DGT vs Ferrer Chess Boards Compared

If you're shopping for a serious chess board, two names come up again and again: DGT and Ferrer. Both are respected in the chess world, but they solve completely different problems. DGT is built around technology, digital play, game recording, and computer opponents. Ferrer is built around craftsmanship, handmade wooden boards designed to be beautiful, tactile, and built to last generations. This guide breaks down exactly how they differ, so you buy the right board the first time.

What Is a DGT Chess Board?

DGT (Digital Game Technology) boards are electronic chess boards that sense piece movement and connect to software, apps, or standalone chess computers. Depending on the model, a DGT board can:

• Record every move automatically for later review
• Broadcast games live for tournaments and streaming
• Connect via Bluetooth or USB to a PC, tablet, or the DGT Centaur chess computer for solo play against adjustable difficulty levels
• Pair with DGT's own electronic pieces, engineered to precise weight and size standards for reliable sensing

DGT boards are the standard used in professional tournament broadcasting, which tells you a lot about their reliability, but that same technology also makes them a genuinely useful practice tool for players who want to analyse their games or play solo against a computer.

What Is a Ferrer Chess Board?

Ferrer boards sit at the opposite end of the spectrum: no electronics, no sensors — just traditional woodworking craft. Ferrer boards are handmade from combinations of premium woods (tulipie, olive, burl and similar hardwoods), typically finished with a matte varnish that highlights the natural grain of each piece. Every board is a little different, since it's shaped by the wood itself rather than mass production.

DGT vs Ferrer: Side-by-Side

Which One Should You Buy?

Choose DGT if:

• You want to play against a computer when no opponent is available
• You want to record and review your own games to improve
• You're involved in running or broadcasting club/tournament matches

Choose Ferrer if:

• You want a board that looks and feels exceptional, not just functional
• You're buying a gift for a serious chess player or collector
• You prefer playing purely over-the-board, without any digital layer

Can't decide? Plenty of serious players own both — a Ferrer board for the pleasure of the game itself, and a DGT setup for solo practice and improvement. Browse our full ranges of DGT electronic chess boards and Ferrer chess boards and pieces to compare individual models, or get in touch if you'd like a personal recommendation based on how you play.

Ferrer boards are designed to be display-worthy as well as playable — the kind of board you're happy to leave out on a table between games, or give as a serious gift.