Saitek ATLAS User Manual

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QUICK START

To play a game right away, without reading the entire manual

Insert two “AA” (AM3/R6) batteries into the computer,

making sure to observe the correct polarity.

Press GO/STOP to turn the computer on. If the unit

doesn’t respond, reset it as described in Section 1.1.

Set up the chess pieces in the initial starting position for

a new game, with the White pieces closest to you, as shown in this diagram.

Press NEW GAME to reset the computer.

first, simply follow these steps!

2 x

AA/AM3/R6

GO/STOP

ዛዒዓዔዕዖ዗ዘዙዜ ዑ尷尽尻就尯尹尿尵ዑ ዐ屁屃屁屃屁屃屁屃ዐ ዏ巀居巀居巀居巀居ዏ ዎ居巀居巀居巀居巀ዎ ው巀居巀居巀居巀居ው ዌ居巀居巀居巀居巀ዌ ዋ屄层屄层屄层屄层ዋ ዊ尶局尺尴尮尼尾尸ዊ ዝዒዓዔዕዖ዗ዘዙዞ

NEW

GAME

NEW

TAKE

GAME GO/STOPPLAYLEVEL

BACK

NON

AUTO SOUND

TEACH MODE HINT

Enter moves by making them on the board, pressing

the chess pieces down gently on the from and to squares for each move.

As soon as the computer makes a move, that move is

displayed, with the from square flashing. Press the computer’s piece down on the flashing from square (Square d7 in this example), and the display now flashes the to square. Press down on the flashing to square (d5, here) to complete the computer’s move. That’s all there is to it!

Make your next move as described above.

Press GO/STOP at any time to turn the computer off. Enjoy your game!

PRESS

ዛዒዓዔዕዖ዗ዘዙዜ ዑ尷尽尻就尯尹尿尵ዑ ዐ屁屃屁屃屁屃屁屃ዐ ዏ巀居巀居巀居巀居ዏ ዎ居巀居巀居巀居巀ዎ ው巀居巀层巀居巀居ው ዌ居巀居巀居巀居巀ዌ ዋ屄层屄居屄层屄层ዋ ዊ尶局尺尴尮尼尾尸ዊ ዝዒዓዔዕዖ዗ዘዙዞ

ዛዒዓዔዕዖ዗ዘዙዜ ዑ尷尽尻就尯尹尿尵ዑ ዐ屁屃屁巀屁屃屁屃ዐ ዏ巀居巀居巀居巀居ዏ ዎ居巀居屃居巀居巀ዎ ው巀居巀层巀居巀居ው ዌ居巀居巀居巀居巀ዌ ዋ屄层屄居屄层屄层ዋ ዊ尶局尺尴尮尼尾尸ዊ ዝዒዓዔዕዖ዗ዘዙዞ

KEYS AND FEATURES

1. BATTERY COMPARTMENT: In base of unit. Uses two “AA”

(AM3/R6) alkaline batteries.

2. SENSORY CHESSBOARD: Each square contains a sensor that automatically registers piece movement.

3. PIECE SYMBOL KEYS: Used to verify positions and select Teach Modes. Also used for pawn promotions.

4. GAME KEYS

• NEW GAME: Press to reset for a new game.

• TAKE BACK: Press to take back the last individual move

made. You may take back two individual moves, or a move for each side.

• LEVEL: Press to enter Level Mode.

• NON AUTO: Press to enter Non Auto Mode, which allows

moves to be entered manually.

• SOUND: Press to turn the sound on and off.

• TEACH MODE: Press to enter Teach Mode.

• HINT: Press and hold down to get a suggested move.

• PLAY: Press to change sides with the computer; press

while the computer is thinking to force it to move.

• GO/STOP: Press to turn the computer on and off. Current

position is retained in memory when turned off.

5. ACL (Reset): In base of unit. Used to eliminate static discharge after inserting new batteries.

6. DISPLAY WINDOW: Used to show moves, information, and chess clocks. Also used to select playing levels and Teach Modes, and to verify pieces.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

QUICK START KEYS AND FEATURES INTRODUCTION

1. LET’S GET STARTED!

1.1 First, Install the Batteries

1.2 Ready to Play? Here’s How to Move!

1.3 Now It’s the Computer’s Turn

1.4 Change Your Mind? Take Back!

1.5 Game Over? Why Not Play Again!

1.6 Too Easy/Hard? Change the Level!

2. ADDITIONAL BASIC FEATURES

2.1 Whose Move? Check the Display!

2.2 Special Chess Moves

2.3 Illegal Moves

2.4 Check, Mate, and Draw

2.5 Interrupting the Computer’s Search

2.6 Changing Sides with the Computer

2.7 Need Help? Ask for a Hint!

2.8 Chess Clocks

2.9 Built-In Openings

2.10Auto Power Down

2.11Game Memory

3. THE PLAYING LEVELS

3.1 Fun Levels

3.2 Fixed Depth Levels

3.3 Casual Levels

4. SPECIAL MODES TO EXPLORE

4.1 Verify Mode

4.2 Non Auto Mode

4.3 Teach Mode

5. TECHNICAL DETAILS

5.1 The ACL Function

5.2 Care and Maintenance

5.3 Technical Specifications

TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE

INTRODUCTION

Welcome to the wonderful world of computer chess! Whether you’re just starting to learn about chess or you’ve already discovered this great game, you’re going to benefit from your new chess computer in so many ways! A unique combination of opponent and tutor, this computer is always willing to play, whenever you are! The

Quick Start

at the front of the manual is meant to get you started right away, and you’ll find more details on game operation in Section 1. After familiarizing yourself with the basics, go on to explore the rest of the manual—and you’ll soon discover a variety of other special features and exciting game options!

By the way, your computer knows and follows all popular rules of chess—and you can be sure that it will never cheat! For those who haven’t played before, we have included a brief overview of the rules to get you started. For more detailed information, why not visit your local library, where you’re sure to find lots of interesting chess books!

1. LET’S GET STARTED!

1.1 First, Install the Batteries

Your chess computer runs on two “AA” (Type AM3/R6) batteries. Insert the batteries into the compartment in the base of the unit, as shown in the

Quick Start

. Use fresh

alkaline batteries for longer battery life (up to 200 hours)!

Turn the computer on by pressing GO/STOP, and a beep will signal that the game is ready to play. If the computer should fail to respond (static discharge can sometimes cause it to lock up), use a paper clip or another sharp object to press down into the hole marked ACL in the base of the unit for at least one second. This will reset the computer.

SYMBOLS AND DISPLAYS A T A GLANCE!

KING: White/Black

QUEEN: White/Black

ROOK: White/Black

BISHOP: White/Black

KNIGHT: White/Black

PAWN: White/Black

White/Black King in check

Checkmate (for White/Black)

Game has ended in a draw Clock showing Minutes/Seconds:

Steady colon, with leading zero Clock showing Hours/Minutes:

Flashing colon, with no leading zero Display on entering Teach Mode

Black to move

Player to move

1.2 Ready to Play? Here’s How to Move!

Okay, it’s time to start a game! It’s so easy—just follow

these steps:

a. Press GO/STOP to turn the computer on, if you haven’t

already done so.

b. Press NEW GAME to reset the computer for a new

game of chess. Set up the pieces in their starting positions, with the White pieces nearest to you, as shown in the

Quick Start

c. To make a move, lightly press down on the piece you

want to move until you hear a beep—the sensory board will recognize your piece automatically, and the display will show the square that was pressed.

d. Take that piece and gently press it down on the square

you are moving to. Y ou’ll hear a second beep as the computer confirms the move. You’ve just made your first full move of the game! Next, it’s the computer’s turn to move for Black.

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At the start of a game, the computer will often move instantly because it is playing from memory, using its built-in “book” of opening moves. For details, see Section 2.9.

1.3 Now It’s the Computer’s Turn

When the computer moves, it beeps and displays its move, with the from square flashing. Press the indicated piece down on the flashing from square until you hear a beep. The display now flashes the square the piece is moving to. Move that same piece to the indicated to square and press it down to complete the computer’s move. And it’s your turn again…

Please be aware that the following may sometimes occur while the computer is thinking:

• Game keys may need to be pressed down for two to three seconds before the computer responds.

• The clock display may occasionally skip a few seconds, and the duration between consecutive seconds may appear to be uneven. Game play will not be affected.

1.4 Change Your Mind? Take Back!

When you’re playing chess against this computer, nothing is “set in stone”—you can change your mind or decide to play a different move whenever you want! You can take back two individual moves, or one move for each side.

To take back the last move played, press TAKE BACK. The display will show the move to be taken back, with the original to square flashing. Press the piece down on that square. You now see the piece symbol, the color symbol, and the square that piece came from. Press the piece down on the flashing from square to finish the take-back.

If the move taken back was a capture, the computer reminds you to put the captured piece back on the board by displaying the piece type and color, along with the location. Press this piece down on the indicated square. To take back another move, press TAKE BACK again. To continue the game, either make your next move or press PLAY to have the computer move next.

1.5 Game Over? Why Not Play Again!

Whenever you finish a game (or if you give up on your current game), it’s easy to start over again! Press NEW GAME, and the computer will reset itself, putting all the pieces back in their initial positions. The same playing level will be in effect, but you can change it if you’d like, as explained in Section 3.

IMPORTANT: Pressing NEW GAME clears the current game from memory—be careful not to press this key by mistake!

1.6 Too Easy/Hard? Change the Level!

Your computer offers 64 levels of skill, each of which corresponds to one of the 64 board squares—making level selection so easy! Together with the built-in Teach Modes, you have a choice of 768 level setting combinations!

For complete details on all the playing levels, along with

instructions on selecting levels, see Section 3.

2. ADDITIONAL BASIC FEATURES

2.1 Whose Move? Check the Display!

You can always tell at a glance if the computer is currently thinking, and which side is to move! Whenever it’s your turn to move, “PM” appears in the display. When Black is to move, you’ll see “S” in the display.

Although this is pretty straightforward during “normal” game play, where you are White and the computer is Black, we’ve included the following clarifications to help you with certain special situations:

• When you switch sides with the computer, so that you play Black and the computer plays White: Both “PM” and “S” will be displayed when it is your turn to move for Black, and neither one will be displayed when it is the computer’s turn to move for White.

• When Non Auto Mode is in effect: Both “PM” and “S” will be displayed when it is Black’s turn to move, and “PM” alone will be displayed when it is White’s turn to move.

For information on switching sides, see Section 2.6.; for

details on Non Auto Mode, see Section 4.2.

2.2 Special Chess Moves

Captures:

want to move, take the captured piece off the board, and press your piece down on the square of the captured piece.

En Passant:

reminds you to remove the captured pawn from the board by flashing the pawn’s location in the display. Press down on the captured pawn before removing it from the board.

Castling:

after the King is moved. After you have pressed the King down on its from and to squares, the computer displays the Rook’s move, with the from square flashing. Press down on this square, and the display flashes the square the Rook should move to. Press down on the Rook’s to square to complete the move.

Pawn Promotion: When you promote a pawn,

press your pawn down on the from computer will flash the from square and the symbol for the Queen, along with the clock display. You now have two choices: move by pressing your pawn down on the to square. The promotion will take place automatically.

to a Knight, Bishop, or Rook,

KEY for your desired promotion piece (@, #, or $). That symbol will be displayed, and pressing your pawn down on the to square will complete your move. When promoting, always remember to change your piece on the board!

the computer promotes a pawn,

move, as usual, with the from square flashing. Press the from square, and you’ll see the symbol for the computer’s

To capture, press down lightly on the piece you

In an en passant capture, the computer

The computer automatically recognizes castling

first

(a) To promote to a Queen,

square, as usual. The

simply complete your

(b) To underpromote

press the PIECE SYMBOL

the display first shows its

When

ENGLISH

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promoted piece, along with the flashing to square. Simply press down on the to square, change the computer’s piece on the board, and continue your game!

2.3 Illegal Moves

Your computer will never accept an illegal move! If you try to make one, you’ll hear a beep and the display will alternate between showing the from square and the time. Either move that same piece to another square, or press the piece back down on its original from square and move a different piece.

If you don’t move the computer’s piece correctly, you’ll also hear an error beep. This means that you are either moving the wrong piece, or moving the computer’s piece to the wrong square. Check the display and make the move again.

If you press down on a piece and the from square is displayed, but you decide not to make that move, simply press down on that same square again to cancel. Then make another move. If you change your mind after entering your whole move, take the move back as described in Section 1.4.

Caution: Be careful when playing with the sound turned off, since you won’t be able to hear the error beeps!

2.4 Check, Mate, and Draw

Check:

plays the move as usual. After the move is made, the display alternates between the time and ch:__ (if White is in check) or ch:)) (if Black is in check).

Checkmate:

play flashes End_ (if White has won) or End) (if Black has won).

Draws:

immediate three-fold repetition. After a draw has occurred, the display will flash End(, along with the drawing move.

2.5 Interrupting the Computer’s Search

Think the computer is taking too long to move? No problem—you can interrupt it any time! Simply press PLAY while the computer is thinking, and it will stop and make the move it is currently considering.

When a King is in check, the computer first dis-

When a game ends in checkmate, the dis-

The computer recognizes draws by stalemate and

This feature can come in handy for those of you who are impatient—especially when using Fixed Depth Levels C6 and higher, where the computer can occasionally take an hour or more to make its move.

2.6 Changing Sides with the Computer

To change sides with the computer, press PLAY when it’s your turn to move—and the computer will make the next move for your side. Change sides as often as you wish!

Want the computer to play the first move for White at the start of a new game? Press NEW GAME to reset the computer, and then press PLAY!

Want to watch the computer play chess against itself? Press PLAY after each move—and watch as the computer plays for both sides of the board, one move after another.

Study its strategies, and you might improve your own game!

When you switch sides with the computer, so that you are playing Black and the computer is playing White, the “side to move” indications will be shown as follows: Both “PM” and “S” will be displayed when it is your turn to move for Black, and neither one will be displayed when it is the computer’s turn to move for White.

2.7 Need Help? Ask for a Hint!

It’s easy to get assistance from the computer whenever you need it. On your turn, simply press and hold down HINT, and the computer will display a move suggestion!

Note that pressing and holding HINT repeatedly may give you more than one suggested move in certain positions. The computer may take a few seconds to display a hint especially in complicated position.

2.8 Chess Clocks

Your computer contains a built-in chess clock that keeps track of the time, with a four-digit display showing the total elapsed time for the side to move (computer or player) while that side is thinking. Here’s an easy way to differentiate between the time displays at a glance:

•For the first hour, the display will show MM:SS (Minutes:Seconds), with a steady colon in the middle and a leading zero.

• If the total elapsed time exceeds one hour, you’ll see HH:MM (Hours:Minutes), with a flashing colon in the middle and no leading zero.

Please also note the following points in regard to the

chess clocks:

• The clocks will stop in certain situations, such as when moves are taken back, or when levels are changed or verified. In these cases, the times are retained in memory, and the clock resumes when play is continued.

• Occasionally, while the computer is thinking, the display may skip a few seconds, or the duration between consecutive seconds may appear to be uneven. Your game will not be affected.

2.9 Built-In Openings

At the beginning of a game, the computer will often move instantly on many levels. This is because it is playing from memory, using its own built-in “book” of opening chess moves, which includes most major openings. If the current board position is in its book, the computer will play a response to that position automatically, instead of having to think about the move!

2.10 Auto Power Down

Whenever it’s your turn to move and you haven’t made a move or pressed a key for 20 minutes, the computer will automatically turn itself off to conserve batteries. To continue your game, press GO/STOP to turn the unit back on.

Note

that the computer will not turn itself off while it is thinking.

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2.11 Game Memory

If you want to interrupt your game for any reason, you may do so by pressing GO/STOP. Play is then suspended, and the computer will store your current position for up to two years (with fresh alkaline batteries). When you switch back on again, simply continue right where you left off!

3. THE PLAYING LEVELS

With 768 level settings to choose from (incorporating the Teach Modes), you can definitely learn and grow with this chess computer! When you set the level, keep in mind that the more time the computer has to think about its moves, the stronger and better it plays—just like a human player!

Please refer to “A QUICK AND EASY GUIDE TO LEVEL SELECTION!” for an overview of all the levels.

As shown in the Level Selection Chart, each playing level corresponds to one of the 64 board squares. The levels are categorized into three different groups: A1-B8),

Levels

Fixed Depth Levels

(Squares E1-H8). On the higher levels, the computer

(Squares C1-D8), and

Fun Levels

(Squares

Casual

thinks more deeply and becomes a progressively more challenging opponent. The highest level in each of the groups produces the best moves the computer can make within the constraints of that particular level setting. Experiment a little—start out with some of the lower level settings, and advance to the more difficult levels as your skills grow!

Note that on some of the higher levels, the computer may take a long time to complete its search. If you want to force the computer to stop thinking and make a move, simply press PLAY at any time.

Press LEVEL to enter Level Mode, and the current level is shown, with the display alternating between the Level Square and the Level Name. As an example, Level A4 (Fun Level 4) displays as L:A4 and Fu4. To change the level, simply press a board square (using the Level Selection Chart as a guide), and that level will be displayed. Press LEVEL again to exit Level Mode, with your newly selected playing level in effect.

Other important points to remember regarding levels:

• If you press LEVEL to verify the level, but you don’t want to change levels, press LEVEL again to exit without making any changes.

•You can use LEVEL to check the playing level while the computer is thinking, but you cannot change the level until it’s your turn to move.

• Pressing NEW GAME resets the computer and retains the current playing level.

3.1 Fun Levels (Squares A1-B8)

LEVEL ALTERNATING LEVEL ALTERNATING

SQUARE DISPLAY SQUARE DISPLAY

A1....... L:A1 / Fu 1 ..... B1....... L:B1 / Fu 9

A2....... L:A2 / Fu 2 ..... B2....... L:B2 / Fu10

A3....... L:A3 / Fu 3 ..... B3....... L:B3 / Fu11

A4....... L:A4 / Fu 4 ..... B4....... L:B4 / Fu12

A5....... L:A5 / Fu 5 ..... B5....... L:B5 / Fu13

A6....... L:A6 / Fu 6 ..... B6....... L:B6 / Fu14

A7....... L:A7 / Fu 7 ..... B7....... L:B7 / Fu15

A8....... L:A8 / Fu 8 ..... B8....... L:B8 / Fu16

If you are a novice or beginning player, the Fun Levels are especially for you—they’ll give you the opportunity to beat the computer for a change! Here, the computer does not exhaustively search for the best available move, as you would normally expect. Instead, it disregards scores and uses a strong randomizer to deliberately weaken play— which causes it to sometimes make moves that are not necessarily the best it has found. This variability makes the computer prone to some very human errors in judgment. Beat the computer by capitalizing on its mistakes, and you may soon discover that you can win games against friends in the same manner! The Fun Levels start out easy and get a little stronger as they go, allowing you to strengthen your playing abilities along the way.

3.2 Fixed Depth Levels (Squares C1-D8)

LEVEL SQUARE SEARCH DEPTH ALTERNATING DISPLAY

C1.................. 1 ply .................. L:c1 / Fd 1

C2 .................. 1 ply+ ................L:c2 / Fd 2

C3 .................. 1 ply++ .............. L:c3 / Fd 3

C4.................. 2 ply .................. L:c4 / Fd 4

C5 .................. 2 ply+ ................L:c5 / Fd 5

C6 .................. 2 ply++ .............. L:c6 / Fd 6

C7.................. 3 ply .................. L:c7 / Fd 7

C8 .................. 3 ply+ ................L:c8 / Fd 8

------------------------------------------------------------

D1 .................. 3 ply++ .............. L:D1 / Fd 9

D2.................. 4 ply .................. L:D2 / Fd10

D3 .................. 4 ply+ ................L:D3 / Fd11

D4 .................. 4 ply++ .............. L:D4 / Fd12

D5.................. 5 ply .................. L:D5 / Fd13

D6 .................. 5 ply+ ................L:D6 / Fd14

D7 .................. 5 ply++ .............. L:D7 / Fd15

D8.................. 6 ply .................. L:D8 / Fd16

On the Fixed Depth Levels, the computer’s search depth is limited to a certain number of moves, or ply. A “ply” is an individual move, or a move for either side. For example, on Level C1, the computer searches to a depth of one ply, and thus looks ahead only one individual move. On this level, therefore, it will often overlook a mate in one. This produces weaker play, giving beginners a better chance of beating the computer! Use these levels to sharpen your skills—as you conquer each level, graduate to the next!

The levels marked with plus signs (+ and ++) indicate small, incremental jumps in the search depth. On these levels, the computer will look ahead that particular number of ply, plus

moves

a few extra moves

(++).

(+), or

a few more selected extra

Note that the computer may take a long time to move on some of the Fixed Depth Levels. On Levels C6 and above, for instance, it might not be unusual for the computer to think

ENGLISH

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A QUICK AND EASY GUIDE

TO LEVEL SELECTION!

LEVEL

1. Press LEVEL to enter Level

2. Next, select your level, using the chart on the right. Simply locate your level square and press down on the square to select and display that level.

For example: To select Level G2 (with an average computer response time of 25 seconds per move), press Square G2. The display will alternate between

3. Finally, press LEVEL again to

Mode.

L:G2

and

LEVEL LEVEL

exit Level Mode.

start playing on your newly selected level!

00:25

Now you can

Level 8

Fu 8

Level 7

Fu 7

Level 6

Fu 6

Level 5

Fu 5

Level 4

Fu 4

Level 3

Fu 3

Level 2

Fu 2

Level 1

Fu 1

Fun

Level 16

Fu 16

Fun

Level 15

Fu 15

Fun

Level 14

Fu 14

Fun

Level 13

Fu 13

Fun

Level 12

Fu 12

Fun

Level 11

Fu 11

Fun

Level 10

Fu 10

Fun

Level 9

Fu 9

3+ ply

FD 8

FD 7

2++ ply

FD 6

2+ ply

FD 5

FD 4

1++ ply

FD 3

1+ ply

FD 2

FD 1

3 ply

2 ply

1 ply

FD16

5++ ply

FD15

5+ ply

FD14

FD13

4++ ply

FD12

4+ ply

FD11

FD10

3++ ply

FD 9

6 ply

5 ply

4 ply

8 sec.

per move