Apparatus, system and method for an electronically assisted chessboard

An electronic chess set, comprising:

• a plurality of conductive chess pieces;
• a chessboard having a playing surface including a plurality of individually identifiable locations visible to a user on the chessboard;
• and
• an electronic system including:
• a processor;
• and
• a capacitive sensing system coupled to the playing surface and the processor, the capacitive sensing system configured to output a signal corresponding to a capacitance value sensed by the capacitive sensing system for the plurality of individually identifiable locations, respectively, for at least two separate states,
• wherein the electronic system employs the respective capacitance values sensed by the capacitive sensing system to determine for each of the plurality of individually identifiable locations:
• when a chess piece included in the plurality of conductive chess pieces is located at a respective one of the plurality of individually identifiable locations and user-contact with the chess piece is absent;
• and when the chess piece located at the respective one of the plurality of individually identifiable locations is in contact with the user, and
• wherein the processor is configured to output a signal to illuminate at least two of the individually identifiable locations when the chess piece located at the respective one of the plurality of individually identifiable locations is in contact with the user, the illumination indicative of a move strength.