Master 2200X Chess Computer
(600-2213) Game Options Faxback Doc. # 47019
ROTATING DISPLAY OPTIONS [3]
A - rd: 1 - Main Variation 1st Move
B - rd: 2 - Main Variation 2nd Move
C - rd: 3 - Main Variation 3rd Move
D - rd: 4 - Main Variation 4th Move
E - rd: E - Evaluation of Position
F - rd: d - Search Depth/Move Count
G - rd: n - Nodes per Second
H - rd: t - Time per Move
PLAYING MODE OPTIONS [2]
A + SEL -- Selective Search/ Brute Force
B - EASY - Easy Mode
C - rANd - Random Play
D - by:P - Passive Play
E - by:A - Active Book
F - by:? - Complete Book
G - by:t - Tournament Book
H + bOOy - Book On/Off
OPERATION MODE OPTIONS [1]
A + AUt --- Auto Answer
B + SNd --- Sound On/Off
C - SIL --- Silent Mode
D - t ICt - Tricking of Chess Clocks
E - cdn --- Countdown Clock
F - tESt -- Test Program
G - aPd --- Auto Power Down
H - tOP --- Play White from Top
The computers 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
The above chart shows the available game options. Each group of game
options contains 8 different settings. The Playing Mode group includes
opening book 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 that reset the computer to the default 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
(A1-H1)."
Twice to select the Playing Mode group (see "Playing Mode Options
[A2-C2]" below).
Three times to select the Rotating Display group
(see "Rotating Display Options (A3-H3)" on Page 48).
The display shows the first option in the option group you selected.
2. Repeatedly press []/< or []/> until the display shows the option you
want to change. For example, if you want to change option C1 (silent
mode), press []/> 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.
OPERATION MODE OPTIONS (A1 - H1)
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 entered by the
computer.
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 +.
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 +.
Note: The computer's clock ticks automatically if you turn on one of the
rotating display options. See "Rotating Display Options (A3-H3)"
below.
Count-down Clock (E1)
The computer's clock normally counts up the elapsed time as you play.
However, if you are playing at 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 (if
batteries are installed).
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 turn it back
on and 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 (A2-C2)
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 (D2 - H2)
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 changing any of these
options. When you select an option, the computer selects positions more
often from that option. When you deselect 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 +.
Note: If you set this option to +, the computer automatically sets option
E2 (Active Book) to -.
Active Book (E2)
The computer normally chooses opening moves that stress active plays and
gambits. However, you can set the computer so it can choose moves that
stress more passive plays and gambits, by setting this option to -.
Note: If you set this option to -, the computer automatically sets option
D2 (Passive Book) to +.
Complete Book (F2)
The computer normally chooses only some of the moves from its opening
book. However you can set the computer so it can choose any move from its
opening book, 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 variety of moves, ranging in
difficulty from easily 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 OPTIONS (A3 - H3)
The computer's rotating display options let you continuously view the game
information described in "Viewing Game Information" in Faxback Doc.
# 47018 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 the 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 []/> or []/< to view each statistic one
at a time. To unfreeze the display, press OPTION, then press CLEAR.
You can select any of the following options:
Principal Variation, First Move (A3) - the first countermove and the
first ply the computer is
currently considering
(see "Principal Variation" in
Faxback Doc. # 47018).
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" in Faxback Doc.
# 47018).
Note: The computer will not
display an evaluation
rating while set to a
mate Search level.
Current Search Depth (F3) - the computer's 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" in
Faxback Doc. # 47018).
(BR/eb 7/28/98)
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