From the Toysit archive
Excalibur Touch Chess
Excalibur Touch Chess presents a small stylus-operated chessboard, with move choices that inspire an original one-move postcard activity.
The play at a glance
A whole chessboard in a silver frame
Tiny dark and light squares fill the screen of Excalibur Touch Chess. A slim stylus rests beside the silver casing, ready to select a piece and its destination. The pocket-sized board makes a chess move feel like a small journey: choose where a piece begins, decide where it can go and watch the position change. That journey can become a postcard with a picture on one side and a message from the moving piece on the other.Choose a square, then a destination
The Model 404 guide describes entering a move with the supplied stylus: select the occupied square, then the destination. The computer’s responding move appears on the display. Hint and undo functions offer ways to consider a suggestion or revisit a choice.
The guide also describes setting up positions and practicing openings. For a quiet companion activity, a position drawn on paper is enough. The interesting question is what one move changes.
Send a one-move postcard
Choose a simple legal position from a game or a beginner’s chess book. Copy its board and pieces onto one side of a piece of paper. If a full position feels busy, begin with an ordinary opening move and a clearly drawn board.
Circle one piece and draw an arrow showing a legal move you are considering. Turn the paper over and write a short message in that piece’s voice. A pawn might say, “I have stepped forward, and now I can see a new part of the board.” A knight could describe the square where it hopes to land.
Another player checks the move with you, then chooses a legal reply for the other side. Add the reply as a second arrow in a different color. Give that piece a postcard message too.
Compare two possible journeys
Copy the starting position onto a second card and consider a different first move. Put the cards side by side. Which pieces have new paths? Which squares now look important? A player can point, sketch or explain one change in a sentence.
Keep the imaginary voices separate from the chess rules: a piece may tell a colorful story, while its move still follows the game. You can use the manual’s help features when playing the matching device, or consult a chess guide when working on paper.
Save the postcards in order to make a small travel journal for a game. The journal records your group’s choices and observations rather than assigning a score to the storytelling.
The historical record
Original Toysit coverage
The complete earlier coverage follows. Its opinions, promotional claims and broader historical commentary remain part of the archive; researched details and qualifications appear in Sources.
Touch Chess by Excalibur Electronics
The power of a multi-functional chess computer combined with the efficiency and ease of touch screen electronics. Excalibur brings it to you with the new Touch Chess. Packed in an elegant and functional housing with an oversize touch screen, Touch Chess is powerful chess play and fun to use.
Electronic chess boards have come a long way since their introduction in the late 20th century. Initially, these boards were relatively simple, offering basic functionalities like move validation and recording. Over time, they've incorporated increasingly advanced features, fueled by rapid developments in technology. Many modern electronic chess boards now come with touchscreen capabilities, Bluetooth connectivity, and even the ability to connect to the internet for remote play or to download updates. Advanced sensor technology allows for seamless move detection, and some boards have LED indicators to suggest possible moves. Chess engines have also improved dramatically, offering multiple levels of difficulty and the ability to analyze games in real-time. With integrated storage, players can save game states and revisit them later. Some boards even offer compatibility with chess software, allowing users to engage with expansive libraries of historical games and tutorials. Overall, electronic chess boards have evolved to offer a rich, interactive experience that blends the tactile pleasure of physical chess with the analytical power of digital technology.
Sources and editorial notes
The complete twelve-page Excalibur Model 404 manual was visually reviewed on a collector host. Its casing, stored stylus and display match the original photograph; the exact production revision is unconfirmed. The later archive paragraph discusses electronic chess generally: Bluetooth and internet features are not established for this unit. No engine rating or learning outcome was tested. The companion activity is original to Toysit; no physical toy or recorded sound was tested.
- Excalibur: Touch Chess Model 404 operating manual — Manufacturer-authored manual on a collector host; all twelve pages inspected for identity, controls, setup and care.
- Original Toysit coverage — Complete original text, SSI values and historical image inspected and preserved.
Images and descriptions are retained as historical material. How Toysit covers toys.
Created for Toysit by Tabbloza — the artwork in our header.