Portable 1750L Sixty Four Level Chess Computer
(600-2444) Levels Faxback Doc. # 32298
PLAY LEVELS
When you play against the computer, you can select a play level that
matches your skill level. There are 64 different levels. When you install
batteries or press ACL to reset to computer, the play level resets to level
H3. After that, the computer remains on the last selected level.
VIEWING THE CURRENT LEVEL
To view the current level, press LEVEL. The computer beeps, and the rank/
file board lights showing the current level flash. Press LEVEL again to
continue.
CHANGING THE LEVEL
You can change the level during your turn during a game.
1. Press LEVEL. The computer beeps, and the rank/file board lights flash
to show the current level.
2. Press any piece onto the square on the game board that corresponds to
the level you want (see "Choosing a Level", below). The rank/file board
lights change to show the level you selected.
3. Press LEVEL again.
CHOOSING A LEVEL
If you are a beginner, start out with the beginner levels (A1 through A8)
or fun levels (B1 through B5). The computer purposely makes mistakes on
these levels so you can beat the computer and learn while you play.
If you are an intermediate or advanced player, try the higher levels.
NOTE: When you set the level, keep in mind that when the computer has
more time to think about its moves, it plays better.
Beginner Levels (A1 through A8)
The eight beginner levels let beginning and average players play (and win)
move easily than other levels. The computer makes common mistakes such as
leaving pieces unprotected, failing to capture unprotected pieces, and
capturing pieces while leaving the king unprotected.
To select any of these levels, press LEVEL, use any piece to press square
A1-A8, then press LEVEL again.
NOTES: The computer's opening book memory contains many major opening
strategies so the computer can respond more rapidly during a game's
opening moves. The computer does not use its opening book memory
to compute moves in the beginner levels.
Level A1 is the easiest, and the computer's playing strength
increases gradually up through Level A8.
The following table shows:
The square you press to select the level (after you press LEVEL).
The average amount of time the computer takes to determine its move at
that level.
Square Times Per Move
A1 1 Second
A2 2 Seconds
A3 3 Seconds
A4 4 Seconds
A5 5 Seconds
A6 6 Seconds
A7 7 Seconds
A8 8 Seconds
Fun Levels (B1 through B5)
The five levels are designed especially for beginners. As in the beginner
levels, the computer makes common mistakes at these levels, such as
capturing an opponent's pawn by sacrificing its own higher-value piece.
To select any of these levels, press LEVEL, use any piece to press square
B1-B5, then press LEVEL again.
At the lower fun levels, the computer moves almost instantaneously, not
allowing itself to study a move in any depth.
NOTE: Level B1 is the easiest, and the computer's playing strength
increases gradually up through Level B5.
The following table shows:
The square you press to select the level (after you press LEVEL)
Information about how the computer plays at the level
Square Information
B1 Computer might sacrifice its own
higher-value piece 100 percent of
the time.
B2 Computer might sacrifice its own
higher-value piece 75 percent of the
time.
B3 Computer might sacrifice its own
higher-value piece 50 percent
of the time.
B4 Computer might sacrifice its own
higher-value piece 25 percent of the
time.
B5 Computer ignores obvious mate-in-1
move.
Indefinite Response Time Level (B6)
At the indefinite response time level, the computer searches indefinitely
for one move until it checkmates an opponent or 8 ply depth has been
searched. Use this level to have the computer analyze complicated
positions for hours or even days.
To select this level, press LEVEL, use any piece to press square B6, then
press LEVEL again.
If the computer finds such a move, the rank/file board lights show the
move, Otherwise, it continues to analyze the current game without making
another move until it finds one (or exhausts the batteries!).
To stop the search and force the computer to make a move, press PLAY. The
computer displays the best move it found, and play continues.
Problem Level (B7)
At the problem level, the computer searches for one move that will win 2
points or more.
NOTE: The computer assigns these point values to the pieces:
Pawn (1 point)
Bishop (3 points)
Knight (3 points)
Rook (5 points)
Queen (9 points)
To select this level, press LEVEL, use any piece to press square B7, then
press LEVEL again.
If the computer finds such a move, the rank/file board lights show the
move. If the computer cannot find such a move, it then analyzes the
current game to find a series of no more than four moves that will check
mate the opponent's king.
If the computer finds such a series of moves, the rank/file board lights
show the first move in the series. If the computer cannot find such a
series of moves, it sounds an error beep. Then you must change levels and
press PLAY to return to normal play.
Mate Finder Level (B8)
The mate finder level lets you set up a position (see "Problem Setup", on
Faxback Doc. # 32299) and let the computer try to checkmate the opponent's
king within 1 to 4 moves, regardless of the opponent's defense.
To select this level, press LEVEL, use any piece to press square B8, then
press LEVEL again.
If the computer finds such a move, the rank/file board lights show the
move.
The computer sounds an error beep if any of the following occur.
No checkmate is possible
The computer cannot find a checkmate
You press the PLAY button while the computer is searching for a solution.
If an error beep sounds, you must change levels to return to normal play.
Practical Levels (C1 through C8)
At the practical levels, the computer attempts to capture the opponent's
pieces and place the opponent's king in check as often as possible.
However, the computer sometimes overlooks traps set by an opponent, and
sometimes positions its pieces so on opponent can easily attack them.
To select any of these levels, press LEVEL, use any piece to press square
C1-C8, then press LEVEL again.
The following table shows:
The square you press to select the level (after you press LEVEL)
The average amount of time the computer takes to determine its move
Square Time Per Move
C1 1 Second
C2 2 Seconds
C3 5 Seconds
C4 10 Seconds
C5 30 Seconds
C6 1 Minute
C7 2 Minutes
C8 3 Minutes
Brute Force Levels
(D1 through D8)
The computer normally limits its search to moves most likely to be
successful. However, at the brute force levels, the computer checks every
move possibility during play.
To select any of these levels, press LEVEL, use any piece to press square
D1-D8, then press LEVEL again.
The following table shows:
The square you press to select the level (after you press LEVEL)
The average amount of time the computer takes to determine its move
Square Time Per Move
D1 1 Second
D2 2 Seconds
D3 5 Seconds
D4 10 Seconds
D5 30 Seconds
D6 1 Minute
D7 2 Minutes
D8 3 Minutes
Fixed Depth Search Levels
(E1 through E8)
At the fixed depth levels, the computer's search depth is limited by the
level you choose. The level number indicates the number of ply (one of your
moves or one of the computer's moves) the computer will look ahead to find
a move.
For example, if you set the computer to fixed depth search level E1, the
computer searches ahead only one move, so it will often overlook a check
mate in two moves. This gives beginners and average players a better
chance to win.
To select any of these levels, press LEVEL, use any piece to press square
E1-E8, then press LEVEL again.
The following table shows:
The square you press to select the level (after you press LEVEL)
The number of ply the computer will search ahead to find a move
Square Ply
E1 1
E2 2
E3 3
E4 4
E5 5
E6 6
E7 7
E8 8
Passive Levels (F1 through F8)
The computer normally chooses opening moves that follow active openings and
open positions. However, you can set the computer so it can choose moves
that follow more passive and closed strategies.
For example, if you set the computer to a passive level, the computer will
avoid attacks and keep closed positions, and might exchange pieces
unreasonably, such as its look for an opponent's pawn. This results in
weaker play.
To select any of these levels, press LEVEL, use any piece to press square
F1-F8, then press LEVEL again.
The following table shows:
The square you press to select the level (after you press LEVEL).
The average amount of time the computer takes to determine its move.
Square Time Per Move
F1 1 Second
F2 2 Seconds
F3 5 Seconds
F4 10 Seconds
F5 30 Seconds
F6 1 Minute
F7 2 Minutes
F8 3 Minutes
Aggressive Levels
(G1 through G8)
If you set the computer to the aggressive levels, it will avoid exchanging
pieces so it can present more potential attacks to an opponent (to keep the
game complicated). It will also check and attack an opponent's pieces in
an aggressive manner. This results in stronger play.
To select any of these levels, press LEVEL, use any piece to press square
G1-G8, then press LEVEL again.
The following table shows:
The square you press to select the level (after you press LEVEL).
The average amount of time the computer takes to determine its move.
Square Times Per Move
G1 1 Second
G2 2 Seconds
G3 5 Seconds
G4 10 Seconds
G5 30 Seconds
G6 1 Minute
G7 2 Minutes
G8 3 Minutes
Normal Play Levels
(H1 through H8)
The normal play levels provide the most challenging and difficult play.
These levels increase in difficulty from level H1 (the easiest) to level
H8 (the most difficult).
To select any of these levels, press LEVEL, use any piece to press square
H1-H8, then press LEVEL again.
The following table shows:
The square you press to select the level (after you press LEVEL).
The average amount of time the computer takes to determine its move.
Square Time Per Move
H1 1 Second
H2 2 Seconds
H3 5 Seconds
H4 10 Seconds
H5 30 Seconds
H6 1 Minute
H7 2 Minutes
H8 3 Minutes
NOTE: The time-per-move figure is the average amount of time the computer
takes to make each move. During the opening moves of a game, the
computer might move quickly.
(LB/eb 04/26/96)
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