Chessnut Air, Air+, Evo, Pro and Go: The Whole Chessnut Range Compared
The Chessnut Air is the connected board that launched the Chessnut brand in 2021: a wooden board that recognises every piece thanks to a chip and links by Bluetooth to Lichess or Chess.com. The range has since widened with the Air+ (Wi-Fi), the Pro (tournament size), the Go (travel), the Evo (touchscreen and built-in engines) and the Move, whose pieces move by themselves.
Full piece recognition: each piece contains a chip that the board identifies. The board knows at all times which piece is on which square, which makes it possible to resume a game from any position without starting again from the initial position. Chessnut claims this for all its models.
Chessnut Air, Evo, Pro, Go: The Range in One Table
| Model | Launched | Format | Connectivity | Built-in engine | Price observed* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air | 2021 (Kickstarter) | Wooden board of about 33 cm | Bluetooth | No | About $250 to $350 |
| Air+ | Not disclosed | Solid wood | Bluetooth and Wi-Fi | No | About $360 |
| Pro | 2022 | Wood, tournament size, 55 mm squares | Bluetooth | No | About $630 |
| Go | Not disclosed | Travel, about 23 × 27 cm, 480 g | Chessnut apps | No | About $200 |
| Evo | Unveiled in 2023 | 52 × 34 cm, 12.3-inch touchscreen | Wi-Fi and Bluetooth | Yes (Maia and Stockfish) | Between $500 and $900 depending on the page |
| Move | Late 2025 | 63 × 52 cm, 6.5 kg | Chessnut app | Yes (Stockfish 17) | About $800 to $1,100 (wood) |
The release dates of the Air+ and the Go are not clearly published by the manufacturer: we prefer not to state them. Chessnut prices vary a great deal with promotions; the same model can show two different prices on two pages of the manufacturer’s site.
Chessnut Air and Air+: The Heart of the Range
The Chessnut Air was launched on Kickstarter in May 2021. Its principle: a thin wooden board, LEDs hidden under the surface that light up to show the opponent’s move, a Bluetooth connection and USB-C charging. Chessnut announces about 10 hours of battery life. Like all the brand’s models, it identifies each piece thanks to its chip.
The Air+ adds Wi-Fi to Bluetooth and moves to solid wood. The point of Wi-Fi is to be able to play without keeping the phone right next to the board and permanently switched on, depending on how the app manages the connection.
The Air’s official page contradicts itself on the material of the pieces (beech or plastic depending on the passage): check this with the seller if it matters to you.
Chessnut Pro: Tournament Size
The Chessnut Pro, which appeared in 2022, is the wooden version of the Air at competition dimensions: 55 mm squares, LEDs hidden under the wood, Bluetooth connectivity. It is aimed at players who want to play online with the same visual reference points as at a tournament. It compares directly with the DGT Smart Board and the DGT e-Boards, covered on our page on the range of DGT boards.
Chessnut Go: The Travel Board
The Chessnut Go is the most compact: about 23 × 27 cm for roughly 480 g, supplied with a carry case. Each piece contains a chip and a magnet, which holds it on the board while travelling. It plays on Chess.com and Lichess through the Chessnut apps. Its closest rival is the DGT Pegasus, which is larger (35 cm) but has no announced piece recognition.
Chessnut Evo: The Board That Plays Alone
The Chessnut Evo, unveiled in May 2023, moves into a different category: it is a connected board and a standalone chess computer. A 12.3-inch Android touchscreen built into the board lets you play without a phone. It carries two engines: Maia, designed to play in a “human” way, and Stockfish. Lichess and Chess.com run directly on the device. It weighs about 3 kg for 52 × 34 cm, with a 10,000 mAh battery (about 10 hours according to one retailer).
Chessnut Move: Pieces That Roll
The Chessnut Move, announced in late 2025, is a robotic board of a particular kind. There is no mechanical arm under the board: according to the manufacturer, each piece has its own motor, wheels and battery, and recharges on a base. It includes Stockfish 17 and plays online through the Chessnut app. We compare it with the other robotic boards on our page on boards whose pieces move by themselves.
Which Chessnut Should You Choose?
| Your situation | Recommended model | Why |
|---|---|---|
| I play online from my sofa | Air | The best balance of price, size and features |
| I don’t want to depend on a phone next to the board | Air+ | Wi-Fi in addition to Bluetooth |
| I play at a club and want the same reference points as at a tournament | Pro | 55 mm squares, wood |
| I travel often | Go | About 480 g, case included, magnetic pieces |
| I also want to play alone, without a phone | Evo | Touchscreen and built-in engines |
| I want to see the pieces move | Move | Independent motorised pieces |
Points to Watch Before Buying a Chessnut
- Prices fluctuate: Chessnut runs many promotions, and the same model can show several prices on the manufacturer’s site. Compare on the day you buy.
- The app is central: apart from the Evo and the Move, a Chessnut does not play without a phone, tablet or computer. Check the app’s compatibility with your device.
- The right mode on Lichess: choose the “Board API” option in the app to stay within Lichess’s rules.
- The material of the pieces: the product pages are not always consistent (wood or plastic). Have this confirmed if it is a criterion for you.
- Very recent models: the Move has seen pre-orders and stock shortages in 2026. Check the real delivery time.
Chessnut on Lichess and Chess.com
Lichess lists Chessnut among the manufacturers that correctly use its official interface for boards, provided you choose the “Board API” option in the app; “vision” mode is permitted only for puzzles and studies. Chessnut announces support for Chess.com on iOS, Android, Windows and Mac; Chess.com’s help pages, for their part, refer you to the manufacturers without publishing a list. The platform-by-platform detail is in our compatibility table for connected boards.
Head-to-Head: Chessnut Air Against Square Off Pro, Evo Against Centaur
Chessnut Air or Square Off Pro?
Both are connected boards without motorised pieces. The Square Off Pro, presented at CES 2021, is a roll-up board with magnetic sensors, linked to Chess.com and Lichess through the Square Off app. The Chessnut Air is a rigid wooden board that recognises every piece. If extreme portability matters, the Pro goes into a tube; if you want a living-room object and piece recognition, the Air is more convincing. See our Square Off page.
Chessnut Evo or DGT Centaur?
The DGT Centaur is a standalone computer with no official online play, battery-powered and very simple. The Evo does both: built-in engines and online play, with a touchscreen. In return, it is more complex and depends on an Android system. For a player who wants everything in a single device, the Evo; for one who wants an opponent with no screen and no updates, the Centaur.
As Chessnut is not sold everywhere, it is worth comparing Chessnut with the other connected boards on the market before you decide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do the reviews say about the Chessnut Go?
The Chessnut Go is appreciated for its light weight (about 480 g), its included carry case and its recognition of every piece. Its small size is also its limit: for playing at home, a larger board such as the Air or the Pro is more comfortable.
What is the difference between the Chessnut Air and the Air+?
The Air+ adds Wi-Fi to the Bluetooth connection and uses solid wood. Both recognise every piece and show the moves with hidden LEDs.
Can the Chessnut Evo play without a phone?
Yes. It has a 12.3-inch touchscreen and two engines (Maia and Stockfish), and gives access to Lichess and Chess.com directly on the device.
Does the Chessnut Air work with Lichess?
Yes. Lichess lists Chessnut among the manufacturers that comply with its official interface, provided you use the Board API option in the Chessnut app.