 GB and x64 in a Intel NUC i3 as CPU (but with only a simplified motherboard). Something like CT800 + chessboard, but stronger (3000 ELO). OR connected to a PC or Mac with tournament size sensory chessboard. Or I'm missing something? Today connected chessboards are relatively expensive!

Maybe I have found what I was looking for bat it isn't of tournament size https://squareoffnow.com/product/neo

[Cornfed]

It's those beeps that really brings back the memories.

There were really a lot of dedicated chess computers until 2000. Millenniums and DGT are OK and still here, but I don't understand why other manifacturers don't sell anymore cheap plastic boards with all open source GM master level engines that could be easy imported from a USB pendrive using a Raspberry PI 4 8 GB and x64 in a Intel NUC i3 as CPU (but with only a simplified motherboard). Something like CT800 + chessboard, but stronger (3000 ELO). OR connected to a PC or Mac with tournament size sensory chessboard. Or I'm missing something? Today connected chessboards are relatively expensive!

Maybe I have found what I was looking for bat it isn't of tournament size https://squareoffnow.com/product/neo

I was looking for something like this a year or so ago. I do not see any rough 'elo indication' of strength levels. Ages 6 to 60 says nothing.

[mclane]

When i read „adaptive“ i do normally not buy such a thing.

[Cornfed]

When i read „adaptive“ i do normally not buy such a thing.

Right, sometimes I am 'goofing off' or play speculative stuff and would not want that factored in when I am taking the game more seriously.

[AdminX]

Results of 40 Moves 2 Hours Time Control

[pgn]
[Event "Banksia game"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2021.09.12"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Tasc ChessSystem (R40 The King"]
[Black "Tasc ChessSystem (R40 Gideon 2"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E32"]
[PlyCount "123"]
[EventDate "2021.??.??"]
[TimeControl "40/7200:0"]

1. c4 Nf6 {A15: English, 1...Nf6 (Anglo-Indian defense)} 2. d4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4.
Qc2 {E32: Nimzo-Indian, classical variation} O-O 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 b6 7. Bg5
Bb7 8. f3 h6 9. Bh4 d5 10. e3 Nbd7 11. cxd5 Nxd5 12. Bxd8 Nxc3 13. Bxc7 Nd5 {
E32: Nimzo-Indian: Classical (4 Qc2): 4...0-0.} 14. Bd6 Nxe3 {[#] And now ...
Nc2+ would win.} 15. Kf2 Nc2 $1 16. Rd1 Rfd8 17. Be7 Re8 18. Bh4 a6 {[#]} 19.
Ne2 $146 {-0.74/29} (19. Bd3 $1 $14 {0.50/29 stays ahead.} Nxd4 20. Bb1) ({
Predecessor:} 19. Bd3 Nxd4 20. Bb1 e5 21. Ne2 Nxe2 22. Kxe2 Nc5 23. Kf2 e4 24.
Rhe1 {1/2-1/2 (24) Walther,J (2231)-Fagerstrom,M (2174) ICCF email 2013}) 19...
Rac8 $17 20. Rd2 Nf8 {-0.34/29} (20... b5 $17 {-0.90/29} 21. a4 b4) 21. g4 $15
e5 {0.30/26} (21... f5 $15 {-0.50/29} 22. Bh3 f4) 22. dxe5 $11 Rxe5 23. Bg2 (
23. Bg3 $5 Ree8 24. Bh3 $11) 23... Rb5 24. Rc1 Rxb2 25. Bg3 f6 26. Bd6 Ne6 27.
g5 Nxg5 ({But not} 27... hxg5 $6 28. Bh3 $16) 28. Nd4 {-1.24/31} Nf7 $1 $17 29.
Be7 Rc7 30. Bxf6 Nxd4 {-0.11/30} ({Don't do} 30... Nxa3 31. Rxb2 Rxc1 32. Rxb6
$15) ({Black should play} 30... gxf6 $19 {-1.71/26} 31. Rdxc2 Rcxc2+ 32. Rxc2
Rxc2+ 33. Nxc2 Kf8) 31. Rxb2 $11 Rxc1 32. Bxd4 b5 33. Rd2 g5 34. Bf1 Kf8 {
-0.02/28} (34... Bxf3 $1 $15 {-0.43/27 should be considered.} 35. Bxb5 axb5 36.
Kxf3 Nd6) 35. Bd3 {The position is equal.} Nd6 36. Bg6 Rc8 37. Ba1 Rc6 38. Re2
a5 39. Bd4 b4 40. axb4 axb4 41. Bd3 Ba6 42. Bxa6 Rxa6 {Endgame KRB-KRN} 43. Bc5
{[#] aiming for Re6.} b3 {Strongly threatening ...Kf7.} (43... Kf7 {is
interesting.} 44. Rb2 Nf5 45. Bxb4 Kg6 46. Bd2 Rf6) 44. Re3 b2 (44... Kf7 {
is more complex.} 45. Bxd6 Rxd6 46. Rxb3 Rd2+ 47. Kg3 Kg6) 45. Rb3 Kf7 {
White must now prevent ...Nc4.} 46. Bxd6 Rxd6 47. Rxb2 {KR-KR} Ke6 48. Rb4 Kf5
49. h4 Rd5 50. Kg3 Ra5 51. Rb8 gxh4+ 52. Kxh4 Ra1 53. Rf8+ (53. Kg3 {feels
hotter.} Kg6 54. Rc8 Rg1+ 55. Kh2 Rf1 56. Kg2) 53... Kg6 54. f4 Rh1+ 55. Kg4
h5+ 56. Kg3 Rg1+ 57. Kh4 {Intending Rg8+ and mate.} Rg4+ 58. Kh3 Kg7 59. Rf5
Kg6 60. Rf8 Kg7 61. Rf5 Kg6 62. Rf8 {repetition. Weighted Error Value:
White=0.13/Black=0.19} 1/2-1/2
[/pgn]

[pgn]
[Event "Banksia game"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2021.09.12"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Tasc ChessSystem (R40 Gideon 2"]
[Black "Tasc ChessSystem (R40 The King"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C63"]
[PlyCount "192"]
[EventDate "2021.??.??"]
[TimeControl "40/7200:0"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 f5 {C63: Ruy Lopez, Schliemann defence} 4. d3 fxe4
5. dxe4 Nf6 6. O-O d6 7. Nc3 Be7 8. Qd3 Bg4 {0.60/29} (8... O-O $11 {0.18/29
deserves consideration.}) 9. Nd5 {0.12/24 C63: Ruy Lopez: Schliemann/Jaenisch
Defence.} (9. Qc4 $14 {0.60/29}) 9... O-O $11 10. Ng5 {And now f3 would win.}
Nd4 {[#] Hoping for ...Nxd5.} 11. Nxe7+ {The position is equal.} Qxe7 12. Bc4+
{-0.90/25} (12. f3 $11 {-0.22/32 keeps the balance.} Bc8 13. Bc4+ Kh8 14. f4)
12... Kh8 $17 {White must now prevent ...Be2.} 13. f3 Bd7 14. c3 Nc6 {[#]} 15.
b4 $146 {-2.92/27} (15. f4 $17 {-0.96/27 keeps fighting.}) ({Predecessor:} 15.
Be3 h6 16. Nh3 Bxh3 17. gxh3 Nh5 18. Qc2 Nf4 19. Bxf4 Rxf4 20. Qg2 Raf8 21. Kh1
{0-1 (28) Orzechowski,Z-Sielaff,R ICCF corr 2000}) 15... h6 $19 16. Nh3 Bxh3
17. gxh3 a6 18. a4 Nh5 19. Qe2 Qd7 20. Qg2 Nf4 21. Bxf4 Rxf4 22. Qg6 {-3.66/27}
(22. Kh1 {-2.31/29 might work better.}) 22... Ne7 ({Not} 22... Qxh3 23. Be6 $17
) 23. Qe6 Qc6 24. Kh1 {-5.53/27} (24. Be2 {-3.77/31 is a better defense.} Rf6
25. Qc4 (25. Qxe7 $2 Re8 $19)) 24... Rf6 $1 25. b5 Qc5 ({Don't go for} 25...
Rxe6 $2 26. bxc6 Rf6 27. cxb7 $18) 26. Qxe7 {[#] White wants to mate with Rg1.}
Qxc4 27. bxa6 bxa6 28. Qd7 Raf8 29. Qg4 Kh7 30. Qg2 R8f7 31. Rac1 Qxa4 32. Rce1
Qc4 33. Re3 a5 34. Rb1 a4 35. Rb4 Qa6 36. Rb1 Rf8 37. Rd1 Qc4 38. Ra1 Rb8 39.
Qd2 a3 40. Qd3 Qxd3 41. Rxd3 {Endgame KRR-KRR} Rb2 42. Rxa3 Rg6 43. Ra1 Rgg2
44. h4 Rxh2+ 45. Kg1 Rhc2 46. h5 Kg8 47. Rdd1 Rg2+ 48. Kh1 Rh2+ 49. Kg1 Rbg2+
50. Kf1 Rc2 51. Kg1 Rxh5 52. Rd3 Rhh2 53. Ra7 Rcg2+ 54. Kf1 Rb2 55. Kg1 Rhc2
56. Ra8+ Kf7 {( -> ...Rc1+)} 57. Rd1 Rxc3 {-10.07/30} (57... Rg2+ $142 {
-53.44/37} 58. Kh1 Rgc2) 58. Rf1 Rcc2 59. Rfa1 Rg2+ 60. Kh1 Rh2+ 61. Kg1 Rbg2+
62. Kf1 Rc2 63. Kg1 Rhg2+ 64. Kh1 Rgd2 {-13.32/27} (64... Rh2+ $142 {-#20/53}
65. Kg1 Rhg2+ 66. Kh1 Rgf2 67. Kg1 Rxf3 68. R8a2 Rcc3 69. Re2 Rf4 70. Ra8 g5
71. Kh2 Rc4 72. Rc8 h5 73. Kh3 Rh4+ 74. Kg2 Rg4+ 75. Kh3 Rf4 76. Kg2 Rg4+ 77.
Kh2 h4 78. Kh3 Rgxe4 79. Rxe4 Rxe4 80. Rxc7+ Ke6 81. Rg7 Re3+ 82. Kh2 Kf5 83.
Rc7 d5 84. Rf7+ Kg4 85. Rg7 d4 86. Rd7 d3 87. Rd8 e4 88. Rd5 Kf4 89. Kh1 g4 90.
Kg1 h3 91. Rd6 g3 92. Rf6+ Kg5 93. Rf1 d2 94. Kh1 Re1 95. Kg1 Rxf1+ {Back Rank}
96. Kxf1 d1=Q#) 65. Rb8 h5 {Black mates.} 66. Rh8 Rh2+ 67. Kg1 Rcg2+ 68. Kf1
Rd2 69. Kg1 h4 70. Ra7 Rdg2+ 71. Kf1 Rc2 72. Kg1 Rhd2 73. Ra1 Rg2+ 74. Kf1 Rh2
75. Kg1 h3 76. Rxh3 Rxh3 77. Rf1 Rg3+ 78. Kh1 g5 79. Re1 Rh3+ 80. Kg1 Rxf3 81.
Kh1 Rh3+ 82. Kg1 Ke6 83. Ra1 Re3 84. Kf1 Rxe4 85. Ra3 c5 86. Ra1 Rf4+ 87. Kg1
g4 88. Ra3 Rd4 89. Ra1 g3 90. Rf1 g2 91. Rf2 Rxf2 92. Kxf2 Rg4 93. Ke2 g1=Q 94.
Kd3 Rg3+ 95. Kd2 Qh2+ 96. Ke1 Rg1# {0 mate. Black took control after the
opening. Weighted Error Value: White=1.01/Black=0.46} 0-1
[/pgn]

[AlexChess]

Results of 40 Moves 2 Hours Time Control

[pgn]
[Event "Banksia game"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2021.09.12"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Tasc ChessSystem (R40 The King"]
[Black "Tasc ChessSystem (R40 Gideon 2"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E32"]
[PlyCount "123"]
[EventDate "2021.??.??"]
[TimeControl "40/7200:0"][/pgn]

Thank you! Here all images, games, personal comments and memories are very appreciated

Alex

[AlexChess]

Some of the dedicated chess computer that I have owned, starting from 1981 Fidelity Mini Sensory Chess 4 levels + module 6 levels and 1982 Fidelity Sensory 6 (both very weak) up to Kulio Kaplan's Turbo Star 432, Turbo King, Franz Morsch's Travel Champions, David Kittinger's Novag Forte B and Super VIP, Kasparov Reinassance, Spraklen's Fidelity Elite Avantgarde A/S and finally Richard Lang's Mephisto Exclusive Rome 1987

[Amstaff]

I have a Novag Diamond that is in perfect shape and plays very strong at longer time controls. Bought it new in 1994 or so, also I have a Mephisto Atlanta, that is very lightly used, both excellent machines.

[JohnW]

I currently have these computers. I am trying to collect all the Mephisto modules for my Exclusive boards and would love to own one of those Tasc chess system computers.

Millennium Chess Genius Pro
Mephisto Berlin Professional 68020
Novag Star Diamond
Mephisto Portorose 68020
Fidelity Designer Mach IV
Novag Obsidian
Mephisto MM 5
Saitek Turbo Advanced Trainer
Novag Super Expert C
Mephisto Amsterdam
Fidelity Par Excellence
Fidelity Designer 2000
Novag Super Constellation
Saitek Turbo 16K
Sensory Chess Challenger 9

[AlexChess]

I currently have these computers. I am trying to collect all the Mephisto modules for my Exclusive boards and would love to own one of those Tasc chess system computers.

Millennium Chess Genius Pro
Mephisto Berlin Professional 68020
Novag Star Diamond
Mephisto Portorose 68020
Fidelity Designer Mach IV
Novag Obsidian
Mephisto MM 5
Saitek Turbo Advanced Trainer
Novag Super Expert C
Mephisto Amsterdam
Fidelity Par Excellence
Fidelity Designer 2000
Novag Super Constellation
Saitek Turbo 16K
Sensory Chess Challenger 9

You are lucky to still have all this wonderful dedicated chess computers. Playing with Droidfish on an Android smartphone isn't the same. Sensory Chess Challenger 9 was a MUST! A strong player named Gustavo Becerra kindly often was lending it at the club and it was really a quantum leap from my Sensory Chess Challenger 6