Apple user, what are my electronic board options please?

Hi everyone, like many folks I'm making a long overdue return to the game following the Queens Gambit on Netflix :-)

Back story - I played a reasonable amount as a child in the 70s and then nothing at all for the last 40 years or so. 

I have an exclusively Apple dominated tech set up here (iMac, iPad and Iphone) and as I'm a newbie in the world of computer based chess I was wondering if you could guide me in the right direction please. I like the idea of an electronic board and would use this to both play online against other real people as well as getting back up to speed with my game knowledge.   What hardware/software combos should I be thinking about before I tie myself in knots and spend more time down rabbit holes that aren't worth investigating. Cheers

Electronic board setups are only useful for slow chess- 30 minutes per side.

99% of the games played here are not that slow.

Maybe you ought to try playing a few dozen games via all that fancy hardware you already have to be sure that you need/want a physical board.

You can read about the trials and tribulations of the Square Off users in threads here.  There was a lot of enthusiasm that seems to have died down. https://www.chess.com/forum/view/general/square-off-chess-set

@IanK2 I am primarily an Apple-centric house.  iPhone, MacBook (Apple Silicon) and more tech.

DGT is probably the most popular manufacturer of electronic chess boards.  They have wired (USB) and wireless (bluetooth) versions.  They also just released their next generation board using USB-C and Bluetooth 4.0.  The boards are on the expensive side and require special pieces embedded with coils.  All of my sets from NOJ include these DGT coils (except my Best Chessmen Ever with the stainless steal base).

The DGT Live software works on macOS.  I'm not aware of an iOS app that supports the board yet.

I recommend a DGT3000 chess clock with this board (can usually be found on Amazon for $50).  The DGT3000 connects to DGT boards using a 3.6 mm TRS connection (looks like a headphone connector).

There is software (PicoChess) that runs on macOS, Linux and Windows that will pair with a DGT board.  Once paired with the DGT board, PicoChess will read moves from the board and can be a computer opponent for you.  The computers moves would be displayed in a web browser and you would manually move the opponent's piece on the board.  PicoChess can also dictate the computers move.  If you have a DGT3000 connected to the DGT board it can be used as a display for PicoChess to show the computer's move.  Another interesting scenario is using PicoChess to watch the game between two human players.  PicoChess can display different information (on the DGT3000 or via web UI) such as centipawn evaluations, best moves or more.

Many people like to run PicoChess on a Raspberry Pi (2/3/4/Zero).  There is even a DGT3000 chess clock with a Raspberry Pi built in (called a DGT Pi).

PicoChess supports UCI engines like Stockfish.  More are included with the software.

Thanks Brian, would any DGT board with Bluetooth work as there's one quite local to me on ebay in the UK just now - comes with the DGT XL which I can see is the fore-runner to the 3000?

@IanK2 yes, any DGT board with bluetooth should work.  Wooden or plastic board.  Which board did you find?  Not familiar with the DGT XL... but I know this was the previous version of the DGT3000 and people also use it with PicoChess.

 

@IanK2 using PicoChess is a bit of DIY (installing software on a computer and pairing the computer with the DGT board) if you're ready for it.  No soldering though.  That computer can be running macOS, Linux (such as a Raspberry Pi) or Windows.

Sadly as a newbie here I can't link to the item on ebay but it's a walnut e-board with bluetooth

@iank2 I believe the walnut eboard does not have indices but is very nice.  Remember you must also have pieces with the DGT coils.

From the picture it does have the indices and comes with plastic e-pieces so I'd be guessing these have the coils as he's been using them with the board and bundled software

 

@iank2 I think I see the listing.  They appear to be pieces with the DGT coils.  You may also appreciate the HIARCS license.  There is a Mac version and it's probably the best GUI for Mac.  I don't have my DGT board yet so I can't comment if it works with HIARCS.  You can use any UCI engine with HIARCS.

Hi. Just to chip in, unfortunately, DGT board does not work with HIARCS. I ended up ditching my iMac and went back to windows and Chessbase for use with my board. I did get rid of the wooden board (walnut which comes with and without indices) and ended up buying the newer DGT smart board.

The DGT Pi was good as stand alone but in my opinion had too many issues.

I researched a lot and unfortunately there is not a lot out there for iMac both in terms of really powerful software but especially in board support. Hopefully it will change one day.

As a Mac user myself I feel your pain. It might be worthwhile to just bite the bullet and get a cheap PC laptop to use solely for a DGT board. Ask around among friends and family. I'm willing to bet SOMEONE will have an old PC laptop laying around unused after an upgrade. Most of the time they'll just give it to you for free. In which case a 6-pack of beer may be appreciated. In my life no one has ever refused.

Apple mac, really sucks when it come's to chess !

I'd also suggest looking at boards from Millenium. They offer boards with their own engine, so you don't even need a computer to play, and since they use LEDs to indicate moves, you never have to look away from the board. If you buy their WiFi accessory you can then play against other people on some other websites, or use different programs. I use HIARCS for iPad and am really happy with it. There is a Mac version too, but I can't offer any insights having never used it. There's also Certabo who offer e-boards with a variety of interfaces. Hopefully someone familiar with the system can provide more info.

I haven't used it, but Hiarcs Chess Explorer works with the Millennium boards and HCE is the most polished database/game explorer for Mac, though it works with PGN files so size of DBs is practically limited (the next version has a true db format but that version has been promised for years and still not released).

The interface is...quirky...but SCID vs Mac easily handles millions of games and has more features than anyone of club strength or lower needs. I have Chessbase 14 and an old Windows machine, but in the end maintaining that is a lot of money that could go to other things (books, courses, pieces) when Hiarcs and the Hiarcs engine + Stockfish (or any other UCI engine) has an ELO nearing or exceeding 3000.

For openings, Chesstempo has an openings trainer + you get the best tactics training out there.

Which is mostly to say, there is plenty of chess for the Mac enthusiast even if it isn't the (expensive) gold standard of Chessbase, for which the price also must include the pain of using Windows

Note to self.....  If I ever have a technical electronic DGT Board question ask BrianElderyi.

@kineticpawn lol.  There's always someone smarter than me.  I don't even own a DGT board yet... I'm waiting for DGT to get new stock of the next gen.  Interestingly, I'm also trying to order the polyester film printed with silver ink that is the secret sauce in the DGT board so I can use in a custom board.  Also been looking at the source code for PicoChess.... might do some hacking soon.  Haver you seen my Chess GUI concepts?  Maybe I'll develop that with DGT board support.  I like to tinker... or as I have on my website "I void warranties"

Millennium’s board works with HIARCs on a Mac. That gives you the capability to play against different engines. Komodo and Stockfish both have engines that can be installed in HIARCs, and HIARCs has its own native engine. Certabo is another source for electronic boards, but I don’t think they are Mac compatible, but I am not sure of that.

Square Off is a stand alone machine that allows you to play others via a proprietary app on your iPhone or iPad. It supposedly works with Chess.com, but I never succeeded with that.

HIARCs also has apps for iPhone and iPad, as does lichess.

The real issue is that there is no universal communications standard that is used by all platforms. Each of the manufacturers and the online chess servers have their own proprietary interface. What is needed is for FIDE or other major organizations like USCF to push for that. Won’t happen, all about sponsorship and money.

@cringeblunderman perhaps it could start with someone in the community drafting a universal communication standard, allowing others to contribute and use the standard.  Maybe then someone would consider using it.  Wont happen over night.  It could be sped up by an existing chess server documenting the communication (admittedly, I don't know how well others document their interfaces).

The Lichess Board API exists, and similar could be implemented and used, but there's no competitive advantage to any of the major sites to cooperate in the way there was when UCI was developed.