6CNMKPI"'/%JGUUTM www.radioshack.comTM OWNER'S MANUAL -- Please read before using this equipment. 60-2846 Speaking Function -- you hear the computer announce its moves, letting you play it more naturally. Liquid Crystal Display -- shows current move, piece position and verification, level, position set up, and chess clock information. 8 Teaching Modes -- help you learn how to checkmate an opponent's king. 136 Playing Levels -- let you match the level of difficulty to your skill level. Opponent Selection -- lets you play against the computer or another person, or have the computer play itself. 32 Opening Book Library -- contains most major opening strategies, so the computer can respond more rapidly during a game's opening moves. This speeds up play and helps you play more professionally. Chess Clocks -- show the elapsed time for each move during a game or the total game time. #"+/2146#06"# If an icon appears at the end of a paragraph, go to the box on that page with the corresponding icon for pertinent information. © 2002 RadioShack Corporation. All Rights Reserved. RadioShack and RadioShack.com are trademarks used by RadioShack Corporation. # Rý-- Warning° -- Hint-- Important± -- Note. -- Caution %106'065 Features ........................... 2 Preparation ....................... 2 Installing/Replacing Batteries ........................ 2 Resetting the Computer 3 Basic Chess Instructions .. 3 The Chess Board .......... 3 The Game Pieces .......... 4 Game Rules .................. 5 Basic Operation ................ 7 Turning the Computer On/Off ............................ 7 Starting a New Game .... 8 Entering Moves ............. 8 Having the Computer Suggest a Move ............ 9 Changing Colors with the Computer ....................... 9 Undoing Moves ............. 9 Showing All Legal Moves ................ 10 Game Indicators .......... 10 Chess Play Levels ....... 11 Sound Options ................ 18 Speech ........................ 18 ('#674'5 Your RadioShack Talking E-Chess computer is one of the most versatile chess computers available. Your computer can play chess at a rating of 1750. More of the computer's features include: Undo -- lets you take back the previous move, to help you improve your game. Rule Enforcement -- the computer prevents illegal moves like a game referee, to help beginners learn the rules. Power Off Option -- lets you turn off the computer without interrupting the game in progress, so you can continue playing later. Help -- shows you all legal moves you can make during a game. Move Suggestion -- lets you ask the computer to suggest your next move, teaching you the best response to an opponent's move. Problem Setup -- lets you set up special chess problems so you can practice solving problems published in newspapers, chess literature, or history books. We recommend that you read these instructions thoroughly before you use your computer. Features ."%#76+10". · Use only fresh batteries of the required size and recommended type. Do not mix old and new batteries, different types of batteries (standard, alkaline, or rechargeable), or rechargeable batteries of different capacities. If you do not plan to use the computer for a month or more, remove the batteries. Batteries can leak chemicals that can destroy electronic parts. · 24'2#4#6+10 +056#..+0)14'2.#%+0)"$#66'4+'5 Your computer requires three AA batteries (not supplied) for power. For the best performance and longest life, we recommend RadioShack alkaline batteries. .# · 2 1. To save the current game and turn off the computer, press RATING/OFF. 2. Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the screw from the battery compartment cover, then lift off the cover. 3. Place the batteries in the compartment as indicated by the polarity symbols (+ and ­) marked inside. 4. Replace the cover and secure it with the screw. When the display dims, the sound becomes weak or distorted, or the computer stops operating properly, replace the batteries. # Rý 4'5'66+0)"6*'"%1/276'4 If your computer does not work properly after you replace the batteries, insert a pointed object, such as a straightened paper clip, into the RESET hole on the front of the computer. The computer sounds a message and &'ý9>;II appears. Resetting the computer clears any game stored.ý ý Dispose of old batteries promptly and properly. Do not burn or bury them. R "9#40+0)" R " #"+/2146#06"# If you are replacing the computer's batteries, make sure you turn off the computer before opening the battery compartment cover. This saves the current game in the computer. Your computer saves any games in its memory for about 30 seconds after you remove the batteries. $#5+%"%*'55" +05647%6+105 6*'"%*'55"$1#4& Following international chess notation, the chess board is made up of 8 vertical rows called files, and 8 horizontal rows called ranks. Each file (left to right) is designated by a letter of the alphabet (A through H), and consists of 8 squares alternately colored green and white. Each rank (bottom to top) is designated by a number (1 through 8), and also consists of 8 squares alternately colored green and white. ± ±"016'"±" The green squares are referred to as "black" throughout the rest of this manual. 3 Basic Chess Instructions Sound Effects .............. Move Announcements Sound .......................... Advanced Chess Functions ............ Move Score Display .... Rotating Information Display ........................ Selecting Competition Pairs ........ Ratings ........................ Using Coach ............... Using Opening Books . Using Teaching Modes .......... Using Problem Setup .. Troubleshooting .............. Care ............................ 18 19 19 20 20 20 20 21 22 23 24 25 27 28 ±"016'"±" You can set up any pieces you want in any legal order with the computer's teaching mode (see "Using Teaching Modes" on Page 24). 6*'")#/'"2+'%'5 There are 16 white and 16 black pieces, 32 in all. Each color has these pieces. Each kind of piece moves in a different way. ± «#/ ª (rook) -- can move any number of squares vertically or horizontally, but it cannot move through a square occupied by another piece. Basic Chess Instructions ¥#/ ¤ (knight) -- moves in an L-shaped pattern. It moves 2 squares horizontally or vertically, then moves 1 additional square at a right angle from its first move. At the end of its move, the knight must land on a square of a different color than the one it started from. The knight can move even if the squares it moves through are occupied. (It is the only piece that can "jump" another piece.) ¡#/ (bishop) -- can move any number of squares diagonally, but it cannot move through a square occupied by another piece. 4 -#/ ¨ (queen) -- can move any number of squares vertically, horizontally, or diagonally. (The queen's moves are a combination of the rook's and bishop's moves.) The queen cannot move through a square occupied by another piece. £#/ ¢ (king) -- can move only 1 square vertically, horizontally, or diagonally. Basic Chess Instructions §#/ ¦ (pawn) -- can move only 1 (or 2) squares directly forward, except when capturing another piece. It captures a piece by moving diagonally forward 1 square, except when capturing en passant. (See "Capturing En Passant" on Page 6). When it moves from its original position, it can move 1 or 2 squares forward. On subsequent moves, it can only move 1 square. A pawn can be promoted to a higher-ranking piece. See "Promoting a Pawn" on Page 6. )#/'"47.'5 %JGEMOCVG"L"6JG"1DLGEV"QH"VJG")COG The object of the game is to position your pieces so your next move would capture the opponent's king, and your opponent cannot move, protect the king, or capture your piece. This is called checkmate. 5 Here's an example of an en passant capture. The white pawn advances from E4 to E5. The black pawn is still in its original position (D7). %JGEM Check occurs when a player's piece directly threatens to capture the opponent's king, but the opponent can move the king, or another piece, to escape capture. %CRVWTKPI To capture a piece, you move your piece into the square occupied by the piece you are capturing, except when capturing an opponent's pawn en passant (see "Capturing En Passant"). Remove the captured piece from the board. The black pawn advances from D7 to D5. Basic Chess Instructions %CRVWTKPI"'P"2CUUCPV 'P"2CUUCPV A pawn can capture an opponent's pawn that has just moved 2 squares from its original position. Whenever your pawn is on your fifth rank, and your opponent moves 2 spaces to the same rank adjacent to your pawn, then you can declare en passant and move to your sixth rank immediately behind the pawn, then capture the pawn. The white pawn advances to D6 (one square behind the black pawn's position). The black pawn is captured by the white pawn, even though the exact square it is on is not occupied by the white pawn. 2TQOQVKPI"C"2CYP If your pawn advances to the eighth rank, you can promote it to a queen or another piece, even if the queen or other piece is still on the board. %CUVNKPI Castling protects the king from a potential check or checkmate situation by hiding it behind a fortified position or moving it out of immediate danger of attack. You can castle if: 6 · The king has not moved from his original position. · The rook that you want to move by castling has not moved from its original position. · The king is not placed in check on its current square, the square to which it is going, or a square it passes over. · The squares between the king and the rook are not occupied. If a rook is on the same side of the board as the king's square, this is called a king's side castle. If the rook is on the same side of the board as the queen's square, this is called a queen's side castle. In castling, the king moves 2 squares in the direction of either rook. The rook that is closest to the king after the king has moved now moves to the square right next to and on the other side of the king. Castling counts as 1 move. #"+/2146#06"# If the computer is thinking, it might not turn off when you press RATING/OFF. If this happens, press OPTIONS/ MOVE to force the computer to make its move, then press RATING/OFF. $#5+%"12'4#6+10 6740+0)"6*'"%1/276'4"1011(( Press CLEAR/ON to turn on the computer." To save the current game and turn off the computer, press RATING/OFF. # If you replace the batteries without saving the current game or press RESET, the computer resets itself to a new game. After that, the computer resets 80;&0&'. itself to Level 80;&0&' For more information, see "Chess Play Levels" on Page 11. The computer stores all of the game positions and any settings you set up. To continue playing the current game, press CLEAR/ON again. 7 Basic Operation °"*+06"°" ° If the next move you make will capture one of your opponent's pieces, press LAST MOVE instead of NEXT MOVE. The computer displays each move your piece can make that would result in the capture of your opponent's piece, than any other legal moves your piece can make. 56#46+0)"#"0'9")#/' The computer always starts a new game with you playing the white pieces and your opponent playing the black pieces. To start a new game and erase any game stored in memory, press SHIFT then NEW GAME/REPEAT. &'ý9>;II appears and the computer announces "New Game." '06'4+0)"/18'5 Playing chess against the computer is like playing with a human opponent -- you make your move, and the computer responds with its move. Making a move involves a FROM square and a TO square. The FROM square is the current location of the piece you plan to move; the TO square is where you are moving the piece. ±ý° ° 1. When it is your turn to move, repeatedly press NEXT PIECE or LAST PIECE to select the piece you want to move. The piece alternately flashes on its FROM square and one of its legal destinations. 2. If the move that appears is not the one you want, repeatedly press NEXT MOVE or LAST MOVE to select other legal moves for the piece. ±"016'"±" · On the display, indicates it is white's turn to move, while indicates it is black's turn to move. You cannot enter a command before the computer makes its move. To select a different piece after you pressed LAST MOVE or NEXT MOVE in this step, repeat Steps 1 and 2. The computer might respond instantly, so you might not see flash and the game timer count up. If you do not want to wait for the computer to calculate its move, you can press OPTIONS/ MOVE to force the computer to make a move. · · Basic Operation ± · 3. Press OPTIONS/MOVE to make your move. flashes to indicate it is the computer's turn, and the game timer counts up while the computer plans its move. To select a different move after you press OPTIONS/MOVE in this step, you must wait for · the computer to make its move, then press /UNDO to take back the computer's /UNDO again to take back move. Press your previous move. 8 4. Once the compute ...