Everything from a mainframe, such as IBM's Deep Blue, to the smallest handheld devices can be programmed to play chess. If you want to go beyond the world of Internet chess, and take your chess game with you everywhere you go, you can now do so with the advent of the Palm Pilot machines, and other portable types of handheld devices that feature chess games. Are you traveling, or do you like to sit in front of the television and play games? With the handheld computer device called a PDApersonal digital assistant—you can keep your address book and date book up-to-date while you play your games.

Some chess-playing computers make their own moves. Instead of having to punch in the notation for your move and reading and interpreting the computer's answer, you simply make your move and wait for a reply. The computer will make its own move. This is done by using interior magnets.

Some computers are programmed to talk to you. They may offer advice to help you play better or snide comments, depending on the humor of the programmer. Such programs show a clear intent to replace your usual human opponent. As such, they will never succeed. But isn't it amazing what these machines can do?