Saitek Mephisto Maestro Travel Chess Computer User Manual
Maestro Travel
Chess Computer
Instructions
Bedienungsanleitung
Mode d’emploi
Istruzioni d’uso
Instrucciones de Funcionamiento
Handleiding
3 x AAA (AM4/R03
)
NEW GAME
x2
To play a game right away, simply follow these steps!
QUICK START
Open the battery cover and insert three “AAA”
1
(AM4/R03) alkaline batteries, making sure to
observe the correct polarity.
Remove the stylus from the storage area on
2
the right-hand side of the unit, as shown here.
Press GO/STOP to turn the computer on. If
3
you get no response, reset the unit as noted in
Section 11.1.
Press NEW GAME twice, in quick succession,
4
to reset the computer.
reset for a new game of chess, you’ve taken
too long between keypresses. Just try again.
Enter moves by pressing the stylus gently on
5
the from and to squares for each move.
Note that you may also use your fingertip.
When the computer displays its move, its piece
6
will flash briefly on the from and to squares,
and the move will then be made on the board.
Now, it’s your turn again!
To turn the unit off, press GO/STOP. When
GO/STOP again to confirm—and your game will be stored in memory.
GET TO KNOW THE CHESS PIECES!
If the board doesn’t
Stop?
is displayed, press
ıPd7-d5````
White
Black
K` Q` R` B` N`
White
Black
White
Black
White
Black
White
KNIGHTKING QUEEN ROOK BISHOP
Black
White
PAW N
Black
P`
TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK START
KEYS AND FEATURES
INTRODUCTION
1. GETTING STARTED: THE BASICS
1.1 Batteries In, Power On
1.2 Ready to Play? Here’s How!
1.3 The Computer Makes its Move
1.4 Game Over? Start a New Game
1.5 Too Easy/Hard? Change Levels
2. MORE FEATURES TO EXPLORE
2.1 Whose Turn? Check the Display
2.2 Special Chess Moves
2.3 Illegal/Incorrect Moves
2.4 Check, Mate, and Draw
2.5 Try the Self-Rating System
2.6 Want a Hint? Just Ask!
2.7 Interrupting the Search
2.8 Changing Sides
2.9 Built-In Openings
2.10Thinking on the Opponent’s Time
2.11Power Down/Game Memory
3. THE MAIN MENU
4. OPTION MODE
Selecting Game Options
4.1 Two Player Mode
4.2 Search Algorithm
4.3 Autobook Mode
4.4 White at Top
4.5 Countdown Clock
4.6 Ticking Sound
4.7 Coach Mode
4.8 Sound On/Off
4.9 LCD Contrast
4.10LCD Speed
4.11Automove Mode
5. LEVEL MODE
Setting a Playing Level
5.1 Fun Levels
5.2 Casual Play Levels
5.3 Tournament Levels
5.4 Speed Chess Levels
5.5 Problem Solving Levels
5.6 Tactical Level
5.7 Infinite Level
6. TAKEBACK MODE
7. INFO MODE
Automatic Info Displays
Manual Info Displays
7.1 Principal Variation
7.2 Search Information
7.3 Chess Clock Information
7.4 Move Count/Game Moves
7.5 Rating Display
8. SETUP MODE
9. STUDY MODE
Selecting Study Positions
Using the Board for Selection
10. NEED HELP? LOOK HERE!
11. TECHNICAL DETAILS
11.1The ACL Function
11.2Care and Maintenance
11.3Technical Specifications
APPENDIX:
STUDY MODE GAMES
ENGLISH
3
KEYS AND FEATURES
1. GO/STOP KEY: Press to turn unit on; press twice to turn off. Press to pause
scrolling display; resume scrolling with ‘ (CLEAR).
2. LCD BACKLIGHT BRIGHTNESS
CONTROL (Off/Medium/Full).
3. ACL (Reset): In base of unit. Used
to eliminate static discharge after
inserting new batteries.
4. BATTERY COMPARTMENT: In
base of unit. Uses three “AAA”
(AM4/R03) alkaline batteries.
5. TOUCH SCREEN CHESSBOARD:
Each square registers piece movement when pressed gently with
stylus or fingertip.
6. INFORMATION LINE: Shows
moves, game information, and
chess clocks. Also used when
selecting options and levels, setting
up positions, and more.
7. NEW GAME KEY: Press twice, in
quick succession, to reset the
computer.
8. “ (MENU) KEY: Press to enter
Menu Mode; press again to exit.
9. ENTER KEY: Press to change sides
with the computer. Press while the
computer is thinking to force it to
move. Press to select Main Menu
items; to select settings and turn
options on/off in Option/Info Modes;
to enter a new level in Level Mode;
to select a Study Position; to exit
Setup Mode with a new position.
10. ¯ KEY: Press to cycle through
Levels/Study Positions one at a time
in Level/Study Modes. Press to cycle through Options/Info displays in Option/
Info Modes. Press to take back/replay moves in Takeback Mode.
11. ‘ (CLEAR) KEY: Press to exit Option/Info Modes; to cancel Level/Study
Modes with no changes; to clear Info Mode displays; to remain in Study Mode
after a wrong move; to clear the board in Setup Mode; to resume scrolling after
a pause; and to resume play after takebacks.
12. HINT/INFO KEY: Press during your move for a hint. Press repeatedly to cycle
through main Info displays.
13. ˘ KEY: Press to cycle through Levels/Study Positions one at a time in Level/
Study Modes. Press to cycle through Options/Info displays in Option/Info
Modes. Press to take back/replay moves in Takeback Mode.
14. STYLUS STORAGE AREA: Insert stylus into slot when not in use.
15. STYLUS: Used to make moves on the touch screen; also used to select set-
tings in the Information Line area.
16. PROTECTIVE CASE (not shown).
4
ENTER
CLEARMENU
INTRODUCTION
Congratulations on your purchase of the Mephisto Maestro Travel
Chess Computer! Featuring extraordinary chessplaying abilities and a
vast array of special options, this sleek unit offers a touch screen
interface and a backlit LCD screen for convenience and ease of play.
Portable and always travel-ready, it will also allow you to enjoy a
game of chess anywhere, at home or on the road. Once you familiarize yourself with the basic operation, go on to explore all the extras
this unique computer has to offer. You’ll soon find that you’re enjoying
chess as never before!
1. GETTING STARTED: THE BASICS
1.1 Batteries In, Power On
Your chess computer runs on three “AAA” (AM4/R03) batteries.
Insert the batteries into the compar tment in the base of the unit,
making sure to observe the correct polarity. We recommend fresh
alkaline batteries for longer battery life.
To turn the computer on, press GO/STOP. If you get no response,
reset the unit by pressing a paper clip or another sharp object down
into the hole marked ACL in the base for at least one second.
To conserve batteries, the computer will automatically turn itself
off if left idle for about 20 minutes.
1.2 Ready to Play? Here’s How!
Follow these steps to start a game:
a. Press GO/STOP to turn the computer on.
b. To reset the computer for a new game of chess, press NEW
GAME twice, in quick succession.
If you take too long between
keypresses, the computer won’t reset itself, and you’ll need to
press the keys again.
As soon as the unit has been reset, you’ll
see New Game displayed briefly, and then the symbol for White
(„) and the chess clock (00:00:00).
c. To make a move, lightly press the stylus on the piece you want
to move until you hear a beep and the piece flashes.
Note that
you can use your fingertip instead of the stylus, if desired.
d. Next, press the stylus on your destination square. You’ll hear a
second beep as the computer confirms your move. Now, it’s the
computer’s turn.
You’ll notice that the computer often moves
ENGLISH
5
instantly at the beginning of a game, instead of taking time to
think. This is because it is playing moves which are stored in its
openings library. For details, see Section 2.9.
1.3 The Computer Makes its Move
When the computer moves, it first shows Thinking... briefly.
While the computer considers its move for Black, the display flashes
the symbol for Black (ı), while showing the computer’s clock. Once
the actual move is made, the computer will beep and display its move
(e.g., ıPe7-e5), and the piece will briefly flash back and forth on
the from and to squares. After the move has been made on the
board, the display will go back to showing your clock—and it’s your
turn again.
1.4 Game Over? Start a New Game
Caution: Resetting the computer clears your current game
from the computer’s memory!
Whenever you finish a game (or if you decide to give up on your
current game), it’s easy to start over again! Reset the computer by
pressing NEW GAME twice in a row. New Game will be displayed,
signalling that the computer is ready for another game of chess, using
the currently selected playing level.
Special note regarding the Tournament Levels: If you reset for a
new game before a Tournament Level game is over, you’ll be asked to
confirm the game’s outcome before the computer resets itself. For
details, see Section 2.5.
1.5 Too Easy/Hard? Change Levels
When the computer is first turned on, it is automatically set to
Playing Level 63, with an average computer response time of five
seconds per move. You can, however, choose from 100 different
levels of play! For descriptions of all the levels, as well as instructions
on how to change the playing levels, see Section 5.
2. MORE FEATURES TO EXPLORE
2.1 Whose Turn? Check the Display
When the computer thinks for Black, it flashes a Black square (ı).
After the computer moves, the display shows a steady White square
(„), indicating that it’s now your turn to move for White.
6
2.2 Special Chess Moves
Please note the following, in regard to certain chess moves.
Captures: Captures are shown with an x, as in ıPa7xb6.
En Passant: In this type of capture, displayed with an EP after the
capturing move, the computer reminds you to remove the captured
pawn by flashing it. Press the pawn to remove it from the board.
Castling: After the King has been moved, the Rook will flash.
Make the indicated Rook move on the board to complete the castling
maneuver. Kingside castling is displayed as O-O, and Queenside
castling is displayed as O-O-O.
Pawn Promotion:
• When you promote a pawn, first press the pawn on its from
square, as usual. The display then changes to show the available
promotion pieces (Q R B N). To promote to a Queen, simply press
the to square to complete your move. To underpromote to a Rook,
Bishop, or Knight, press one of the displayed promotion symbols. The
display will confirm briefly (e.g., Prom: rook). Press the to square
to complete the promotion, and the piece will automatically change on
the board.
Note: If you change your mind about the promotion piece
before pressing the to square, simply press one of the other symbols.
• When the computer promotes a pawn, it indicates its move,
along with the promoted piece, as in ıPh2-h1/Q.
2.3 Illegal/Incorrect Moves
Your computer knows all the rules of chess—and it will never cheat!
If you attempt to make an illegal move, a high-pitched double beep
will alert you. This will occur, for instance, if you press an illegal from
or to square, an incorrect piece or color, or an invalid game key.
If you press an illegal to square, the display will simply continue to
indicate the square the piece came from. To continue, move your
piece to a legal square. If you press a from square, but decide not to
make that move, press that same square again to cancel the input. If
you change your mind after entering your whole move, retract the
move as described in Section 6.
ENGLISH
2.4 Check, Mate, and Draw
Whenever a King is in check, the computer will display Check
briefly after the move is made. If the computer discovers a forced
mate, it will briefly show a mate announcement (e.g., Mate in 3).
When a game ends in checkmate, the computer will either congratulate you or express its condolences, depending on whether you’ve
7
won or lost. A display of Checkmate! will then end the game.
The computer recognizes draws by stalemate, three-fold repetition,
and the 50-move rule. In each of these cases, the corresponding
display will be shown after the drawing move has been made.
2.5 Try the Self-Rating System
Whenever you play on any of the Tournament Levels, the computer
will provide you with an approximate ELO rating after the game has
ended, based on your performance. Not sure what a “rating” is? It’s a
universally recognized method of measuring chess performance or
describing relative playing ability. The international body which
governs chess is called FIDE, or
Échecs,
and FIDE ratings are sometimes referred to as ELO ratings.
Fédération Internationale des
The United States Chess Federation (USCF) uses a similar rating
system. Ratings are usually four-digit numbers, with stronger players
having higher ratings. Towards the upper end of the scale, Masters
rank in at 2200 and above, with International Grandmasters at 2500+.
Want to know where you stand? Here’s your chance! Refer to Section
5.3 for more information on the Tournament Levels.
2.6 Want a Hint? Just Ask!
If you ever need help with a move, the computer will be glad to
oblige! Press HINT/INFO during your turn, and the computer will
display a move suggestion. If the hint happens to be e4xd5, for
example, Ply 1: e4xd5 will be displayed. A “ply” is an individual
move, or a move for either side. The hint can take from one to five
seconds to show, but it may sometimes take longer. To accept the
hint, make the displayed move on the board. To make a different
move, simply disregard the hint and make a move of your own. You
can also cancel the hint display by pressing ‘ (CLEAR).
2.7 Interrupting the Search
To interrupt the computer while it’s thinking about a move, press
ENTER. This forces the computer to play the best move it has found
so far. This feature can be extremely useful on the higher levels,
where the computer may take a long time to move, and on the Infinite
and Tactical Levels, where it thinks indefinitely unless you stop it.
On the Problem Solving Levels, pressing ENTER while the computer is thinking will not cause the computer to make a move. Instead,
the computer will display No move found! to indicate that it was
interrupted before finding a mate. To continue, switch to another level.
8
A QUICK LOOK AT THE MAIN MENU!
• ¿OPTION: Explore a number of exciting game options.
• Two Player Mode • Coach Mode
• Search Algorithm • Sound On/Off
• Autobook Mode • LCD Contrast
• White at Top • LCD Speed
• Countdown Clock • Automove Mode
• Ticking Sound
• ¿LEVEL: Choose from 100 different levels of play.
• ¿TAKEBACK: Take back any or all previous moves.
• ¿INFO: Select various automatic information displays.
• Show Moves • Show Progress
• Show Nodes • Show Evaluation
• Show Time per Move
• ¿SETUP: Set up or change any board position.
• ¿STUDY: Test yourself with 64 unique Study Positions.
2.8 Changing Sides
To change sides with the computer, press ENTER on your turn—
and the computer will make the next move for your side. You can
change sides as often as you wish by pressing ENTER repeatedly.
Want the computer to play the first move for White at the start of a
new game? Press NEW GAME twice, and then press ENTER!
Want to see the computer play chess against itself? Press ENTER
after each move—and watch as it plays for both sides of the board,
one move after another. Study its strategies, and you might just
improve your own game!
2.9 Built-In Openings
At the beginning of a game, the computer’s reply is often instantaneous on many levels, because it is playing moves from its
library.
The computer’s library includes most major openings and
many positions from grandmaster play. If the current board position is
in its library, the computer plays a response to that position from
memory, instead of thinking about the move. Note that the openings
library is used on all levels except the Problem Solving Levels.
openings
ENGLISH
9
2.10 Thinking on the Opponent’s Time
As you play, you’ll probably 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 contemplating your next move to
think ahead and plan its own strategies. It tries to anticipate the move
you are likely to make, and calculates its responses for that move
while you’re still thinking. If the computer has guessed correctly,
there’s no reason for it to keep on calculating—it immediately plays
the move it has already found! Note that the computer does not think
on the opponent’s time on the Fun Levels.
2.11 Power Down/Game Memory
You may interrupt your game and turn the computer off by pressing
GO/STOP. The displa y will sho w Stop?, and pressing GO/STOP
once more to confirm will turn the unit off. Play is then suspended,
and the computer will store your game for up to one year. When you
switch back on again, you can continue from where you left off! If you
decide not to turn the computer off after pressing GO/STOP once,
simply press ‘ (CLEAR) to cancel.
If no keypresses or moves are made for 20 minutes, the Auto
Power Down feature will automatically turn your computer off. To
continue, press GO/STOP to turn the computer back on. Note that the
computer will not turn itself off while it is thinking about a move, or
while Stop? is being displayed.
3. THE MAIN MENU: ACCESSING SPECIAL MODES
Your Maestro Travel Chess Computer offers many user-selectable
modes and options, all accessed via the integrated Main Menu. Once
you press “ (MENU), you’re taken to ¿OPTION, the first of six Main
Menu items. Press ¯ (or ˘) repeatedly to cycle through all the Menu
items:
MAIN MENU ITEM ....... REFERENCE ............... DISPLAY
Option Mode..................... Section 4 ................... ¿OPTION
Level Mode....................... Section 5 ................... ¿LEVEL
Take Back Mode............... Section 6 ................... ¿TAKEBACK
Info Mode .........................Section 7 ................... ¿INFO
Setup Mode...................... Section 8 ................... ¿SETUP
Study Mode ...................... Section 9 ................... ¿STUDY
To select one of the Main Menu items, press ENTER. In each case,
10
you’ll be taken to a sub-menu, where you can make subsequent
selections. Some of the items (e.g., Option Mode) will offer a variety
of different choices and sub-choices, while others (e.g., Setup Mode)
will allow you to activate a particular game feature. Since the instructions for selecting menu items will vary, depending on the item you’ve
chosen, please see the referenced section numbers for full details on
accessing each of these major features. After selecting all desired
options and/or changing game settings, press “ (MENU) again to exit
the Main Menu and return to game play.
4. OPTION MODE: ADD VARIETY TO YOUR GAMES!
Want to explore all sorts of intriguing game options? Just take a
look at Option Mode! First, learn how to select and activate these
user-selectable options before or during game play, and then go on to
learn about the individual options, as described in this section.
Selecting Game Options
Press “ (MENU) to enter the Main Menu, and the display automatically shows ¿OPTION for Option Mode. Press ENTER to enter
Option Mode, and you’ll see the first of 11 options, as shown below.
Press ¯ (or ˘) repeatedly to cycle through all the options:
OPTION ...................... REFERENCE......... DEFAULT DISPLAY
Two Player Mode.......... Section 4.1........... player: P-C
Search Algorithm ......... Section 4.2 ........... search: select
Autobook Mode ............ Section 4.3........... book: on
White at Top ................. Section 4.4........... top: black
Countdown Clock ......... Section 4.5........... clock: up
Ticking Sound .............. Section 4.6........... ticks: off
Coach Mode ................. Section 4.7........... coach: off
Sound On/Off ............... Section 4.8 ........... sound: on
LCD Contrast ............... Section 4.9........... contrast: 3
LCD Speed................... Section 4.10......... LCD speed: 2
Automove Mode ........... Section 4.11......... automove: on
To turn an option on/off or to select option settings (if any), press
ENTER when the option is displayed. Pressing ENTER repeatedly will
cycle through all choices for the displayed option. When your choice
is displayed, either press ¯ or ˘ to go on to a different option, or
press ‘ (CLEAR) to return to the Main Menu, and then “ (MENU) to
return to normal game play. For details on each of these options, see
the referenced section numbers.
Note: When you reset the computer
ENGLISH
11
for a new game, most of your selected options are carried over to the
next game. The only exception is Two Player Mode, which automatically
returns to Player vs. Computer when you start a new game.
4.1 Two Player Mode
Options: player: P-C (Player vs. Computer)
Normally, the computer automatically answers with a countermove
after you enter your mov e. If you activate player: P-P, however,
you can enter any number of moves one by one, without allowing the
computer to answer. This feature can be used in a number of interesting ways:
player: P-P (Player vs. Player)
•Play through master games. Press ENTER to see what the
computer would do in any position!
•Keep records of your own chess games. When a game is over,
play to certain board positions to see how other moves or
different strategies might have affected the outcome.
•Study opening lines by entering them manually.
•Play against a friend, with the computer acting as a referee. The
computer will check all moves for legality and keep track of the
time for both sides.
If you’re playing against another person and you want to see what
the computer would do in your position, press ENTER to have the
computer make your next move. After the computer has moved, Two
Player Mode remains in effect, and you can continue your game. Note
that this option automatically reverts to its default setting of Player vs.
Computer whenever you reset for a new game.
4.2 Search Algorithm
Options: search: select / brute
The program in this chess computer normally uses a
Search algorithm.
concentrates mainly on those moves most likely to be successful,
allowing it to see combinations that might otherwise take much longer
to compute. You can also switch over to the somewhat slower but very
powerful
occasional oversight.
Brute Force algorithm
In this particular type of search, the computer
, which can minimize the risk of an
Selective
4.3 Autobook Mode
Options: book: on / off
This unique feature actually monitors your play during the opening
12
PRACTICE SETTING AN OPTION
1. Press “ (MENU) to enter the Main Menu. The display will
show ¿OPTION.
2. Press ENTER to enter Option Mode.
pick the Ticking Clock Option.
3. Press ¯ five times, until the display shows ticks: off.
4. Press ENTER to turn this option on, and the display changes
to ticks:on
5. Press ‘ (CLEAR) to exit Option Mode, press “ (MENU) to
exit Menu Mode—and the simulated ticking will start!
.
Note: To turn this option off again, repeat the above steps.
For more details, see Section 4.6.
phase of the game—and then gives you the opportunity to practice
those openings which are giving you the most trouble. It’s like having
your own personal “Adaptive Opening Coach”! With the Autobook
option on, the computer will watch your opening moves as you play.
The next time you end up with a bad position a few moves after the
end of an opening variation, the computer will “remember” that
particular opening line. In the future, then, the computer will play that
same opening whenever possible. This allows you to try out different
moves and strategies, in an attempt to become more familiar with that
opening, and thereby strengthen your play!
4.4 White at Top
Options: top: black / white
Want to depart from the usual standard and have the computer
play the White pieces from the top of the board? Then try out this
feature by selecting top: white at the beginning of a new game!
Start your game by pressing ENTER, and the computer will make the
first move for White from the top of the board.
Note: When the computer plays White from the top of the board,
you’ll notice that the Kings and Queen are positioned differently, and
the board notation is automatically reversed.
For this example, let’s
ENGLISH
13
4.5 Countdown Clock
Options: clock: up / down
Normally, the computer defaults to the clock: up option,
displaying the elapsed time. Activating the Countdown Clock option,
however, will display the remaining time instead. Here’s how to
differentiate between the clocks symbols at a glance:
[ / ] Countup Clocks (White/Black)
{ / } Countdown Clocks (White/Black)
Note that the Countdown Clock option is only available in combination with the Tournament and Speed Chess Levels.
4.6 Ticking Sound
Options: ticks: off / on
Turning this option on will activate a ticking sound that simulates a
chess clock. You can create the atmosphere of a championship chess
tournament in your very own living room!
4.7 Coach Mode
Options: coach: off / novice / inter. / adv.
Activating Coach Mode allows the computer to look over your
shoulder while you play, watching what you do and offering help if you
need it! In this unique capacity, the computer might warn you if you
are in danger of losing a piece, or if it thinks your move is about to
lead to an avoidable material loss. You may see displays like Your
Queen is in jeopardy! or Watch your Knight!. If
you stand to benefit from a particular situation, you might even see
He’s giving you a big chance!. Sometimes, the computer will also ask you to confirm or cancel an obviously illogical
move. If you choose to cancel, your move will be taken back and you
can try another!
To choose one of the Coach options, press ENTER repeatedly until
your desired level is displayed. Once you exit Option Mode and return
to game play, the last displayed Coach option will automatically be in
effect. The following are the available settings.
•coach: off: No coaching features are activated.
•coach: novice: Here, the computer assumes that you are
familiar with many tactical and strategic concepts, so it will only
make you aware of less obvious and more advanced concepts,
such as sacrifices and combinations.
14
•coach: intermediate: In this case, the computer gives
the amount of assistance it deems appropriate for players who
can see the most obvious points, but who also need to be made
aware of others.
•coach: advanced: This setting will give warnings and
advice whenever the computer feels they’re necessary, such as
when you commit a blunder or if a piece is in jeopardy.
When Coach Mode is activated, the computer will sound intermittent beeps during your turn as White, as a reminder that it’s waiting
for you to make a move.
4.8 Sound On/Off
Options: sound: on / off
Selecting one of these sound settings gives you the option of
playing chess with or without sound effects.
4.9 LCD Contrast
Options: contrast: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5
This option allows you to adjust the contrast of the LCD display,
with 1 being the lightest, and 5 the darkest. If you find that the default
setting of 3 is too light or too dark to read comfortably, change it by
pressing ENTER repeatedly, until your desired setting is displayed.
4.10 LCD Speed
Options: LCD speed: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4
You can control the scrolling speed of the LCD display by setting
this option, with 1 being the slowest, and 4 the fastest. If you find that
the default setting of 2 is too slow or too fast to read comfortably, you
can change it by pressing ENTER repeatedly, until your desired
setting is displayed.
4.11 Automove Mode
Options: automove: on / off
Normally, when the computer makes a move, it briefly flashes its
piece on the from and to squares, and then automatically makes the
move on the board. If you change to automove: off, however,
the computer will announce its moves as usual—but it will be up to
you to move the computer’s pieces on the board. After the computer
has announced its move, it will flash its piece on the from square.
Press the flashing piece, and it will then move to the to square. Press
the to square to complete the computer’s move.
ENGLISH
15
5. LEVEL MODE: CHOOSE FROM 100 LEVELS
Your chess computer has 100 unique playing levels to choose
from. The levels are divided into two basic groups:
• FUN LEVELS (1-60): These levels offer beginners and average
players a chance to build their chess skills. On many of the Fun
Levels, you’ll see the computer make mistakes on purpose—just
so you can learn from it!
• COMPETITION LEVELS (61-100): These levels are geared
towards intermediate and more advanced players. Included are
levels for casual and tournament play, problem solving, speed
chess, and even special levels for experimentation. As you are
selecting levels, 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!
Setting a Playing Level
Press “ (MENU) to enter the Main Menu, and press ¯ until the
display shows ¿LEVEL. Press ENTER to enter Level Mode, and
you’ll see the currently selected level, as in <00:05/move> (the
default level on the first power up). To change the level, press ˘ or ¯
to increase/decrease the levels by one, or use your stylus to press >
or < to increase/decrease the levels by ten. Note that pressing and
holding down ˘ or ¯ will automatically increase/decrease the levels
one at a time, until you stop pressing the key. When your desired level
is displayed, press ENTER to enter that level selection into the
computer. The display will confirm with Level changed, and
you’ll go back to the Main Menu. Press “ (MENU) to return to game
play.
If you enter Level Mode to verify the level, but you don’t actually
want to change levels, press ‘ (CLEAR) to go back to the Main
Menu. Once you exit the Main Menu with “ (MENU), you’ll return to
your game without changing the level or clock settings.
Please also note the following regarding level selection:
•The level can be changed whenever it’s your turn to move.
•Changing the level always resets the chess clocks.
•If you change levels while the computer is thinking, the computer
will abort its search and reset the clock.
16
CHANGING THE LEVEL: IT’S EASY!
1. Press “ (MENU) to enter the Main Menu. The display will
show ¿OPTION.
2. Press ¯ one time, and the display will show ¿LEVEL.
3. Press ENTER to enter Level Mode, and the current level is
displayed.
current level.
Let’s find Speed Chess Level 81.
4.
decrease the levels by one; press > or < to increase or decrease
the levels by ten. Watch the display for < 5 min/game >.
5. When you see < 5 min/game >, press ENTER. Then,
press “ (MENU) to exit Menu Mode, and you’re ready to try
out your new level.
FUN LEVELS
5.1 Fun Levels
Level Description Display
1................................ Fun Level 1................ <Fun Level 1>
2................................ Fun Level 2................ <Fun Level 2>
3................................ Fun Level 3................ <Fun Level 3>
…all the way up to…
58............................... Fun Level 58.............. <Fun Level 58>
59............................... Fun Level 59.............. <Fun Level 59>
60............................... Fun Level 60.............. <Fun Level 60>
The Fun Levels are meant primarily for beginners and younger
players. On these levels, this computer is much more “human” than
most other chess computers—it gives everyone a chance to win, in a
world where chess machines are typically relentless and often quite
difficult to beat. Although the general consensus seems to be that
computers never make mistakes, on some of these levels, this
computer actually does!
Handicaps are built into these levels, demonstrating common
mistakes made by beginners. You may see the computer deliberately
ignore the material worth of pieces, and ignore key concepts such as
Refer to Section 5, if necessary, to identify the
Press ˘ or ¯ to increase or
For more details, see Section 5.
ENGLISH
17
pawn structure, centrality, mobility, and King safety. It may overlook or
walk into mates, develop its Queen too early, or make impulsive
captures and checks. Chess books often advise of basic rules, yet
players see their opponents breaking the rules and getting away with
it. The Fun Levels provide a way to practice punishment of these
typical mistakes, enab ling the beginner to strengthen his game against
the human opponents he’s likely to face. On some of the weaker Fun
Levels, the computer will not only leave pieces unguarded, but it might
actually try to lose material. As the levels get higher, they give away
material less consistently. They progressively start to consider the
material worth of pieces more and more, and eventually only occasionally give pieces away. On the upper Fun Levels, the computer won’t
actually give away material, but it will play more like a beginner who
has learned the basics of the game. You might still see it make errors
such as opening itself up to threats of check or checkmate. Why not
explore all the Fun Levels—and learn from the computer’s mistakes.
COMPETITION LEVELS
5.2 Casual Play Levels
Level Average Time per Move Display
61................... 1 second per move ................... <00:01/move>
62................... 2 seconds per move ................. <00:02/move>
63................... 5 seconds per move ................. <00:05/move>
64................. 10 seconds per move ................. <00:10/move>
65................. 15 seconds per move ................. <00:15/move>
66................. 30 seconds per move ................. <00:30/move>
67................. 45 seconds per move ................. <00:45/move>
68................... 1 minute per move .................... <01:00/move>
69................... 2 minutes per move .................. <02:00/move>
70................... 3 minutes per move .................. <03:00/move>
When you choose one of the above levels, you’re selecting an
average response time for the computer. Note that the response
times are averaged over a large number of moves. In the opening and
the endgame, the computer will tend to play faster, but in complicated
middlegame positions, it may take longer to move.
5.3 Tournament Levels
Level Number Moves/Total Time Display
71............ 40 moves in 1 hour 20 min. ............< 40 in 1:20 >
72............ 40 moves in 1 hour 30 min. ............< 40 in 1:30 >
73............ 35 moves in 1 hour 45 min. ............< 35 in 1:45 >
18
74............ 40 moves in 1 hour 45 min. ............ < 40 in 1:45 >
75............ 35 moves in 1 hour 30 min. ............ < 35 in 1:30 >
76............ 40 moves in 2 hours ....................... < 40 in 2:00 >
77............ 45 moves in 2 hours 30 min............ < 45 in 2:30 >
78............ 50 moves in 2 hours. ...................... < 50 in 2:00 >
79............ 40 moves in 2 hours 30 min............ < 40 in 2:30 >
80............ 40 moves in 3 hours ....................... < 40 in 3:00 >
The Tournament Levels require you to make a certain number of
moves within a specific amount of time. If a player exceeds the
allotted time for a given number of moves, the display will indicate
this, and the game is over.
As described previously in Section 2.5, this computer utilizes a
Self-Rating system whenever you play Tournament Level games.
After a Tournament game has ended and you press NEW GAME
twice to reset the unit, the computer will briefly display your rating
before going on to the new game display. If you miss the rating
display, you can press HINT/INFO five times to see the rating again at
any time. To clear the display, press ‘ (CLEAR).
If you reset the computer for a new game
game,
before the game has actually ended,
during
a Tournament
the computer will allow
you to dictate the outcome, as follows:
•Display = Rate as draw?.
If you press ENTER, the rating will be displayed.
If you press ˘:
•Display = Rate as win?.
If you press ENTER, the rating will be displayed.
If you press ˘:
•Display = Machine wins?.
If you press ENTER, the rating will be displayed.
If you press ˘:
The display will cycle back to Rate as draw?.
In order to obtain a rating, you
questions with ENTER. If you
must
do not
answer one of the above
want the game to be rated for
any reason, press ‘ (CLEAR) in answer to any of the above questions. The computer will confirm by displaying Game not rated.
ENGLISH
5.4 Speed Chess Levels
Level Total Time per Game Display
81.............. 5 minutes per game................... < 5 min/game>
82.............. 7 minutes per game................... < 7 min/game>
83..............10 minutes per game................... <10 min/game>
19
84..............15 minutes per game................... <15 min/game>
85..............20 minutes per game................... <20 min/game>
86..............30 minutes per game................... <30 min/game>
87..............45 minutes per game................... <45 min/game>
88..............60 minutes per game................... <60 min/game>
89..............90 minutes per game................... <90 min/game>
90............100 minutes per game................... <100 min/game>
On the Speed Chess Levels, you set the total time for the whole
game. If the game time is exceeded, the computer displays which
side has lost on time, as in White time out. For these levels,
you may want to activate the Countdown Clock option to show the
countdown time instead of the elapsed time (see Section 4.5).
5.5 Problem Solving Levels
Level Problem Display
91.................... Mate in 1 move....................... < Mate in 1 >
92.................... Mate in 2 moves..................... < Mate in 2 >
93.................... Mate in 3 moves..................... < Mate in 3 >
94.................... Mate in 4 moves..................... < Mate in 4 >
95.................... Mate in 5 moves..................... < Mate in 5 >
96.................... Mate in 6 moves..................... < Mate in 6 >
97.................... Mate in 7 moves..................... < Mate in 7 >
98.................... Mate in 8 moves..................... < Mate in 8 >
Selecting one of these levels activ ates a special mate finder program.
If you have a position where there may be a mate and you would like
the computer to find it, set the computer on one of the Problem Solving
Levels. Your computer can solve mates in up to eight moves. Mates in
one to five are usually found quite quickly, whereas solutions taking
six to eight moves may tak e quite some time. If there is no mate present
or the computer cannot find a mate, it will briefly display No move
found!. Continue to play, if desired, by switching to another level.
5.6 Tactical Level
Level Description Display
99............ Tactical Play (no time limit) ............. < Tactical >
On the Tactical Level, the computer’s goal is to find the best tactical
sequence more quickly than it would on a normal playing level. The
computer will search indefinitely until it finds a win of two pawns or
more, or until you stop the search by pressing ENTER. The Tactical
Level is great for experimentation, since it lets the computer concentrate fully on special tactical positions!
20
5.7 Infinite Level
Level Description Display
100 ................ Infinite (no time limit) .................. < Infinite >
On the Infinite Level, the computer searches indefinitely until it
finds a forced mate, or until you stop the search by pressing ENTER.
If the search is halted, the computer makes the move it currently
thinks is best. Try experimenting with this level—set up special board
positions and let the computer analyze them for you! It will think for
hours and even days on end, trying to find the best possible move.
6. TAKEBACK MODE: TAKE BACK MOVES
When you’re playing chess against this computer, nothing is ever
“set in stone”—you can change your mind or decide to play a different
move whenever you’d like! When it’s your turn to move, simply press
“ (MENU) to enter the Main Menu, and press ¯ repeatedly until the
display shows ¿TAKEBACK. Press ENTER to enter Takeback Mode,
and you’ll see the last move that was made. To take that move back,
press ¯, and the move will be retracted on the board. The display will
then show the next move to be taken back. You may continue to press
¯ to take back any number of moves, all the way back to the beginning of the game, if desired. If you reach the beginning, the display
will show End takebacks, and you’ll automatically be returned
to the Main Menu. Note that, as long as you don’t go back to the very
start of the game, you can always press ˘ to go forward through the
moves again, if desired. To resume your game at any point with the
current board position, press ‘ (CLEAR) and then “ (MENU).
As a shortcut to entering Takeback Mode, you can also simply
press on the to square of the last move that was made. The display
will briefly show TAKEBACK, and it will then show the last move that
was made. To take the move back, press ¯. As above, repeated
presses of ¯ will take more moves back, if desired. To resume game
play at any point, press ‘ (CLEAR).
ENGLISH
7. INFO MODE: WATCH THE COMPUTER THINK
Imagine this: You’re playing chess against a friend, and it’s his
move. You’d love to know what move he’s considering and you’d really
like his opinion of the current board position. But, of course, you won’t
ask—because that’s just not done!
against this chess computer, you can ask anything you want,
Well, guess what—when you play
and
21
you’ll get all the answers!
In fact, you can obtain an incredible amount
of information about the computer’s thought process, and studying
this information can help you learn so much more about the game.
You may access game information at any time via Info Mode. As
described below, you can call up this information manually by pressing HINT/INFO, or you can select Info Mode options to be displayed
automatically, every time the computer is considering its next move.
Automatic Info Displays
Activating any or all of the following Info Mode options causes the
computer to automatically display that information every time it thinks
about its move—you can actually watch the computer “think out loud”!
Important: Info Mode options selected for automatic display
are only activated while the computer is thinking!
Press “ (MENU) to enter the Main Menu, and press ¯ repeatedly
until the display shows ¿INFO. Press ENTER to enter Info Mode,
and you’ll see the first of five options, as shown below. Pressing ¯ (or
˘) repeatedly cycles through these options, as follows:
•Show Moves: Shows the computer’s predicted line of play, up to
four individual moves. See Section 7.1.
Options:0 / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 moves
•Show Nodes: Shows the number of nodes (positions) searched
per second. See Section 7.2.
Options:nodes: off / on
•Show Time per Move: Shows the time used so far for the
current move. See Section 7.3.
Options:time/move: off / on
•Show Progress: Shows the computer’s search depth and the
move currently being considered. See Section 7.4.
Options:progress: off / on
•Show Evaluation: Shows the score for the current position. See
Section 7.2.
Options:evaluation: off / on
To turn an option on/off or to select option settings (if any), press
ENTER when the option is displayed. Pressing ENTER repeatedly will
cycle through all choices for the displayed option. When your desired
choice is displayed, either press ¯ or ˘ to go on to a different option,
or press ‘ (CLEAR) to go back to the Main Menu, and then
“ (MENU) to return to normal game play. For full details on each of
these options, see the referenced section numbers.
22
AN OUTLINE OF INFO MODE
PRINCIPAL VARIATION INFORMATION:
HINT/INFO
•Predicted line of play: Move 1
•Predicted line of play: Move 2
•Predicted line of play: Move 3
•Predicted line of play: Move 4
SEARCH INFORMATION:
HINT/INFO
• Position evaluation (score)
• Search depth; and
Move currently being considered
(if computer is thinking)
•Elapsed time for current move; and
Number of nodes searched per second
(if computer is thinking)
CHESS CLOCK INFORMATION:
HINT/INFO
•Elapsed time for both sides
• Remaining time for both sides*
*Speed Chess/Tournament Levels only
MOVE COUNT INFORMATION:
HINT/INFO
• Current move number + last move made
• Backwards and forwards through moves
of current game
ENGLISH
RATING INFORMATION:
HINT/INFO
• ELO rating (after a Tournament Level
game has been played)
23
You may turn on any or all of the above Info Mode Options. If you
activate more options than will fit in the display at one time, the
display will scroll continuously while the computer considers its next
move. If the display is scrolling too quickly, change the LCD Speed,
as noted in Section 4.10. You can also press GO/STOP to pause the
display, and then press ‘ (CLEAR) to resume the scrolling. When the
requested information is not available, the display will show --x--.
Manual Info Displays
Press HINT/INFO at any time, and the first move of the computer’s
predicted line of play will be shown (as described in Section 7.1).
Game information is divided into several different groups, and pressing HINT/INFO repeatedly cycles from one group to another. The ˘
and ¯ keys can then be used to cycle through the displays within
each group. Note that each of the groups is discussed in detail below.
Press ‘ (CLEAR) to return to the normal clock display.
7.1 Principal Variation
When you first press HINT/INFO, you’ll see the first move of the
principal variation (the computer’s predicted line of play), displayed as
in Ply1: b1-c3. A “ply” is an individual move, or a move for either
side, and the computer’s search depth is described in terms of the
number of ply it looks ahead. On a two-ply search, for example, the
computer will look ahead two individual moves (one move for Black
and one for White). Note that this first ply display can also be used as
a hint, since this is the move the computer is expecting you to make.
If you check this display while the computer is thinking, you’ll see
the move the computer is currently considering. If you check it during
your turn, you’ll see the move the computer is expecting you to make
next. In either case, pressing ˘ repeatedly cycles through the rest of
the moves in the predicted line of play, up to four ply:
•Predicted line of play: Move 1
•Predicted line of play: Move 2
•Predicted line of play: Move 3
•Predicted line of play: Move 4
7.2 Search Information
After pressing HINT/INFO to access Info Mode, press it again to
see information about the computer’s search. The initial display will
show the current score; pressing ˘ repeatedly cycles through the rest
of the information:
24
•The current score: A numerical evaluation of the current position,
based on a pawn being worth 1.0 points; a positive number
indicates that White is ahead. Example: If White is winning by
two pawns, the display will show Score: +2.0. Note that the
score is not valid on the Problem Solving Levels.
•Two-part display: (a) The current search depth, or the number of
individual moves the computer is looking ahead. For example: If
the computer is looking ahead 439 individual moves, you’ll see
d:4 39, with the d: standing for depth. (b) The move being
considered (if the computer is currently thinking).
•Two-part display: (a) The time used so far for the current move.
(b) The number of nodes, or positions, being searched per
second (if the computer is currently thinking).
7.3 Chess Clock Information
After pressing HINT/INFO to access Info Mode, press it two more
times to see chess clock information. The display will show the total
elapsed time for both sides. Notice that the chess clock symbol in the
middle portrays the current side to move and the type of clock in use.
Pressing ˘ will cycle through two displays, as shown below:
•Total elapsed time for White/Black (Countup Clock)
White to move [, Black to move ].
•Total remaining time for White/Black (Countdown Clock: Problem Solving/Speed Chess Levels only)
White to move {, Black to move }.
If the Countdown Clock is not currently activated, the second
display will simply show a blank clock (--:--{--:--).
The clocks will stop for various reasons during a game, such as if
you take back a move, check level settings, select options, set up a
position, or turn the computer off. The times are retained in memory,
however, and the clocks resume as soon as play is continued. Whenever you change playing levels or reset the computer for a new game,
the clocks are always set back to zero.
ENGLISH
7.4 Move Count/Game Moves
After pressing HINT/INFO to access Info Mode, press it three more
times to see the current move number and the last move made. You
can then press ¯ to cycle back through the moves of your game, if
desired, or press ˘ to go forward again at any point. This gives you
an opportunity to go back and write down the moves of a game that
turns out to be unexpectedly great!
25
•Current move number and last move made.
•Moves of the current game.
7.5 Rating Display
After pressing HINT/INFO to access Info Mode, press it four more
times to see your current rating. Note that the ratings are based on
Tournament Level play, as described in Section 5.3.
8. SETUP MODE: CHANGE THE BOARD
Setup Mode allows you to set up special board positions to play
from, or problems you would like the computer to solve!
Caution: All moves in your current game will be erased if you
make changes to the board position during a game.
You may change or set up a board position whenever it’s your turn
to move. Press “ (MENU), and press ¯ repeatedly until the display
shows ¿SETUP. Press ENTER to enter Setup Mode, and you’ll see a
display showing the color and piece symbols („ıKQRBNP).
• To remove a piece from the board, simply press on the piece
and it will disappear from the board.
• To move a piece from one square to another, press on the
piece, causing it to disappear. Then, press on the new square,
and the piece will appear in that location.
• To add a piece to the board, first press directly on the displayed
color and piece symbol for the piece you want to add, and then
press the square where you’d like to add the piece. To add
another piece of the same type and color, simply press down on
another square. To add a different piece, press another piece
and/or color symbol, and follow the same steps as above.
• To clear the board, press ‘ (CLEAR) while in Setup Mode. The
display will ask for confirmation with Clear board?. Press
ENTER, and the display will show Cleared. You can then add
any number of pieces, as described above. If you decide you
don’t want to clear the board after all, simply press ‘ (CLEAR)
again to cancel, and you’ll see Not cleared. Note that this
feature can be handy for setting up positions with only a few
pieces, where it would be easier to start out with an empty board!
• Once you have changed the position as described above,
note that the color for the side to move is determined by the color
of the last piece you set up. Change the color, if necessary, by
26
pressing either ı for Black or „ for White.
•To exit Setup Mode, press ENTER. When the computer asks for
confirmation with New position?, press ENTER to return
to normal play with your new board setup. New position!
confirms this. If you press ‘ (CLEAR), the display will show
Resume, and you’ll remain in Setup Mode.
Note that any legal board position can be set up using the above
procedures. The computer will not permit you to set up an illegal
position, such as one where there are more than the prescribed number
of pieces for a normal game, or one where a King is in check and is
not to move. In such cases, after you press ENTER to exit Setup Mode
and then ENTER to confirm, the computer will display Illegal.
You cannot exit Setup Mode until y ou ha ve set up a legal board position.
If you enter Setup Mode, but you haven’t yet made any changes to
the board, you can exit by pressing ENTER. The display will confirm
with unchanged, and you’ll be returned to the Main Menu. Press
“ (MENU) again to return to nor mal game play.
9. STUDY MODE: TRY TESTING YOURSELF!
Looking for a terrific learning tool? You’ll definitely want to try out
Study Mode! Eight famous games are built right into your computer,
each containing eight critical points—for a total of 64 different Study
Positions. It’s up to you to play through the games and make the
correct moves that were played for the winning side in the original
games. This feature offers great potential for improving your chess
knowledge, while allowing you to learn about making the best move in
a particular position. And, to make this feature even more exciting, the
computer will actually score your performance as you go.
By the way, if you need help solving any of the Study Positions,
simply refer to the Appendix for a complete listing of all the Study
Mode Games. Remember, though, that these games are included as
a reference tool—and you’ll only be cheating yourself if you look at
the solutions before trying to solve the Study Positions on your own!
ENGLISH
Selecting Study Positions
Tip: You can also select the Study Positions by pressing certain
board squares, as described later on in this section.
Press “ (MENU) to enter the Main Menu, and press ¯ (or ˘)
repeatedly until the display shows ¿STUDY. Press ENTER to enter
27
Study Mode, and you’ll see the first Study Position, < Study1-1 >.
To change the Study Position, press ˘ or ¯ to increase/decrease the
studies by one, or use your stylus to press > or < to increase/decrease the studies by eight. When your desired Study Position is
displayed, press ENTER, and the display will confirm with Start
Study?. Pressing ENTER at this point will start the Study Game, as
described below, or pressing ‘ (CLEAR) will cancel and return you to
the main Study Mode display.
After pressing ENTER, the computer will automatically start
making the moves of the selected Study Game. As soon as the first
Study Position is reached, the display will briefly show Your Move,
and the clock will start. Time for you to guess the move that was
played in that position in the original game! Here’s how it works:
•There is only one “correct” move per Study Position.
•Once the Study Position has been reached, the displayed color
symbol indicates which side is to move.
• If you make the correct move, Well Done will be displayed.
The computer will then make the next moves in the game,
eventually stopping at the next Study Position to be solved.
• If you make the wrong move, you’ll see Wrong Move
displayed briefly, and then Quit Study?.
•To remain in Study Mode and try another move, press
‘
(CLEAR). Points will be deducted for the incorrect guess,
your piece will go back to its original square, and you can
make a different move.
•To exit Study Mode and continue a normal game using the
move you played, press ENTER. The computer will start
thinking about its next move.
• Scoring: Each time you solve a Study Position correctly, points
are added to your score. You’ll get full points if you solve the
Study Position on the first try. For each incorrect move you make
before finding the correct move, your score will be cut in half. If
you reach zero points at any time, however, your score will
remain there, no matter how many more moves you try.
• To check your current score, press HINT/INFO twice. Note that
the first press will show the last move that was made for the
other side. Pressing ‘ (CLEAR) will cancel the score display.
If you solve a Study Game ending in checkmate, Checkmate!
will remain in the display after a series of congratulatory messages.
At this point, you can (a) reset for a new game, (b) use Info Mode to
document the moves by tracing back through them (as described in
28
USE THE BOARD TO SELECT STUDY POSITIONS!
For an easy method of selecting a Study Position, simply enter Study Mode
and press one of the corresponding board squares, as shown below.
8
1-8 2-8 3-8 4-8 5-8 6-8 7-8 8-8
7
1-7 2-7 3-7 4-7 5-7 6-7 7-7 8-7
6
1-6 2-6 3-6 4-6 5-6 6-6 7-6 8-6
5
1-5 2-5 3-5 4-5 5-5 6-5 7-5 8-5
4
1-4 2-4 3-4 4-4 5-4 6-4 7-4 8-4
3
1-3 2-3 3-3 4-3 5-3 6-3 7-3 8-3
2
1-2 2-2 3-2 4-2 5-2 6-2 7-2 8-2
1
1-1 2-1 3-1 4-1 5-1 6-1 7-1 8-1
abcdefgh
Section 7.4), or (c) take back any of the moves and resume a normal
game from any position. If you solve the last Study Position in a
game, but the game has not actually ended, the display will show
End Game, and the computer will automatically start thinking about
the next move, allowing you to continue the game normally.
ENGLISH
Using the Board for Selection
Each Study Position can also be activated individually by pressing
the corresponding board square. As shown in the Study Mode Chart,
each of the 64 squares represents one Study Position. Enter Study
29
Mode by pressing “ (MENU) and ¯ (or ˘) until ¿STUDY is displayed,
and then pressing ENTER. Next, refer to the chart and press one of
the board squares to select that Study Position. Press ENTER, and
the display will confirm with Start Study?. Press ENTER again,
and the Study Game will start, as described previously.
10. NEED HELP? LOOK HERE!
For troubleshooting purposes, we’ve compiled the following list of
situations you might encounter, along with some possible solutions.
a. The computer doesn’t react, behaves erratically, or “freezes”
during a game.
•Reinsert the batteries, or replace them with fresh alkalines.
•Static discharge may have caused a lock-up. Press into the
hole marked ACL to reset the unit (see Section 11.1).
b. The display is dim and/or difficult to read.
•Replace the batteries with fresh alkalines.
•Select a different LCD Contrast Option (see Section 4.9).
c. I’ve activated some automatic Info Displays to watch the
computer think, but the display is scrolling too quickly.
•Select a different LCD Speed option (see Section 4.10).
•Press GO/STOP to pause the scrolling display at any time;
press ‘ (CLEAR) to resume scrolling.
d. The computer won’t make a move.
•The unit only responds automatically if Two Player Mode is set
to player: P-C for Player vs. Computer (see Section 4.1).
•You might be on a level where the computer thinks for a long
time. You can force it to move, if desired, by pressing ENTER.
e. The computer won’t accept my move.
•You’re attempting to make an illegal move. Check the rules.
•Is your King in check? Will your move put your King into check?
Are you castling incorrectly? Review the position.
•Is it your turn? If the color symbol is flashing, the computer is
thinking. Press ENTER to interrupt, if desired.
f. The board notation is reversed when I make moves. Why?
•You have the white: top option activated. Go into Option
Mode and change to black: top (see Section 4.4).
g. I just reset for a new game, but the computer is showing
Rate as draw? instead of resetting itself.
•You’ve interrupted a Tournament Level game, and you need to tell
the computer how you want the game to be rated. For details, see
Section 5.3.
30
Loading...