Saitek BLADE User Manual
INSTRUCTION MANU AL
TABLE OF CONTENTS
KEYS AND FEATURES
INTRODUCTION
1. USING YOUR CHESS COMPUTER
1 First, Install the Batteries
2 Ready to Play? Here’s How to Move!
3 The Computer Makes Its Move
4 Changed Your Mind? Take Back!
5 Game Over? Start a New Game
6 Too Easy/Hard? Change Levels!
7 Voice, Beeps On/Off? It’s Your Choice!
2. ADDITIONAL COMPUTER FEATURES
2.1 Indication of the Side to Move
2.2 Captures and Special Moves
2.3 Illegal Moves/Wrong Moves
2.4 Check, Mate, and Draw
2.5 Getting Hints from the Computer
2.6 Interrupting the Computer’s Search
2.7 Changing Sides with the Computer
2.8 Game Information
2.9 Verifying Piece Positions
2.10Non Auto Mode
2.11Playing Black From the Bottom
2.12 Book Openings
2.13 Voice Features to Remember
2.14Game Memory
ENGLISH
3. LEVELS OF SKILL
Selecting a Playing Level
3.1 Beginner Levels (A1-A8)
3.2 Fun Levels (B1-B5)
3.3 Infinite Level (B6)
3.4 Combination Finder Level (B7)
3.5 Mate Finder Level (B8)
3.6 Practice Levels (C1-C8)
3.7 Tactical Levels (D1-D8)
3.8 Fixed Depth Levels (E1-E8)
3.9 Quiet Closed Game Levels (F1-F8)
3.10Aggressive Game Levels (G1-G8)
3.11Normal Playing Levels (H1-H8)
4. SPECIAL COACHING MODES
4.1 Teach Modes: Learn All About Tactics!
4.2 Voice/Coach Levels: Practice Your Game!
5. TECHNICAL DETAILS
5.1 The ACL Function
5.2 Care and Maintenance
5.3 Technical Specifications
TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE
1
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7
6
5
4
3
2
1
A B C D E F G H
NON
NEW
AUTO
GAME
TAKE
LEVEL
BACK
VOICE
SAY AGAIN
PLAY
SMART
HINT
COACH
EVALUATE
DISPLAY MOVE
LISTEN —
as the exciting voice output…
• gives you hints when you’re not sure what to do!
• cautions you when your pieces are threatened!
• identifies pieces automatically as you press on them!
KEYS AND FEATURES
1. PIECE STORAGE COMPARTMENT: Handy
storage area for your chess pieces.
2. BATTERY COMPARTMENT: In base of unit.
Uses four “AA” (AM3/R6) alkaline batteries.
3. GAME KEYS
a. NEW GAME: Press to reset for a new game
of chess.
b. NON AUTO: Press to enter Non Auto Mode,
which allows moves to be entered manually.
c. LEVEL: Press to enter Level Mode. Also
used to access the five Teach Modes.
d. TAKE BACK: Press to take back the last
individual move made. Take back up to six
individual moves (three moves for each side).
e. VOICE/COACH: Press to access Coach
Level options and Voice/Beep options.
f. PLAY: Press to change sides with the com-
puter; press while the computer is thinking to
force it to move. Press at the beginning of a
new game to play Black from the bottom of
the board.
g. EVALUATE: Press
thinking
to get the computer’s evaluation of
while the computer is
the current board position.
h. SMART HINT: Press to get a level indepen-
dent move suggestion from the computer.
i. PIECE SYMBOL KEYS: Used to verify piece
positions, select teach modes and promote
pawns.
j. SAY AGAIN/DISPLAY MOVE: Press to have
the computer repeat its last voice output on
• alerts you whenever an illegal move is attempted!
• announces special chess moves such as en passant captures
and castling—making them so easy to learn!
• guides you through move take-backs when you make a mistake
or change your mind about a move!
• identifies the piece to be replaced after taking back a capture—
you won’t ever have to guess!
• announces all wins, losses and draws!
• evaluates the board position on demand—
you’ll always know who’s winning!
your turn. Press and hold down
puter is thinking
to display the move it is cur-
while the com-
rently considering making.
4. BOARD LIGHTS: Used to show moves and game
information, verify pieces, indicate the side to
move, and show the playing levels. Also used to
indicate check, mate, and draw, and to give you
insight into the computer’s thought process.
5. SENSORY CHESSBOARD: Each square contains
a sensor that registers piece movement.
6. ACL (Reset): In base of unit. Used to eliminate
static discharge.
7. GO/STOP SWITCH: Used to turn the computer on
and off. The current position remains in memory
even when turned off.
8. VOLUME CONTROL SLIDER: Used to turn the
volume up and down.
9. MAINS ADAPTOR SOCKET: Socket for the
optional mains adapter, which may be purchased
separately.
2
INTRODUCTION
PRESS
PRESS
COMPUTER FEATURES TO WATCH FOR!
Congratulations on becoming the proud owner of this
new and very unique chess computer—
talking chess tutor!
chess that’s as “human” as possible—you’ll be delighted
as your new chess partner helps you with your game,
coaches you as you play, and even gives you hints and
chess information on demand! You’ll be thrilled as the
voice output follows your every move, even occasionally
offering helpful advice and encouraging words—chess
simply couldn’t be more fun!
You are about to experience computer
your very own
1. USING YOUR CHESS COMPUTER
First, Install the Batteries
1Your chess computer runs on four “AA” (AM3/R6)
batteries. For longer battery life, be sure to use fresh
alkaline batteries. Slide the GO/STOP switch to GO.
Insert the batteries as shown in Figure 1-1. The computer
will go through a self-test, then a
greet you, signalling that the computer is ready to play! If
the unit does not respond, use a paper clip or another
sharp object to press into the hole marked ACL in the
base of the unit for at least one second. This will reset the
computer.
If you would rather not power your unit with batteries,
you may purchase an optional AC adapter. Please use
only the adapter specified for use with this computer.
Important: To ensure that the computer’s memory contents are not lost, keep good batteries installed in the unit
even when you are using the optional AC adapter.
Ready to Play? Here’s How to Move!
Welcome
message will
2Follow these steps to start a game:
a. Switch to GO to turn the computer on, if you haven’t
already done so.
b. Set up the chess pieces in their starting positions,
with the White pieces nearest to you, as shown in
Figure 1-2. Press NEW GAME; the computer will
announce
c. To make a move, lightly press down on the piece you
want to move until you hear the voice identify that
piece. The sensory board registers your move, and
two board lights turn on to indicate the piece.
d. Take the piece and gently press it down on the
square you want to move to (see Figure 1-3). You will
hear a beep, and the computer will then start thinking
about its move.
At the beginning of a game, the computer’s reply is
often instantaneous on many levels, because it is playing
moves which are stored in its openings library (for details,
see Section 2.12).
The Computer Makes Its Move
New Game
as a confirmation.
3When the computer moves, it beeps and turns on two
board lights indicating the horizontal row and vertical
column of the piece it wishes to move. Press the indicated piece down gently on the square.
The computer then uses the board lights to show you
where the piece should go. Move the piece to the indicated square and press the piece down, as shown in
Figure 1-4. Once you have pressed this square, you have
completed the computer’s move! For an example of how
the board lights would indicate a computer move from e7
to e5, see Figures 1-5a and b.
• Exciting and informative voice output makes chess
easy to learn and a pleasure to play!
• Sensory chessboard for easy move input; 16 bright
board lights used to indicate all moves.
• Special coaching features allow you to learn as you
play—the computer will even warn you when your
pieces are threatened!
• Includes five different Teach Modes—study the
tactics of each chess piece individually!
• The 384 level settings mean you can constantly
improve your skills! The Extended Playing Range
features 64 levels of play for learning, variety and
experimentation—including Beginner, Practice, and
Fun Levels; Quiet and Aggressive Game Levels;
Tactical and Fixed Depth Levels; Mate and Combination Finder Levels; Normal Playing Levels, and
even a special Infinite Level!
• Openings library includes all major chess openings.
• Request an evaluation of the current board position,
and look in on the computer’s thinking process!
• Unsure of the position? Verify the entire board!
• Change your mind about a move? Take back up to
six individual moves!
• Use Non Auto Mode to play chess against a friend,
with the computer acting as referee!
• Play using the voice or beeps, or turn the sound off!
• Handy built-in compartment stores the pieces.
• Turn off at any time—your current game stays in
memory for up to 18 months!
4 x
AA/AM3/R6
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Fig.1-1
PRESS
Fig.1-3
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Fig.1-5a - Press down on e7…
3
PRESS
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Fig.1-5b …and then on e5.
Fig.1-2
Fig.1-4
ENGLISH
Changed Your Mind? Take Back!
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4If you make a mistake or change your mind about a
move, it’s easy to take moves back! Press TAKE BACK
when it is your turn to move, and the computer will announce the move to be taken back (e.g.,
back Knight move
to guide you through the take-back. The to square of the
last move will light first—press the indicated piece down
on that square. The computer then shows you where that
piece came from. Press the piece down on the from
square to complete the take-back. Repeat the above
procedure to take back more moves, if desired. You may
take back up to six individual moves.
When taking back captures or castling maneuvers, the
computer will remind you of pieces which should be put
back on the board! It does so by lighting board lights to
indicate the position, and announcing the color and type
of the captured piece.
Game Over? Start a New Game
). The computer also uses board lights
Black takes
5Whenever you finish a game (or if you decide to abort
your current game), you may press NEW GAME to reset
the computer. The computer is then ready for another
game, using the currently selected level.
Caution: Since pressing NEW GAME clears your
current game from the computer’s memory, be careful not
to press this key by mistake!
Too Easy/Hard? Change Levels!
6When the computer is first turned on, it is set to Level
H4 (10 seconds a move). However, you may choose any
of the 64 playing levels described in Section 3!
Press LEVEL to enter Level Mode, and the board
lights will indicate the current level. To change playing
levels, press a board square to activate your desired
level, using the chart in Section 3 as a guide. Press
LEVEL again to exit level mode.
Voice, Beeps On/Off? It’s Your Choice!
7Your computer’s informative and entertaining voice
output is on by default, and you may use the Volume
Control Slider to set the desired volume. However, if you
would rather not have the voice on for some reason, you
have other options! As you will see in Section 4.2, you
can choose to hear only beeps, or you can even turn the
sound off for completely silent operation, if desired.
By the way, if you don’t hear what the computer says,
simply press the SAY AGAIN key on your turn to hear the
last message repeated.
Note that a) Pressing SAY AGAIN in Verify Mode or
when the computer is displaying Hint on your turn, the
computer will return to normal mode. b) SAY AGAIN is
disabled if voice/coach is set to level G or H, or if it is in
Level Mode.
2. ADDITIONAL COMPUTER FEATURES
2.1 Indication of the Side to Move
When Black is thinking about its move, board light 8
flashes. After it has moved, the 1 light comes on steadily
to show that it is now White’s turn to move. Similarly if
the computer plays White, the 1 light flashes during its
turn, and the 8 light comes on steadily after it has moved.
It’s easy to tell whether the computer is thinking and
whose turn it is!
2.2 Captures and Special Moves
During the game, the computer’s voice will normally
alert you to capture or to make special moves, such as
HAVING PROBLEMS? SOME TIPS!
• Is it really your turn to move?
indicator lights (see Section 2.1). If the light for
the computer’s side is flashing, the computer is
currently thinking about its move.
• Did you execute the computer’s last move
incorrectly?
wrong piece, or trying to move the computer’s
piece to the wrong square. Check the board
lights, and move the piece correctly.
• Is the computer announcing an illegal move?
The computer knows all the rules and will only
allow legal moves—when it says
you know something is wrong! Either move your
piece to another square, or press the indicated
from square again to erase the move, and make
a different move. Check the rules if you’re not
sure of the problem!
• Are you unsure of the board position? Have
some pieces been moved inadvertently?
Verify the piece positions (see Section 2.9).
• Is your King in check?
you must move it out of check before you can
make any other move (see the rules).
• Computer won’t make a move?
Mode may be turned on—this option must be
turned
moves automatically (see Section 2.10).
• Want the last voice output repeated?
press SAY AGAIN! on your turn.
You may be trying to move the
If your King is in check,
off
for the computer to respond with its
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Fig.2-1a - Black tried to avoid
the capture of his pawn by
advancing it two squares, from
e7 to e5. However…
Fig.2-2a - Castling: Press the
King on e1 and g1…
castling maneuvers or pawn promotions!
Captures: To capture, press down lightly on the piece
you want to move - you will hear the voice identify that
piece. Take the captured piece off the board, and press
your piece on the square of the captured piece. You will
hear the capture announced, eg.
En Passant: In an en passant capture, the computer
uses board lights to remind you to remove the captured
pawn. Press down on the captured pawn before removing
it from the board. Although beginning players are often
confused when this type of capture occurs, the voice
takes pawn en passant
output
presses its to square. This makes this move unmistakable! See Figures 2-1a and b for an example of an en
passant capture.
Fig.2-1b …White can capture the
Fig.2-2b …and the computer will
Check the color
Illegal Move!
Non Auto
,
Simply
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Black pawn en passant by
moving from f5 to e6!
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remind you to move the Rook!
takes Bishop.
is heard after the user
4
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