QUICK START To play a game right away, without reading the entire manual first, simply follow these steps! 1 2 3 4 5 6 Insert two "AA" (AM3/R6) batteries into the computer, making sure to observe the correct polarity. Press GO/STOP to turn the computer on. If the unit doesn't respond, reset it as described in Section 1.1. Set up the chess pieces in the initial starting position for a new game, with the White pieces closest to you, as shown in this diagram. 2x AA/AM3/R6 GO/STOP NEW GAME TAKE BACK LEVEL NON AUTO SOUND TEACH MODE HINT PLAY GO/STOP Press NEW GAME to reset the computer. NEW GAME Enter moves by making them on the board, pressing the chess pieces down gently on the from and to squares for each move. PRESS KEYS AND FEATURES 1. BATTERY COMPARTMENT: In base of unit. Uses two "AA" (AM3/R6) alkaline batteries. 2. SENSORY CHESSBOARD: Each square contains a sensor that automatically registers piece movement. 3. PIECE SYMBOL KEYS: Used to verify positions and select Teach Modes. Also used for pawn promotions. 4. GAME KEYS · NEW GAME: Press to reset for a new game. · TAKE BACK: Press to take back the last individual move made. You may take back two individual moves, or a move for each side. · LEVEL: Press to enter Level Mode. · NON AUTO: Press to enter Non Auto Mode, which allows moves to be entered manually. · SOUND: Press to turn the sound on and off. · TEACH MODE: Press to enter Teach Mode. · HINT: Press and hold down to get a suggested move. · PLAY: Press to change sides with the computer; press while the computer is thinking to force it to move. · GO/STOP: Press to turn the computer on and off. Current position is retained in memory when turned off. 5. ACL (Reset): In base of unit. Used to eliminate static discharge after inserting new batteries. 6. DISPLAY WINDOW: Used to show moves, information, and chess clocks. Also used to select playing levels and Teach Modes, and to verify pieces. PRESS As soon as the computer makes a move, that move is displayed, with the from square flashing. Press the computer's piece down on the flashing from square (Square d7 in this example), and the display now flashes the to square. Press down on the flashing to square (d5, here) to complete the computer's move. That's all there is to it! Make your next move as described above. Press GO/STOP at any time to turn the computer off. Enjoy your game! TABLE OF CONTENTS QUICK START KEYS AND FEATURES INTRODUCTION 1. LET'S GET STARTED! 1.1 First, Install the Batteries 1.2 Ready to Play? Here's How to Move! 1.3 Now It's the Computer's Turn 1.4 Change Your Mind? Take Back! 1.5 Game Over? Why Not Play Again! 1.6 Too Easy/Hard? Change the Level! 2. ADDITIONAL BASIC FEATURES 2.1 Whose Move? Check the Display! 2.2 Special Chess Moves 2.3 Illegal Moves 2.4 Check, Mate, and Draw 2.5 Interrupting the Computer's Search 2.6 Changing Sides with the Computer 2.7 Need Help? Ask for a Hint! 2.8 Chess Clocks 2.9 Built-In Openings 2.10 Auto Power Down 2.11 Game Memory 3. THE PLAYING LEVELS 3.1 Fun Levels 3.2 Fixed Depth Levels 3.3 Casual Levels 4. SPECIAL MODES TO EXPLORE 4.1 Verify Mode 4.2 Non Auto Mode 4.3 Teach Mode 5. TECHNICAL DETAILS 5.1 The ACL Function 5.2 Care and Maintenance 5.3 Technical Specifications TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE SYMBOLS AND DISPLAYS AT A GLANCE! KING: White/Black QUEEN: White/Black ROOK: White/Black BISHOP: White/Black KNIGHT: White/Black PAWN: White/Black White/Black King in check Checkmate (for White/Black) Game has ended in a draw INTRODUCTION Welcome to the wonderful world of computer chess! Whether you're just starting to learn about chess or you've already discovered this great game, you're going to benefit from your new chess computer in so many ways! A unique combination of opponent and tutor, this computer is always willing to play, whenever you are! The Quick Start at the front of the manual is meant to get you started right away, and you'll find more details on game operation in Section 1. After familiarizing yourself with the basics, go on to explore the rest of the manual--and you'll soon discover a variety of other special features and exciting game options! By the way, your computer knows and follows all popular rules of chess--and you can be sure that it will never cheat! For those who haven't played before, we have included a brief overview of the rules to get you started. For more detailed information, why not visit your local library, where you're sure to find lots of interesting chess books! 1. LET'S GET STARTED! 1.1 First, Install the Batteries Your chess computer runs on two "AA" (Type AM3/R6) batteries. Insert the batteries into the compartment in the base of the unit, as shown in the Quick Start. Use fresh alkaline batteries for longer battery life (up to 200 hours)! Turn the computer on by pressing GO/STOP, and a beep will signal that the game is ready to play. If the computer should fail to respond (static discharge can sometimes cause it to lock up), use a paper clip or another sharp object to press down into the hole marked ACL in the base of the unit for at least one second. This will reset the computer. 2 Clock showing Minutes/Seconds: Steady colon, with leading zero Clock showing Hours/Minutes: Flashing colon, with no leading zero Display on entering Teach Mode Black to move Player to move 1.2 Ready to Play? Here's How to Move! Okay, it's time to start a game! It's so easy--just follow these steps: a. Press GO/STOP to turn the computer on, if you haven't already done so. b. Press NEW GAME to reset the computer for a new game of chess. Set up the pieces in their starting positions, with the White pieces nearest to you, as shown in the Quick Start. c. To make a move, lightly press down on the piece you want to move until you hear a beep--the sensory board will recognize your piece automatically, and the display will show the square that was pressed. d. Take that piece and gently press it down on the square you are moving to. You'll hear a second beep as the computer confirms the move. You've just made your first full move of the game! Next, it's the computer's turn to move for Black. 1.3 Now It's the Computer's Turn When the computer moves, it beeps and displays its move, with the from square flashing. Press the indicated piece down on the flashing from square until you hear a beep. The display now flashes the square the piece is moving to. Move that same piece to the indicated to square and press it down to complete the computer's move. And it's your turn again... Please be aware that the following may sometimes occur while the computer is thinking: · Game keys may need to be pressed down for two to three seconds before the computer responds. · The clock display may occasionally skip a few seconds, and the duration between consecutive seconds may appear to be uneven. Game play will not be affected. 1.4 Change Your Mind? Take Back! When you're playing chess against this computer, nothing is "set in stone"--you can change your mind or decide to play a different move whenever you want! You can take back two individual moves, or one move for each side. To take back the last move played, press TAKE BACK. The display will show the move to be taken back, with the original to square flashing. Press the piece down on that square. You now see the piece symbol, the color symbol, and the square that piece came from. Press the piece down on the flashing from square to finish the take-back. If the move taken back was a capture, the computer reminds you to put the captured piece back on the board by displaying the piece type and color, along with the location. Press this piece down on the indicated square. To take back another move, press TAKE BACK again. To continue the game, either make your next move or press PLAY to have the computer move next. 1.5 Game Over? Why Not Play Again! Whenever you finish a game (or if you give up on your current game), it's easy to start over again! Press NEW GAME, and the computer will reset itself, putting all the pieces back in their initial positions. The same playing level will be in effect, but you can change it if you'd like, as explained in Section 3. 2. ADDITIONAL BASIC FEATURES 2.1 Whose Move? Check the Display! You can always tell at a glance if the computer is currently thinking, and which side is to move! Whenever it's your turn to move, "PM" appears in the display. When Black is to move, you'll see "S" in the display. Although this is pretty straightforward during "normal" game play, where you are White and the computer is Black, we've included the following clarifications to help you with certain special situations: · When you switch sides with the computer, so that you play Black and the computer plays White: Both "PM" and "S" will be displayed when it is your turn to move for Black, and neither one will be displayed when it is the computer's turn to move for White. · When Non Auto Mode is in effect: Both "PM" and "S" will be displayed when it is Black's turn to move, and "PM" alone will be displayed when it is White's turn to move. For information on switching sides, see Section 2.6.; for details on Non Auto Mode, see Section 4.2. 2.2 Special Chess Moves Captures: To capture, press down lightly on the piece you want to move, take the captured piece off the board, and press your piece down on the square of the captured piece. En Passant: In an en passant capture, the computer reminds you to remove the captured pawn from the board by flashing the pawn's location in the display. Press down on the captured pawn before removing it from the board. Castling: 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 displays the Rook's move, with the from square flashing. Press down on this square, and the display flashes the square the Rook should move to. Press down on the Rook's to square to complete the move. Pawn Promotion: When you promote a pawn, first press your pawn down on the from square, as usual. The computer will flash the from square and the symbol for the Queen, along with the clock display. You now have two choices: (a) To promote to a Queen, simply complete your move by pressing your pawn down on the to square. The promotion will take place automatically. (b) To underpromote to a Knight, Bishop, or Rook, press the PIECE SYMBOL KEY for your desired promotion piece (@, #, or $). That symbol will be displayed, and pressing your pawn down on the to square will complete your move. When promoting, always remember to change your piece on the board! When the computer promotes a pawn, the display first shows its move, as usual, with the from square flashing. Press the from square, and you'll see the symbol for the computer's IMPORTANT: Pressing NEW GAME clears the current game from memory--be careful not to press this key by mistake! 1.6 Too Easy/Hard? Change the Level! Your computer offers 64 levels of skill, each of which corresponds to one of the 64 board squares--making level selection so easy! Together with the built-in Teach Modes, you have a choice of 768 level setting combinations! 3 ENGLISH At the start of a game, the computer will often move instantly because it is playing from memory, using its built-in "book" of opening moves. For details, see Section 2.9. For complete details on all the playing levels, along with instructions on selecting levels, see Section 3. promoted piece, along with the flashing to square. Simply press down on the to square, change the computer's piece on the board, and continue your game! 2.3 Illegal Moves Your computer will never accept an illegal move! If you try to make one, you'll hear a beep and the display will alternate between showing the from square and the time. Either move that same piece to another square, or press the piece back down on its original from square and move a different piece. If you don't move the computer's piece correctly, you'll also hear an error beep. This means that you are either moving the wrong piece, or moving the computer's piece to the wrong square. Check the display and make the move again. 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. Caution: Be careful when playing with the sound turned off, since you won't be able to hear the error beeps! 2.4 Check, Mate, and Draw Check: When a King is in check, the computer first displays the move as usual. After the move is made, the display alternates between the time and ch:__ (if White is in check) or ch:)) (if Black is in check). Checkmate: When a game ends in checkmate, the display flashes End_ (if White has won) or End) (if Black has won). Draws: The computer recognizes draws by stalemate and immediate three-fold rep ...