When talking about the training of grandmasters, the material is often idealized: extremely powerful engines, expensive equipment, or inaccessible tools. The reality is much more interesting —and more useful—: grandmasters use technology only when it provides real value, and electronic boards are a good example of this.
GMs do not train “because the board is electronic,” but because it allows them to work better on certain specific aspects of chess. It does not replace classical study or deep computer analysis, but it fits very well at certain moments in the training process.
In this article, we are going to explain how and why grandmasters use electronic boards, debunking myths and extracting lessons applicable to any serious player.
The electronic board as a tool, not the center of training
The first thing to understand is that grandmasters do not base their training on the electronic board. Their core work remains deep analysis, theoretical preparation, and study with engines and databases.
The electronic board appears as a complementary tool, used when the work benefits from a physical experience: replaying games, training endgames, working on technique, or preparing lessons.
This approach is key: the board does not replace anything essential, but it improves specific processes.
Replaying and analyzing real games
One of the most common uses of the electronic board in the GM environment is the replaying of real games. One’s own games, opponents’ games, or historical games are played again on the physical board while being analyzed.
Moving the pieces physically helps fix ideas, remember critical positions, and connect decisions with real sensations. Many elite players consider this type of analysis deeper than doing it only on a screen.
Here, the electronic board allows recording variations and going back without losing the thread.
Endgame and technique training
Endgames are one of the areas where the electronic board fits especially well. Precision, a slower pace, and the need for clear visualization make working on endgames on a physical board very valuable.
Grandmasters use the electronic board to train endgames against engines or reproduce theoretical positions, combining physical experience with the accuracy of digital analysis.
This type of work is mentally very demanding, and the board helps maintain concentration.
Preparation for over-the-board games
Another important use is preparation for over-the-board competitions. Although much preparation is done on the computer, returning to the physical board before a tournament helps adjust sensations.
GMs aim to feel comfortable with the space, the pace, and the handling of the pieces. The electronic board allows training without giving up later analysis.
It is no coincidence that this type of work increases before important tournaments.
Use in teaching and working with students
Many grandmasters are also coaches. In that context, the electronic board is used to work with students more efficiently.
It allows analyzing the student’s games, replaying them, correcting mistakes, and saving the work done. This greatly increases the quality of teaching and saves time.
Here, the board is not aspirational, but practical.
What grandmasters do NOT do with electronic boards
It is important to demystify: GMs do not use electronic boards for everything. They do not replace computer study, they do not constantly play blitz on them, nor do they depend on technology to think.
They use the board when it provides clarity, not when it adds friction. This criterion is more important than the tool itself.
Copying this approach is more useful than copying the exact equipment.
What a serious player can learn from this approach
The main lesson is clear: use the electronic board when it improves your way of training, not because it is “what professionals use.”
If it helps you analyze more, train endgames, or connect better with the board, then it makes sense. If not, it is neither mandatory nor essential.
Thinking like a GM is thinking in processes, not in gadgets.
Common mistake: buying expecting the board to “make you improve”
An electronic board does not improve anyone by itself. What improves is the quality and consistency of training when used with the right approach.
Grandmasters did not improve because of the board, but because of how they integrated it into their work.
Conclusion
Grandmasters use electronic boards in a selective, conscious, and functional way. They integrate them into their training when they provide real value: physical analysis, technical work, and teaching.
The real lesson is not which board they use, but how they decide when to use it. That criterion is what truly makes the difference.
