Open Chess - Smart Chess Board video thumbnail

Open Chess - Smart Chess Board

896 downloads · 1 year ago · Print. Click. Play. OpenChess is a fully open source smart chessboard designed to make interactive,

Description

Print. Click. Play. OpenChess is a fully open source smart chessboard designed to make interactive, intelligent gameplay accessible to everyone. By combining low-cost electronics, 3D printing, and customizable software, OpenChess empowers makers, educators, and chess lovers to build their own connected chess experience — without the high price tag.

💡 Why OpenChess?

Most smart chessboards are expensive and closed-source. OpenChess changes that. It’s built from the ground up to be:

Affordable – Uses a custom PCB with embedded magnetic sensors and LEDs for real-time move detection and feedback.

DIY-Friendly – Print your own board, your own pieces, and assemble everything at home.

Programmable – Based on Arduino, you can customize behavior, create new game modes, or build learning tools and challenges.

Modular & Open – Everything is open source. Remix the board, design your own pieces, or upgrade the electronics however you want.

🔧 What You’ll Need:

OpenChess PCB – Detects pieces and lights up squares.

https://concept-bytes.com/products/openchess-pcb?variant=50601021833517

Or make your own! Gerbers are attached below! Just send them to JLCPCB!

Arduino Nano ESP32/RP2040/33IOT – Controls the logic and communication.

https://www.stemsolutionsmart.com/products/arduino-nano-rp2040-connect

3D Printed Board & Pieces – Print everything from scratch or customize it to your style.

Attached below or over at Maker world and Thangs!

https://makerworld.com/en/models/1256302-openchess-smart-chess-board#profileId-1279762

Whether you’re building a smart chessboard for your classroom, designing a game with custom rules, or just want a cool weekend project — OpenChess puts the power in your hands.

🎓 Print it. Click it. Play it. Welcome to the future of chess

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Discussions

Codenaga1 year ago

I appreciate your work, but that AI generated image is very disturbing and shouldn't be promoting your own work, which is so much more than an AI slab.

djsndcx11 months ago

What AI-generated image do you mean? Is it somewhere else than the images in the post? I only see pictures of the printed board & pieces on my end.

xb4r7x8 months ago

The main image for the project is clearly AI generated. Look closely. A lot of the squares on the board are all messed up, pieces are missing... it's VERY clearly made by AI, and not even made well.

datapirate427 months ago

You mean you don't play with 4 pawns and 3 kings? not even if the pawns are halfway off the board?

You must play black then. 8 pawns but the short one is weaker and the one on the left is halfway on the back rank next to your queen thats in the wrong position. Also no knights.

Howell7211 year ago

…what?

msherborne1 year ago

I really appreciate you making this open source. Please can you link me to the gerber files ? I'm in Australia, and with shipping just the PCB is $97 AUD. Thank you so much. Never mind. I found it:

PCB files: https://www.patreon.com/c/ConceptBytes/posts
Code: https://github.com/Concept-Bytes/Open-Chess

Big hug and heart. I'll post a youtube vid if I manage to build it.

print.turtle.au3 months ago

did you get the Gerber files? As its not a kickstarter that has gone. Joined the kickstarter but want to do now. How do i get?

jordanstan51 year ago

Did you ever get the board? I’m also in Australia and it’s killing me that I can’t get the board

jason_gobus11 months ago

i have blank boards you could buy off me.. I got extra made, just no components on them.. But you can solder them yourself if you want.

print.turtle.au3 months ago

HI how much for the boards? I am in Sydney - School holidays I dont want the kids playing games for 2 weeks i want them to use their brains.

jason_gobus11 months ago

Did you get the board at all???

stephen.brinkworth51447 months ago

I see your boards are out of stock at the moment, and I would love to build one of these, but can't find the PCB files. Would you share the updated link to the PCB files? Would it be better for me to get the current PCBs made, or wait for the upgrades such as the battery pack?

el_chingon8 months ago

I ordered almost a month ago and have not received any communication from you. Are you pausing this project? I emailed multiple times but no reply? Is my order still going to be shipped? Order #1568

bhen58081 year ago

open source my as* what do i need to do to get the pcb filles of god sake

stephen.brinkworth51447 months ago

I found this if it helps! Patreon post It should have the PCB files attatched.

print.turtle.au3 months ago

they have been removed as Kevin has a kick starter thing now

damonapettig1 year ago

So what does this do? Are you able to play a game against the computer?

rioohhh1 year ago

Do you have the weight and dimensions for the package? If I want to get this shipped to the EU I need to enter that information at a reshipper to get a proper quote.