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. Reinstall the battery door. (Details at Paragraph 1.1) 2 Press GO/STOP to turn the game on.
Blitz Levels Bonus Timer Levels Tournament Levels Fixed Depth Levels Tactical Level Teach Modes Selecting Levels and Teach Modes Openings Coach Mode Verify Mode. Check Piece Positions! 3.14 Non Auto Mode QUICK START KEYS AND FEATURES INTRODUCTION 1. USING YOUR CHESS COMPUTER 1.1 Battery Installation 1.2 Making Moves 1.3 The Computer’s Move 1.4 Change Your Mind? Take Back! 1.5 Check, Mate, or Draw! 1.6 Start a New Game 1.7 Change Levels 1.8 Openings Coach 4. TECHNICAL DETAILS 4.1 The ACL Function 4.
KEYS AND FEATURES 1. LCD Display Window: The Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) is used to show moves, game information, and chess clocks for both players. Most of the symbols it uses are obvious, but a full list is shown in Figure 1. 2. Piece Symbol Keys: &(King), %(Queen), $(Rook), #(Bishop), @(Knight), and !Pawn. The Piece Symbol keys are used to verify positions and to select the different Teach modes, and some pieces are used for under-promotion of pawns. 3. Game Keys a.
Figure 1. Display Symbols and Sounds SYMBOLS 1 ........ 1 A ........ A k ....... King 2 ........ 2 B ........ b q ....... Queen 3 ........ 3 c ........ C r ....... Rook 4 ........ 4 D ........ D b ....... Bishop 5 ........ 5 E ........ E n ....... Knight 6 ........ 6 F ........ F p ....... Pawn 7 ........ 7 G ........ G sb .... Standard board 8 ........ 8 H ........ H 9 ........ 9 0 ........ 0 PM ......... Indicates player to move. S ............ Indicates black to move. :- .........
2 x AAA/AM4/R03 INTRODUCTION This electronic chess board is a powerful computer that will play chess with you at whatever level of complexity you choose, or if you prefer, you can play a game with a friend and the computer will act as referee. The huge range of levels of play (64) combined with the extended teach modes (11) will satisfy anyone with an interest in chess, including young and old. There are 768 combinations altogether.
00:00 PM Note that pressing NEW GAME will cancel Teach mode or Openings Coach if either is selected, or switch off the Non Auto function. c. To make a move, lightly press down on the piece you want to move until you hear a ‘beep’ (see Figure 1-3). The computer’s sensory board registers your move, and the display shows on the left side the ‘from’ square that was pressed. E2:zz d. Take the piece and lightly press it down on the square you want to move to.
The Computer’s Move When the computer is ready, it ‘beeps’ and shows the ‘from’ and ‘to’ coordinates of its move in the display, as shown in Figure 1-4. For an example, see Figures 1-5a and b. Press the indicated piece down on its ‘from’ square (E7, in this case), until you hear a ‘beep’ and the ‘from’ side of the display changes to show the color and symbol for that piece. (Figure 1 shows the symbols.
Check, Mate, or Draw! When a King is in check, the display shows the check symbol (alternately with the clock display if the clock is running). When the game ends in checkmate, draw by stalemate, draw by immediate 3 fold repetition or draw by 50 move rules, the End symbol is displayed. These symbols are shown in Figure 1. 5. Note. Stalemate is determined by 3 fold repetition of the same move, or by the 50 move rule.
2. ADDITIONAL COMPUTER FEATURES 2.1 Chess Clocks Built in chess clocks keep track of the time for you and also for the computer’s side, with a four-digit display showing the total elapsed time or the remaining time for each player alternately when it is his turn. After you have entered the computer’s move the display shows your chess clock until a key or square is pressed. However, it keeps tally of your time until the ‘to’ square is pressed.
2.3 Illegal Moves Your computer will never accept an illegal move. If you attempt an illegal move, the computer gives a low tone error ‘beep’ and the display keeps showing the ‘from’ square. Press on that square to clear the illegal move; then move again. Also, if you should move the computer’s piece incorrectly you will hear an error ‘beep’. This can happen if you move the wrong piece or move a piece to the wrong square. Check the display and move again.
an exhaustive search for the best move can be quite time consuming. 2.5 Changing Sides with the Computer To change sides with the computer, press PLAY when it is your turn. The computer will make the next move for your side. Change sides as often as you wish! 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.
TACTICAL FIXED DEPTH TOURNAMENT BONUS TIMER BRONSTEIN BLITZ CASUAL LEVELS FUN LEVELS 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. A1 to A8. For the early beginner.
• Tactical. H1 to H8. 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! 3.
............................. 3 min .......................... L:c4/03:00 ............................. 4 min .......................... L:c5/04:00 ............................. 5 min .......................... L:c6/05:00 ............................ 10 min ......................... L:c7/10:00 ............................ 15 min ......................... L:c8/15:00 3.4 Blitz Levels The levels in the D file of squares are the Blitz levels.
Chessboard Square Time for Game Free Time per Move Display E1 ......................... 5 min .......................... 3 sec .......... L:E1/05:00/00:03 E2 ........................ 10 min ......................... 5 sec .......... L:E2/10:00/00:05 E3 ........................ 15 min ........................ 10 sec ......... L:E3/15:00/00:10 E4 ........................ 20 min ........................ 10 sec ......... L:E4/20:00/00:10 3.
Chess board Square L:F4 and then .... 40 and then ....
3.9 Tactical Level Tactical levels are found in the last file of squares, ‘H’ file. These levels also limit how many individual moves ahead the computer looks, but in this case the computer does not evaluate strategic advantages, and looks only for material gain such as checkmate or draws. Again, the number of individual moves ahead that the computer reviews is equivalent to the chessboard square – H1 is one individual move ahead; H8 is 8 moves ahead.
Note the following key sequences and effects: LEVEL, LEVEL, LEVEL, Square, LEVEL, LEVEL, Piece Symbol, LEVEL , No change. Previous level remains selected New level selected, clock resets Starting position of selected Teach mode is set at previously selected level.
Kings, Rooks and Pawns ......................................... te:zr Kings, Queens and Pawns .......................................te:zq Kings, Knights, Bishops and Pawns ........................ te:nb Kings, Knights, Rooks and Pawns ........................... te:nr Kings, Knights, Queens and Pawns ........................ te:nq Kings, Bishops, Rooks and Pawns .......................... te:br Kings, Bishops, Queens and Pawns ........................ te:bq Kings, Rooks, Queens and Pawns .................
Note that the method chosen for playing the Openings Coach is retained in memory until re-selected.
3.13 Verify Mode. Check Piece Positions! If the pieces get knocked over, or you think any of them have been put in the wrong places, you can get the computer to run a check for you. Just press the Piece Symbol key for the piece you are questioning. The computer will show you the symbol for the color and piece type, along with the square on which it should be placed.
Note that Non Auto mode is also automatically canceled whenever you press NEW GAME or select a Teach mode on exiting Level mode. 4. TECHNICAL DETAILS 4.1 The ACL Function Computers can sometimes “lock up” due to static discharge or other electrical disturbances. If this should happen, take out the batteries and use a pin or a similar sharp object to press into the hole marked ACL in the base of the unit for at least one second. This resets the computer. 4.
Sound: Batteries: Power Consumption: Dimensions: Piezo-electric buzzer 2 AAA/AM4/R03 (1.5V) 10 mW 176 X 100 X 35 mm Saitek reserves the right to make technical changes without notice in the interest of progress.
SYMPTOMS Computer doesn’t react or “freezes” during a game POSSIBLE CAUSES • Batteries not inserted properly WHAT YOU SHOULD DO • Re-install batteries as shown in Section 1.1 • Batteries are weak or bad • Replace batteries • Static discharge has caused a lockup • Use ACL reset as described in Section 1.
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AVALON } ™ Instructions
