Electronic chess computers in the Club category offer performance levels corresponding to the band within which much organised club and tournament chess is played. They range in strength from about the 1600 ELO to 2000 ELO marks as recognised by European chess federations.

The strongest Club category models typically are precise in attack, tenacious in defence, will find deep tactical combinations and have an advanced understanding of positional motifs. They make decent sparring partners for Category 1 and Candidate Master players, while those much below the Category 2 level likely will find these machines very tough adversaries and good study tools.

If you're not certain what this means, then suffice to say that in the privacy of your home you can obtain a fair idea of what it is like to face a grizzled tournament veteran or a promising whizz-kid.