Chess Champion 2150L
(600-2254) Play Levels Faxback Doc. # 37953
You can choose from 64 play levels.
When you play against the computer, you can select the standard play level
that matches your level of skill. You can also select from numerous time-controlled play levels, including several that simulate tournament play.
Some of the levels let you use the computer to analyze chess problems.
Selecting The Play Level
After you install batteries or reset the computer, the computer is at Level
A3. After that, the computer remains in the last selected level.
See the following for descriptions of the various play levels.
To confirm the current level, press LEVEL. Row/column indicators light to
show the selected level. To return to normal play, press NORMAL.
To change the level, do the following.
1. Press LEVEL.
The MODE indicator flashes orange, row/column indicators light to show the
selected level and the display gives information on the selected level (see
the play level descriptions).
2. Repeatedly press + or - to light the row/column indicators for the de-
sired level.
Or, repeatedly press TAB/COLOR to light the desired column indicator.
Then, repeatedly press + or - to light the desired row indicator.
3. Press NORMAL to return to normal play.
NOTE: If you change the level while the computer thinks, press PLAY after
you return to normal play.
Standard Play Levels
When you play against the computer, select the level that best matches your
chess skills. There are eight novice and eight expert levels.
Novice (D1-D8)
At levels D1-D8, even beginners have a chance to win. The computer makes
common beginner's mistakes, such as leaving pieces unprotected, failing to
capture unprotected pieces, or capturing pieces at the expense of leaving
its king unprotected. At higher novice levels, the computer makes fewer
mistakes.
Level D1 is the easiest level.
When you select one of the novice levels, the following display appears.
Hand, L3
Expert (A1-A8)
At levels A1-A8, the computer plays like an experienced player. At higher
expert levels, the computer uses better tactics, looks ahead more moves,
and considers more possibilities.
As the level increases, the computer takes longer to plan its moves. The
following chart shows the average response times for levels A1-A8. (Remem-
ber that these are averages. During a game, response times are often much
shorter or longer.)
LEVEL AVERAGE RESPONSE
TIME PER MOVE
A1 1 second
A2 2 seconds
A3 5 seconds
A4 15 seconds
A5 30 seconds
A6 1 minute
A7 2 minutes
A8 3 minutes
When you select one of the expert levels, the following display appears.
1:00: 1 L <-- Level Symbol
| |
| Moves
|
Response Time
Tournament Play Levels
Each of these levels simulates a type of traditional or modern tournament
play.
Traditional (B1-B5)
At levels B1-B5, the computer enforces the time limits of one of the tradi-
tional tournament types.
Each level has a primary and secondary time control, as shown in the chart
below. For example, at Level B5, each player must complete at least 50
moves within the first 2 1/2 hours of play. After that, each player must
complete at least 20 moves every hour. If a player fails to complete the
minimum number of moves within the time limit, that player loses.
The computer adds the time remaining from a previous time control to that
player's next time control. For example, at Level B5, a player that com-
pletes the first 50 moves in 2 hours has 1 1/2 hours to complete the next 20
moves. The computer accumulates the time remaining for each time control
until the end of the game.
The following chart shows the primary and secondary time controls for each
traditional tournament level.
NOTE: The computer maintains these times internally, but the normal display
does not show the clock. To learn how to view the time remaining in
the current time control, see "Remaining Time" under "Viewing Special
Displays".
PRIMARY SECONDARY
LEVEL DESCRIPTION TIME CONTROL TIME CONTROL
B1 Club 30 Moves/30 Minutes 30 Moves/30 Minutes
B2 International 40 Moves/2 Hours 20 Moves/1 Hour
B3 Grandmaster 40 Moves/2 1/2 Hours 16 Moves/1 Hour
B4 Fast 45 Moves/1 1/2 Hours 15 Moves/30 Minutes
B5 U.S.Open 50 Moves/2 1/2 Hours 20 Moves/1 Hour
When you select a traditional tournament level, the following display
appears.
0:30:30 L 0:30:30
| | | |
| | | Moves
| | Second Time Limit
| Moves
First Time Limit
Modern (C1-C8)
Some modern tournament forms (sometimes called sudden death) allow an un-
limited number of moves but set a limit on each player's total play time.
If a player uses all of the allocated time without checkmating the opponent
or ending the game in a draw, that player loses.
When you select one of these levels, the display gives the time limit for
that level, as shown in the following example. (99 shows that there is no
limit on the number of moves.)
L 0:05:99
The following chart shows the time limit for each level.
LEVEL TIME LIMIT
C1 5 minutes
C2 7 minutes
C3 10 minutes
C4 15 minutes
C5 20 minutes
C6 30 minutes
C7 60 minutes
C8 90 minutes
Other Time-Controlled Levels (E1-E8, F1-F8, G1-G8)
These levels are similar to the traditional tournament levels. The follow-
ing chart shows the primary and secondary time controls for each level. For
more information, see "Traditional (B1-B5)" under "Tournament Play Levels".
PRIMARY SECONDARY
LEVEL TIME CONTROL TIME CONTROL
E1 20 moves/30 minutes All remaining moves/30 minutes
E2 20 moves/30 minutes Same as Primary
E3 20 moves/40 minutes Same as Primary
E4 25 moves/60 minutes Same as Primary
E5 30 moves/45 minutes Same as Primary
E6 30 moves/45 minutes All remaining moves/30 minutes
E7 30 moves/60 minutes Same as Primary
E8 30 moves/70 minutes Same as Primary
F1 30 moves/75 minutes Same as Primary
F2 30 moves/80 minutes Same as Primary
F3 30 moves/80 minutes 10 moves/30 minutes
F4 30 moves/100 minutes Same as Primary
F5 35 moves/90 minutes All remaining moves/15 minutes
F6 40 moves/40 minutes 20 moves/20 minutes
F7 40 moves/60 minutes 20 moves/30 minutes
F8 40 moves/80 minutes 20 moves/40 minutes
G1 40 moves/90 minutes 20 moves/45 minutes
G2 40 moves/100 minutes 20 moves/50 minutes
G3 40 moves/105 minutes All remaining moves/15 minutes
G4 45 moves/120 minutes 23 moves/60 minutes
G5 50 moves/90 minutes 25 moves/45 minutes
G6 50 moves/100 minutes 25 moves/50 minutes
G7 50 moves/120 minutes 25 moves/60 minutes
G8 60 moves/60 minutes 30 moves/30 minutes
Analysis Play Levels
These levels let you use the computer to solve special chess problems.
You can set up problems such as those you find in chess books and newspaper
columns. (See "Setting Up Special Situations.") Then, you can select one
of these levels and let the computer solve the problem.
You can also enter one of these levels to get advice during a game.
Using an Analysis Play Level
Follow these steps to use one of the special analysis play levels.
1. Select the level as described in "Selecting the Play Level."
Descriptions of the analysis play levels follow these instructions.
2. Press PLAY. The color indicator flashes as the computer plans the move.
3. When the computer indicates the move, make the move as usual.
To return to a standard play level, follow the steps in "Selecting the
Play Level."
One-Hour Search (B6)
When you select Level B6, the computer spends 1 hour planning the next move
for the selected side. At the end of the hour, it suggests the move, based
on the research it has done up to that point.
NOTE: The computer indicates a move sooner if it finds the move in its
opening-book memory, finds a forced checkmate, fully searches to a
depth of 16 ply, or runs out of memory before the hour is up.
When you select Level B6, the following display appears.
1:00:1 L <--Level Symbol
Maximum Depth Search (B7)
At Level B7, the computer plans the next move for the selected side until
you press PLAY. You can let the computer spend hours or even days planning
a move.
NOTE: The computer indicates a move before you press PLAY if it finds the
move in its opening-book memory, finds a forced checkmate, fully
searches to a depth of 16 ply, or runs out of memory.
When you select Level B7, the following display appears.
9:59:1 L
Fixed Depth Search (H1-H8)
At Levels H1-H8, the computer searches ahead a specific number of moves
before deciding on its next move. For example, at Level H8, the computer
looks ahead eight moves (including the possible response to each move).
When you select one of these levels, the display shows how many moves ahead
the computer searches at the selected level. For example, the following
display appears for Level H6.
F.6 L
Searching for Forced Checkmate (B8)
When you select Level B8, the computer determines whether the selected side
can checkmate the opponent's king within 16 moves, regardless of the oppon-
ent's defense.
When you select Level B8, the following display appears.
Probl L
(EB 2/10/97)
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