I'm interested in getting an electronic chess set where I can play the computer and the pieces move with magnets. If anyone could recommend a good brand I would appreciate it. By the way I'd like to get a set whose playing strength goes up to about 1800 at the most.

The only one I know of right now is the Excalibur Phantom Force, which you can easily google.

I gotta say, though, that the level of whirring and grinding involved with the mechanical assembly, I'd be sticking with my Novag Obsidian in a heartbeat.

Here's a YouTube video of part of a game: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJADuhQAUQ0

The optional sound effects are ON in the video, but the (mandatory) sounds of the auto-move 'feature' are what bother me.

Hello,

I'm looking for a electronic chess board that is easy enough for my children to beat, yet hard enough to beat me. My children are rated at about 600 and me, roughly 1900 (chess.com turn-based). Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. 

Look, I don't like to be referred to as an "electronic chess board", but, I do fit the requirements. When I'm not drinking, smoking, or pill-popping, I play at about the 500 level. If I am lucky enough to be high, or intoxicated, I could give you a good game. So, when do I move in?

Hi,

Even though times have moved on and most computer chess is played on a screen with a pc, there are still a few of the table top games about.

It really depends on budget and the type of board you want. Most games will beat 98% of players and will play well above your rating, and remember all will play at lower levels with nadicap etc. You must choose between a wooden autosensory board of a normal size, or a smaller plastic board (cheaper but frustrating if you want to play a decent game on it, although you can transfer moves to a board of your choice). Please dont take offence when I suggest that your Chess.com turn based rating will probably be about 300 points higher than your OTB (over the board) rating which is what these machines will be rated with. So bare this mind when you check out your computer specifications.

I'd recommend brand such as Novag or Mephisto. In my opinion the Excalibur machines are a little cheap in build quality. See http://www.elhchess.demon.co.uk/ , a UK site but informative and has an honest rating list compiled by the seller therefore does not misrepresent the machines abilities! (manufacturers will big up there machines ratings by several hundred points!)

I have a small collection of machines, mostly classic machines which are becoming quite sort after....check out ebay as well as your normal Google search as there might be something there that you haven't considered

Good luck

Steve 

 Haven't you been known to eat small children though ?

Thanks for your help  ruffsteve. I'm considering the Novag Odsidian. I know it will be strong enough for me, but I would like it to weak enough at the lower levels so that my kids could win on occasion. Most sites mention the strength of the machine, but don't really give a range from the lowest level to the highest level.

I had an Obsidian and it was a great machine!  I never tried the "Fun" levels (which are supposed to be easier than the Novice levels), but I'll say this, the thing was pretty fierce on the Novice levels!  Definitely had to keep my wits about me.  :)

@ruffsteve: would a dedicated chess computer rated at 2000 really earn a rating of 2300 on chess.com?  Although I have little doubt that my 1800 chess.com represents an OTB rating of 1500. 

With regards to online/correspondence chess, the ratings on chess.com are quite inflated. My OTB rating is 1517 but my online rating has been as high as the upper 1900's. If you are talking of live chess that may well be different. Most games appear to be played at blitz type time controls and in my experience games are lost by the loser rather than won by sound play.

Based on the 'online' ratings on chess.com I believe that a computer would achieve a higher rating than published rating lists might suggest.

My point to Neener33 was not to consider only machines with 2100 elo+ ratings for example as many of the cheaper options with slightly weaker programs will present stiff competition to most of us.