Master 2200X Chess Computer
(600-2213)                 Game Information           Faxback Doc. # 47018

Viewing Game Information

Your chess computer displays information about its calculations during
play.  Studying this information can help you learn more about chess.

You can view game information at any time during a game.  If you view it
while waiting for the computer to move, you can watch the information
change as the computer considers the best response to a move you made.

Note:  You can set the computer to automatically display game information
       as it computes its next move.  See "Rotating Display Options
       (A3- H3)" in Faxback Doc. # 47019.

You can view the following types of game information:

  Principal variation

  Search information

  Chess clocks

  Move counter

Principal Variation

The computer predicts the moves it thinks an opponent will make (up to 4
ply ahead), then computes countermoves to those moves.  These countermoves
are called principal variations.

To view the first principal variation, press INFO during the computer's
turn.  [] flashes, and the display shows the FROM and TO squares for the
first countermove the computer is considering.  Then press []/< or []/> to
see additional countermoves, if any (up to 4).

Notes:  If you press INFO during your turn, the computer suggests a move
        for you.  See "Having the Computer Suggest a Move" in Faxback Doc.
        # 47015.

        The computer displays ----- as you press []/< or []/> if it has
        not yet computed a second, third, or fourth countermove.

To continue the game, simply enter the computer's move when the computer
displays it.

SEARCH INFORMATION

Evaluation Rating

The computer can evaluate the current board position.  To view the
computer's evaluation, press INFO twice.  [] flashes or [] is displayed,
and the display shows + or - and n. n.

+ or - n. n is an evaluation rating that shows the computer's assessment
of the current game based on the following factors.

  + or - shows the player who the computer thinks has the advantage.  If
  + is displayed, it means that white has an advantage over black.  If
  - is displayed, it means that black has an advantage over white.

  n. n shows a combination of the following values:

    The point value of the piece the computer thinks it might win or lose.
    The computer assigns these point values to the pieces:

       Pawn (1 point)

       Bishop (3 points)

       Knight (3 points)

       Rook (5 points)

       Queen (9 points)

    The computer's general assessment of the position of all pieces on the
    board.

Notes:  The evaluation rating might change during the computer's move
        because the computer explores different strategies in its analysis.

        The evaluation rating might be a fractional number.

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

To continue the game, simply enter the computer's move when the computer
displays it, or enter your move when it is your turn.

Current Search Depth

The computer responds to an opponent's moves by predicting the opponent's
next several moves, then countering those moves.

To view the current search depth (the number of ply of a player's moves
the computer is looking ahead and the number of possible countermoves it
is considering), press INFO twice, then press []/> once.  [] flashes or
[] is displayed, ad the display shows the search depth.

For example, if the computer displays 7_ 1, the computer is searching 7
ply of moves ahead for a player, and is considering 1 possible
countermove.

Notes:  The computer displays ----- as you press []/> if it has not yet
        completed a search.

        The search depth might change during the computer's move.

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

To continue the game, simply enter the computer's move when the computer
displays it, or enter your move when it is your turn.

Current Countermove

To view the countermove that the computer is currently considering, press
INFO twice, then press []/> twice.  [] flashes or [] is displayed, and the
display shows the FROM and TO squares for the countermove.

Notes:  The current countermove might change during the computer's move
        because the computer explores different strategies in its
        analysis.

        The computer will not display current countermove information
        while set to a mate search level.

To continue the game, simply enter the computer's move when the computer
displays it, or enter your move when it is your turn.

Position Total

To view the number of positions per second that the computer is checking
while determining its countermove, press INFO twice, then press []/> three
times.  [] flashes or [] is displayed, and the number changes on the
display.

To continue the game, simply enter the computer's move when the computer
displays it, or enter your move when it is your turn.

CHESS CLOCKS

The computer's chess clocks keep track of the elapsed time and remaining
time for both sides during a game.  You can view any chess clock any time
during a game.

The chess clocks stop whenever you take back a move, change the playing
level, select options, verify or set up a position, or press GO/STOP to
turn off the computer.  When a game is saved, the computer also saves the
settings of the chess clocks in memory and turns them back on when play
continues.

Note:  The computer resets all chess clocks to 0:00:00 when you press NEW
       GAME.

To continue a game after viewing a chess clock, simply enter the
computer's move when the computer displays it, or enter your move when it
is your turn.

Elapsed Time since Any Move

To view the elapsed time since either you or the computer made a move,
press INFO three times.  [] or [] and the clock is displayed.

Elapsed Time Since Computer Started Current Game

To view the elapsed time since the computer started the current game,
press INFO three times and press []/> once.  [] or [] and the clock is
displayed.

Elapsed Time Since You Started Current Game

To view the elapsed time since you started the current game, press INFO
three times and press []/> twice.  [] or [] and the clock is displayed.

REMAINING TIME IN A SUDDEN DEATH/TOURNAMENT GAME

In a sudden death or tournament game, both you and your opponent have a
specific amount of time to complete all moves.  As you and your opponent
play, you might make your moves faster or slower than the opponent.
Therefore, the chess clocks keep track of your remaining time and the
computer's remaining time separately.

Computer's Remaining Time

To view the time the computer has remaining before sudden death or
tournament time expires, press INFO three times and press []/> three
times.  [] or [] and the clock is displayed.

Note:  If you are not playing a sudden death or tournament level game, the
       display shows ----.

Your Remaining time

To view the time you have remaining before sudden death or tournament time
expires, press INFO three times and press []/> four times.  [] or [] and
the clock is displayed.

Note:  If you are not playing a sudden death or tournament level game, the
       display shows -----.

Resetting the Chess Clocks

Press NEW GAME to reset all chess clocks to 0:00:00.

MOVE COUNTER

The computer counts the total number of your moves during a game.  You can
view the move counter any time during a game.

To view the move counter, press INFO four times.  no and the number of
moves you have taken are displayed.

To continue a game after viewing the move counter, simply enter the
computer's move when the computer displays it, or enter your move when it
is your turn.

(BR/eb 7/28/98)