Chess.com Board Game: ChessUp 2 Review

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Post on Nov 26, 2024

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Chess.com Board Game: ChessUp 2 Review - A Casual Player's Take

Hey chess heads! So, I recently got my hands on ChessUp 2, the physical chessboard that connects to the Chess.com app. Been a casual chess player for years – more of a "play a game now and then" kinda guy than a grandmaster-in-training – but I was super curious about this thing. Let me tell ya, it’s a mixed bag, but mostly good!

My First Impressions (and a Hilarious Fail)

Unboxing was a breeze. Pretty straightforward, honestly. The board itself is gorgeous. Nice, solid wood, feels really premium. Much better than I expected for the price, to be honest. I immediately thought, "This is gonna be awesome!".

Then came the setup. That’s where things got… interesting. The instructions weren’t the clearest, and I almost ended up assembling it backward. Yeah, I know, total noob move. Spent like 15 minutes trying to figure out why the pieces weren't registering correctly before realizing my monumental blunder. Lesson learned: Always double-check the instructions, even if you think you've got it figured out. Seriously, read them twice.

Gameplay: Smooth Sailing (Mostly)

Once I got past my initial screw-up, gameplay was actually pretty smooth. The app sync is near-instantaneous. I played a few games against the computer, and then challenged a friend online. The physical pieces feel great; it's a far more tactile experience than just playing on a screen. It really adds to the whole vibe, you know?

I really appreciated the different difficulty levels the Chess.com app offers. It lets you adjust the AI opponent to match your skill. As a casual player, I started on easier settings – I didn't want to get totally crushed in my first game. You can level up the AI as you get better. That's a major plus.

Connectivity and App Integration

The Bluetooth connection is pretty rock-solid. I didn't experience any dropouts or lag during my games. This is crucial – a lagging board would be a complete nightmare. The app itself is intuitive and well-designed – even I could figure it out! It seamlessly integrates with my Chess.com account, which was a nice bonus.

Pro-tip: Make sure your phone or tablet is fully charged before you start a long game. You don't want your battery to die mid-game!

What Could Be Better?

While I loved the overall experience, there are a few minor gripes. The pieces, while beautiful, are slightly smaller than I'd prefer. My sausage fingers sometimes struggled a bit. Also, the storage for the pieces isn't the best – it's a little flimsy.

Another small issue is the app's tutorial. While it's functional, it could use some visual improvements to make it a bit more engaging. More diagrams would be awesome.

Final Verdict: Worth It?

Overall? Yeah, I think ChessUp 2 is worth the money. The combination of a beautiful physical board with the convenience and features of the Chess.com app is a winner in my book. It's elevated my casual chess game to a whole new level. The tactile nature of moving physical pieces makes it far more enjoyable than just playing on a phone or tablet. Plus, the bragging rights of owning a cool, techy chessboard? Priceless.

Keywords: ChessUp 2, Chess.com, physical chessboard, chess app, board game review, casual chess, digital chess, Bluetooth chess, chess game review, online chess, tactile chess, chessboard review, app integration.