Mephisto Phoenix Chess Computer Module

Complete system with WiFi very strong engine and play

Great Chess computer

Will be a great learning tool for improving your game. You can play any level and also get hints and also the computer lets you know when a move is good or bad and also your chances of winning the game. There is also a ELO rating for your progress. Only thing is you can’t save a game yet which hopefully in the near future they will have an update for that. Final thought is this is the best computer for learning and having lots of fun.

After having it for a while

Having had this computer (2 of them) for almost 6 months I can give a better review now. I like the retro programs. The emulations are just about perfect. I own many of the originals that they emulate, and have performed many tests to confirm the accuracy. The emulations are from my tests spot on. In particular the Tasc R30 2.5 seems to be perfect. Even the evaluations are perfect. I limited the games to 3 ply games against a common opponent - the chess genius after allowing the same opening via takebacks the reponses were identical after multiple games. As far as the modern engines I am not pleased with the handicaps they seem artificial. If I set stockfish to 1700 it plays the opening like a grandmaster and it plays the middle game like a 2000 rated player for most of the game then it makes a few moves like an 800 rated player. The millennium king handles the handicap much more naturally by limiting the number of moves for the search at each level. If this can be done with stockfish that would be fantastic! Maybe in a future update. As for analysis the stockfish engine is fantastic as you would expect. The lack of saving the game feature is disappointing to say the least, and should be rectified in a future update - I hope so. I feel this was a mistake to release this type of device without that feature from the get go. I read somewhere that this was not added because of a concern about the flashcard. This would have been rectified by allowing us to copy the software on a backup flashdrive I understand the concern of people pirating the software, but for the customer this would haved solved a major flaw that keeps this from being the state of the art Chess computer they intended to deliver. I preordered 2 of these unites because I live 1/2 the year in a different location. I would not have done that had I known then what I know now. If you are somone who is on the fence I would say wait to see if this is corrected in a future update. My recommendation is if your not Magnus or Ding buy the King element - it is plenty strong for me, and much much more user, and cost freindly. If on the other hand you always wanted a Tasc R30, or Mephisto London 68030 this would be a perfect solution at a more reasonable cost - for me I already have the old machines so I am somewhat disappointed overall. Hopefully a future update will solve these problems! The older machines do seem to be better made as mine are approximately 30 years old and still function well, the wood cabinates seem to be real wood. I have had more then a few problems with the Millennium boards if not for Chess house being the great service people they are would have been major problems. So one last bit of advice if you do decide to purchase these products buy from Chess house they are the best in price, and even better at customer service!