ChessUp 2 may be worth it if you regularly want to play Chess.com on a physical board and value built-in learning aids; it is a harder sell if you mainly need a chessboard or are unsure you will use its connected features. Bryght Labs listed it at $379.99 on October 3, 2026, so the real question is whether its online-play convenience and guidance justify that price for your routine.
What ChessUp 2 is—and what the Shark Tank connection means
ChessUp 2 is the next generation of Bryght Labs’ smart chessboard. The original ChessUp appeared on Shark Tank Season 14, Episode 9; ABC describes it as a smart board with a built-in engine and instructor. That television appearance identifies the brand, but it is not evidence that the newer board is right for every player. ABC’s episode page and Bryght Labs’ ChessUp 2 page distinguish the product context.
The Shark Tank connection is also not a reason to assume an investment deal was completed. A recap reports an on-air agreement with Lori Greiner that did not finalize after the show, but the available primary-source material does not verify the post-show deal status.
What ChessUp 2 offers
The central pitch is Chess.com access through a physical board with an integrated interface, rather than simply a board that happens to connect to an app. Bryght Labs lists support for online Chess.com games, bots, offline two-player games, postgame analysis, touch-sensitive pieces, and move assistance. Chess.com has also described ChessUp 2 as a way to play its games using physical pieces. These are feature descriptions from the maker and its platform partner, not independent test results. Chess.com’s launch coverage outlines the integration.
#1 Best Overall
- MASTER CHESS AT ANY LEVEL, FROM KIDS TO EXPERTS - Whether you're just learning or leveling up your strategy, ChessUp 2, the interactive electronic chess set that lights up every move, helps you play smarter. Touch any piece to reveal potential moves, mistakes, and blunders. It’s the best way for kids and adults to learn and improve.
- BALANCE A MATCH WITH BUILT-IN AI COACHING - ChessUp 2 lets you customize AI help for each player. Kids or beginners get guidance through light-up squares while experts play with no hints. It’s the perfect teaching tool for families, self-learners, or competitive games with a twist.
- PLAY RANKED ONLINE GAMES, NO PHONE NEEDED - With built-in WiFi, ChessUp 2 connects to Chess.com and Lichess so you can play real-time online matches from your board. No phone or laptop required. Play with friends, challenge opponents around the world, or enjoy casual games with boys, girls, and adults at any skill level.
- TRAIN SMARTER WITH THE COMPANION APP - The ChessUp app is your personal chess coach. Review your games, track progress, and explore expert-led lessons with portions explained within the app and shown on the board simultaneously. Whether you’re teaching, self-learning, or chasing your next win, the app helps you make better moves every time you play.
- STUDY ANY POSITION - Set up any position, test out new strategies, or recreate famous games. Whether you're preparing an opening, teaching a tactic, or studying complex endgames, ChessUp 2 gives you total control to learn and experiment.
Online games and bots
With Wi-Fi, the board is designed to let players seek Chess.com games and play bots from its built-in interface. ChessUp co-founder Jeff Wigh described the experience to Chess.com this way: “You can hit ‘seek game.’ You can play any of the time formats you like. You can actually play all the Chess.com bots and all the dialogue is right there. Your games are saved on Chess.com afterwards, so it’s like Chess.com on a real board.” The quote explains the intended convenience; it does not establish how reliably the feature performs in everyday use. Read Chess.com’s interview with Wigh.
Guidance and review
The maker describes touch-sensitive pieces and move assistance intended to help players see legal moves or receive guidance. Postgame analysis is also listed. Those features could be useful if you are learning or want prompts during a game; players who prefer to calculate unaided may choose to leave guidance aside. The available sources do not establish that using these aids produces faster improvement.
Rank #2
- Play more than just chess! These checkers match the chess pieces and are specially made to work with your ChessUp 2. Simply place the pieces on the board in the checkers starting position and the game mode will switch automatically.
Offline play
Bryght Labs also lists offline two-player matches. That gives the board a use beyond online Chess.com games, although the online integration is the clearest reason to consider a connected board at this price.
Is the price worth it?
On October 3, 2026, Bryght Labs’ U.S. product page listed ChessUp 2 at a sale price of $379.99, reduced from a listed regular price of $429.99. This is a live retail listing, not a guaranteed price; check the maker’s product page before buying.
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- SUPPORTS PLAY ONLINE: L6 allow you Play online against millions of players through leading chess platforms.Connect to Lichess to always find a match ready for you. Play online with friends, or new opponents worldwide
- 【Femuey L6-your perfect chess friend】It is most satisfying when you have a suitable opponent of similar strength or just above your level. This is exactly what Femuey L6 offers. It has a unique system to analyze your play during the game and it uses that information to challenge you at your own personal level. In addition, Femuey L6 plays in a very human way for your perfect playing experience.
- 【 Eectronic Chess Set】 “Fun” Levels for beginners. Electronic chess board game with 1000 teaching exercise positions and 22 levels of play from passive to aggressive, Includes Easy Guide to Chess.
- 【High-end Electronic Chess Set】Femuey L6 is one High end technology chess computer with a sensor board and innovative LED lights to indicate the moves. There is no need to look at the display; you can fully focus on the board and the pieces. Playing Femuey L6 like playing with one real person . Of course, Femuey L6 is always there for you, ready for another game!
- 【Eye Protection】The board has an e-paper display to change settings, to view the game notation or see an image of the board, to show hints or to see the computer evaluation of the position. The screen has a soft contrast that is pleasant to the eye and can be viewed well from all directions and under any light.
At nearly $380, the value depends less on whether you like chess than on how often you will use the particular combination of an electronic board, Wi-Fi, a built-in interface, Chess.com play, and learning features. The sources establish the advertised feature set and listed price, but do not provide independent testing sufficient to judge reliability, durability, learning outcomes, or objective value against competing boards.
- More likely to make sense: You play online often, specifically want Chess.com games on a physical board, and expect to use the integrated interface and guidance regularly.
- Less likely to make sense: You mostly play over the board, can use Chess.com comfortably on a phone or tablet, or would rarely use the connected features. In that case, the premium buys convenience you may not need.
- Worth weighing: Touch-based move guidance may support a beginner, but it may not suit someone who wants to solve positions without prompts. Consider whether you can control or ignore the aids in the way you prefer before treating them as a benefit.
What the usage figures do—and do not—show
Chess.com reported on June 4, 2025, that more than 25,000 ChessUp 2 users across 158 countries had played more than 500,000 games on Chess.com using the board. Those are the platform’s own promotional figures, not an audited market study. They indicate reported use of the integration, but they do not show customer satisfaction, reliability, or how much an individual buyer will use the board. Chess.com’s interview discusses the product and its online-play proposition.
Rank #4
- Electronic Chess Set: Great chess set for beginners and kids with LEDs to prompt you to move, Talking Chess and can get help prompting moves with the "?" button. Play against the computer or a friend, and challenge yourself anytime, Playing strength of over 1700 ELO.
- Electronic chess game 3 Modes: Electronic chess board has three playing modes: Training, Match and Human. P6 Electronic Chess Set is a high-tech artificial intelligence electronic chess with a sensor board and innovative colorful board lights to indicate the steps of the chess game.
- Smart chess board: P6 Chess Computer is a high-tech chess board with a built-in chess engine and chess instructor. Suitable for chess enthusiasts to improve their chess skills. Simulate the real game scenario, time play, and support two violations of the judgments, etc.
- Computer Chess Game: Electronic chess board game with 200 teaching exercise positions and 18 levels of play from passive to aggressive, Includes Easy Guide to Chess, Boosts kids' thinking skills and intelligence.
- Electronic Chess For Kids: Electronic chess set to improve all of your logic skills and brush up for your next competition, Kids or Adults can Play Against.Chess for kids helps to educate and entertain. FUN levels 1-2 to help beginners learn chess in a fun way to help you learn chess faster.
Who should consider ChessUp 2?
Online players who want a physical board
If you already play on Chess.com and dislike making every move on a screen, ChessUp 2’s main proposition is directly relevant: online games and bots paired with physical pieces and an integrated interface. The appeal rests on whether that format will become part of your regular play, not on the Shark Tank appearance.
Players seeking built-in prompts
If you want legal-move visibility or move guidance as part of a learning routine, the advertised aids may be attractive. Treat them as conveniences, not proof that the board will make you improve. No independent learning-outcome evidence is established by the available sources.
Best Value
- Largest Pieces & Board in Class – King height 2.36″, base diameter 0.85″; squares 1.22*1.22″, diagonal 14.6″ playable chess board. Perfect for adult hands and better visibility.
- Superior Magnetic Stability – Strong embedded magnets that hold pieces securely even if the board is turned over, yet still allow easy lifting.
- AI Voice Coach & Real Move Feedback – Optional coach speaks voice‑analysis of each move: legality, openings, blunders, checks, tactics hints—ideal for improving your chess understanding.
- Grandmaster‑Strength Engine – Adjustable difficulty from 800 to 2200+ Elo-Based Rating, Suitable from beginners all the way to aspiring masters.
- Professional Learning Features – Infinite undo, legal‑move vocalization, 128 training puzzles, 256 grandmaster games, voice input for setup and board‑search. All in a portable EVA foam case.
Occasional players or buyers focused on price
If you play infrequently or primarily want a board for games with someone in the room, it is difficult to justify the listed price based on the connected experience unless you also expect to use its other features. The evidence here does not establish a reliable current price comparison with other smart boards, so consider your budget and expected frequency of use rather than assuming ChessUp 2 is the best-value option.
Verdict
ChessUp 2 is most compelling as a dedicated way to bring Chess.com games, bots, and related features to a physical board. It may be worth the hype for a frequent online player who will use that setup and values built-in guidance; it is not an obvious buy for someone who only wants a chessboard. At the maker’s $379.99 listed sale price on October 3, 2026, the key trade-off is convenience versus cost—and reliability and learning benefits remain unproven by the cited product and partner descriptions.
Quick Recap
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