DGT Centaur chess computer brief review
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1517loft
May 20, 2020
0
#101
I forgot to say that I’m only playing in the friendly mode.
Well I got mine today, and here's my first game on friendly right out of the box, playing untimed but pretty similar to how I would play in rapid (the computer moved instantly of course). I played white. I don't have a good idea of my playing strength right now, but I'd guess around 1300-1500 (I play a lot of chess.com games when I'm taking care of kids and am distracted or resign just because i cant play anymore).
-I think somehow I screwed up and repeated a bunch of moves on the board, when I was playing I moved to the wrong square initially and had to go back, and it looks like there's a threefold repetition in the game, but I don't think it was actually played on the board -- however it did show up on the move list.
-I finished out the game 1-0, but didnt save the rest in the PGN. will have to be better about copying down as I go since this thing doesnt have computer xfer.
-Overall I'm pretty happy with how it plays, there was only once during the game where I thought "OK, it's obviously making a bad move on purpose here".
-I'm a bit concerned about this thing as a training tool, and it encouraging unsound sacrifices. I made an unsound sacrifice this game, and if I hadn't analyzed it after, I would have thought it was a no-brainer.
I'll play a challenging game tonight, with G/120, and see what happens.
May 22, 2020
0
#104
I'm very curious how your game goes on challenging, I personally much prefer challenging as it gives me a tough challenge without making the sometimes very obvious blunders in friendly.
@md3333 On friendly I win something like 80% of the time, escpecially if I get to an endgame because there it's really weak most of the time. Challenging is a totally different beast and I think I score something like 25/30% but when I lose it's mostly with the feeling that I had chances if I'd played a little better.
Yeah I'm hoping challenging will be my go-to, playing it on friendly maybe a nice way to unwind over a dram of scotch, but it certainly didn't push me out of my comfort zone at all.
May 24, 2020
0
#106
You don’t need to keep a score card as you play. When the game is finished you can scroll through the move list to the beginning and then write down your score card at leisure while scrolling through the move list. Each move is also replicated on the 2D board.
The only let down is that if you arrive at a point in the game you’d like to play on from using a different variation, there is no functionality to do so without using the set-up mode.
The only let down is that if you arrive at a point in the game you’d like to play on from using a different variation, there is no functionality to do so without using the set-up mode.
Is it possible to change the micro sd card in the centaur/pi zero, so you can install other engines and have variety. As you can with the DGT Pi clock for example.
I like the idea of the centaur board, but the fixed software (given its apparent behaviour of equalising during the game) could be either a hit or miss. As someone said above, for chess training getting punished for mistakes/blunders is not necessarily a bad thing.
I have been playing chess for 8 months. In friendly mode, this board wins 9 out of 10 games at me. The question is - after what period of time can I win half of the games, given that I study at a chess school and practice a lot?
Hi Centaur owners,
I just got my DGT Centaur. Charged it until the battery looked full, since there is no % indicator. Then I played a long game and the batter seemed to drop to like 80%. I was wondering is that normal? How long a charge should last?
this is normal. The battery is new and therefore needs to be recharged several times for it to operate at full capacity
Thanks Alexandar! How long should a charge last?
Yes
The charge lasts about 4-6 hours. Depends on the backlight. I play a lot of games for 45 minutes.
Thank you Alexandr!
I received my new DGT Centaur.
I spent some time with it, and I found I really like the way it plays. It does feel more 'natural' or 'human', than other engines. There isn't that 'wall of resistance' that you can feel when playing against a computer, once you played your first blunder. I'm spending more time with it than my DGT PI/SMART BOARD rig right now.
My initial impression was a good one. For a self contained chess computer, they did a great job. I really like the fact I can move the pieces naturally. Not 'press and set' them. I like that the board and the pieces are 'normal' sized not miniature pieces or board.
While the pieces do slide too easily, for my taste, over the board, if you knock them over or slide them out of place, the display has a record of where they are on the board. Just place them where they were. The board isn't as 'fragile' as some people made it out to be. The underside of the board isn't as 'fragile' as some would have you think. It is reinforced. The Centaur is powered by the supplied adapter, or it’s own internal battery when not plugged in. The unit worked with my power bank as well for charging the internal battery. The ELO rating of the DGT Centaur is rated between 300 and 3000, depending on the playing mode you selected.
Each game is like a 'give and take', 'push and pull', 'elastic' type game. It really does feel like you are playing someone around your level, giving you a good game. Way more enjoyable than getting SMASHED by an engine.
I think with this machine, in one of the first two modes (Friendly, Challenging), if you don’t blunder too badly, you could at least get draw, or win every now and then. It seems to force you to really pay attention, defend and not leave hanging pieces. If anything, the games are fun to play.
Even though the DGT PI/SMART BOARD rig has more customization, the Centaur is a great option for on the go play. People have criticized the DGT Centaur for not having an option to connect to a computer, or export games. Usually those who don’t own the unit, have complained about this. I don’t find this a drawback nor miss it, for the following reasons:
1. It’s not designed to be that. It’s beauty is in it’s simplicity, and portability.
2. I have the DGT Smart Board for that, and the DGT PI saves games.
3. I know how to write my games down, as should any serious chess player should. If you can’t yet, there are phone applications that will help you record the game and email it to you. Blieb Chess Recorder is one.
4. You really are able to concentrate on your game without the technology getting in your way or distracting you.
Things that set this machine apart from other self contained, stand alone, chess computers:
1.Size. The board isn't too big/small, nor are the pieces too small.
2.When playing, even though the computer tells you what move it wants, it will still continue to play if you choose another move for it. Other computers, will give you and error and stop if you don’t execute the move it displays. This feature is great for setting up openings, or positions you want.
3.The color, and the lighting system.
The low profile, and sleek design will draw eyes to it.
5.Very intuitive menu, you really don’t need the manual to use it.
6. It has the strongest hardware under the hood, that I know of at 1GHz single-core CPU. 512MB
Things I'm getting used to:
1. Setting up a position from scratch. There is more menu stuff than the DGT PI/SMART BOARD rig requires.(Set pieces up on the board, and hit one button on DGT PI.) To Centaur's defense, the pieces aren't chipped, so you have to tell it where each piece you setup for your position. It's not hard just more menu button presses.
2.Analysis. I found it a little more tedious to do analysis on the Centaur than on the DGT PI/SMART BOARD rig, or Fritz/Chessbase software on the desktop computer. This comes as no surprise though.
While it does both tasks, it’s crown jewel is it’s adaptive play, and how easy it is to just turn it on and play, and get a good enjoyable game. Anytime. Anywhere.
I don’t regret the purchase of the DGT Centaur. I’ve enjoyed each game I’ve played on it.
I do believe, because of it’s self contained design, unique ‘human like’ play, and portability, it is worth the money spent. Like chess, it’s design is simple, however you’ll get hours and hours of awesome games and game play.
Welcome to the wonderful world of machine learning consumer electronics!
When you get tired of the plastic pieces that DGT chose for the Centaur, read
https://www.chess.com/forum/view/chess-equipment/dgt-centaur-wooden-pieces
I looked at the Centaur for a while and was all set to get one, but sanity kicked in and I stuck with my vintage Novags and Mephistos. On the internet you'll often get people mindlessly parroting speculation on an internet forum as fact despite having no firsthand experience. The bottom of the Centaur was one of those instances. Anyone with a sliver of analytical thought and common sense would quickly conclude that the curved bottom (which gives strength - why do you think submarines aren't rectangular?) is not as weak as it is made out to be.
