WhitePawn seamlessly integrates with various physical chess boards, enabling players to combine the tactile pleasure of physical chess with the power of digital analysis and online connectivity. Our app transforms your electronic chessboard into a versatile chess companion, offering analysis, online play, and training features.

Physical Chessboard Integration

Electronic chess boards typically use one of several technologies to detect piece movements:

• Reed switches - Magnetic sensors under each square detect magnetized pieces

• RFID/NFC - Each piece contains a unique identifier chip

WhitePawn communicates with these boards using:

• Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) - Wireless connection for most modern boards

• USB connection - Direct wired connection for stable, low-latency operation

• Bluetooth Classic - For boards using traditional Bluetooth protocol rather than BLE

Piece Detection Technology

Chessboards can be categorized into two main types based on their detection capabilities:

Piece-Detection Boards

These boards can identify both the square and the specific piece on it:

• Full Piece Recognition Boards

  • Use RFID/NFC tags embedded in each chess piece

  • Can identify exact piece type and color on each square

  • Examples: Certabo, SquareOff Pro, iChess One

  • Benefits: Perfect position tracking, automatic restoration after board disruption

• Weight-Based Detection Boards

  • Use pressure sensors to distinguish between different piece types

  • Can identify pieces by their unique weights

  • Examples: Millennium eONE, DGT Smart Board

  • Benefits: No need for special magnetic pieces, natural feel

Non-Piece-Detection Boards

These boards detect only the presence or absence of a piece on each square:

• Presence-Only Boards

  • Use simple reed switches or hall effect sensors

  • Cannot distinguish between different piece types

  • Examples: Chessnut Air, most entry-level electronic boards

  • Benefits: More affordable, simpler design

• WhitePawn's Piece Inference Technology

  • Our proprietary algorithm tracks piece movements throughout the game

  • Automatically infers which piece is on which square based on legal chess moves

  • Self-corrects when detecting illogical or impossible positions

  • Machine learning models identify common patterns to resolve ambiguities

  • Handles special moves like castling, en passant, and promotions automatically

  • Requires correct starting position and sequential move detection for accuracy

Special Considerations

When using WhitePawn with non-piece-detection boards:

1. Setup Requirements

   • Ensure pieces are in standard starting position before connecting

   • Follow on-screen calibration to confirm proper detection

2. Position Restoration

   • If pieces are accidentally knocked over or moved:

     • Use the "Reset Position" feature in WhitePawn

     • App will guide you to restore the correct position

3. Position Verification

   • During critical moments, WhitePawn can display the inferred position

   • Players can confirm accuracy and make corrections if needed

4. Promotion Handling

   • When promoting a pawn, indicate your choice in the app

   • Physical promotion is tracked correctly once confirmed