Saitek ATLAS User Manual
QUICK START
To play a game right away, without reading the entire manual
Insert two “AA” (AM3/R6)
batteries into the computer,
1
making sure to observe the
correct polarity.
Press GO/STOP to turn the
computer on. If the unit
2
doesn’t respond, reset it as
described in Section 1.1.
Set up the chess pieces in
the initial starting position for
3
a new game, with the White
pieces closest to you, as
shown in this diagram.
Press NEW GAME to reset
the computer.
4
first, simply follow these steps!
2 x
AA/AM3/R6
GO/STOP
ዛዒዓዔዕዖዘዙዜ
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
ዝዒዓዔዕዖዘዙዞ
NEW
GAME
NEW
TAKE
GAME GO/STOPPLAYLEVEL
BACK
NON
AUTO SOUND
TEACH
MODE HINT
Enter moves by making
them on the board, pressing
5
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
6
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
PRESS
ዛዒዓዔዕዖዘዙዜ
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
ዝዒዓዔዕዖዘዙዞ
ዛዒዓዔዕዖዘዙዜ
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
ዝዒዓዔዕዖዘዙዞ
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.
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.
2
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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