| If you're just a pawn sucked up in the world of chess, Pocket Express's PocketChess Springboard Module for Handspring Visor lets you take your board on the road, playing against another human or your handheld. It's a cinch to vary the skills of the computer player--from basic to Kasparov-threatening--just by changing the amount of time it thinks about each move (it didn't take much of an increase to have us sweating at the challenge). PocketChess lets you play a friend on a single Visor or via infrared if you've got two of the PocketChess modules. Graphics don't often come to mind when describing computer chess games, but Pocket Express tossed in a wide array of board styles, including wood grain and marble, that show up crisply on the Visor (and in 16-bit color on the Visor Prism). PocketChess also uses sound effects and timers (which can be customized or turned off) to add to the gameplay. PocketChess includes a 3,000-game library, letting you search for Bobby Fisher's strategies and tactics by watching classic games. You can also import other games in the same PGN (portable game notation) format or export yours to the Web. And PocketChess offers hints for novices just picking up the game. You can also easily take back a move if you've gotten yourself in trouble. Owners of PocketChess can download the Desktop Companion, PC software that lets you catalogue your games and watch them on a larger screen (although you can't play on your PC with the Companion). It also handles the import/export of games by synching directly with your Visor. PocketChess doesn't ship with a manual, which makes maneuvering its already awkward menus even more of a trial. But being able to take chess with you in such a small package is the best thing this side of blindfold chess (which PocketChess offers, by the way). --J. Curtis Pros: Easily tailored difficulty 3,000-game library Sharp graphics and color support Cons: Awkward menus No manual | 
