Tasc R30 ( with SB20 Smartboard)

The Tasc R30 was the highest rated dedicated chess computer available on general sale during the 1990s. The last and finest example of the breed before PC chess programs killed the high end market for wooden chess computers. The Tasc R30 is still one of the strongest dedicated chess computers  available with a 2330 Elo rating(Source - Selective Search).

Smartboards for the R30 incorporated  individual piece recognition. They were produced in two forms. The SB20  with 64 LEDS, one per square, and the SB30 with 81 LEDS, one at each corner of each square. The original Johan de Koning program (v2.2) was  upgraded in 1995 with the version 2.5 program.

The Tasc R30 for sale here has been part of my collection for many years. It includes a SB20 Smartboard and the v2.5 program and is in full  working order and mint condition for its age.

It comes complete with the set of chess pieces, two brown chesspiece bags, manuals (in English and German), the power  supply (UK plug), connecting lead and boxes for the computer unit and board. All as shown in  the photos.


Price - £1500 o.n.o.        SOLD
 

Mephisto Exclusive Amsterdam

The Amsterdam program represented a leap forward in chess computer strength available to the public following its win in the 1985 World Microcomputer Chess Championship. In an Exclusive or Munchen board it was state of the art back then. A classic!

Here it is for sale in an autosensory Exclusive board. Included is the original packaging, the chesspieces, copy manual in English and HGN 5001 adaptor (Euro plug) all as shown in the photos. It is fully working and in very good condition throughout.

The Amsterdam program was rated 1946 Elo by Selective Search and is currently 1935 Elo at Active Chess (Schachcomputer.info)

Price - £325 o.n.o.    SOLD on Ebay
 

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Saitek Renaissance

This is a very nice Saitek Renaissance board. Mint condition. It is working correctly in all respects. It has the original Renaissance manuals in English and French and a good copy German manual. Also included are the original chesspieces with their wooden box, power adaptor (UK type), outer box and packaging, all as shown in the photos. The board is Sparc compatible.

The standard Renaissance program without the addition of a module has an Active rating of 1604 Elo (Source - Schachcomputer.info). A Maestro module is available in this sale at extra cost (see Saitek Leonardo item below) which would improve the strength to 1744 Elo.

The price asked reflects the condition and completeness of this collectors item.

Price - £500       SOLD
 

SciSys Leonardo
and optional Maestro A 4MHz module

You can read all about the Leonardo and the Maestro module in my SciSys section (here).

This Leonardo is in good condition and is fully working. It comes with the chesspieces shown (not original), pieces box and copy English manuals. It works from the supplied HGN 5001/5009 adaptor (Euro plug) or 4 ‘C’ batteries (not supplied). The front cover is held on by the magnets only.

The Maestro module is an early A4MHz example(program A29B, 4 MHz quartz) and includes the KSO openings chip which contains 36,000 half moves. See photos below.

Leonardo Price (without Maestro) = £150

Maestro module Price = £150

Leonardo + Maestro = £275        SOLD
 

Millennium ChessGenius Exclusive (M820)

An opportunity to buy a fully functioning Millennium ChessGenius Exclusive at a fraction of the new price. Currently these are selling new at the London Chess Centre at £799 (link).

This board was rescued from a house items auction in North Yorkshire. It comes as shown in the photos with a new set of pieces including extra queens and a copy manual in English. It has lightspots and dark spots on the starting positions. Otherwise the board and computer unit are both in good condition and everything is functioning properly. The original power adaptor and connection cable are included in the item for sale.

The London Chess Centre link sets out the many features of this high spec chess computer including fully automatic piece recognition with 81 leds (four per square). With Richard Lang’s strong program in modern hardware it currently stands at the top of the Schachcomputer.info Active ratings list at 2445 Elo.

Price - £250               SOLD
 

Millennium The King Performance (M830)

The King Performance is a press sensory chess computer which uses Johan De Koning’s The King program, versions of which are also to be found in the Tasc R30, Saitek Risc 2500 and Mephisto Montreux. The King Performance has a mass of features and options including software updates via USB. It runs at 100-300Mhz configurable, so up to x10 faster than a Tasc R30. The largest of the available opening books has over 300,000 positions. The board has 81 leds (4 per square).

As with the previous Millennium item this board was rescued from a general household items auction. The chess pieces are a new set. There is a copy manual in English and a multi-language King Element manual. It comes with the original power adaptor and USB cable.

It is fully functional and in good condition.

Price - £175        SOLD
 

Fidelity Elite Avant Garde version 6

The Avant Garde v6 is a rare and valuable chess computer. Nine Avant Garde versions v2 to v10 were released in 1989/1990. Most of them were built in very small numbers. You can read about the various versions here (link). This version 6 would have cost around £1600 in 1990. The equivalent of £3,800 today.

The specification is similar to the Excel Mach IV Master and it has a current 2127 Elo rating at Active Chess (Schachcomputer.info).

This is an original v6 not a modern copy. It is in very good condition as the photos show and is fully functioning in all respects. One of the button caps is missing but this does not affect operation. It comes with the set of chesspieces, copy manuals in English and German and the power adaptor (US type).

Price - £1250 or (1500 Euros including free shipping in Western Europe)
                                   SOLD