Saitek COSMOS User Manual
KEYS AND FEATURES
1.PIECE STORAGE AREA: For piece storage and captured pieces.
2.BATTERY COMPARTMENT: In base of unit. Uses four “AA”
(AM3/R6) alkaline batteries.
3.SENSORY CHESSBOARD: Each square contains a sensor that
automatically registers piece movement. Certain squares can also
be pressed to select playing levels and game options.
4.DISPLAY WINDOW: Used to show moves and move information
during a game. Also used for level and option selection, piece
verification, position set-up, and more.
5.GAME KEYS
• LEVEL: Press to enter Level Mode; within Level Mode, press to
skip over eight levels at a time.
• OPTION: Press to enter Option Mode; within Option Mode,
press to cycle through the main option groups.
• INFO: Press to enter Info Mode; within Info Mode, press to cycle
through the main info groups. Press during your move to request
a hint.
• PIECE SYMBOL KEYS: Used in Verify and Position Modes.
Also used for pawn promotions.
• CLEAR: Press to exit Option, Verify, and Position Modes. Press
to clear Info Displays and cancel Clear Board requests in
Position Mode. Press to cancel Level Mode if you decide not to
make changes (unless you have pressed board squares to
change levels).
• ENTER: Press to change sides with the computer, and press
while the computer is thinking to force it to move. Press to turn
Option settings on and off, to select Bronstein Clock settings,
and to exit Level Mode with your new playing level selected.
Press to clear the board in Position Mode, then press again to
confirm.
• WHITE/– and BLACK/+ KEYS: Press to change levels one at a
time in Level Mode, and to cycle through options in Option and
Info Modes. Also used to set the color in Position Mode.
1
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
A B C D E F G H
6
7
2
BRUTE-FORCE / SELECTIVE SEARCH ALGORITHM
3 4
COSMOS
CHESS COMPUTER
MULTI-STYLE OPENINGS LIBRARY
LEVEL
POSITION
OPTION
L
C
W
H
I
R
A
E
ENTER
T
E
TAKE BACK
GO/STOP
W
N
E
INFO
G
B
A
5
K
C
A
L
E
M
• TAKE BACK: Press to take back an individual move (a move for
either side). Take back up to a maximum of 50 individual moves.
• GO/STOP: Press to turn the unit on and off.
• NEW GAME: Press to reset the computer for a new game of
chess.
• POSITION: Press to enter Position Mode.
6.ACL (Reset): In base of unit. Used to eliminate static discharge after
inserting new batteries. Also resets the computer to default settings.
7.BOARD LIGHTS: Used to show game moves, take back moves, and
verify/set up board positions.
• COVER (not shown): Protects unit from dust and keeps chess
pieces in place during travel.
ENGLISH
1
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. MORE FEATURES TO EXPLORE
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 Built-In Openings
2.8 Thinking on the Opponent’s Time
2.9 Game Memory
3. THE PLAYING LEVELS
Setting a Playing Level
3.1 Normal Playing Levels (Squares A1-B7)
3.2 Infinite Level (Square B8)
3.3 Tournament Levels (Squares C1-C8)
3.4 Blitz Levels (Squares D1-D8)
3.5 Fun Levels (Squares E1-E8)
3.6 Mate Search Levels (Squares F1-F8)
3.7 Training Levels (Squares G1-G8)
3.8 Self-Adaptive Weak Levels (Squares H1-H8)
4. INFO MODE: WATCH THE COMPUTER THINK!
Using Info Mode
4.1 Principal Variation
4.2 Search Information
4.3 Chess Clock Information
4.4 Move Count/Game Moves
4.5 Want a Hint? Just Ask!
5. OPTIONS FOR FUN AND VARIETY
Selecting Game Options
5.1 Operation Mode Options (Squares A1-H1)
5.2 Playing Mode Options (Squares A2-H2)
5.3 Rotating Display Options (Squares A3-H3)
5.4 Bronstein Clock Options (Square A4)
6. VERIFYING/SETTING UP POSITIONS
6.1 Verifying Positions
6.2 Changing and Setting Up Positions
7. TECHNICAL DETAILS
7.1 The ACL Function
7.2 Care and Maintenance
7.3 Technical Specifications
TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE
INTRODUCTION
We’d like to welcome you to the exciting world of computer chess!
Whether you’re just starting to learn about this great game or you’re
already a seasoned player, using your new chess computer will give
you the opportunity to discover so much more about chess than you
ever thought possible! Take a look through this manual to get an overview of your computer’s capabilities—all the special features and
modes, all the unique options and playing levels. And take advantage of
them over time, one by one! You’ll have great fun—and you’ll never look
at chess the same way again!
Your computer knows all the rules of chess—and it will never cheat!
For those of you 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 computer runs on four “AA” (Type AM3/R6) batteries. Insert the
batteries into the compartment in the base of the unit, making sure to
observe the correct polarity. Use fresh alkaline batteries for longer
battery life!
Turn the computer on by pressing GO/STOP, and a beep will signal
that the game is ready to play. If the computer fails to respond (static
2
discharge may 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.
Tip: To conserve energy and extend battery life, turn on the Auto
Power Down option (see Section 5.1).
1.2 Ready to Play? Here’s How to Move!
Okay, now 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
c. To make a move, lightly press down on the piece you want to
move until you hear a beep and two board lights turn on to
indicate that square. The sensory board will recognize your piece
automatically. Don’t believe it? Just look at the display window,
which is suddenly full of information—it shows your piece, along
with the piece color and the square you just pressed!
d. Take that piece and gently press it down into the hole of the
square you are moving to. You’ll hear a second beep as the
computer confirms your move. That’s it—you’ve just made your
first move of the game! Next, it’s Black’s turn—and the computer
will make its first move.
You’ll notice that the computer often moves instantly at the beginning
of a game, instead of taking time to think. This is because it is playing
from memory, using a built-in “book” of opening moves (for more
information, see Section 2.7).
Quick Start
.
1.3 Now It’s the Computer’s Turn
When the computer makes its move, it beeps and turns on two board
lights indicating the square of the piece it wants to move. It also shows
its full move in the display window. Check it out—you’ll see the from
and to squares of the computer’s move, along with the color and type of
piece it is moving.
Press the indicated piece down on the from square until you hear a
beep. The to square is now flashing in the display—move that same
piece to the indicated to square and press it down to complete the
Notice that the from square is flashing in the display.
MAKING THE COMPUTER’S MOVE:
AN EXAMPLE!
After the computer moves, it’s up to you to make its move on the
board! Here, the display indicates the computer wants to move its
Black pawn (]!) from d7 to d5. Pick up the d7 pawn (indicated
by the board lights) and press it down lightly into the hole on Square
d7. The board lights now point to Square d5. Press the pawn down
into the hole on Square d5 to complete the computer’s move. Now
it’s your turn again!
RrstuvwxyS
8jbielchd8
7agagagag7
6MmMmMmMm6
5mMmMmMmM5
4MmMAMmMm4
3mMmMmMmM3
2GAGmGAGA2
1DHCKFIBJ1
TrstuvwxyU
computer’s move. And it’s your turn again…
See “MAKING THE COMPUTER’S MOVE: AN EXAMPLE!” for a
how-to illustration!
By the way, while you’re thinking about your next move, notice that
the chess piece symbols are displayed, one by one, counting “up” from
pawn to King. This means the built-in chess clock is in normal mode,
counting your elapsed time. If the Countdown Clock is activated, as
described in Section 5.1, the displayed symbols will reverse direction.
You’ll find details on all the chess clock features in Section 4.3!
RrstuvwxyS
8jbielchd8
7agaMagag7
6MmMmMmMm6
5mMmgmMmM5
4MmMAMmMm4
3mMmMmMmM3
2GAGmGAGA2
1DHCKFIBJ1
TrstuvwxyU
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! When it’s your turn to move, simply press TAKE
BACK. The display shows the move to be taken back, with the original
ENGLISH
3
to square flashing and indicated by board lights. Press the piece down
gently on the indicated square, and the computer shows you where that
piece came from by flashing that display and using board lights to point
to that square. Press the piece down on the from square to complete
the take-back. Repeat this as often as you’d like, taking back up to 50
individual moves (or 25 moves for each side). To continue playing at
any point, just make another move on the board!
After taking back a capture, the computer will make sure your board
is still set up correctly by reminding you to put the captured piece back
on the board! It displays the piece symbol, the location, and a “+”
symbol, and turns on the board lights for that square. Put the indicated
piece back on the board and press that square to complete the takeback.
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! Reset the computer to start another game
by pressing NEW GAME, and a series of beeps tells you the computer
is ready. 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 your current game from
the computer’s memory—be careful not to press this key by mistake!
1.6 Too Easy/Hard? Change the Level!
When you first turn your computer on, it’s automatically set to Normal
Playing Level A4 (five seconds a move). However, you have 64 different
levels to choose from—you’ll want to try them all out! For descriptions of
the playing levels and how to change levels, see Section 3.
2. MORE FEATURES TO EXPLORE
2.1 Whose Move? Check the Display!
When the computer plays Black, it flashes a black square in the
display while it is thinking. After it has moved, a white square shows that
it is now White’s turn to move. You can tell at a glance if the computer is
currently thinking, and which side is to move!
2.2 Special Chess Moves
Captures: To capture, press down on the piece you want to move,
NEED HELP CHOOSING A LEVEL?
SOME TIPS FOR YOU!
• Are you a beginning player?
Check out the Fun Levels, the lower Training Levels, or the
Self-Adaptive Weak Levels. These levels all restrict the
computer’s search depth in different ways, resulting in weaker
play and giving you the chance to learn more about the game
and perhaps even beat the computer occasionally!
• Are you an intermediate or more advanced player?
Normal, Training, or Tour nament Levels. The Nor mal Levels
range from easy all the way up to a difficult 10-minute response time, and the Tournament Levels are extremely
challenging. And don’t forget to try the Blitz Levels for some
fast and exciting games of Speed Chess! By the way, for
Tournament and Blitz Games, you can activate the built-in
Bronstein Clock, as you’ll see in Section 5.4!
• Want to experiment?
problems up to mate in eight—try searching from a position in
one of your own games, or set up an actual mate problem.
Choose the Infinite Level to have the computer analyze
complicated positions for hours or even days!
remove the captured piece from the board, and press your piece down
on the square of the captured piece. Captures are displayed as in
E5•F4.
En Passant Captures: In this type of capture, the computer reminds
you to remove the captured pawn by displaying the pawn’s position,
along with a minus sign, and using two board lights to indicate that
square. Press down on the captured pawn before removing it from the
board.
Castling: The computer automatically recognizes castling after the
King is moved. After you have pressed the King down on its from and
to squares, the computer uses the display and board lights to remind
you to move the Rook. Press down on the Rook’s from and to squares
to complete the move. Note that Kingside castling is displayed as 0-0,
and Queenside castling as 0-0-0.
You have lots of choices!
Try the
Use the Mate Search Levels to solve
4
Pawn Promotions: When you promote a pawn, first make your
move as usual, pressing your pawn down on its from and to squares.
Next, press the Piece Symbol Key for your desired promotion piece (%,
$, #, or @). The computer recognizes your new piece immediately, and
begins thinking about its next move. Remember to change your piece
on the board! When the computer promotes a pawn, the display
shows both the pawn and the promoted piece. Don’t forget to replace
the computer’s pawn with its new piece.
2.3 Illegal Moves
Your computer will never accept an illegal move! If you try to make
one, you’ll hear a low double beep, and the board lights and display will
simply continue to show the square the piece came from. Either move
that same piece to another square, or press the piece back down on
the original from square and move a different piece.
If you don’t make the computer’s move correctly, you’ll also get an
error beep. This means you are moving the wrong piece, or moving the
computer’s piece to the wrong square. If the computer wants to move
its pawn from C7 to C5, for example, and you press down on C7 and
then C6, the display shows :C5 briefly, pointing out your error. The
display then returns to showing the move again (C7-C5), and the
computer expects you to press C5 to complete its move.
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.
2.4 Check, Mate, and Draw
When a King is in check, the computer first displays its move as
usual. After the move is made, CHECK flashes in the display for a few
seconds, along with the checking move. The display then goes back to
showing the clock.
If the computer discovers a forced mate against its opponent, it first
displays its move as usual. After the move has been made on the
board, the computer flashes a mate announcement along with the
move for several seconds (e.g., =in2 for a mate in two moves). The
display then goes back to showing the clock.
When a game ends in checkmate, the display flashes MATE (along
with the mating move) for a short time after the move is made. The
display then goes back to showing the clock.
The computer recognizes draws by stalemate, three-fold repetition,
and the 50-move rule and insufficient material. After a draw has occurred, the display flashes EnD,EnD:3,EnD:50,or EnD:In,(along with the
drawing move) for a brief time after the move has been made. The
display then goes back to showing the clock.
2.5 Interrupting the Computer’s Search
Think the computer is taking too long to move? You can interrupt it
any time! Simply press ENTER while the computer is thinking, and it
will stop and play the best move it has found so far. This feature can be
handy on the higher levels, where the computer can take a long time to
move, and on the Infinite Level, where the computer thinks indefinitely
unless you stop it.
On the Mate Search Levels, pressing ENTER won’t force the computer to make a move. Instead, the computer will sound an error beep
and display ––––– to indicate that it was interrupted before it found a
mate. To continue play, switch to another level.
2.6 Changing Sides with the Computer
To change sides with the computer, simply press ENTER when it’s
your turn—and the computer will make the next move for your side.
Change sides as often as you wish!
Noted that if you press ENTER at a new game, computer will play
White from top (see also Section 5.1).
2.7 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. This book contains thousands
of positions, including most major openings and many positions from
grandmaster play. If the current board position is in its book, the computer plays a response to that position automatically, instead of having
to think about the move!
A special feature of this computer’s opening book is its ability to
handle
transpositions.
by a certain set of moves can also be reached when those same moves
occur in a different order. The computer’s integrated Automatic Transposition Manager handles these cases with ease!
A transposition occurs when a position reached
Also included is a unique user-selectable book feature, which lets
ENGLISH
5
you choose from different types of opening books, or even turn the
book off, if desired. For complete details, see Section 5.2.
2.8 Thinking on the Opponent’s Time
As you play, you may notice that the computer sometimes replies to
your moves immediately, even in the middle of games played on the
higher levels. This is because the computer thinks on your time, using
the time you are taking for your move to think ahead and plan its own
strategies. It tries to guess the move you are likely to make, and then
calculates its responses for that particular move while you are still
thinking. If the computer has guessed right, there’s no reason for it to
keep on calculating—it immediately plays the move it has already
found!
To disable this feature, turn on the Easy Mode option, as described in
Section 5.2.
2.9 Game Memory
Press GO/STOP at any time to interrupt a game. Play is then suspended, and the computer stores your current game in memory (up to
50 individual moves). When you switch back on again, you can continue right where you left off!
3. THE PLAYING LEVELS
Your chess computer offers 64 different levels of play! When you set
the level, keep in mind that when the computer has more time to think
about its moves, it becomes stronger and plays better—just like a
human chess player! For an overview of all the levels, refer to the Level
Chart. The levels are also described individually in this section.
Setting a Playing Level
See “USE THIS CHART TO SELECT A PLAYING LEVEL!” for
an illustrated look at how to set a level and a chart showing all
the levels at a glance.
There are two methods of setting levels—by using the game keys or
pressing the board squares. Whichever method you use, always press
LEVEL first to enter Level Mode, and the computer will display the
current playing level. When you enter Level Mode the first time, the
computer is set on Normal Playing Level A4 (with an average response
time of five seconds a move), and the display shows L0:05.
• To select a level by using game keys: After entering Level Mode
by pressing LEVEL, change levels one at a time by using the
BLACK/+ and WHITE/– keys. As a shortcut, press LEVEL repeat-
edly to skip over eight levels at a time. When the display shows
your desired level, press ENTER to enter your new level into the
computer and exit Level Mode.
• To select a level by pressing board squares: As shown in the
Level Chart, each of the 64 squares corresponds to one level. After
entering Level Mode by pressing LEVEL, take a chess piece and
press the desired square to activate a level, using the chart as a
guide. When you press down on your chosen square and that level
shows in the display, press ENTER to enter your new level into the
computer and exit Level Mode.
Note that when making your
selection via the board squares, pressing CLEAR has the same
effect as pressing ENTER—it enters your level into the computer.
• To verify the level without changing it: If you press LEVEL to
verify the level but you don’t want to actually change levels, press
CLEAR. This returns you to normal play without changing the level
or clock settings, even while the computer is thinking.
Other important points to remember regarding levels:
• Changing the level always resets the chess clocks.
• We don’t recommend changing levels while the computer is
thinking, since the clock is reset and the current search is aborted.
If you must do this, first press ENTER to abort the computer’s
search, and make its move on the board. Then, take back the
computer’s move and change the level. Finally, press ENTER to
make the computer start thinking on the new level.
3.1 Normal Playing Levels (Squares A1-B7)
LEVEL TIME PER MOVE DISPLAY
A1 .................... 1 second.................... L 0:01
A2 .................... 2 seconds .................. L 0:02
A3 .................... 3 seconds .................. L 0:03
A4 .................... 5 seconds .................. L 0:05
A5 .................. 10 seconds .................. L 0:10
A6 .................. 15 seconds .................. L 0:15
A7 .................. 20 seconds .................. L 0:20
A8 .................. 30 seconds .................. L 0:30
6
Loading...