User manual SAITEK ALCHEMIST

[. . . ] To play a game of chess right away, without reading the entire manual first, simply follow these Quick Start steps! 1 Open the battery compartment at the back of the computer by sliding it in the direction of the arrow. Insert 3 "AA" (Type AM3/R6) batteries into the computer, making sure that you observe the correct polarity. (Details at Section 1. 1) 3 x AA/AM3/R6 5 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 6 2 Press GO/STOP to turn the game on. If the computer does not respond, press a paper clip or similar sharp object into the hole marked ACL in the base of the unit as described in Section 4. 1. [. . . ] As shown in the charts of playing levels in the following paragraphs, each level corresponds to one of the 64 board squares. The basic levels are categorized into 8 groups intended to suit users of different abilities: · Fun Levels: A1 to A8. Full range of difficulty from easy (B1) to extremely challenging (C8). The game must be concluded within the selected time, which is then increased by an amount to compensate for each move. The compensation is the actual time used or the allowed time, whichever is shorter. The game must be concluded within the selected time, which is increased by a prescribed amount to compensate for each move before the move is made. A certain number of moves must be made within the given amount of time. Computer skill is limited by not being able to look ahead more than the selected number of moves. Computer skill is limited by not being able to look ahead more than the selected number of moves, and by not evaluating strategic advantage. When you set the level, bear in mind that when the computer has more time to think about its moves, it gets stronger and plays better ­ just like a human player!Sharpen your chess skill ­ as you beat the computer on each level, graduate to the next. Keep challenging yourself and learn more about the game! CASUAL LEVELS BONUS TIMER 2. 6 Getting Hints from the Computer If you need help, you can have the computer show you what it would do in your position!Press PLAY on your turn, and the computer will make the next move for you. To keep this move as your own, make the displayed move on the board, press PLAY again CHOOSE A LEVEL FROM THE 64 BOARD SQUARES and the computer will make its next move; then continue the game by making your own next move. H16 B8 B16 I8 I16 A8 A16 H8 If you do not want to use the computer's move, first 8 make the displayed move on the board, and then take it back. Once you have cleared the move in H15 B7 B15 I7 I15 A7 A15 H7 this way, you can make your own move. 7 H6 6 H5 H14 B6 B14 I6 I14 A6 FIXED DEPTH FUN LEVELS H13 B5 B13 I5 I13 A5 A13 H3 3 H2 2 H1 1 H11 B3 B11 I3 BRONSTEIN 2. 8 Game Memory and Automatic Power Down You may interrupt a game by pressing GO/STOP to turn the computer off. The computer will "remember" your position for up to 600 hours (with fresh alkaline batteries). If you do not press a key or make a move within about 20 minutes when the computer is not thinking, the computer will switch off to conserve power, and will retain the game in memory. 2. 9 Openings Library At the beginning of a game, the computer's reply is usually instantaneous because the computer is playing moves which are stored in its openings 5 H4 4 H12 B4 B12 I4 I12 A4 A12 I11 A3 A11 H10 B2 B10 I2 I10 A2 A10 H9 B1 B9 I1 I9 A1 A9 A B C D E F G H 5 TACTICAL 2. 7 The Computer Plays Against Itself To watch the computer play a game against itself, press PLAY for every move. Study its playing strategies to learn more about chess! TOURNAMENT A14 BLITZ ENGLISH library. If the current board position is in its openings library, the computer plays a response to that position from its collection of moves, instead of thinking about the move. 3. 2 Fun Levels Selection of any of the squares from A1 to A8 will give you the fun levels. [. . . ] Previous level remains selected New level selected, clock resets Starting position of selected 7 ENGLISH The clock is not used during this mode and NonAuto, when selected, is only in effect after the opening moves are finished. Note that the method chosen for playing the Openings Coach is retained in memory until batteries are replaced of ACL is pressed. Figure 3-1 Moves in Openings Coach Square Name Moves other Piece Symbol keys. The computer automatically exits Verify Mode if no piece symbol key is pressed within about 5 seconds. 3. 14 Non Auto Mode Normally, the computer automatically answers with a countermove whenever you enter a move. If you press NON AUTO the computer responds with a `beep' and you can then enter all the moves for both sides, one by one, without allowing the computer to answer! [. . . ]