diff --git a/src/shellmate/tui/app.py b/src/shellmate/tui/app.py
index 36637e6..6a61bd9 100644
--- a/src/shellmate/tui/app.py
+++ b/src/shellmate/tui/app.py
@@ -53,21 +53,47 @@ class GameScreen(Screen):
     GameScreen {
         layout: grid;
         grid-size: 2;
-        grid-columns: 2fr 1fr;
-        padding: 1;
+        grid-columns: 3fr 1fr;
+        grid-rows: 1fr;
+        padding: 0;
     }
     
     #board-container {
         align: center middle;
-        padding: 1;
+        padding: 0;
+        width: 100%;
+        height: 100%;
+        min-width: 40;
+        min-height: 22;
+    }
+    
+    #chess-board {
+        width: auto;
+        height: auto;
+        min-width: 36;
+        min-height: 20;
     }
     
     #sidebar {
         padding: 1;
+        min-width: 20;
+        max-width: 30;
+        border-left: solid #2a3a2a;
+    }
+    
+    #game-status {
+        height: auto;
+        max-height: 8;
+    }
+    
+    #move-list {
+        height: 1fr;
+        min-height: 8;
     }
     
     #move-input {
         dock: bottom;
+        height: auto;
     }
     
     .hint-text {
diff --git a/src/shellmate/tui/widgets/board.py b/src/shellmate/tui/widgets/board.py
index 453916f..ece4306 100644
--- a/src/shellmate/tui/widgets/board.py
+++ b/src/shellmate/tui/widgets/board.py
@@ -1,36 +1,60 @@
-"""Chess board widget with Unicode pieces."""
+"""Chess board widget with Unicode pieces - Hyper-polished version."""
 
 from textual.widget import Widget
 from textual.reactive import reactive
+from textual.geometry import Size
 from rich.text import Text
 from rich.style import Style
 from rich.console import RenderableType
 import chess
 
 
-# Unicode chess pieces
-PIECES = {
+# Unicode chess pieces - using filled variants for better visibility
+PIECES_FILLED = {
+    'K': '♚', 'Q': '♛', 'R': '♜', 'B': '♝', 'N': '♞', 'P': '♟',
+    'k': '♚', 'q': '♛', 'r': '♜', 'b': '♝', 'n': '♞', 'p': '♟',
+}
+
+# Alternative set with outlined white pieces
+PIECES_OUTLINE = {
     'K': '♔', 'Q': '♕', 'R': '♖', 'B': '♗', 'N': '♘', 'P': '♙',
     'k': '♚', 'q': '♛', 'r': '♜', 'b': '♝', 'n': '♞', 'p': '♟',
 }
 
-# Colors
-LIGHT_SQUARE = "#3d5a45"
-DARK_SQUARE = "#2d4235"
-LIGHT_SQUARE_SELECTED = "#5d8a65"
-DARK_SQUARE_SELECTED = "#4d7255"
-HIGHLIGHT_MOVE = "#6b8f71"
+# Colors - refined palette
+LIGHT_SQUARE = "#b8c6a0"      # Sage green light
+DARK_SQUARE = "#6d8b5e"       # Forest green dark
+LIGHT_SQUARE_SELECTED = "#e8d44d"   # Gold highlight
+DARK_SQUARE_SELECTED = "#d4c02a"    # Darker gold
+HIGHLIGHT_LAST_MOVE = "#a8c878"     # Bright green for last move
+HIGHLIGHT_LEGAL = "#7ba35a"         # Legal move dots
 WHITE_PIECE = "#ffffff"
 BLACK_PIECE = "#1a1a1a"
+BORDER_COLOR = "#4a5d4a"
+LABEL_COLOR = "#8faf7f"
+
+# Box drawing characters for clean borders
+BOX = {
+    'tl': '┌', 'tr': '┐', 'bl': '└', 'br': '┘',
+    'h': '─', 'v': '│',
+    'tj': '┬', 'bj': '┴', 'lj': '├', 'rj': '┤',
+    'x': '┼',
+    # Heavy variants for outer border
+    'TL': '╔', 'TR': '╗', 'BL': '╚', 'BR': '╝',
+    'H': '═', 'V': '║',
+    'TJ': '╤', 'BJ': '╧', 'LJ': '╟', 'RJ': '╢',
+}
 
 
 class ChessBoardWidget(Widget):
-    """Interactive chess board widget."""
+    """Interactive chess board widget with auto-sizing."""
     
     DEFAULT_CSS = """
     ChessBoardWidget {
-        width: 42;
-        height: 20;
+        width: 100%;
+        height: 100%;
+        min-width: 34;
+        min-height: 18;
         padding: 0;
     }
     """
@@ -40,6 +64,8 @@ class ChessBoardWidget(Widget):
     legal_moves: reactive[set] = reactive(set)
     last_move: reactive[tuple | None] = reactive(None)
     flipped: reactive[bool] = reactive(False)
+    use_heavy_border: reactive[bool] = reactive(True)
+    compact_mode: reactive[bool] = reactive(False)
     
     def __init__(
         self,
@@ -48,71 +74,249 @@ class ChessBoardWidget(Widget):
     ):
         super().__init__(**kwargs)
         self.board = board or chess.Board()
+        self._cell_width = 3  # Will be calculated
+        self._cell_height = 1
+    
+    def get_content_width(self, container: Size, viewport: Size) -> int:
+        """Calculate optimal width."""
+        # Each cell is at least 3 chars wide + borders + labels
+        min_width = 8 * 3 + 9 + 4  # 8 cells * 3 + 9 borders + labels
+        return max(min_width, container.width)
+    
+    def get_content_height(self, container: Size, viewport: Size) -> int:
+        """Calculate optimal height."""
+        # Each cell is 1-2 lines + borders + labels
+        return max(18, min(22, container.height))
+    
+    def _calculate_cell_size(self, width: int, height: int) -> tuple[int, int]:
+        """Calculate cell dimensions based on available space."""
+        # Available width for cells (minus borders and labels)
+        available_width = width - 4  # 2 for labels on each side
+        available_height = height - 4  # 2 for labels + 2 for borders
+        
+        # Calculate cell width (must be odd for centering)
+        cell_w = max(3, (available_width - 9) // 8)  # -9 for internal borders
+        if cell_w % 2 == 0:
+            cell_w -= 1
+        cell_w = min(cell_w, 7)  # Cap at 7 for sanity
+        
+        # Calculate cell height
+        cell_h = max(1, (available_height - 9) // 8)
+        cell_h = min(cell_h, 3)
+        
+        return cell_w, cell_h
     
     def render(self) -> RenderableType:
-        """Render the chess board."""
-        text = Text()
+        """Render the chess board with perfect alignment."""
+        size = self.size
+        self._cell_width, self._cell_height = self._calculate_cell_size(size.width, size.height)
         
-        # File labels
-        files = "   a   b   c   d   e   f   g   h  " if not self.flipped else "   h   g   f   e   d   c   b   a  "
-        text.append(files + "\n", style="dim")
+        # Use compact mode for small terminals
+        if size.width < 40 or size.height < 20:
+            return self._render_compact()
+        else:
+            return self._render_standard()
+    
+    def _render_compact(self) -> RenderableType:
+        """Compact board for small terminals."""
+        text = Text()
+        cw = 3  # Fixed cell width for compact
+        
+        files = "abcdefgh" if not self.flipped else "hgfedcba"
+        
+        # File labels - centered over cells
+        text.append("  ", style=f"dim {LABEL_COLOR}")
+        for f in files:
+            text.append(f" {f} ", style=f"dim {LABEL_COLOR}")
+        text.append("\n")
         
         # Top border
-        text.append(" ┌" + "───┬" * 7 + "───┐\n", style="dim")
+        border_style = Style(color=BORDER_COLOR)
+        text.append(" ╔", style=border_style)
+        text.append("═══╤" * 7 + "═══╗\n", style=border_style)
         
         ranks = range(7, -1, -1) if not self.flipped else range(8)
         
         for rank_idx, rank in enumerate(ranks):
             # Rank label
-            text.append(f"{rank + 1}│", style="dim")
+            text.append(f"{rank + 1}║", style=f"dim {LABEL_COLOR}")
             
             file_range = range(8) if not self.flipped else range(7, -1, -1)
             
-            for file in file_range:
+            for file_idx, file in enumerate(file_range):
                 square = chess.square(file, rank)
                 piece = self.board.piece_at(square)
                 
-                # Determine square color
+                # Determine square styling
                 is_light = (rank + file) % 2 == 1
                 is_selected = square == self.selected_square
                 is_legal_target = square in self.legal_moves
                 is_last_move = self.last_move and square in self.last_move
                 
                 if is_selected:
-                    bg_color = LIGHT_SQUARE_SELECTED if is_light else DARK_SQUARE_SELECTED
-                elif is_legal_target or is_last_move:
-                    bg_color = HIGHLIGHT_MOVE
-                else:
-                    bg_color = LIGHT_SQUARE if is_light else DARK_SQUARE
-                
-                # Get piece character
-                if piece:
-                    char = PIECES.get(piece.symbol(), '?')
-                    fg_color = WHITE_PIECE if piece.color == chess.WHITE else BLACK_PIECE
+                    bg = LIGHT_SQUARE_SELECTED if is_light else DARK_SQUARE_SELECTED
+                elif is_last_move:
+                    bg = HIGHLIGHT_LAST_MOVE
                 elif is_legal_target:
-                    char = '·'
-                    fg_color = "#888888"
+                    bg = HIGHLIGHT_LEGAL
+                else:
+                    bg = LIGHT_SQUARE if is_light else DARK_SQUARE
+                
+                # Piece or empty
+                if piece:
+                    char = PIECES_OUTLINE.get(piece.symbol(), '?')
+                    fg = WHITE_PIECE if piece.color == chess.WHITE else BLACK_PIECE
+                elif is_legal_target:
+                    char = '•'
+                    fg = "#505050"
                 else:
                     char = ' '
-                    fg_color = WHITE_PIECE
+                    fg = WHITE_PIECE
                 
-                style = Style(color=fg_color, bgcolor=bg_color)
+                style = Style(color=fg, bgcolor=bg, bold=True)
                 text.append(f" {char} ", style=style)
                 
-                if file != (0 if self.flipped else 7):
-                    text.append("│", style="dim")
+                # Cell separator
+                if file_idx < 7:
+                    text.append("│", style=border_style)
             
-            text.append(f"│{rank + 1}\n", style="dim")
+            text.append(f"║{rank + 1}\n", style=f"dim {LABEL_COLOR}")
             
             # Row separator
             if rank_idx < 7:
-                text.append(" ├" + "───┼" * 7 + "───┤\n", style="dim")
+                text.append(" ╟", style=border_style)
+                text.append("───┼" * 7 + "───╢\n", style=border_style)
         
         # Bottom border
-        text.append(" └" + "───┴" * 7 + "───┘\n", style="dim")
+        text.append(" ╚", style=border_style)
+        text.append("═══╧" * 7 + "═══╝\n", style=border_style)
         
         # File labels
-        text.append(files, style="dim")
+        text.append("  ", style=f"dim {LABEL_COLOR}")
+        for f in files:
+            text.append(f" {f} ", style=f"dim {LABEL_COLOR}")
+        
+        return text
+    
+    def _render_standard(self) -> RenderableType:
+        """Standard board with variable cell size."""
+        text = Text()
+        cw = self._cell_width
+        ch = self._cell_height
+        
+        # Ensure odd width for centering
+        if cw % 2 == 0:
+            cw = max(3, cw - 1)
+        
+        files = "abcdefgh" if not self.flipped else "hgfedcba"
+        pad = cw // 2
+        
+        border_style = Style(color=BORDER_COLOR)
+        label_style = Style(color=LABEL_COLOR, dim=True)
+        
+        # File labels - perfectly centered
+        text.append("  ", style=label_style)
+        for f in files:
+            text.append(" " * pad + f + " " * pad, style=label_style)
+            text.append(" ", style=label_style)  # For border space
+        text.append("\n")
+        
+        # Top border with double lines
+        cell_border = BOX['H'] * cw
+        text.append(" " + BOX['TL'], style=border_style)
+        for i in range(8):
+            text.append(cell_border, style=border_style)
+            if i < 7:
+                text.append(BOX['TJ'], style=border_style)
+        text.append(BOX['TR'] + "\n", style=border_style)
+        
+        ranks = range(7, -1, -1) if not self.flipped else range(8)
+        
+        for rank_idx, rank in enumerate(ranks):
+            # Multi-line cells
+            for cell_line in range(ch):
+                is_middle = cell_line == ch // 2
+                
+                # Rank label (only on middle line)
+                if is_middle:
+                    text.append(f"{rank + 1}", style=label_style)
+                else:
+                    text.append(" ", style=label_style)
+                
+                text.append(BOX['V'], style=border_style)
+                
+                file_range = range(8) if not self.flipped else range(7, -1, -1)
+                
+                for file_idx, file in enumerate(file_range):
+                    square = chess.square(file, rank)
+                    piece = self.board.piece_at(square)
+                    
+                    # Square styling
+                    is_light = (rank + file) % 2 == 1
+                    is_selected = square == self.selected_square
+                    is_legal_target = square in self.legal_moves
+                    is_last_move = self.last_move and square in self.last_move
+                    
+                    if is_selected:
+                        bg = LIGHT_SQUARE_SELECTED if is_light else DARK_SQUARE_SELECTED
+                    elif is_last_move:
+                        bg = HIGHLIGHT_LAST_MOVE
+                    elif is_legal_target:
+                        bg = HIGHLIGHT_LEGAL
+                    else:
+                        bg = LIGHT_SQUARE if is_light else DARK_SQUARE
+                    
+                    # Content (only on middle line)
+                    if is_middle:
+                        if piece:
+                            char = PIECES_OUTLINE.get(piece.symbol(), '?')
+                            fg = WHITE_PIECE if piece.color == chess.WHITE else BLACK_PIECE
+                        elif is_legal_target:
+                            char = '•'
+                            fg = "#404040"
+                        else:
+                            char = ' '
+                            fg = WHITE_PIECE
+                    else:
+                        char = ' '
+                        fg = WHITE_PIECE
+                    
+                    style = Style(color=fg, bgcolor=bg, bold=True)
+                    cell_content = " " * pad + char + " " * pad
+                    text.append(cell_content, style=style)
+                    
+                    # Separator
+                    if file_idx < 7:
+                        text.append(BOX['v'], style=border_style)
+                
+                # Right border and rank label
+                if is_middle:
+                    text.append(f"{BOX['V']}{rank + 1}\n", style=label_style)
+                else:
+                    text.append(f"{BOX['V']} \n", style=border_style)
+            
+            # Row separator
+            if rank_idx < 7:
+                text.append(" " + BOX['LJ'], style=border_style)
+                for i in range(8):
+                    text.append(BOX['h'] * cw, style=border_style)
+                    if i < 7:
+                        text.append(BOX['x'], style=border_style)
+                text.append(BOX['RJ'] + "\n", style=border_style)
+        
+        # Bottom border
+        text.append(" " + BOX['BL'], style=border_style)
+        for i in range(8):
+            text.append(BOX['H'] * cw, style=border_style)
+            if i < 7:
+                text.append(BOX['BJ'], style=border_style)
+        text.append(BOX['BR'] + "\n", style=border_style)
+        
+        # File labels
+        text.append("  ", style=label_style)
+        for f in files:
+            text.append(" " * pad + f + " " * pad, style=label_style)
+            text.append(" ", style=label_style)
         
         return text