User manual SAITEK CHESS ACADEMY

TABLE OF CONTENTS QUICK START KEYS AND FEATURES INTRODUCTION 1. GETTING STARTED: THE BASICS 1.1 Power On 1.2 Ready to Play? Here's How! 1.3 The Computer Makes Its Move 1.4 Change Your Mind? Take Back! 1.5 Game Over? Start a New Game 1.6 Too Easy/Hard? Change Levels! 1.7 Voice On/Off? It's Your Choice! 2. ADDITIONAL FEATURES 2.1 Whose Turn? Check the Display! 2.2 Captures and Special Moves 2.3 Illegal Moves 2.4 Check, Mate, and Draw 2.5 Need a Hint? Just Ask! 2.6 Interrupting the Search 2.7 Changing Sides 2.8 Book Openings 2.9 Thinking on the Opponent's Time 2.10 Game Memory 2.11 Auto Power Down 3. PLAYING LEVELS Setting a Playing Level 3.1 Fun Levels (1-60) 3.2 Casual Play Levels (61-70) 3.3 Tournament Levels (71-80) 3.4 Speed Chess Levels (81-90) 3.5 Problem Solving Levels (91-98) 3.6 Tactical Level (99) 3.7 Infinite Level (100) 4. TUTORIAL LESSONS About the Tutorials 4.1 Selecting a Tutorial Lesson 4.2 Tips on Taking Tutorials 5. GAME OPTIONS Selecting Game Options 5.1 Operation Mode Options Auto Response Sound Levels Coach Levels Clock Ticking Countdown Clock Play White from the Top 5.2 Playing Mode Options Selective Search All Opening Books Individual Opening Books 5.3 Opening Rules Options All Opening Rules Individual Opening Rules 5.4 Rotating Display Options 6. GAME INFORMATION Using Info Mode 6.1 Principal Variation 6.2 Search Information 6.3 Chess Clocks 6.4 Move Count/Game Moves 7. VERIFYING/SETTING UP POSITIONS 7.1 Verifying Positions 7.2 Changing Positions 8. TECHNICAL DETAILS 8.1 The ACL Function 8.2 Care and Maintenance 8.3 Technical Specifications TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE Learn about opening lines, opening rules, and so much more... Be sure to check out Section 4 for all the Tutorial Lessons! tion regarding adapter use in Section 8.2. When using an adapter, first plug it into a wall outlet, and then into your computer. Important: To ensure that the computer's memory contents are not lost, keep good batteries installed in the unit even when you are using an AC-DC adapter. To turn the computer on, press GO/STOP. After a brief start-up procedure, a welcome message will greet you, signalling that the computer is ready to play! If the unit does not respond, use a paper clip or another sharp object to press down into the hole marked ACL in the base of the unit for at least one second. This will reset the computer. To conserve energy and extend battery life, an Auto Power Down feature will cause the computer to turn itself off automatically if left idle for about 15 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, if you haven't already done so. b. Press YES/? and NO/X simultaneously to reset the ? computer for a new game of chess. You'll hear New Game as a confirmation! 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 the voice identify that square. The sensory board registers your move, and the light in that square turns on. The display also shows the color, the piece, and the square that was pressed. d. Take the piece and press it down on the square to which you are moving. That square will be announced, and the computer will start thinking about its move. At the beginning of a game, the computer's reply is often instantaneous on many levels, because it is playing moves which are stored in its openings library (for details, see Section 2.8). INTRODUCTION Congratulations! You are now the proud owner of one of the most unique and exciting chess computers ever! This talking computer, with its vast array of special features and interesting game options, is a real breakthrough in the field of computer chess. The human-like interaction is guaranteed to amaze you--this machine is unlike any other! Over three hours of human voice will guide you, train you, and keep you company while you learn more than you ever imagined you could about the exciting game of chess. From the friendly advice on what to do in a certain position, to the warnings when you're about to make a mistake, to the in-depth tutorials which take you by the hand and teach you as never before--with this computer by your side, chess will never be the same again! 1.3 The Computer Makes Its Move When the computer moves, it says Move ready and shows its move in the display. It also turns on the light in the square it is moving from. Press the indicated piece down gently on the from square until the square is announced and the light in the to square comes on. Move that piece to the to square and press the piece down to complete the computer's move. Depending on the sound and coaching options currently in effect, you may also hear other game information during these early moves. The computer might identify the opening line and refer you to a tutorial for that specific opening! Or, if it thinks you need help with rules or strategies, it may offer advice, referencing related tutorials. You simply couldn't ask for a more helpful, patient, and knowledgeable chess tutor! See the "KEYS AND FEATURES" diagram for an itemized overview of the computer's main points! Your computer knows and follows all the rules of chess. For those who are new to the game, we have enclosed an overview of the rules. We hope this will help you understand the game better and get a feel for the strategies involved. For more detailed information, we suggest a visit to your local library, where you are sure to find a wealth of interesting chess books! 1. GETTING STARTED: THE BASICS 1.1 Power on Your chess computer runs on six "C" (AM2/R14) batteries. Insert the batteries as indicated in the Quick Start at the front of the manual, making sure to observe the correct polarity. Use fresh alkaline batteries for longer battery life! If you would rather not power your computer with batteries, you may purchase an optional AC-DC adapter. Please use only the adapter specified in Section 8.3, as using any other adapter could damage the computer and will invalidate your warranty. Please also read the precautionary informa- 1.4 Change Your Mind? Take Back! To take a move back for either side, simply retract the move on the board by moving the piece back to the square from which it came, pressing down on the squares as you go. The take-back is announced, the display shows you the move, and the board lights alternately turn on the to and from squares to guide you through the take-back. After you take back one move, the computer will indicate the next move that can be taken back. You can take back up to 64 1 ENGLISH individual moves. To resume play at any point, simply make another move on the board. Alternatively, you may press BACK when it is your turn to move, and the computer will guide you through the takeback procedure as described above. When you take back captures, castling maneuvers, or pawn promotions, the computer will remind you of pieces to be put back on the board! It uses the display, board lights, and voice to show the piece and position. Press the piece down on the indicated square to complete the take-back. SPECIAL NOTES REGARDING SOUND! · Control the volume with the Volume Control Slider. · The Sound Levels determine the amount of voice interaction, beeps or silence (see Section 5.1). · The Coach Levels determine the amount of voice coaching, regardless of the Sound Level setting (see Section 5.1). · If you don't move the computer's piece on the board soon after it has announced its move, it intermittently sounds a series of reminder beeps! You'll appreciate this feature on levels where the computer thinks for a long time--you can walk away from the game and the repeated beeps will alert you when the computer has moved! These beeps also occur at other times--whenever you hear them, check the board and display to see what the computer is expecting you to do! · When you take a tutorial, the current Sound and Coach Levels may be changed, as required by that tutorial. These Sound and Coach Levels will remain in effect upon exiting Tutorial Mode. · Press SAY AGAIN to have the last phrase repeated. Pressing this key repeatedly may also give you other previously spoken game information. No matter which Sound Level is in effect, pressing SAY AGAIN will always repeat the phrase(s) that you would have heard on Sound Level 4. down on the from square, as usual. As soon as you press the to square, the computer will prompt you to select a promotion piece. It also displays the promotion square and turns on that board light. Press a Piece Symbol Key (%, $, #, or @) to identify your new piece, and the pawn promotion or underpromotion is complete. 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, it indicates its move as usual, but the display shows both the pawn and its intended promotion piece. Simply make its move by pressing the from and to squares as usual. 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 attempt such a move, the computer will announce your mistake! If you press the wrong to square, you will hear Error, and the display and a board light will indicate the square the piece came from. To clear the illegal move, press the piece back down on its from square. If you press down on the wrong color piece, you will again hear Error, and the computer will simply disregard the square you pressed. If you don't execute a computer move correctly (if you try to move its piece to the wrong square), you also get an error message and a board light identifies the square the piece should move to. Check the display again for the correct move. 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 ER:C5 briefly, pointing out your error. The display then returns to showing the move again (C7-C5), and the computer expects you to press down on Square c5 to complete its move. If you press down on a piece and the from square appears in the display, but you decide not to make that move, simply press down on that same square again to cancel the input. Then make another move of your choice. If you change your mind after entering your whole move, take the 1.5 Game Over? Start a New Game Whenever you finish a game (or if you decide to abort your current game), you may reset the computer to start a new game by pressing YES/? and NO/X simultaneously. A ? New game message signifies that the computer is ready for another game, using the currently set level. Caution: Resetting the computer for a new game clears your current game from the computer's memory! 1.6 Too Easy/Hard? Change Levels! When the computer is first turned on, it is set to Playing Level 63, with an average response time of five seconds a move. However, you can choose from 100 different levels of play! For detailed descriptions of all levels and instructions on how to change levels, see Section 3. 1.7 Voice On/Off? It's Your Choice! Your computer's informative and entertaining voice is on Sound Level 2 by default, and the Volume Control Slider controls the volume. However, if you would rather have more voice output, or less, or if you want to turn the sound off completely, you do have those options! See Section 5.1 for a complete rundown of all your choices. Many of the voice examples used in this manual are based on the computer's default settings. Depending on the sound and coaching options you choose in Section 5, you can have as much or as little voice interaction as you wish! By the way, if you don't hear what the computer says at any point, simply press SAY AGAIN on your turn to have the last phrase repeated. Pressing this key repeatedly may also give you other previously spoken information. Note that you can use this feature regardless of the current Sound Level-- pressing SAY AGAIN will always repeat the phrase(s) that would have been spoken on Sound Level 4. 2. ADDITIONAL FEATURES 2.1 Whose Turn? 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 is displayed steadily to show that it is now White's turn to move. This feature allows you to tell at a glance whether or not the computer is currently thinking, and which side is to move! 2.2 Captures and Special 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 on the square of the captured piece. Captures are displayed as in G6·H5. En Passant: In an en passant capture, the computer reminds you to remove the captured pawn and turns on the light in 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 reminds you to move the Rook. Press down on the Rook's indicated from and to squares to finish the castling move. A Kingside castle is displayed as 0-0, and a Queenside castle as 0-0-0. Pawn Promotion: · When you promote a pawn, first press your pawn 2 2.4 Check, Mate, and Draw When a King is in check, the computer will say Check!. After the move is made, CHECK flashes in the display for a few seconds, along with the checking move. The display then reverts back to showing the clock. Note that when the computer is in check, the display will revert back to normal immediately after the CHECK display. 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., =in 2 for a mate in two moves). The display then goes back to showing the clock. When a game ends in checkmate, Checkmate! is announced, and the display flashes MATE (along with the mating move) for a brief time after the move has been made. The display then goes back to showing the clock. The computer recognizes draws by stalemate, three-fold repetition, and the 50-move rule. The voice will announce the draw, and the display flashes End (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 Need a Hint? Just Ask! Whenever you need help, the computer is glad to oblige! Press HINT/INFO on your turn, and the computer will display a suggested move. Displaying this hint usually takes one to five seconds, but can sometimes take longer. To accept the hint, make that move on the board. To make a different move, disregard the hint and make a move of your own, or press NO/X to cancel the hint display. Note: The hint move is based on an optimum level rather than the current level. 2.6 Interrupting the Search To interrupt the computer while it is thinking, simply press YES/?. This forces the computer to play the best move it ? has found so far. This feature can be useful on the higher levels, where the computer can take a long time to move, and on the Infinite and Tactical Levels, where the computer keeps thinking indefinitely unless you stop it. On the Problem Solving Levels, pressing YES/? does not ? cause the computer to make a move. Instead, the computer displays ----- to indicate that it was interrupted before it found a mate. To continue play, switch to another level. 2.7 Changing Sides To change sides with the computer, press YES/? when it ? is your turn--the computer will then make the next move for your side. Change sides as often as you wish! If you want the computer to play the first move for White at the start of a game, first press YES/? and NO/X together ? to reset for a new game. Then, press YES/? again--and the ? computer will start the game with a White move! To have the computer play chess against itself, press YES/? after each move--watch as it plays for both sides of ? the board, one move after another. Study its strategies--you might improve your own game! 2.8 Book Openings At the beginning of a game, the computer's reply is often instantaneous on many levels, because it is playing moves from its openings 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. The computer uses its openings library on all levels except the Problem Solving Levels and certain handicapped levels. This chess computer also offers various other unique ways for you to learn more about book openings. Section 5.2 describes how to set Playing Mode Options to study individual openings. And in Section 4, you'll be delighted to find in-depth voice tutorials on many of the most popular chess openings--it's a great way to strengthen your game! Study famous chess games in the greatest detail... The Tutorial Lessons offer you this unique opportunity--take a look at Section 4! 2.9 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 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 particular move while you are still thinking. If the computer has guessed correctly, there is 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. 2.10 Game Memory You may interrupt a game at any time and turn the unit off by pressing GO/STOP. Play is then suspended, and the computer stores your current position and game (up to 64 individual moves) for up to one year. When you switch back on again, you can continue right where you left off! Tip: If you power your unit with an AC-DC adapter, you should still keep good batteries installed, to ensure that memory contents are not lost if the unit is unplugged! 2.11 Auto Power Down The Auto Power Down option is an energy-saving feature, causing the computer to automatically turn itself off after about 15 minutes if no keypresses or moves are made during that time. To continue where you left off, 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. 3. PLAYING LEVELS See "PLAYING LEVELS AT A GLANCE!" for a listing of all 100 playing levels. Your chess computer has 100 unique playing levels to choose from. These levels are divided into two basic groups: · 60 HANDICAPPED LEVELS: These special Fun Levels offer beginners and average players a chance to learn about chess and build their skills. On many of the Fun Levels, you'll even see the computer make mistakes on purpose--so that you can learn from it! · 40 COMPETITION LEVELS: These playing levels offer intermediate and more advanced players a great variety! They include levels for tournament play, casual and tactical play, problem solving, and speed chess. When you set the level, keep in mind that when the computer has more time to think about its moves, it gets stronger and plays better--just like a human chess player! Setting a Playing Level See "WANT TO SET A PLAYING LEVEL? HERE'S HOW!" for a detailed example of setting a level. For a complete overview of all 100 playing levels, please refer to the Level Chart. The levels are also described individually in this section. 3 ENGLISH move back as described in Section 1.4. Press LEVEL to enter Level Mode, and the computer displays the currently selected level. Use the FWD and BACK keys to increase or decrease the levels by one. As a shortcut, press LEVEL repeatedly to skip over ten levels at a time. While changing levels, you will see the display toggle between the level number and the descriptive level display. For example, the display for Fun Level 2 will alternate between L2 and Fun: 2. When your desired level is displayed, simply press YES/? to enter your level selection into ? the computer and exit Level Mode. If you have pressed LEVEL to verify the level but do not wish to actually change levels, press NO/X to exit Level Mode. This returns you to normal play without changing the level or clock settings, even while the computer is thinking. Please also note the following, in regard to setting levels: · The level can be changed at any time during the game. · Changing the level always resets the chess clocks. · If you change the level while the computer is thinking, the clock is reset and the current search is aborted. If LEVEL is pressed while the computer is thinking but the level is not changed (that is, if NO/X is pressed instead of YES/?), the computer will also abort its search. ? WANT TO SET A PLAYING LEVEL? HERE'S HOW! 1. Press LEVEL. The current playing level is displayed. Let's say you want to select the first Speed Chess Level. 2. Press FWD or BACK to increase or decrease the levels by one. Watch for Speed Chess Level 81 (L 81), displayed as 0:05:99. SHORTCUT: To skip over ten levels at a time, press LEVEL repeatedly! LEVEL LEVEL FWD BACK 3. When L 81 and 0:05:99 are displayed, you are on the correct Speed Chess Level. 4. Press YES/? to enter this level into the computer. That's it! HANDICAPPED LEVELS 3.1 Fun Levels LEVEL DESCRIPTION ALTERNATING DISPLAY 1 2 3 Fun Level 1 ................................... L Fun Level 2 ................................... L Fun Level 3 ................................... L 1 2 3 Fun: 1 Fun: 2 Fun: 3 YES/? Select any other level the same way! The Level Chart shows you the different displays. For more info on choosing levels, see Section 3. ...ALL THE WAY UP TO... 58 Fun Level 58 ................................. L 58 Fun:58 59 Fun Level 59 ................................. L 59 Fun:59 60 Fun Level 60 ................................. L 60 Fun:60 These unique "Fun Levels" are strongly handicapped and meant primarily for beginners and younger players. On these levels, your 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! The Fun Levels cover a rating range from 0 to 1900 ELO points. By the way, if you don't do so well on these levels, the computer will automatically suggest tutorials for you! Various handicaps are built into some of these levels, demonstrating common mistakes made by beginners. You may see the computer deliberately ignore the material worth of the pieces, and ignore key concepts such as pawn structure, centrality, mobility, and King safety. It may overlook or walk into mates, develop its Queen too early, and make impulsive captures and checks. Chess books often advise of basic rules, yet players see their opponents breaking these rules and getting away with it. The Fun Levels provide a way of practicing the punishment of these typical mistakes, thus enabling the beginner to strengthen his game against the human opponents he is likely to face! On some of the weaker Fun Levels, the computer will not only leave pieces unguarded, but might also actually try to lose material. Watching the computer throw away its Queen would not even be uncommon! 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 higher Fun Levels, the computer doesn't actually give away material--instead, it plays more like a beginner who has learned the basics of the game. You might still see it make mistakes such as opening itself up to threats of check or checkmate. Why not try out all the Fun Levels--and try to learn from the computer's mistakes! 63 5 seconds per move .................... L 63 L 0:05 64 10 seconds per move .................... L 64 L 0:10 65 15 seconds per move .................... L 65 L 0:15 66 30 seconds per move .................... L 66 L 0:30 67 45 seconds per move .................... L 67 L 0:45 68 1 minute per move ....................... L 68 L 1:00 69 2 minutes per move ..................... L 69 L 2:00 70 3 minutes per move ..................... L 70 L 3:00 The first ten Competition Levels are meant for casual chess play. Whenever you choose one of these levels, you are selecting an average response time for the computer. On these levels, the computer uses a Selective Search, allowing it to quickly come up with move combinations which would otherwise take much longer to find. Note that the response times are averaged over a large number of moves. In the opening and endgame, the computer tends to play faster, but in complicated middlegame positions, it may take longer to move. 3.3 Tournament Levels LEVEL NUMBER OF MOVES/TOTAL TIME ALTERNATING DISPLAY COMPETITION LEVELS 3.2 Casual Play Levels LEVEL AVERAGE TIME PER MOVE ALTERNATING DISPLAY 71 40 moves in 1 hour 20 min. ........... L 71 1:20:40 72 40 moves in 1 hour 30 min. ........... L 72 1:30:40 73 35 moves in 1 hour 45 min. ........... L 73 1:45:35 74 40 moves in 1 hour 45 min. ........... L 74 1:45:40 75 35 moves in 1 hour 30 min. ........... L 75 1:30:35 76 40 moves in 2 hours ...................... L 76 2:00:40 77 45 moves in 2 hours 30 min. ......... L 77 2:30:45 78 50 moves in 2 hours. ..................... L 78 2:00:50 79 40 moves in 2 hours 30 min. ......... L 79 2:30:40 80 40 moves in 3 hours ...................... L 80 3:00:40 The Tournament Levels require you to make a certain number of moves within a given amount of time. If a player exceeds the allotted time for a given number of moves, the computer announces this (e.g., White loses on time) and displays timE along with the elapsed time to show that the game is over. If you select a Tournament Level, you may want to set the clocks to display countdown time instead of the elapsed time (see Section 5.1). When the game time runs out, the countdown clock automatically reverts back to the normal display. 3.4 Speed Chess Levels LEVEL TOTAL TIME PER GAME ALTERNATING DISPLAY 61 62 1 second per move ...................... L 61 2 seconds per move .................... L 62 L 0:01 L 0:02 4 NEED HELP CHOOSING A LEVEL? SOME TIPS FOR YOU! · Are you a beginning player? Start out with the Fun Levels. These levels restrict the search depth and contain built-in handicaps, resulting in weaker play. This gives you a chance to learn about the game and perhaps even beat the computer! These 60 levels get progressively more difficult as they go up--as you conquer each level, go on to the next! · Are you an intermediate or more advanced chess player? Try the Casual Play Levels, which range from easy all the way up to a more difficult three-minute response time on Level 70. For real excitement, challenge the computer to some fastpaced games of Speed Chess! And, if you are up to the most demanding levels, be sure to have a go at the Tournament Levels. · Learn by watching the computer! Study different styles of play based on the type of search. Use Playing Mode to switch between the Selective Search and Brute Force Search algorithms--look for differences in how the computer plays! · Want to experiment? Use the Problem Solving Levels to solve problems up to mate in eight--try searching from a position in one of your own games, or set up an actual mate problem. Select the Infinite Level or the Tactical Level and have the computer analyze complicated positions for hours or even days! Turn on the Rotating Display Options and watch its thought process in the greatest detail! PLAYING LEVELS AT A GLANCE! For more details, see Section 3. FUN LEVELS DESCRIPTION ALTERNATING DISPLAY 1 2 3 58 59 60 Fun Level 1 .................................... L Fun Level 2 .................................... L Fun Level 3 .................................... L 1 2 3 Fun: 1 Fun: 2 Fun: 3 Fun:58 Fun:59 Fun:60 ...ALL THE WAY UP TO... Fun Level 58 .................................. L 58 Fun Level 59 .................................. L 59 Fun Level 60 .................................. L 60 CASUAL PLAY LEVELS AVERAGE TIME PER MOVE ALTERNATING DISPLAY 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 1 second per move ...................... L 2 seconds per move .................... L 5 seconds per move .................... L 10 seconds per move .................... L 15 seconds per move .................... L 30 seconds per move .................... L 45 seconds per move .................... L 1 minute per move ....................... L 2 minutes per move ..................... L 3 minutes per move ..................... L 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 L L L L L L L L L L 0:01 0:02 0:05 0:10 0:15 0:30 0:45 1:00 2:00 3:00 TOURNAMENT LEVELS NUMBER OF MOVES/TOTAL TIME ALTERNATING DISPLAY 81 5 minutes ..................................... L 81 0:05:99 82 7 minutes ..................................... L 82 0:07:99 83 10 minutes ..................................... L 83 0:10:99 84 15 minutes ..................................... L 84 0:15:99 85 20 minutes ..................................... L 85 0:20:99 86 30 minutes ..................................... L 86 0:30:99 87 45 minutes ..................................... L 87 0:45:99 88 60 minutes ..................................... L 88 1:00:99 89 90 minutes ..................................... L 89 1:30:99 90 100 minutes ..................................... L 90 1:40:99 On the Speed Chess Levels (also called "Sudden Death" Levels), you set the total time for the whole game. If the game time is exceeded, the computer announces this (e.g., Black loses on time) and flashes timE along with the elapsed time to show that the game is over. If you select a Speed Chess Level, you may want to set the clocks to display countdown time instead of elapsed time (see Section 5.1). When the time runs out, the countdown clock automatically reverts back to the normal clock display. 3.5 Problem Solving Levels LEVEL PROBLEM ALTERNATING DISPLAY 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 40 moves in 1 hour 20 min. ........... L 40 moves in 1 hour 30 min. ........... L 35 moves in 1 hour 45 min. ........... L 40 moves in 1 hour 45 min. ........... L 35 moves in 1 hour 30 min. ........... L 40 moves in 2 hours ...................... L 45 moves in 2 hours 30 min. ......... L 50 moves in 2 hours ...................... L 40 moves in 2 hours 30 min. ......... L 40 moves in 3 hours ...................... L 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 1:20:40 1:30:40 1:45:35 1:45:40 1:30:35 2:00:40 2:30:45 2:00:50 2:30:40 3:00:40 SPEED CHESS LEVELS TOTAL TIME PER GAME ALTERNATING DISPLAY 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 5 minutes ..................................... L 7 minutes ..................................... L 10 minutes ..................................... L 15 minutes ..................................... L 20 minutes ..................................... L 30 minutes ..................................... L 45 minutes ..................................... L 60 minutes ..................................... L 90 minutes ..................................... L 100 minutes ..................................... L 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 0:05:99 0:07:99 0:10:99 0:15:99 0:20:99 0:30:99 0:45:99 1:00:99 1:30:99 1:40:99 PROBLEM SOLVING LEVELS PROBLEM ALTERNATING DISPLAY 91 Mate in 1 ....................................... L 91 =in 1 92 Mate in 2 ....................................... L 92 =in 2 93 Mate in 3 ....................................... L 93 =in 3 94 Mate in 4 ....................................... L 94 =in 4 95 Mate in 5 ....................................... L 95 =in 5 96 Mate in 6 ....................................... L 96 =in 6 97 Mate in 7 ....................................... L 97 =in 7 98 Mate in 8 ....................................... L 98 =in 8 Selecting one of these levels activates 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 chess 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 take quite some time. If there is no mate present or the computer cannot find a mate, it will display a series of dashes (-----). You may continue to play, if desired, by switching levels. 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 Mate in 1 ........................................ L Mate in 2 ........................................ L Mate in 3 ........................................ L Mate in 4 ........................................ L Mate in 5 ........................................ L Mate in 6 ........................................ L Mate in 7 ........................................ L Mate in 8 ........................................ L 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 =in =in =in =in =in =in =in =in 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 TACTICAL LEVEL DESCRIPTION ALTERNATING DISPLAY 99 Tactical Play (no time limit) ............ L 99 tact INFINITE LEVEL DESCRIPTION ALTERNATING DISPLAY 100 Infinite (no time limit) ..................... L100 9:99:99 5 ENGLISH 3.6 Tactical Level LEVEL DESCRIPTION ALTERNATING DISPLAY 99 Tactical Play (no time limit) ........... L 99 tact On the Tactical Level, the computer plays differently because it employs a different search method. On this level, the computer's goal is to find the best tactical sequence more quickly than it would on a normal playing level. This level is similar to the Infinite Level described in Section 3.7, in that it searches indefinitely until you stop the search by pressing YES/?, or until it finds a forced mate. Use the ? Tactical Level for experimentation, allowing the computer to concentrate fully on special tactical positions! 3.7 Infinite Level LEVEL DESCRIPTION ALTERNATING DISPLAY WANT TO SELECT A TUTORIAL? HERE'S HOW! 1. Press TUTORIAL and the current Tutorial Lesson is displayed. Let's say you want to select the tutorial on Opening traps. 2. Press FWD or BACK to increase or decrease the tutorials by one. Watch for Tutorial Lesson 30 (tu 30), displayed as trAPS. SHORTCUT: To skip over ten lessons at a time, press TUTORIAL repeatedly! TUTORIAL TUTORIAL FWD BACK 100 Infinite (no time limit) ..................... L100 9:99:99 On the Infinite Level, the computer searches indefinitely, until it finds a forced mate or until you stop the search by pressing YES/?. 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 come up with the best possible move. And don't forget to watch it as it thinks--take advantage of the Rotating Display feature described in Section 5.4! 3. When tu 30 and trAPS are displayed, you have found the correct tutorial. 4. Press YES/? to enter this lesson into the computer. That's it! YES/? See the Tutorial Chart for a complete list of all 100 Tutorials. 4. TUTORIAL LESSONS About the Tutorials For more info on choosing Tutorials, see Section 4. See "LEARN ALL ABOUT CHESS WITH 100 VOICE TUTORIALS!" for a listing of all the Tutorial Lessons. One of the most unique features of this computer is its ability to teach you all about the game of chess! With 100 Tutorial Lessons to choose from, you can improve your skills tremendously with this feature. And, with over three hours of human voice instructing you, you'll feel like you have a personal trainer sitting right by your side! Perfect for all types of players, the tutorials cover a broad range of lessons: · Basic chess moves and elementary rules · Various types of basic endgames · Detailed information on opening rules and systems · Advice on tactical play and combinations · In depth studies of pawn structure · Examples of typical mating schemes · Replays and annotated studies of famous chess matches and games played by world champions These built-in tutorials have so much to offer--and, as you will see, the voice that guides you through each tutorial makes learning so easy! Simply follow the spoken instructions, watch the display window and board lights--you'll be amazed at how much fun it is to learn chess this way! 4.1 Selecting a Tutorial Lesson or Invalid key. · To exit Tutorial Mode during a lesson, press NO/X at any time (except when the computer is waiting for an answer or input from you). The computer will ask if you want to leave the lesson--press YES/? to confirm. Note that the ? board position is the same as when you left the tutorial. Reset for a new game, if desired, by simultaneously pressing YES/? and NO/X. ? · The Sound and Coach Levels may be changed automatically by the current tutorial. These same Sound and Coach Levels will remain in effect when you exit Tutorial Mode. · Do not attempt to change the Sound or Coach Levels during a tutorial. · When a tutorial ends, the level of play and/or certain Option Mode settings may be changed automatically, depending on which tutorial you have completed. Check the current settings for your own information, and then try to practice what you have just learned! 4.2 Tips on Taking Tutorials Now you're ready to start your selected tutorial! The voice coach automatically takes over, and the computer explains exactly what you should do. Depending on the tutorial you have chosen, the computer may start by explaining a game concept, or having you set up a certain position. If a tutorial asks you to set up a new game (the display shows Start), set up the pieces and then press YES/? to continue. Along ? the way, you may be asked to solve quizzes such as finding the best move and identifying key squares--anything can happen! You will see displays such as test and t:f (truefalse) as the computer tests you. To respond, you might have to press a square, make a move, or simply press YES/? or ? NO/X to answer a question or confirm a true-false statement. While the unit awaits your input, "reminder beeps" will sound. After you respond, the tutorial will continue. See "WANT TO SELECT A TUTORIAL? HERE'S HOW!" for an illustrated, step-by-step example! Refer to the Tutorial Chart to choose one of the builtin lessons. Press TUTORIAL, and the display will show the current Tutorial Lesson. Use the FWD and BACK keys to increase or decrease the lessons by one. As a shortcut, pressing TUTORIAL increases the lessons by ten. When your desired tutorial is displayed, press YES/? to enter your ? selection into the computer and start your tutorial. Please also note the following: · Tutorial Lessons can be changed at any time. If you change in the middle of a tutorial, that lesson is discontinued and the new one begins. · To view the current Tutorial Lesson at any time, press TUTORIAL. If you then press NO/X to exit, level and clock settings will not be changed, and any current lesson will not be interrupted. · If you should press an invalid key during a tutorial, you'll hear That key is not allowed here, That is incorrect, Remember: If you don't hear what the computer says, press SAY AGAIN. Pressing this key repeatedly may also give you other previously spoken information. You can use this feature regardless of the current Sound Level--pressing SAY AGAIN will always repeat the phrase(s) that you would have heard on Sound Level 4. 6 LEARN ALL ABOUT CHESS WITH 100 VOICE TUTORIALS! For detailed instructions, see Section 4. LEARNING THE RULES LESSON ALTERNATING DISPLAY TACTICS/COMBINATIONS LESSON ALTERNATING DISPLAY 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Notation (board, squares) ............... tu 1 Moving King + Queen ..................... tu 2 Check ............................................. tu 3 Mate ................................................ tu 4 Moving Rook + Bishop + Knight ..... tu 5 Moving pawn .................................. tu 6 Pawn promotion .............................. tu 7 Piece values ................................... tu 8 Special rules: En passant ............... tu 9 Special rules: Castling .................... tu 10 nOtAt -rULES %& CHEC -MAtE -rULES @#$ rULES ! PROmO -COUnt -EnPAS -CASt -- 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 Sacrifices ........................................ tu Tricky (feigned) sacrifices ............... tu Pins ................................................. tu Pawn forks ...................................... tu Knight forks ..................................... tu Discovered check ........................... tu Double discovered check ............... tu Steering .......................................... tu Diversion ......................................... tu Practice positions ........................... tu 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 SACrI trIC PInS FOr FOr dISCO dOUbL StEEr dISIO PrAC ---! @ ------ SIMPLE ENDGAMES LESSON ALTERNATING DISPLAY PAWN STRUCTURE LESSON ALTERNATING DISPLAY 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 King + Queen .................................. tu King + Rook .................................... tu King + 2 Bishops ............................. tu King + 2 Knights ............................. tu King + Bishop + Knight ................... tu Opposition I: King + pawn ............... tu Rule of Square: King + pawn .......... tu Zugzwang: King + pawn ................. tu Opposition II: King + pawn .............. tu Promotion: King + pawn ................. tu 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 EndGA %& EndGA $& EndGA #& EndGA @& EndGA @#& OPPOS !& SQUAr !& FOrCE !& OPPOS !& PrOmO !& 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 Pawn definitions I ........................... tu Pawn definitions II .......................... tu Pawn structures .............................. tu Central pawns ................................. tu Isolanis ........................................... tu Doubled pawns ............................... tu Outside pawns ................................ tu Backward pawns ............................ tu Pawn storm ..................................... tu Stalemate ....................................... tu 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 dEFI dEFI StrUC CEnt ISOLA dOUbL OUtPA bACPA StOrm StALE ----------- GOLDEN OPENING RULES LESSON ALTERNATING DISPLAY TYPICAL MATING SCHEMES LESSON ALTERNATING DISPLAY 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 Central pawns ................................. tu Center control ................................. tu Develop with threat ......................... tu First Knight, then Bishop ................ tu Move piece only once ..................... tu No unmotivated pawn moves ......... tu Castling (safety) .............................. tu Don't develop Queen too early ....... tu Strong center squares .................... tu Opening traps ................................. tu 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 Cent COnt dEvEL First OncE MOtIv CASt dEvEL CEnt trAPS ! ------% --- 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 Back-rank mate .............................. tu Smothered mate ............................. tu Arabian mate .................................. tu Anastasia mate ............................... tu Greco's mate .................................. tu Reti's mate ...................................... tu Morphy's mate ................................ tu Damiano's mate .............................. tu Swallowtail mate ............................. tu Epaulette mate ............................... tu 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 bACrA SNOtH ArAb AnAS GrECO rEtI MOrPH dANIA TAIL EPAUL ----------- OPENING SYSTEMS I LESSON ALTERNATING DISPLAY SAMPLE GAMES LESSON ALTERNATING DISPLAY 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 Names of openings ......................... tu Open games: Italian ....................... tu Open games: Spanish .................... tu Open games: King/Center Gambit . tu Open games: Russian .................... tu Open games: Scottish .................... tu Semi-open games: Sicilian ............. tu Semi-open games: French ............. tu Semi-open games: Caro-Kann ....... tu Semi-open games: Scandinavian ... tu 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 nAmES Ital SPan Gbit ruSS Scot Sici Fran Caro Scan ----------- 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 Well-known teen games ................. tu Well-known teen games ................. tu Well-known teen games ................. tu Well-known teen games ................. tu Famous games ............................... tu Famous games ............................... tu Famous games ............................... tu Young and wild (Kramnik) ............... tu Young and wild (Topalov) ................ tu Young and wild (Anand) .................. tu 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 tEEnS tEEnS tEEnS tEEnS FAmE FAmE FAmE YOUnG YOUnG YOUnG ----------- OPENING SYSTEMS II LESSON ALTERNATING DISPLAY WORLD CHAMPIONS LESSON ALTERNATING DISPLAY 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 Semi-open games: Alekhine ........... tu Closed games: Queen's Gambit ..... tu Closed games: King's Indian .......... tu Closed games: Gruenfeld Indian .... tu Closed games: Nimzo-Indian .......... tu Closed games: Queen's Indian ....... tu Dutch Defense ................................ tu English Opening ............................. tu Various gambits .............................. tu Special openings ............................ tu 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 ALEn Gbit Ind^ Grun Ntch Ind^ Holl EnGL GbitS SPEC -% & --% ----- 91 Steinitz ............................................ tu 91 92 Lasker ............................................. tu 92 93 Capablanca .................................... tu 93 94 Euwe ............................................... tu 94 95 Botvinnik ......................................... tu 95 96 Tal ................................................... tu 96 97 Petrosian ........................................ tu 97 98 Spassky .......................................... tu 98 99 Karpov ............................................ tu 99 100 Kasparov ........................................ tu100 StEIn LASK CAPA EUE bOt tAL PEtrO SPASS KArPO KASPA ----------- 7 ENGLISH 5. GAME OPTIONS In addition to all the features described so far, your chess computer also offers many other intriguing game options, all of which are user-selectable at any time during the game. The options are described individually in this section, and summarized in the Option Mode Chart. Selecting Game Options and it will make your next move. After it has moved, Auto Response remains off, and you can continue play. Note that this option will automatically go back to its default setting of +Aut whenever you start a new game by simultaneously pressing YES/? and NO/X. ? See "OPTION MODE: A COMPLETE OVERVIEW!" for a chart summarizing how to use Option Mode. It also shows all your option choices at a glance! The Game Options are divided into four main groups: Operation Mode, Playing Mode, Opening Rules, and Rotating Display. Pressing OPTION cycles from one group to another. Each main group contains a number of different sub-groups, and the FWD and BACK keys are used to cycle through the options within each of the groups. For most options, a plus (+) in the display indicates the displayed option is ON, and a minus (­) means the option is OFF. Press YES/? to turn the options on or off or to select level ? settings (if any), as they are displayed. Remember that pressing OPTION cycles through the four main groups, so you can switch to any of the four main groups at any time. After you have made your option selections from any or all of the option groups, press NO/X to exit Option Mode and return to normal game play. Note that two options don't conform to the basic on (+) and off (­) setting procedure described above. These include the Sound Level and Coach Level options. For more details, see the individual descriptions in this section. When the computer is first powered on, certain default options are set. Options which are automatically in effect at the first startup are shown in the chart with an asterisk (*). Whenever you reset the computer for a new game, most of your selected options are carried over to the next game. Some exceptions are Auto Response, which is automatically set back to ON when you start a new game, and Play White from Top, which is automatically set back to OFF. 5.1 Operation Mode Options See "OPTION MODE: A COMPLETE OVERVIEW!" for a chart showing all the Operation Mode Options. Press OPTION once to select the Operation Mode Options. Then, use the FWD and BACK keys to select the options within this group. Press YES/? to turn the options ? ON or OFF, or to select level settings (if any). a. Auto Response On:+Aut Off:-Aut Normally, the computer automatically answers with a countermove whenever you enter a move. If you turn Auto Response off, 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 ways: · Play through master games. Press YES/? 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--watch and learn! · Study opening book lines by entering them manually! · Play against a friend, with the computer acting as a referee by checking all moves for legality and keeping track of the time for both sides! · Replay to any board position for further study. If you have some of the coaching features in effect, you can learn as you go, even when playing against a friend. The computer will watch as you play, and give both sides hints, suggestions, warnings, and references to tutorials you might want to take to improve your game! When playing against another person, if you want to see what the computer would do in your position, press YES/? ? b. Sound Levels Options:-Snd, Snd1, Snd2, Snd3, Snd4 Your computer has five different Sound Level settings, giving you complete control over your desired amount of voice interaction! To choose a Sound Level, repeatedly press YES/? to select one of the levels. When the level you want ? is displayed, either go on to select other options or exit Option Mode--the Sound Level that was last displayed will automatically be in effect. Note that when you first turn the computer on, it defaults to Sound Level 2. Try them all out to see which is your favorite! · -SnD: Sound Off. On this level, there is no beep or voice to acknowledge the basics (such as New Game, Move Ready, Check, etc.). When you choose this Sound Level together with the Coaching Off Level (-Coch), you will get complete silence--a very convenient option for those late-night chess games! · SnD1: Minimal Nonverbal. On this level, you will hear various types of beeps and other game sounds instead of voice output. This level is considered "minimal" because the computer will only acknowledge the basics, such as your moves, keypresses and certain events (new game, move ready, check, etc.). This level basically simulates most other non-voice chess computers. · SnD2: Minimal Verbal. This level is essentially the voice equivalent of Sound Level 1--the voice will announce the basics. You'll hear, for example, Move ready when the computer moves, Error when a mistake occurs, E2 when square E2 is pressed, etc. · SnD3: Functional. On this level, the voice will describe what is happening functionally. For example, instead of simply saying New level (as on Sound Level 2) when YES/? is pressed to exit Level Mode, here the voice will ? say New level selected, along with a verbal description of the newly selected level. Similarly, levels and options are described as they are selected, as in Level Number 83: 10 minutes per game and Auto Response on. · SnD4: All On (Demo). On Sound Level 4, the machine says everything possible. Choose this level when you don't want to miss a single thing--and when you want to show off your computer's extraordinary voice capabilities to all your friends! Remember that the Volume Control Slider controls the volume, and the Tutorial Lessons and Coach Levels have voice "scripts" of their own, regardless of the currently selected Sound Level. For other important points regarding the computer's voice and sound features, see "SPECIAL NOTES REGARDING SOUND" in Section 2. c. Coach Levels Options:-Coch, Coch1, Coch2, Coch3 With four different Coach Levels to choose from, you can select just the right amount of coaching for your personal needs! To choose a Coach Level, press YES/? repeatedly to ? select the setting you want. When your desired level is displayed, either go on to select other options or exit Option Mode--the Coach Level that was last displayed will be in effect automatically. Note that when you first turn the computer on, it defaults to Coach Level 2. · -Coch: Coaching Off. Select this option if you do not want any of the coaching features turned on. · Coch1: Minimal Coaching. This level is meant for the more advanced player. Here, the computer assumes that you are familiar with obvious tactics and strategies, and thus will not bring them to your attention. It may, however, make you aware of advanced strategies and tactics which are not obvious, such as sacrifices or combinations. It will also identify the names of openings. · Coch2: Normal Coaching. On this Coach Level, the computer gives the amount of assistance it deems 8 OPTION MODE: A COMPLETE OVERVIEW! For detailed instructions, see Section 5. 1. Press the OPTION Key to select a Mode. 1 time 2 times 3 times 4 times = = = = OPERATION MODE OPTIONS. PLAYING MODE OPTIONS. OPENING RULES OPTIONS. ROTATING DISPLAY OPTIONS. Note: Pressing OPTION a fifth time cycles back to the beginning. 2. Select your options within the Mode. OPERATION MODE OPTIONS Cycle through the options BACK FWD ON Auto Response ........................................... +Aut* Sound Level 0 .. Sound off .......................... 1 .. Minimal nonverbal ............ Snd1 2 .. Minimal verbal .................. Snd2* 3 .. Functional ......................... Snd3 4 .. All on (demo) .................... Snd4 Coach Level 0 .. Coaching off ..................... 1 .. Minimal coaching ............. Coch1 2 .. Normal coaching .............. Coch2* 3 .. Maximum coaching .......... Coch3 Clock Ticking .............................................. +CTIC Countdown Clock ........................................ +Cdn Play White from Top ................................... +toP ON Selective search ......................................... +SEL* Opening Books ........................................... +book* Book: Italian Opening (Giuoco Piano) ........ +^tal* Book: Spanish Opening (Ruy Lopez) ......... +SPan* Book: King's/Center Gambit ....................... +Gbit&* Book: Russian (Petrov's) Defense ............. +ruSS* Book: Scotch Gambit .................................. +Scot* Book: Sicilian Defense ............................... +Sici* Book: French Defense ................................ +Fran* Book: Caro-Kann Defense ......................... +Caro* Book: Scandinavian Defense ..................... +Scan* Book: Alekhine's Defense .......................... +ALEn* Book: Queen's Gambit ............................... +Gbit%* Book: King's Indian Defense ...................... +^ndI&* Book: Gruenfeld Defense ........................... +Grun* Book: Nimzo-Indian Defense ...................... +Ntch* Book: Queen's Indian Defense ................... +^ndI%* Book: Dutch Defense .................................. +Holl* Book: English Opening ............................... +EnGL* Book: Various Gambits ............................... +Gbit* Book: Unusual Openings ............................ +UnuS* ON Opening Rules ............................................ +rule Rules: Central pawns ................................. +Cent! Rules: Center control .................................. +CCtl Rules: Develop with threat ......................... +thrt Rules: Knights before Bishops ................... +bef@# Rules: Move only once ............................... +Once Rules: Avoid moving pawns ....................... +No! Rules: Castle early ..................................... +CASt Rules: Avoid moving Queen early .............. +No% Rules: Strong center squares ..................... +Cent Rules: Opening traps .................................. +traP ON Predicted variation to depth 1 .................... +rd:1 Predicted variation to depth 2 .................... +rd:2 Predicted variation to depth 3 .................... +rd:3 Predicted variation to depth 4 .................... +rd:4 Search depth + move examined ................ +rd:d Evaluation value ......................................... +rd:E Nodes searched per second ...................... +rd:n Time per move ............................................ +rd:t OFF -Aut -Snd Press YES/? -Coch -CTIC* -Cdn* -toP* OFF -SEL -book -^tal -SPan -Gbit& -ruSS -Scot -Sici -Fran -Caro -Scan -ALEn -Gbit% -^ndI& -Grun -Ntch -^ndI% -Holl -EnGL -Gbit -UnuS OFF -rule* -Cent!* -CCtl* -thrt* -bef@#* -Once* -No!* -CASt* -No%* -Cent* -traP* OFF -rd:1* -rd:2* -rd:3* -rd:4* -rd:d* -rd:E* -rd:n* -rd:t* to turn settings on/off or select level settings (if any) PLAYING MODE OPTIONS Press YES/? Cycle through the options BACK FWD to turn settings on/off OPENING RULES OPTIONS Cycle through the options BACK FWD Press YES/? to turn settings on/off ROTATING DISPLAY Cycle OPTIONS through the options Press YES/? BACK FWD to turn settings on/off 3. Press NO/X to exit Option Mode. 9 *Power on default settings ENGLISH appropriate for a "regular" chess player--someone who can see the most blatantly obvious points, but who also needs to be made aware of other game tactics and strategies. Again, the openings are named (especially subvariations), and moderate strategy is pointed out (e.g., the concept of passed pawns). · Coch3: Maximum Coaching. With Coach Level 3, we present the ultimate computer coach! Meant for beginners and anyone who wants to learn the basics, this Coach Level does it all! There are warnings if you commit a blunder or if your piece is in jeopardy, and you'll also get unsolicited move suggestions and helpful hints about even the most obvious tactics (such as leaving pieces open to attack). Openings are identified by name (main variations), and words of encouragement will boost your spirits as you learn and play! Don't forget the other coaching features, including choosing from the extensive selection of Tutorial Lessons (Section 4) and activating the Opening Rules Options (Section 5.3)! PLAYING BLACK FROM THE BOTTOM? CHECK THE BOARD SET-UP! When the computer plays White from the top of the board (an option in Section 5.1), be sure to set the pieces up correctly! Note that the Kings and Queens are positioned differently, and the board notation is reversed. d. Clock Ticking On:+CtIC Off:-CtIC When you turn this option on, you activate a ticking sound that makes the computer's clock sound like a real chess clock! Imagine creating the atmosphere of a championship chess tournament in your own living room! e. Countdown Clock On:+Cdn Off:-Cdn Turning on this option causes the computer to display the remaining time instead of the elapsed time. Note that this option is only available in combination with the Tournament and Speed Chess Levels. f. Play White from the Top On:+toP Off:-toP You may want to depart from the usual standard and have the computer play the White pieces from the top of the board, while you play Black from the bottom. Turn this option on by choosing +ToP at the beginning of a new game. Press YES/? to start the game, and the computer will make ? the first move for White from the top of the board! See "PLAYING BLACK FROM THE BOTTOM? CHECK THE BOARD SET-UP!" for a diagram showing the correct board position when using this option. Note that when the computer plays White from the top, the board notation is automatically reversed. Additionally, this option will go back to its default setting of -toP whenever you start a new game. 5.2 Playing Mode Options search method minimizes the risk of an occasional oversight. Note that the Problem Solving Levels always use the Brute Force method. b. Opening Books On:+book Off:-book When your turn this option from OFF to ON by pressing YES/?, the computer has complete access to its entire ? library of opening books. If you turn this option from ON to OFF by selecting -book with YES/?, you lock out the ? computer's opening book completely. The computer is then forced to take time to think of its moves from the very beginning of the game, rather than relying on book moves. For more details on book openings, see Section 2.8. Please note that +book will be displayed if any opening book is turned on, and -book will be displayed if all opening books are turned off. This option is included mainly for convenience, to turn all the openings on or off. c. Individual Opening Books You also have the option of instructing the computer to use only one opening book or a specific combination of books. This feature allows you to study certain openings in depth, concentrating solely on those openings you choose to play! To do this, simply turn the books on and off individually. Refer to the Option Mode Chart for a list of all the individual books, along with their ON/OFF displays. Note that some of the displays include identifying icons. The individual choices include: Italian Opening (Giuoco Piano), Spanish Opening (Ruy Lopez), King's/Center Gambit, Russian Defense (Petrov's Defense), Scotch Gambit, Sicilian Defense, French Defense, Caro-Kann Defense, Scandinavian Defense, Alekhine's Defense, Queen's Gambit, King's Indian Defense, Gruenfeld Defense, Nimzo-Indian Defense, Queen's Indian Defense, Dutch Defense, and English Opening. Also included are two special opening books--Various Gambits and Unusual Openings. 5.3 Opening Rules Options See "OPTION MODE: A COMPLETE OVERVIEW!" for a chart showing all the Playing Mode Options. Press OPTION twice to select the Playing Mode Options. Then, use the FWD and BACK keys to select the options within this group. Press YES/? to turn the options ? ON or OFF. The Playing Mode Options affect how the computer selects its moves. The first option, Selective Search, allows you to select the type of search the computer uses. The rest of the Playing Mode Options revolve around the computer's use of its opening book libraries. You can choose to let the computer play from its entire built-in book (the default state), or you can instruct the computer to only play from one or more specific books. This gives you a wonderful opportunity to study individual book openings in great detail! See "OPTION MODE: A COMPLETE OVERVIEW!" for a chart showing all the Opening Rules Options. Press OPTION three times to select the Opening Rules Options. Then, use the FWD and BACK keys to select the options within this group. Press YES/? to turn the ? options ON or OFF. The Opening Rules Options can be extremely useful to those who are learning about chess and want to study the basic concepts, rules, and strategies that will improve their game. As shown in the Option Mode Chart, these options are all OFF by default. You can choose to activate any of the Opening Rules Options separately, or simply turn on the convenient "Opening Rules" option to cover them all! When you activate these options, the computer intentionally "forgets" its knowledge of the corresponding opening rules! It purposely makes mistakes by not following the specific opening rules you have activated--and you can benefit by learning from the computer's mistakes! a. Selective Search On:+SEL Off:-SEL The program in this chess computer normally uses a Selective Search algorithm. This allows the computer to see combinations that would otherwise take much longer to compute. Turning this option off by choosing -SEL makes the program switch to a powerful Brute Force algorithm. This 10 a. Opening Rules On:+rule Off:-rule When your turn this option from OFF to ON by pressing YES/?, the computer activates all the opening rules. If you ? turn this option from ON to OFF by selecting -rule with YES/?, you disable all the opening rules. ? Please note that +rule will be displayed if any opening rule is turned on, and -rule will be displayed if all opening rules are turned off. This option is included mainly for convenience, to turn all the opening rule options on or off. b. Individual Opening Rules You also have the option of instructing the computer to turn on only one opening rule or a specific combination of rules. This feature allows you to study certain chess rules in depth. To do this, simply turn the rules on and off individually. Refer to the Option Mode Chart for a list of all the individual rules, along with their ON/OFF displays. Note that some of the displays include identifying icons. The individual Opening Rules choices include such rules as moving Knights before Bishops, avoiding early Queen moves, castling early in the game, gaining control of the center, and many others. For a complete list, refer to the Option Mode Chart. 5.4 Rotating Display Options IMPORTANT: The Rotating Display feature is only activated WHILE THE COMPUTER IS THINKING. AN OUTLINE OF INFO MODE For details, see Section 6. PRINCIPAL VARIATION INFO: HINT/INFO x 1.... Predicted line of play: 1st move · Predicted line of play: 2nd move BACK Cycle through the displays FWD · Predicted line of play: 3rd move · Predicted line of play: 4th move SEARCH INFO: HINT/INFO x 2.... Evaluation of current position · 2 numbers: Search depth (number of moves computer is looking ahead) + BACK Cycle through the displays number of moves examined so far FWD · Current move under consideration · Number of nodes (positions) being searched per second See "OPTION MODE: A COMPLETE OVERVIEW!" for a chart showing all the Rotating Display Options. Press OPTION four times to select the Rotating Display Options. Then, use the FWD and BACK keys to select the options you want to see rotated. Press YES/? to turn ? these options ON or OFF. Normally, the computer's display shows the time for the player to move. However, the computer can also display other information, as described in Section 6 (Info Mode). The Rotating Display feature works hand-in-hand with Info Mode, since it allows you to choose which of the info displays you want to see, and then cycles your choices in approximately one-second increments. You may turn on any or all of the Rotating Display options, as desired. The game information you can see while the computer is thinking includes the following: · +rd:1 to +rd:4 = the predicted line of play (up to four individual moves). · +rd:d = the computer's search depth and number of moves examined so far in the game. · +rd:E = an evaluation of the current position. · +rd:n = the number of nodes searched per second. · +rd:t = the amount of time the move has taken so far. When requested information is not available, the display will show a series of dashes (-----). For complete descriptions of these options and full details on exactly how to interpret the displays, go on to Section 6! CHESS CLOCK INFO: HINT/INFO x 3.... Elapsed time since last move · Elapsed time for White BACK Cycle through the displays · Elapsed time for Black · Remaining time for White* · Remaining time for Black* *Speed Chess/Tournament Levels only FWD MOVE COUNT INFO: HINT/INFO x 4.... Current move number so far BACK Cycle through the moves · Moves of the current game FWD 6. GAME INFORMATION In a normal game of chess, you would never ask your opponent what move he was considering, nor would you ask his evaluation of the current position. However, when you play chess against this computer, you can do exactly that! In fact, you can gather a wealth of information about the computer's thought process--and studying this information can help you learn more about chess! Using Info Mode See "AN OUTLINE OF INFO MODE" for a chart showing how to use Info Mode, and a listing of all the Info Mode options. You may access game information at any time by using Info Mode. If you do this while the computer is thinking, you will see the information displays change as the computer considers different moves and searches deeper. Game information is divided into four groups, and pressing HINT/INFO cycles from one group to another. The FWD and BACK keys can be used to cycle through the displays within each of the groups. Press NO/X to exit Info Mode and go back to showing the normal chess clock. After familiarizing yourself with Info Mode, refer back to Section 5.4 for a description of the user-programmable Rotating Display feature. Selecting this feature causes the computer to automatically cycle through the information described below in approximately one-second intervals every time it thinks about its move--you can actually watch the computer "think out loud"! Whenever requested information is not available, the display will show a series of dashes (-----). 6.1 Principal Variation Press HINT/INFO the first time to see the first move of the principal variation (the line of predicted play). This first move is the move the computer is currently considering 11 ENGLISH making. Press the FWD key repeatedly to see the rest of the moves in this line of play, as noted below. The principal variation is shown to a maximum depth of four ply, or four individual moves. The BACK key can be used to back up and see previous displays again. · Predicted line of play: 1st move. · Predicted line of play: 2nd move. · Predicted line of play: 3rd move. · Predicted line of play: 4th move. Since the first move of the predicted line of play is the move the computer assumes you will make, you can also consider this move as a hint! So--whenever you need help, press HINT/INFO on your turn! For details, see Section 2.5. 6.2 Search Information Press HINT/INFO a second time to get information on the computer's search. Use the FWD key to cycle through the four displays listed below. The BACK key can be used to back up and see previous displays again. · Numerical evaluation of the current position, based on a pawn being worth 1.0 points. A positive number indicates that White is ahead. Note that this score is not valid on the Problem Solving Levels or Tactical Levels, since a different search method is used. · Two numbers. The first is the current search depth, or the number of individual moves the computer is looking ahead. The second is the number of moves the computer has examined so far. · The move currently being evaluated. · The search speed, or number of positions (nodes) being searched every second. Watch as this number changes! 6.3 Chess Clocks Press HINT/INFO a third time to gain access to chess clock information. Use the FWD key to cycle through all the clock displays, as described below. The BACK key can be used to back up and see previous displays again. · Time since the last move was executed. · Total elapsed time for White. · Total elapsed time for Black. · Remaining time for White (Speed Chess/Tournament Levels only). · Remaining time for Black (Speed Chess/Tournament Levels only). The chess clocks keep track of the time for both sides. The clocks stop whenever you take back a move, check level settings, select options, verify or set up a position, or turn the computer off. In all of these cases, however, the times are retained in memory, and the clocks resume as soon as play is continued. Whenever you change the playing level or press YES/? and NO/X together to reset the com? puter for a new game, the chess clocks are always reset to 0:00:00. 6.4 Move Count/Game Moves Press HINT/INFO a fourth time to show the move number in the game so far. You can then use the BACK key to cycle back through the moves of your game (up to 64 individual moves). The FWD key can also be used to go forward again at any point and see all the moves. This gives you an opportunity to go back and write down the moves (up to the last 64 individual moves) of a game that turns out to be unexpectedly great! · Move number in game so far. · Moves of the current game. IT'S EASY TO VERIFY PIECES! NO/ YES/ 1. Press NO/X and YES/? together to reset the computer for a new game. Display: 0:00:00. 2. Press KNIGHT. Display: [@b1 (1st White Knight). Square b1 lights up. 3. Press KNIGHT again. Display: [@G1 (2nd White Knight). Square g1 lights up. 4. Press KNIGHT again. Display: ]@b8 (1st Black Knight). Square b8 lights up. 5. Press KNIGHT again. Display: ]@g8 (2nd Black Knight). Square g8 lights up. 6. Press KNIGHT again. Display: @ (no more Knights left on the board). 7. Repeat the above for any piece you want to verify! Press NO/X to exit Verify Mode. For more details, see Section 7.1. NO / TRY OUT POSITION MODE! NO/ YES/ 1. Press NO/X and YES/? together to reset the computer for a new game. Display: 0:00:00. 2. Press POSITION to enter Position Mode. Display: -POS-. POSITION e2 3. Press the White pawn down on Square e2, and remove it from the board. Display: [!-E2. 4. Press that same pawn down on Square e3 to add it to the board. Display: [!+E3. 5. Press the Black Queen down on Square d8, and remove it from the board. Display: ]%-D8. 6. Press that same Queen down on Square h5 to add it to the board. Display: ]%+H5. 7. Press WHITE to change the color to move next. 8. Press NO/X to exit; then press YES/? to confirm your new position and return to game play. e3 d8 h5 WHITE NO/ YES/ For more details, see Section 7.2. 7. VERIFYING/SETTING UP POSITIONS 7.1 Verifying Positions See "IT'S EASY TO VERIFY PIECES!" for a step-bystep example of using Verify Mode. If you should knock over the chess pieces or if you think your board position may be incorrect, the computer can verify all piece locations for you. When it is your turn, press one of the Piece Symbol Keys (!, @, #, $, %, or &). The computer says the name of the piece, and uses board lights and the display to show you where the first piece of that type is located. The display shows the piece, color, and square location, and the light turns on for that square. Press the same Piece Symbol Key again to see the location of the next piece of that same type. All the White pieces are shown first, then the Black pieces. 12 8. TECHNICAL DETAILS 8.1 The ACL Function Computers sometimes "lock up" due to static discharge or other electrical disturbances. If this should happen, take out the batteries and use a pin or another sharp object to press into the hole marked ACL in the base of the unit for at least one second. This resets the computer. 8.2 Care and Maintenance Your chess computer is a precision electronic device, and should not be subjected to rough handling or exposed to extreme temperatures or moisture. Be sure to disconnect the adapter (if applicable) and remove the batteries before cleaning this unit. Do not use chemical agents or liquids to clean the unit, as they may damage the plastic. Weak batteries should be replaced promptly, since they can leak and damage the computer. Please also note the following regarding the use of batteries. Warning: Use only alkaline or zinc carbon batteries. Do not mix different types of batteries or new and used batteries. Do not recharge non-rechargeable batteries. Use only the recommended batteries or equivalent. Be sure to observe the correct polarity when inserting batteries. Worn out batteries should be removed from the unit promptly. Do not short circuit the supply terminals. If an AC-DC adapter is used with this unit, it must be as specified in Section 8.3. An adapter is not a toy and should be handled with care. Please also note the following regarding the use of an AC-DC adapter. Warning: Use a center positive adapter with safety isolating transformer. The polarity symbols confirming its center positivity should be clearly marked on the adapter, and the adapter must comply with CEE publication 15. The adapter should be regularly examined for potential hazards such as damage to the plug, cable or cord, casing or other parts. In the event of damage, the adapter should not be used. 8.3 Technical Specifications Clock Frequency: 16 MHz Keys: 17 LED Lamps: 64; 3 mm LCD Display: 48-segment, 5-digit Speaker: 78 mm diameter Batteries: 6 x (1.5V) "C" (AM2/R14) cells Dimensions: 410 x 270 x 40 mm Weight: 1.3 Kg AC-DC Adapter: 9V/300mA center-positive (EN 60742 compliant) 7.2 Changing Positions See "TRY OUT POSITION MODE!" to get an idea of how this feature works. Your computer allows you to set up board positions to play from or chess problems you want the computer to solve. Caution: All previous moves in your current game will be erased from the computer's memory if you make changes to the position during a game. Press POSITION to enter Position Mode, and the display shows -POS-. You may change or set up a board position whenever it is your turn to move. After you have set up your desired position, press NO/X. The computer will ask if you want to play from this new position; press YES/? to confirm ? and to exit Position Mode. · To remove a piece from the board, press the piece on its square and then remove it. Notice that the display indicates the piece type and color, along with a minus sign and the location for that square. · To move a piece from one square to another, press the piece on its original square, pick it up, and then press it on the new square. As you do this, the display will show a minus sign for the first square, and a plus sign for the second square. · To add a piece to the board, first press the Piece Symbol Key for that piece (!, @, #, $, %, or &). Make sure the display shows the correct color symbol for the piece you want to add. If not, press BLACK or WHITE to change the color. When the display shows the correct piece type and color, place that piece on the desired square and press down. The display shows a plus sign, along with the location for that square. To add another piece of the same type, simply press down on another square. To add a different piece, press a different Piece Symbol Key and follow the same steps as above. · To clear the board, press YES/? while you are in ? Position Mode. The display will show _ to symbolize an empty chessboard, and the computer will ask Clear board? Press YES/? once more to confirm that you do ? want to clear the board. Then add pieces as described previously. If you do not want to clear the board, press NO/X to cancel. This feature can be handy when you want to set up a position 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, make sure the color indicator in the display is showing the correct color of the side to move. Change the color, if necessary, by pressing BLACK or WHITE. · To exit Position Mode, press NO/X. When the computer asks for confirmation with End?, press YES/? to ? return to normal play with your new board position. 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 NO/X to exit Position Mode, and then YES/? to confirm, the computer will display Error. You will ? not be allowed to exit Position Mode until you have set up a legal board position. Please retain this information for future reference. The manufacturer reserves the right to make technical changes without notice in the interest of progress. 13 ENGLISH When there are no more pieces of that type, the board lights go out and only the piece symbol remains in the display. Repeat the above procedure using the other Piece Symbol Keys, verifying the entire board if desired. Press NO/X to return to normal play. TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE SYMPTOMS The computer doesn't react, or "freezes" during a game. POSSIBLE CAUSES · Batteries not installed correctly. · Batteries weak or bad. · Static discharge or an electrical disturbance has caused a lock-up. ACTION TO TAKE · Install batteries as shown in the Quick Start. · Replace the batteries. · Press into the hole marked ACL to reset the computer, as described in Section 8.1. · Replace the batteries with fresh alkalines. · The computer only responds to your moves automatically if Auto Response is ON (see Section 5.1). · You may interrupt the computer and force it to ? make a move by pressing YES/?. · Review the chess rules--check the rulebook or take advantage of the tutorials (see Section 4). Note that your current game may be erased if you select a tutorial. Verify the position to be sure it is correct (see Section 7.1). · Interrupt the computer, if desired, by pressing YES/?. ? · Check the display, and press the correct square to complete the computer's move. · Check the display, and press the correct square to complete the computer's move. · Press NO/X to return to normal play and continue the game. · Review the chess rules. Verify the position as described in Section 7.1. · Verify the position, as described in Section 7.1. · Replace the batteries with fresh alkalines. · Press LEVEL to see which level is selected. Change to a higher level, if desired. · Turn the Opening Rules Option(s) OFF, if desired, as noted in Section 5.3. · Replace the batteries with fresh alkalines. · Push up the Volume Control Slider. · Check the selected Sound and Coach Levels (see Section 5.1). Change, if desired. · Check the selected Sound Level (see Section 5.1). Change, if desired. · Check the displayed computer move and make its move on the board. · Check the display to see what the computer is expecting you to do. Press SAY AGAIN once or twice, if necessary, to hear what was said last. · Check the display and board lights, and take the appropriate action. Press SAY AGAIN once or twice, if necessary, to hear what was said last. Display is difficult to read. The computer will not make a move. · Batteries may be running out. · Auto Response option may be turned off. · You may be on a level where the computer thinks for a long time. The computer will not accept your move. · Is it your turn? Is your King in check? Will your move put your King into check? Are you trying to castle incorrectly? Are you moving to an illegal square? · The computer is thinking (its color symbol is flashing in the display). · You have not entered the computer's last move correctly (wrong from or to square). Error message shows when a square is pressed. · You have not entered the computer's last move correctly. · You may be in Option Mode, Level Mode, Verify Mode, etc. The computer seems to be making illegal moves. · The computer has made a special move, such as en passant, castling, or a pawn promotion. · Your board position is incorrect--pieces have been moved. The computer is making instant or irrational moves. · The batteries are running out. · The computer may be on a lower Fun Level, where it moves quickly and makes mistakes so the beginner can benefit from studying them. · Some or all of the Opening Rules Options may be activated. · The batteries are running out. The computer is silent. · The volume is turned all the way down. · Both Sound Level 0 (-Snd) and Coach Level 0 (-Coch) are in effect, resulting in completely silent game operation. You cannot hear a voice, only beeps. You hear a repeating series of beeps. · Sound Level 1 (Snd1) is in effect. · The computer has announced its move and is waiting for you to move its piece. · The computer is waiting for you answer a question or give some input during a tutorial. · The computer is reminding you to do something, for example, to put a captured piece back on the board after a take-back. 14