Mega 2050X Chess Computer 600-2441 Game Options

Mega 2050X Chess Computer
(600-2441) Game Options Faxback Doc. # 33673

The computer's game options let you select the computer's optional
features any time before or during a game. These options control how the
computer works, selects moves and displays information during play.

The game options are divided into the following groups.

Operation Mode
Playing Mode
Rotating Display

Each group of game options contains 8 different settings.

The chart on Faxback Doc. # ______ , shows the available game options.

NOTES: When the computer displays an option, it also displays + or -
before the option. + shows that the option is on, and - shows
that the option is off.

The chart shows the default setting for each option when you
install batteries or press ACL to reset the computer.

The only two options which go back to their default state when you
start a new game are Auto Answer (A1) and Play White from the Top
(H1).

SELECTING AND CHANGING OPTIONS

1. Choose the option group containing the setting you want to change by
pressing OPTION.

Once to select the Operation Mode group (see "Operation Mode
Options", below).

Twice to select the Playing Mode group (see "Playing Mode
Options", below).

Three times to select the Rotating Display group (see "Rotating
Display Options (A3 through H3)", below).

The display shows the first option in the option group you selected.

2. Repeatedly press (WHITE [] ) / < or (BLACK [] / > until the display
shows the option you want to change. For example, if you want to change
option C1 (Silent Mode), press (BLACK [] / > twice.

The display shows + (if the option is on) or - (if the option is off).

3. To change the option's setting, either press ENTER or the board square
corresponding to the option.

4. Press CLEAR to continue a game, or repeat Steps 1-3 to select and
change another option.

NOTE: During a game, you can change options A1 (Playing Against Another
Person) and H1 (Playing White From the Top of the Game Board) by
using these steps. If you press NEW GAME, the computer resets these
options to their default settings.

OPERATION MODE OPTIONS

Playing Against Another Person (A1)

The computer normally displays a countermove when you enter a move.
However, you can set the computer so it will not answer with a countermove
when you make a move by setting this option to -.

This option lets you use the computer as a referee when you play against
another person, enter a series of moves, or replay a part of a game.

NOTES: If you are playing against another person and set this option to -,
either player can still use the computer to suggest a move by
pressing INFO. The display shows the suggested move.

If you are playing against another person and set this option to -,
either player can let the computer enter a move for them by
pressing ENTER. The display shows the move suggested by the
computer. After the player makes the suggested move, this option
remains set to -.

Sound (B1)

The computer normally beeps whenever you press a key or square. However,
you can set the computer so it will not beep when you press a key or square
by setting this option to -.

NOTE: If you set this option to -, the computer still beeps when it moves
or when you make an illegal move or press a wrong key.

Silent Mode (C1)

The computer normally beeps whenever you make an illegal move or press a
wrong key. However, you can set the computer so it will not beep at all
by setting this option to +.

Ticking Clock (D1)

The computer's clock is normally silent. However, you can set the computer
so the clock ticks like a real chess clock by setting this option to +.

Countdown Clock (E1)

The computer's clock normally counts up the elapsed time as you play.
However, if you are playing a tournament or sudden death level, you can set
the clock so it counts down instead of counting up by setting this option
to +.

Test Program (F1)

A service person can display troubleshooting information by setting this
option to +.

Press ENTER and CLEAR at the same time to stop the test.

Automatic Power-Off (G1)

The computer normally stays on until you press GO/STOP. However, you can
set the computer so it turns itself off after 15 minutes if you do not
press a key or make a move by setting this option to +.

NOTES: The computer saves game information if it turns itself off.

The computer will not turn itself off while it is computing a move.

After the computer turns itself off, you can press GO/STOP to continue
playing the same game.

Playing White from the Top of the Game Board (H1)

The computer normally plays the black pieces on the top of the game board
and you play the white pieces on the bottom. However, you can set the
computer so you can play the white pieces from the top of the game board
by setting this option to +.

When you set this option to +, set up the board with the black pieces
closest to you.

PLAYING MODE OPTIONS

The computer's playing mode options let you control how the computer
selects moves during play.

Search Algorithms (A2)

The computer contains two types of search algorithms it can use to search
for moves during play: selective search and brute force.

The selective search algorithm helps the computer limit its search for
moves to only those most likely to be successful.

The brute force algorithm allows the computer to check every move
possibility during play, but results in slower play.

The computer normally uses the selective search algorithm (except during
mate search play). However, you can set the computer so it uses the brute
force algorithm to search for moves by setting this option to -.

Easy Mode (B2)

The computer normally uses the time while you are thinking of a move to
compute its own move. However, you can set the computer so it computes
only during its own turn by setting this option to +. This makes it easier
for you to beat the computer.

Random Mode (C2)

The computer normally selects moves that are similar in type and difficulty
during a game. However, you can set the computer so it chooses moves
randomly during its own turn by setting this option to +. This lets you see
and react to a greater variety of moves during a game, and results in more
difficult play.

OPENING BOOKS

The computer's opening book memory contains most major opening strategies
so the computer can respond more rapidly during a game's opening moves.

The computer has the following opening books:

Passive
Active
Normal
Abnormal

You can influence the computer's style of play by activating or
deactivating any of these options. When you activate an option, the
computer selects positions more often from that option. When you deactivate
an option, the computer selects fewer positions from that option.

NOTE: After you play through the computer's opening book, changing these
options has no effect on how the computer plays. However, if you
played actively during the game's opening moves, the computer
usually continues to respond actively even after it completes the
opening moves.

Passive Book (D2)

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 by setting this option to +.

Active Book (E2)

The computer normally chooses opening moves that stress passive plays and
gambits. However, you can set the computer so it can choose moves that
stress more active plays and gambits by setting this option to +.

Complete Book (F2)

The computer normally chooses only some of the moves from its opening books However, you can set the computer so it can choose any move from its
opening books by setting this option to +.

NOTE: If you set this option to +, the computer might make questionable or
illogical moves during play. This is because its opening book
contains responses to many known lines of play (even illogical
ones), in case the opponent plays them.

Tournament Book (G2)

The computer normally chooses from a wide range of moves, ranging in
difficulty from easy to difficult. However, you can set the computer so it
can choose only the most efficient moves by setting this option to +.

NOTE: If you set this option to +, the computer plays extremely well and
is almost unbeatable. However, this option also narrows the
computer's choice of moves, and makes the computer's responses to
moves more limited.

Book On/Off (H2)

The computer normally selects moves from one or more opening books during
the first few moves of a game. However, you can set the computer so it
cannot use any of its opening books by setting this option to -.

NOTE: If you set this option to -, the computer must compute a response to
an opponent's move "from scratch," resulting in slower play.

ROTATING DISPLAY OPTION (A3 THROUGH H3)

The computer's rotating display game option lets you continuously view the
game information described in "Viewing Game Information" while it computes
a move, without interrupting the game in progress.

As it computes its move, the computer displays each statistic you select,
one at a time, at 1-second intervals.

NOTES: The computer does not display the count-up game clock while
displaying rotating display information.

The computer displays ----- and a chosen or selected rotating
display option if it has not yet computed the option.

Follow the steps in "Selecting and Changing Options", above to select the
statistics you want the computer to display.

If the computer displays the statistics too quickly, press INFO to freeze
the display, then repeatedly press (WHITE [] ) / < or (BLACK [] ) / > to
view each statistic one at a time. To unfreeze the display, press OPTION,
then press CLEAR.

Principal Variation,
First move (A3) - the first countermove and the first ply the
computer is currently considering (see
"Principal Variation", see Faxback Doc.
# 33672).

Principal Variation,
Second move (B3) - the second countermove and the second ply
the computer is currently considering.

Principal Variation,
Third Move (C3) - the third countermove and the third ply the
computer is currently considering.

Principal Variation,
Fourth Move (D3) - the fourth countermove and the fourth ply
the computer is currently considering.

Position Evaluation (E3) - the computer's current evaluation rating
(see "Search Information", on Faxback Doc.
# 33672).

NOTE: The computer will not display an evaluation rating while set to a
mate search level.

Current Search Depth (F3) - the computer current search depth.

NOTE: The computer will not display search depth information while set to
a mate search level.

Position Total (G3) - the current number of positions per second
that the computer is checking while
determining its countermove.

Elapsed Time Per Move (H3) - the elapsed time since the last move (see
"Chess Clocks", on Faxback Doc. # 33672).

(WL/EB 5/30/96)