About DGT e-boards

Where are DGT e-Boards used?

Electronic DGT boards are used at World Chess Championships and all major and many minor chess tournaments all over the world since 1998. In addition the boards are used at home, at the chess club and chess academy and all kinds of chess events.

Features of DGT e-Boards

• All DGT e-Boards have tournament size squares of 55x55mm.
• A unique patented sensor technology registers both the identity (type and colour) and the location of each individual chess piece on the board.
• An internal memory records the games (stores up to 500 moves).
• Different styles of handcrafted classical Staunton type electronic wooden chess pieces sets are available, all at official tournament size with king height 95mm / 3.75".
• The DGT3000 and DGT Echo chess clocks connect to the boards.
• Free DGT LiveChess software is included for live broadcasting of games via the internet.

How are DGT e-Boards used?

Tournaments and clubs use the boards to show chess games live as they happen via the internet on their website or on smartphones and tablets. Or they are used to register and record the games for later retrieval, publication or analysis. Often the games are shown live to the public on screens at the playing venue.

DGT boards are also used to play online against opponents via the internet on chess platforms such as Chess.com and PlayChess.com. There are real benefits in using a real board and pieces.

• The boards are perfect to quickly and easily set up chess positions for analysis as the board instantly recognises any position.
• DGT boards are used to play against chess programs and engines. For example in combination with the DGT Pi Chess Computer to play, train and analyse.
• The computer moves are shown on the display of the chess clock or can be spoken out.
• The boards are used for computer assisted analysis of games. To improve in chess you need to analyse your games.

For tournament use, club and academy use or simply at home, DGT offers the perfect e-Boards.

Building next generation DGT e-Boards

A while ago we've said goodbye to the old serial connections on our wooden tournament boards. A comprehensive upgrade made the boards faster, smarter, easier to use and future proof.

Main improvements

1. Tournament e-Boards, plastic Smart Boards and USB e-Boards have USB-C connections.
2. Increased detection speed and smart scanning.
3. Much lower energy use.

The increased speed and stability of DGT piece recognition gives an even higher quality of recording and broadcasting games. The side connector plate was modernized but the beautiful wooden exterior of the boards is unchanged.

Compatibility

• New boards connect together with existing serial e-Boards and Smart Boards for tournaments.
• The DGT3000, DGT Echo, DGT Pi and DGT XL chess clocks connect with the boards.
• Compatible with all electronic DGT pieces sets.
• The free DGT LiveChess software is fully compatible with the new boards.
• DGT's wireless connection system (under development) is compatible with the new boards (existing e-Boards can easily be adapted at low cost).

Accurate, appealing, fast and efficient

Just like the wooden electronic DGT boards, the Smart Board knows everything that is happening on the board at all times. This gives it great speed and accuracy to record and broadcast chess games live as they happen. But it has many other uses on top of that at home, club, tournament or chess event. The DGT Smart Board is accurate, fast, very energy efficient, extra thin, sturdy with a net weight of just 2 kg! The wood print finish on top of the board is very appealing and looks just like a real Walnut wooden board. The board is lightweight, thin and ergonomic making it easy to store and transport.

Compatible with all DGT electronic chess pieces sets

Smart Boards are available with or without indices and are compatible with all electronic DGT chess pieces sets. An affordable plastic set was produced but the Smart Board also looks great with the wooden Timeless set! The board topside size is 52 x 52 cm with tournament square size 55 x 55 mm.

Record and broadcast your games

When playing chess on a Smart Board it records the games, it will log and record around 500 moves that can be retrieved from the board in PGN format and used on other devices such as a PC, tablet or mobile phone. Use a chess program for analysing the game or to publish the games. By using a Smart Board to play chess, you can show the game locally on screens or tv’s or broadcast the game live via the internet on your website.

Smart Board applications and setups

Online Play

• Play online against opponents from around the world using the Smart Board as your input device. For example play opponents on Chess.com or on Playchess.com.

Recording games

• Use the board to record your games for later analysis or publication. Analysing your games is the best way to improve your chess.

Live Internet Broadcasting

• Use the free DGT LiveChess software and our free Cloud Service to broadcast your games and tournaments live on your website.

Show games locally

• Show one or multiple games on a screen without using an internet connection.

Tournament Set-up

• DGT Smart Boards are fully compatible with existing wooden DGT e-Boards in a tournament set-up. Connect your existing wooden e-Boards together with the Smart Boards in one string.

Computer Play

• The board interacts with the strongest chess playing software and chess programs available on your laptop, PC, tablet or mobile phone. The Fritz PC computer program is included with your home use Smart Board connection set.

DGT Pi chess computer

• Add the DGT Pi chess computer to turn your Smart Board into your strongest sparring partner. Use it to play, train, analyse and study chess. DGT Pi communicates the computer moves on the display or announces them via a loudspeaker.

Online play

Use the board to play online at internet chess sites, to play against chess engines or simply to record the moves of your game. You can retrieve the moves later in PGN format for analysis or publication. Or broadcast your game live via the internet using the free DGT LiveChess software.

Perfect for training purposes

Use the board for chess training and analysis of games or positions. The ingenious e-Boards with individual piece recognition act as a unique chess move input device. Simply set up any position on the board and your computer will instantly recognize the individual pieces and their positions. No hassle to input a position into the computer and great ease of use. Or add the DGT Pi chess computer to turn your DGT board into a great sparring partner. The USB e-Board is a beautiful chess-PC interface and typical DGT product: innovative and designed for the true chess lover. It adds a new dimension to your chess fun. High quality and value for money.

Difference between USB/Bluetooth e-Boards and Tournament e-Boards

The difference between USB/Bluetooth e-Boards and Tournament e-Boards, is that Tournament e-Boards can be connected together in strings for a tournament. A string of Tournament Boards connects to the serial or USB port of the computer or laptop. Using the free DGT LiveChess software that runs on Windows, MAC or Linux computers, games on all the boards can be recorded or broadcast live.

Wood types

Wooden Tournament e-Boards are available in Walnut, Rosewood or Wengé. The plastic version of the Tournament Board, the so called Smart Boards, are an affordable and lightweight alternative that is fully compatible as Wooden en plastic boards can easily be connected together in one string.

Features

Walnut boards do not have indices but Rosewood and Wengé boards do. The Smart Boards are available both with or without indices. To complement the boards any of the DGT electronic chess pieces sets can be used. Nowadays all DGT Tournament Boards are supplied with modern USB-C connections. This fourth generation of DGT e-Boards has increased scanning capability and very low energy use.

Cable connections for tournament boards

Since January 2020 all Tournament Boards have a modern USB-C connection. Electronic DGT boards are no longer produced with serial connection plugs. All Tournament Boards (both Wooden e-Boards and plastic Smart Boards) use the same connections materials as below.

Connection material for the first Tournament Board (Product Code 11011)

This connection set is required to connect the first of every 12 Tournament Boards. It contains:

• a power adaptor (suitable for up to 12 boards)
• a PC-to-bus cable
• a board-to-bus cable
• several connection boxes
• 5 meter patch cable
• 20 meter patch cable
• a board to clock cable
• a serial-to-USB converter cable

Connection Material for Additional Tournament e-Boards (Product Code 11012)

To connect each of the next 11 Tournament Boards for each board a connection set is required that contains:

• a board-to-bus cable
• a connection box
• 5 meter patch cable
• a board to clock cable

Additional Information

For the 13th board, the 25th board, the 37th board, etc. again connection set with Product Code 11011 is required.

The power adaptor should not be replaced by a universal adaptor. Note that the boards will be damaged beyond repair if the wrong polarity of the voltage is applied.

Save and broadcast games

Use the board to play online at internet chess sites, to play against chess engines or simply to record the moves of your game. You can retrieve the moves later in PGN format for analysis or publication. Or broadcast your game live via the internet using the free DGT LiveChess software.

Perfect for training purposes

The Bluetooth e-Board has an internal battery allowing you to use the board anywhere. Use the board for chess training and analysis of games or positions. The ingenious e-Boards with individual piece recognition act as a unique chess move input device. Simply set up any position on the board and your computer will instantly recognize the individual pieces and their positions. No hassle to input a position into the computer and great ease of use. Or add the DGT Pi chess computer to turn your DGT board into a great sparring partner.

The e-Board is a beautiful chess-PC interface and typical DGT product: innovative and designed for the true chess lover. It adds a new dimension to your chess fun. High quality and value for money.

Wood types

Bluetooth e-Boards are available in Walnut or Rosewood. In addition a small number of leather covered limited edition Bluetooth boards were made. The Rosewood version has indices around the edge of the board the Walnut board does not have indices. Choose any of the available electronic DGT chess pieces sets to play.

Extras

The boards are supplied in a sturdy and practical gift box and come with the famous chess playing program Fritz and 100 days free Premium access to PlayChess.com. Included in the gift box is:

• USB cable
• Two extra queens
• lock Cable
• Fritz CD
• DGT e-Board software CD

With Bluetooth only:

• AC/USB Adapter with US, UK and Universal Plug