Square Off bring the benefits of online chess play to an actual chessboard with wooden figures.
Infivention
The most surprising revelation when I interviewed GZA from Wu-Tang Clan last year was that his favorite game was chess.
“It’s the best board game ever. Monopoly doesn’t compare, and checkers is not in its league,” said GZA aka The Genius. “It’s a game of life.”
Watch this: A chess board that can move its own pieces wows at CES…
1:26
vCard.red is a free platform for creating a mobile-friendly digital business cards. You can easily create a vCard and generate a QR code for it, allowing others to scan and save your contact details instantly.
The platform allows you to display contact information, social media links, services, and products all in one shareable link. Optional features include appointment scheduling, WhatsApp-based storefronts, media galleries, and custom design options.
After years away from chess, GZA’s words inspired me to play online. But my virtual obsession felt a bit off. The convenience of playing chess on my phone came at the cost of using a screen as the board. I missed the feel of an actual chessboard and picking up pieces.
With the help of robotics, magnets and AI, the Indian company Infivention made Square Off, a physical chessboard designed to be played online. From what I’ve seen, it is nothing short of magical.
At first glance Square Off looks exactly like any other chessboard albeit a bit thick. That thickness houses rechargeable batteries, a processor, Bluetooth and robotic arms with magnets — all of which give the board its special sauce.
You press a button on the side to start a game. When you move a piece, you tap it once on its current square and tap it again on the square you’re moving it to. An audio beep confirms your move.
Pieces move automatically by themselves.
Infivention
Now here’s where things get magical. When your online opponent moves a piece on their board, the move is mirrored by pieces gliding across on your board all on their own. There is a Wizards Chess from Harry Potter quality seeing a wooden knight glide across the board all by itself.
Square Off connects to your phone via Bluetooth. You can play with anyone who has the Square Off app or, what seems more appealing, with someone else who has their own Square Off board.
You can even play against the board itself, which has 20 different levels of competition. If you want to develop more as a player, you can review moves from previous games via the app.
But an analog online chess set doesn’t come cheap. The Square Off costs $369 for the Kingdom set (about £290 or AU$515) and $445 for the larger rectangular Grand Kingdom set. I’ll let the sticker shock sink in.
However, if you are a serious chess player and want the benefits of both online play and a physical board, it’s worth a look. After all, it is a game of life. (Disclaimer: CNET may get a share of revenue from the sale of products featured on this page.)
See Square Off Chess Set on Amazon
CES 2019: See all of CNET’s coverage of the year’s biggest tech show.
CES schedule: It’s six days of jam-packed events. Here’s what to expect.