Your Chess.
Your Rules.
Open Chess is a customizable smart chess board kit that adapts to the way you play.
- USB-C Charge6+ hours of play
- No SolderingReady to assemble
Make It Yours
Swap colors. Swap styles. Make every game your own.
A smart chess board you can build at home.
Open Chess is a modular smart chess board kit that tracks moves automatically and guides gameplay with subtle light cues built directly into the board.
Unlike traditional electronic chess boards, Open Chess is designed as a platform. You can swap bases, add screens or timers, expand the hardware with new modules, and even program your own game modes — when you want to.
No soldering
The kit arrives ready to assemble. No iron, no flux, no guesswork.
No programming required
Play out of the box. Write code later if you want to — never because you have to.
No complicated setup
One USB-C cable. Press install in your browser. That is the whole setup.
Modular. Swappable. Built to evolve.
Open Chess is designed as a modular system, not a single fixed board.
Swap bases in seconds
Change the look or the height without rebuilding the board.
Replace or upgrade parts
Screens, timers, and new modules plug into the same platform.
Customize how you like
Skins, pieces, and finishes — print your own or pick from the kit.
Smart Board
64 hall-effect squares, 64 RGBW lights, and wireless connectivity.
Magnetic Pieces
Weighted, durable, and beautifully crafted with magnets in every base.
6+ Hours of Play
A full session on a charge. Recharge anytime with the included USB-C cable.
Custom Skins
Interchangeable skins and printable pieces to match your style.
Open Software
Open APIs, real source code, and browser installs to build your own.
A board that teaches you how to play.
When you pick up a piece, Open Chess shows you where it can move — directly on the board.
The lights guide you in real time. Whether you are just learning or sharpening your game, Open Chess keeps your focus where it belongs: on the pieces in front of you.
- Learn how each piece moves
- Avoid illegal moves
- Build confidence as you play
Learn strategy, not just moves
Open Chess goes beyond showing where pieces can move. It helps you see the board. By highlighting threats, attacks, and key interactions, the board makes strategy visible — so you can understand why a move matters, not just whether it is legal.
Build your own games.
Open Chess isn’t just a chess board — it’s a platform. If you want to go deeper, you can create your own game logic, modes, and experiences on top of the board. Start simple or go deep — it is designed to reward curiosity.
- Add computer opponents and bots
- Play against friends locally or remotely
- Experiment with online play
- Design entirely new games using the board and pieces
13 ready to install · 0 in beta · 20 in development · 33 total
Atomic Chess
Every capture sets off an explosion
Chess960
Randomized back rank, no opening theory
Play Against a Bot
Set up the pieces and play, no Wi-Fi needed
Classic Chess
Standard rules, guided by light
Two-Board Chess
Play across two boards in the same room
Ghost Chess
Your opponent's pieces are pure light
Made to be opened.
Nothing here is a black box. This is the board, from an empty printed shell to 64 lights.
Step 1
The shell
3D printed, and the files are yours. Print it in any colour you like.
Step 2
Power
A single-cell battery and a USB-C cable — 6+ hours of continuous play per charge.
Step 3
The senses
64 hall-effect sensors read every piece, scanned by an ESP32-S3.
Step 4
The lights
64 addressable LEDs, one per square. Every game decides what they mean.
Shipping and fulfillment.
Shipping and taxes will be collected after the campaign ends via our pledge manager. This ensures accurate shipping quotes based on your location and the most current rates.
After the campaign
Shipping and taxes are collected through our pledge manager once the campaign ends — so quotes match your location and current rates.
USA backers
We expect duty-free shipping under USMCA regulations.
International backers
Your country may charge customs duties, taxes, or import fees on delivery. Those fees are set by your local customs authority and are your responsibility. We declare the actual value as required by law.
“You can enjoy it out of the box, or turn it into a playground for ideas.”
— Built for players and makers alike
Start simple or go deep — Open Chess is designed to reward curiosity.
Your chess. Your rules.
The complete kit includes the board, pieces, and a USB-C cable — no charging dock required.
- Most popular
Open Chess Board
The complete kit
$149.99
- Smart board with 64 sensors and 64 RGBW lights
- Full weighted magnetic piece set
- USB-C cable and quick start guide
- 6+ hours of continuous gameplay per charge
- Every game in the marketplace, free forever
No payment is taken yet
You can place an order and track it from your account, but card payments are not switched on — nothing here can charge you. Shipping and taxes will be collected later through the pledge manager.
- Shipping quoted laterVia pledge manager
- 6+ hours of playUSB-C recharge