Master Chess Instructions Bedienungsanleitung Mode d'emploi Handleiding QUICK START To play a game of chess right away, without reading the entire manual first, simply follow these Quick Start steps! 1 2 3 4 5 6 Insert six "AA" (Type AM3/R6) batteries into the computer, making sure to observe the correct polarity. If desired, you may also purchase an optional AC adapter for use with this unit. Press GO to turn the game on. If the computer does not respond, press into the hole marked ACL at the top edge of the unit (next to the adapter socket), as described in Sections 1.1 or 7.1. 6 x AA/AM3/R6 GO 8 7 6 Set up the chess pieces in the initial starting position for a new game, with the White pieces closest to you. 5 4 3 2 1 A B C D E F G H To reset the computer for a NEW GAME of chess, simultaneously press the CLEAR and ENTER keys. CLEAR ENTER NEW GAME Enter moves by executing them on the board, pressing the chess pieces down gently on the from and to squares for each move. PRESS PRESS As soon as the computer makes a move, that move is shown in the display window. Two board lights also come on to point to the row and column of the piece to be moved. Press the computer's piece lightly onto the indicated from and to squares to complete the computer's move. That's all there is to it! Make your next move as described above. Press STOP at any time to turn the computer off. Enjoy your game! 8 7 6 5 4 3 GO STOP LEVEL 2 1 POSITION OPTION INFO TAKE BACK BLACK /+ WHITE /­ CLEAR ENTER A B C D E F G H NEW GAME KEYS AND FEATURES 1. SENSORY CHESSBOARD: Each board square contains a sensor that automatically registers piece movement. Board squares can also be pressed within Level Mode to select levels, and within Option Mode to select game options. 2. ACL (Reset): At the top edge of the unit (next to the Mains Adapter Socket). Used to eliminate static discharge after inserting new batteries. 3. MAINS ADAPTER SOCKET: Socket for the optional Mephisto mains adapter. 4. BATTERY COMPARTMENT: Uses six "AA" (Type AM3/R6) batteries. 5. LCD DISPLAY WINDOW: Used to show moves and move information during a game. Also used for level and option selection, piece verification, position set-up, rotating display, and other game information. 6. GAME KEYS a. GO KEY: Press to turn the computer on. b. STOP KEY: Press to turn the computer off. When off, the computer retains the current board position and the moves of the current game (up to about 200 individual moves) for up to one full year. c. LEVEL KEY: Press to enter Level Mode. Within Level Mode, press LEVEL to skip over eight levels at a time. d. PIECE SYMBOL KEYS ( , , , , , or ): Used to verify and set up positions. Also used to promote pawns. e. POSITION KEY: Press to enter Position Mode, to set up or change board positions. f. OPTION KEY: Press to enter Option Mode, to access game and display options. g. INFO KEY: Press to enter Info Mode, to display game information and watch the computer think. h. TAKE BACK KEY: Press to take back one individual move (a move for either side). You may take back up to about 200 individual moves. i. BLACK/+ and WHITE/­ KEYS: Press to change levels one at a time in Level Mode, and to cycle through options in Option Mode and Info Mode. Also used to select the color in Position Mode. j. CLEAR KEY: Press to exit Option Mode, Verify Mode, Two Players Mode and Position Mode. Press to exit Level Mode without changing the level (unless you have used the board squares to change the level in which case CLEAR acts like ENTER and enters the new level). Press simultaneously with the ENTER KEY to reset the computer for a new game of chess. k. ENTER KEY: Press to change sides with the computer; press while the computer is thinking to force it to move. Also used to clear the board in Position Mode, to turn options on and off in Option Mode, to jump between backwards and forwards in a Game in Two Players Mode and to exit Level Mode after changing playing levels. Press together with the CLEAR KEY to reset the computer for a new game of chess. l. NEW GAME: Press and hold CLEAR then ENTER to reset the computer for a new game. Then release ENTER before releasing CLEAR. 7. BOARD LIGHTS: Used to show game moves, take back moves, and verify/set-up board positions. 3 ENGLISH INTRODUCTION Congratulations on your purchase of this exciting new chess computer! Perfect for all types of players, this computer can be whatever you want it to be--a challenging opponent that will test the skills of even advanced players, a perfect chess partner for intermediate players, or a patient chess coach for beginners! Chess is a very fascinating game, and this computer includes a tremendous number of features that will let you enjoy the game even more. So, go ahead--study the features at your leisure, play some great games, and above all, have fun! SPECIAL FEATURES AT A GLANCE! · Strong 64K program boasts an estimated Swedish Elo rating of 2200--ideal for advanced players! · Features powerful 32 bit RISC microprocessor! · The 256 level setting means you can constantly improve your skills. · Offers 64 levels of play for learning, variety, and experimentation--including Speed Chess, Tournament, Training, Problem Solving, and even special Fun Levels designed expressly for beginners! · Watch the computer as it thinks--you'll see the principal variation, the computer's evaluation of the current position, its search depth, and more! · Need a hint? Just ask for a move suggestion! · Set up positions and problems for further study. · Use the advanced, high-speed Selective Search or try out the powerful Brute Force Search! · Includes large, user-selectable openings. · Coach Mode allows beginners to learn as they play--even gives blunder and capture warnings! · Features chess clock with countdown feature and unique "ticking" sound option. · Take back up to about 200 individual moves! · Play against another person with the computer acting as referee. · Great problem-solver--up to mate in eight moves! · Retains your current position and up to about the last 200 individual moves! · Advanced energy-saving features--Automatic Power Down and built-in Power Management Intelligence help to save energy and conserve batteries! · Four different Power Saving Mode options enhance the playing range by further weakening play while saving power, extending the life of your batteries up to about eight times! 1. GETTING STARTED: THE BASICS 1 First, Install the Batteries or Optional Adapter Your chess computer runs on six "AA" (Type AM3/ R6) batteries, and we recommend alkaline batteries for longer battery life. Make sure the computer is turned off, and insert the batteries as shown at the front of the manual. Then, press GO to turn the computer on. After the unit automatically verifies the board lights and LCD display segments, a beep will signal that the computer is ready for play. If the unit fails to respond (static discharge may cause it to lock up), use a paper clip or another sharp object to press down into the hole marked ACL on the top edge of the unit (next to the adapter socket) for at least one second. This resets the computer. To conserve energy and extend battery life, this unit features integrated Power Management Intelligence, whereby the computer enters a special Power Saving Mode at various times during the game. There will be no visible indication to you when this mode is in effect. You will, however, definitely end up replacing your batteries less often! Note that this mode also weakens the computer's play. For details on changing Power Saving Modes or turning this option off, see Section 6.2. To further reduce power consumption, you may also want to set the Auto Power Down option, as noted in Section 6.1. This feature causes the unit to turn itself off automatically after about 15 minutes if no keypresses or moves are made during that time. If you would rather not power your computer with batteries, you may purchase an optional Mephisto/Saitek AC-DC adapter. Please use only the adapter specified for use with this computer (see Section 7.3), as the use of any other adapter will invalidate the unit's warranty. To use the adapter, first press STOP to turn off the computer, connect the adapter to the mains power supply, and then push the plug at the end of the adapter cable into the socket on the computer. Press GO to turn it on. IMPORTANT: To ensure that the computer's memory contents are not lost, keep good batteries installed in the unit even when you are using the optional adapter. Ready to Play? Here's How to Move! Follow these steps to start a game: a. Press GO to turn the computer on. b. Press CLEAR and ENTER simultaneously to reset the computer for a new game of chess. Then, set up the pieces in their starting positions, with the White pieces nearest to you. If you are unsure of the piece positions, refer to the rules. c. To make a move, lightly press down on the piece you want to move until you hear a beep. The sensory board recognizes the piece automatically, and two board lights turn on to indicate that piece. The display window also shows the color, the piece, and the square that was pressed. 4 d. Take the piece and gently press it down on the square to which you are moving. A second beep sounds and the computer then starts thinking. Note: 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. For full details, see Section 2.7. 3 Now It's The Computer's Turn When the computer makes its move, it beeps and shows its move in the display. It also turns on two board lights indicating the horizontal row and vertical column of the piece it wishes to move. Press the indicated piece down gently on the square until you hear a beep. The computer then uses lights to show you where that piece should go. Move the piece to the indicated square and press the piece down to complete the computer's move. 2 The display shows the color, the piece, and the move. 4 Change Your Mind? Take Back! Whenever it is your turn to move, you may press TAKE BACK then press WHITE/­ to retract a move. The display shows the move to be taken back and the to square of that move is also indicated with the board lights. Press the indicated piece down on the square, and the computer shows you where that piece came from. Press the piece down on the from square to complete the takeback. Repeat by pressing WHITE/­ and then pressing the indicated board square to retract more moves. You may take back up to about 200 individual moves. To resume play at any point, simply press CLEAR and make another move on the board. Note: After taking back a capture, the computer reminds you to put the captured piece back on the board-- the piece and its square are displayed, and the board lights for that square are turned on. Put the indicated piece back on the board and press down on that square to complete the take back. 5 Game Over? Try Another Game! Whenever you finish a game (or if you decide to abort your current game) you may reset the computer to start another game by pressing the CLEAR and ENTER keys simultaneously. A series of beeps signifies that the computer is ready for another game, using the currently set level. IMPORTANT: Resetting the computer for a new game clears the current game from the computer's memory--be careful not to press these keys by mistake. Too Easy/Hard? Change the Level! When the computer is first turned on, it is set to Level 4 (five seconds a move). You may, however, choose any of the 64 playing levels. For a detailed description of all the levels and how to change levels, see Section 3. 6 2. ADDITIONAL FEATURES 2.1 Indication of the Side to Move 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 Capturing and Special Moves To capture, press down on the piece you want to move, remove the captured piece from the board, and press your piece down on the square of the captured piece. Captures are displayed as in G6xH5. En Passant In an en passant capture, the computer reminds you to remove the captured pawn by using two board lights to indicate that square. You must press down on the captured pawn before removing it from the board. Castling The computer automatically recognizes castling maneuvers after the King is moved. After you have pressed the King down on its from and to squares, the computer uses board lights to remind you to move the Rook. Press down on the Rook's from and to squares to complete the move. Note: A Kingside castling is displayed as 0-0, and a Queenside castling as 0-0-0. Pawn Promotion When you promote a pawn, first pres ...