Chess computers
This page was last updated : 03-Jul-24 23:36:13
On this page I will show some information about the (old) chess computers I have.
I had more which aren't listed below, because I sold them to finance new chess related shopping like the DGT Pegasus.
Chess Challenger 7
My first chess computer ever bought by me when I was 12 years old at Bart-Smit. A that time "the" toy store of The Netherlands.
Elo 1311 so strong enough for this average player.
- Kings height : 50 mm
- Square size : 21 mm
Still have the original packaging . .
. . and the original manual
Mephisto II
The Mephisto II is a 1980's chess computer made by Hegener & Glaser in Germany. Got it including the original box, manuals and even the bill (shocking expensive for that time)
Elo 1332 so strong enough for this average player.
Mephisto III
The Mephisto III is a 1980's chess computer made by Hegener & Glaser in Germany. I got this one including a nice wooden box, 2 manuals and the modules I, II and III but was noted not to be working. So my formal education (Electronics) and my main hobby (Hamradio) came in handy repairing this old black brick. A few components where replaced and it now works again. Allowing me to use all the 3 modules. One thing I couldn't fixed was the demolish battery compartment. I can work with batteries, but they tent to fall out (unless I use a piece of tape to keep the lit shut).
So most of the time I use it with a external power source.
Elo 1464 so strong enough for this average player.
Module III is showing his welcome message "PLAY".
When using the Module I and II, it shows a "_ " and moves need to be confirmed by pressing the INFO button (the STA button on the Mephisto I and II), which indicates that the major part of the program including the User IO / MMI is programmed in the module. It's not a problem but something you just have to know when you a Module I or II in the Mephisto III.
Mephisto III module
Mephisto II module
Mephisto I module
The Mephisto III has a new owner.
Mephisto Junior
The Mephisto Junior is a 1980's chess computer made by Hegener & Glaser in Germany. Got it including the original box and manuals. It's powered by just a single 9V block battery or with the optional adapter. I got it from the Dutch classified advertising website Marktplaats.nl . The box wasn't in a good shape, but the computer was working fine.
Elo is just 1294, but strong enough for this average player.
The Mephisto Junior has a new owner.
Mephisto Europa
The Mephisto Europa is a 1987's chess computer made by Hegener & Glaser in Germany. It's a nice and compact chess computer powered by just 4 AA batteries with pressure sensitive field. Got it including the original box, manuals. Often I pick it up from the cabinet to play a quick game of chess.
Elo 1683 so challenging enough for this average player.
The Mephisto europa has a new owner.
Mephisto Europa A
The Mephisto Europa is a 1990's chess computer made by Hegener & Glaser in Germany. It's a nice and compact chess computer powered by just 4 AA batteries with pressure sensitive field. Got it including the suitcase, manuals and even a course.
Elo 1683 so challenging enough for this average player.
The suite case with the Mephisto logo on it.
The manual and the chess course.
The pawn seem to be the same size as the previous Europa model. But the other pieces are all the same height as the pawn.
The Mephisto Europa A has a new owner.
DGT Centaur
The DGT Centaur is the DGT entry level chess computer using there patented sensor board technology with a ePaper display and (build in) battery powered. and although I don't own one my self, my former partner (still a very good friend of my) offered me to borrowed one for a while to have the opportunity to play against it.
And have to say : IMHO a great chess computer for the average player because of the adaptive learning system in it.
- Kings height : 86 mm
- Square size : 48 mm
Illuminated rings underneath the field show the move made and requested from the computer (image below, computer is playing black).
The ePaper display is continues showing the current field and the moves made.
Radiophon Chess Master
When I visited the 51e Dortmunder Funk Amateur Treffen in december 2023, I found this gem. A Radiophon Chess Master including the manual. It needed some work, but I got it going again.
It was build in 1984 in the German Democratic Republic, and the computer is build into a wooden cabinet and the board has magnetic contacts which recognized the moves without pressing.
The pieces are stored in a drawer in the cabinet.
Elo 1400 so strong enough to keep this average player busy :-) 
More info :
- https://www.chessprogramming.org/Chess-Master
- https://tluif.home.xs4all.nl/chescom/EngChesMas.html
- http://www.chesscomputeruk.com/html/veb_erfurt_chess-master_table.html
This beautiful piece is now on display in my living room.
Maybe there will be more in the future . . . .
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