Agamador posted a video with Stockfish 14 NNUE vs 1991 ChessMaster. Stockfish played moves instantly, whereas Chessmaster thought for 20 minutes on the highest level. It seemed to play well at first, but then blundered a piece, not that I would have caught it. When it was about to lose a second piece, it opted to allow a 2 move checkmate rather than give up the second piece. It was checkmated in the middle game.
Anybody here still enjoy those older dedicated chess computers?
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Filphil hat geschrieben:
Millenium Chess Genius Pro. So this is by far my strongest machine. The variety of play is outstanding. It is actually stronger than advertised at over 2300. It shows how far dedicated units have come . it is so light and not very big. Seems hollow because it is. This is by no means my favorite. The the pressure sensitivity it downright terrible. Maybe the worst of any unit i have. You have to press so hard (with a corner of a piece.) There is only the bottom screen to which makes registering moves even more inconvenient. Also, what is up with so many machines having chrome for white? I will say that if you need a machine that is very strong, yet a bit more economical, then this may be your best bet.........One more complaint lol; the storage area underneath for the pieces is too small to even hold the pieces. If i had known that, it may have been a deal breaker. Is there some particular procedure for how to put the pieces in??? I will be googling this.
The Chess Genius Pro contains the same program by Richard Lang as the normal "Genius", but on slightly faster hardware (still ancient by today's standards). The program is strong (it's one of Lang's old Mephisto engines - the owner of Millennium is one of the guys who owned Mephisto (Hegener & Glaser) before they sold out to Saitek. Shame about the cheap and nasty board and pieces, but it's rather inexpensive, too. Certainly compared to their newer The King Performance, which I owned for a little while and which is stronger still (2400+).
No you didnt lol. I call bs. Pics or it never happened 
You have truly one upped me. I sit crying as i pen this over my ancient and nonetheless cheap pile of machines that only want to best me like you have done.
Filphil hat geschrieben:
No you didnt lol. I call bs. Pics or it never happened You have truly one upped me. I sit crying as i pen this over my ancient and nonetheless cheap pile of machines that only want to best me like you have done.
I even bought new pieces for it because the ones delivered by Millennium were cheap and nasty.
The set below are the German/Danish "Knubbel" pieces.
Sold it after about four months because import and export of games from/to the PC was too cumbersome, and purchased a DGT Smartboard instead, which I also sold later.
And, as I said: The improvements from the Genius to the Genius Pro were in hardware, not software. Richard Lang wouldn't be bothered to work further on this ancient platform.
The latest old dedicated chess computer I purchased was the Saitek Turbostar 432 a few months ago, because a) I'd always wanted one, and b) it came cheap.
Unfortunately, playing on it isn't much fun. The pieces are too small, the magnetism entirely negligible and the mains adapter connection unreliable as hell.
Mostly, these days I play against one of my Excalibur Grandmasters. It's strong enough for me at this point (at least in tournament play), and the big board with magent sensors is just great fun.
Aug 16, 2022
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#69
chessmaster_diamond wrote:
Mostly, these days I play against one of my Excalibur Grandmasters. It's strong enough for me at this point (at least in tournament play), and the big board with magent sensors is just great fun.
From what you're saying you must be a strong player. Do you prefer to play against these dedicated chess computers rather than playing against a dumbed-down engine? If so, why?
I *was* a pretty strong player (roundabout ELO 2000) in my teens and tweens, but I never took it seriously enough for it to go anywhere. A blitz victory against Fritz 3 (then rated 2,400 in Blitz) was my best game, but I could never repeat it. Now, I'm 1,600 or 1,700 AT BEST, but I've forgotten almost all openings theory and I'm too old and lazy to study theory again. And, after a stroke two years ago, I've found acquiring or re-acquiring knowledge much more difficult.
I much prefer playing against dedicated chess computers, because a) OTB, and b) they're playing at their best. Dumbing down an engine feels like cheating.
I've rather more chess computers than I like to mention. I tend to locate them in different places round my home with several games on the go. At the moment on my work desk I have a Novag Ruby with a 8" wooden set. A side table in my lounge has a Mephisto Nigel Short. My home desk has a Novag Citrine. By my bed a Saitek/Mephisto Maestro for play in the dark. All of them are on low levels being slowly set harder and harder.
Aug 19, 2022
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#72
clairezxclaire wrote:
I've rather more chess computers than I like to mention. I tend to locate them in different places round my home with several games on the go. At the moment on my work desk I have a Novag Ruby with a 8" wooden set. A side table in my lounge has a Mephisto Nigel Short. My home desk has a Novag Citrine. By my bed a Saitek/Mephisto Maestro for play in the dark. All of them are on low levels being slowly set harder and harder.
No good just telling us - you have to send pics! 
IpswichMatt wrote:
Thanks for posting those Phil
The pleasure is mine!
Where would you send it to get new battery contacts?
I found and "contacted" a small shop in Canada that makes such repairs for flat fees of $25 to $50 plus shipping of course. The guy said there would be no fee if it is deemed unrepairable. If i am happy with the work, there is a chance ill have them tune a couple of my computers by replacing their crystal with a higher oscillating one. Although that would make me really nervous, and im not sure which units i would want that done to. I know that it would take the collective value away, but it may be worth it on units that i wish played stronger.
Two Excalibur and one Saitek LCD only chess computers have already died on me. Their LCD screens are now malfunctioning. Hopefully my other vintage machines with 7-segment LCD displays will last longer. I’ve repaired two that had bad touch sensitive boards but they can still be finicky.
Its a crying shame that more "micro" units werent more strong. I want to see the real and ultimate not even conceived yet portable that can project pieces without the need for any kind of screen. Like a touch screen but projected image. Just motion sensitivity (the chess "clapper?)" Im not even talking some holographic stuff...........A guy can dream, but i have been meaning to get one of the widely available and now not even seperately powered devices that can project anything from your phone. Chess and live sports of all kinds on the water from my kayak?
That is awesome Tracy! I have long thought about conducting some sort of my own tournament.