User manual SAITEK AVALON

[. . . ] QUICK START 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 pushing the tab. Insert 2 "AAA" (Type AM4/R03) batteries into the computer, making sure that you observe the correct polarity. 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 Paragraph 4. 1. Set up the chess pieces in the initial starting position for a new game, with the White pieces closest to you. 2 x AAA/AM4/R03 4 5 6 Press the NEW GAME key to reset the computer for a new game of chess. Enter moves by executing them on the board, pressing the chess pieces down gently into the holes of the `from' and `to' squares for each move. [. . . ] If you do not want to use the computer's move, first make the displayed move on the board, and then take it back. Once you have cleared the move in this way, you can make your own move. 2. 7 The Computer Plays Against Itself To watch the computer play a game against itself, press PLAY for every move. 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 300 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 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. 11 3. LEVELS AND SPECIAL MODES 3. 1 Levels of Play With 768 level settings to choose from (including the Extended Teach modes), you can learn and grow with this chess computer!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. Full range of difficulty from easy (B1) to extremely challenging (C8). The game CHOOSE A LEVEL FROM THE 64 BOARD SQUARES must be concluded within the selected time, which is then 8 increased by an amount to compensate for each move. The 7 compensation is the actual time used or the allowed time, 6 whichever is shorter. The game must be concluded within 5 the selected time, which is increased by a prescribed 4 amount to compensate for each move before the move is made. A certain number of moves must be made 2 within the given amount of time. Computer skill is limited by not 1 being able to look ahead more A B C D E F G H than the selected number of moves. CASUAL LEVELS BONUS TIMER TOURNAMENT FIXED DEPTH FUN LEVELS 12 BRONSTEIN TACTICAL BLITZ ENGLISH · Tactical. 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. 3. 2 Fun Levels Selection of any of the squares from A1 to A8 will give you the fun levels. In this range the computer does not make an exhaustive search for the best available move. [. . . ] The computer will show you the symbol for the color and piece type, along with the square on which it should be placed. Pressing the key again shows the position of the next piece of that type, and so on until all such pieces that should be on the board have been shown. When there are no more pieces of that type to report, the display reverts to showing the side to move, and sounds two `beeps' to get your attention. An example of the sequence of displays is shown as follows: Key Press Display Shows Meanings Press @ first time Press @ second time Press @ third time Press @ fourth time zn:B1 -n:B8 zn:F6 zn:zz (beep, beep) White Knight on B1 Black Knight on B8 Black Knight on F6 no more Knight, white-to-move This example indicates that one of the white knights has been captured, and it is now white to play. [. . . ]