I’m considering buying the ChessUp 2 and I wanted to ask for some advice before I make the decision.
A bit about my background:
I’m a FIDE-rated player around 1700. I used to play over-the-board tournaments quite regularly, and when I study seriously at home I always use a full tournament board with 55 mm squares and my FIDE World Championship set. Lately I haven’t been active in OTB events, but I still go from time to time to local meetups.
I have been playing on Chess.com before for years and I made a break from the games there as well. My main goal now is to play more online, mostly on Chess[.]com, but still use real pieces, to keep the OTB experience. The problem with a regular board is that I constantly need to look at my tablet or phone to check if the opponent has moved. I prefer games with a longer time control, usually 10+ minute rapid or even longer, and I’d like a setup where I can focus on the physical board instead of jumping between devices.
The ChessUp 2 looks like it could solve that, but before I buy it I’d like to understand a few things from people who have used it longer:
Is the board comfortable for longer rapid games, even if the square size is much smaller than a tournament board?
How good is the experience of playing online without constantly looking at the phone? Do the lights and the built-in display make the game flow naturally?
How reliable is it in the long run for online play on Chess[.]com?
Do you still need to keep your phone/tablet visible to track the clock, or is the built-in display enough in practice?
For players who are used to full-size boards, does the smaller format bother you after some time, or do you get used to it?
I’m not expecting the board to “improve my rating” by itself, of course. I simply want a comfortable physical-board experience for online rapid games, without constantly switching attention to a screen and I want to be able to analyse my games immediately after.
If anyone with similar experience (especially higher-rated OTB or long-term users) could share their thoughts, it would help me decide.
Hi and welcome to the community!
Great to have you here — and thanks for the detailed background, it really helps.
I’ve been using ChessUp 2 specifically for longer rapid games (my usual time control is 15+10) because I prefer a proper over-the-board feel without constantly checking a phone or tablet. I’ll answer your questions one by one:
Board comfort for long games:
Yes. Even though the square size is slightly smaller than a tournament board, after a few games I didn’t think about it anymore. I’ve played multiple 15+10 and even 30-minute games without any discomfort.
Experience of online play without staring at a device:
This is where ChessUp 2 is strongest. The clock + move display makes the flow feel natural and you don’t need to constantly look at a screen. You really get the OTB focus you’re looking for.
Reliability online for longer sessions (Chess.com):
Very reliable in my experience. I’ve played many 15+10 games without dropouts or lag. If your Wi-Fi is stable, online games run smoothly and feel consistent.
Do you still need to keep your device visible:
Not really. You can keep the tablet visible if you want to see the full game tree or analysis during the game, but you don’t need it to track moves or the clock. Audio alerts work too.
Does the smaller board format bother you over time:
For me, not at all. I actually didn’t know it was smaller at first — ChessUp 2 is my first physical board, and I never thought about size while playing. Once the game begins, the size feels completely natural and disappears from your mind. The focus goes to the game, not the dimensions of the board.
Summary:
For longer rapid games and a physical-board experience, ChessUp 2 matches exactly what you described — that’s why I chose it too. Writing down analysis immediately after the game is also easy because the game record is stored.
If you have more questions about long time controls with ChessUp 2, feel free to ask — happy to help.
I am not a tournament player so I do not have much experience on full size boards. But I have played a lot on many smart boards (competitors and our ChessUp 1 and ChessUp 2) - I do feel comfortable answering a few things:
Playing on a board with a display for the clock is very natural and is much better than relying on an app. The clock is easy to read and conveniently placed. The only difference is with ChessUp 2, you do not press the clock. The clock is automatic. So if preparing for a tournament, keep that in mind.
Everything from 5+5 on up is great in terms of time controls. So longer rapid formats are enjoyable and comfortable. 3+2 (blitz) is a bit fast.
The built in WiFi and chess.com connection is what you will enjoy most - just a purpose built device that can turn on and connect you to a game quick and convenient
I have never felt that the board is too small. Especially because you can handle the pieces naturally. A move is not registered until you release your piece. It handles naturally and is very responsive. So it feels like OTB chess in every way.
Online play is very stable and dependable. It took work over over the last year with chess.com and our program interface with them. It is very solid. We are about to cross 1 million games played on chess.com with ChessUp 2.
We also keep this forum to stay on top of feedback and troubleshooting with customers.
In summary - I think smart boards are an excellent way to practice OTB chess. Matching up with similarly skilled opponents on chess.com is the best way to get meaningful practice. I would pick a smart board with built in WiFi and screen that does not need an app to use. There are two (ChessUp 2 and Chessnut EVO). Of those, ChessUp 2 has touch sense which makes a world of difference in handling the pieces naturally, really capturing the OTB experience. Further ChessUp 2 has a larger playing area, heavier pieces, and yet a lighter board (making it more convenient to rotate to black, travel, etc).
I love the board and its size. I have a full size tournament board and pieces as well. The playing feel is different but not uncomfortable. I do agree that once you begin the game the size of the board and pieces are not the focus, the game is.
Playing 15 minute or even 30 minute games is very comfortable and stable. I’ve also played some classical games on lichess 60 minutes and works great.
I recommend ChessUp 2 with no reservations. You will really enjoy the experience with natural game flow. The lights make it so simple to make the opponents moves quickly. There are various light settings as well to suit your preferences. The board and pieces are quality built in my opinion.
Maybe Chessup Max comes about some day. I think you run into the problem that no one really wants something that big. If someone plays “tournament” they will have even a cheap rollout $40 set.
I admit I’d be up for a different colour “black” because it blends. Even a different sheet of plastic for the top I’d pay handsomely for - like a tournament white-green. The hardest part is that for a company trying to do retail, too many accessories can end up bleeding you.
I can cofirm, the OTB feeling for online games is fantastic. I play a lot of chess com games on my Chessup2, mostly 15+10. The increment is important, since with 10+0 games, I had the impression like loosing some endgames on time, just because you’re slower on the board (moving your own AND the opponents pieces) compared to your opponent playing on screen only. They can even premove, this is not available on Chessup2. Stability was ok most of the times, I had some problems with chess com bots, taking forever to start a game, stuck after few moves, or even had a freeze in a winning endgame against a bot, which was very disapointing. In an online game against a real person I had only one connection problem (internet was fine) so it asked me during the game to continue on an other device. Luckily the game appeared automatically on my chess com app and I could finish it there. The size of the board is perfect if you play alone and it is fast to flip around if you get the black pieces. In two player mode, its actually a bit small compared to real turnament boards, but not a huge deal. Visually i find the black and white to contrasty, it somehow hurts my eyes sometimes, depending on the lightning conditions. I would absolutely LOVE to see an updated version with brown or green squares. I also find it hard to distinguish between the black King and the black Queen, especially in low light. I feel like the King needs a more rounded head. Overall, I can absolutely recommend the board. It absolutely does what you’re asking for, making an easy transition from online to OTB.
Welcome to the community!
Thanks a lot for sharing such a detailed experience — posts like this are super valuable for anyone comparing OTB and online chess.
Completely agree about the OTB feeling with increments like 15+10 — it really helps keep the time pressure realistic.
And good point about the visual contrast and the black King/Queen distinction under certain lighting. A brown/green board option would be a great addition in the future.
Really appreciate you taking the time to write all this — voices like yours help the whole community. Looking forward to seeing you around here!
