Travel Chess & Checkers
(600-2219)                 Operation - Checkers       Faxback Doc. # 57708

Basic Checkers Operation

Starting A New Game

Follow these steps to start a new game of checkers. 

1.  Press ON/CLEAR.

2.  Press NEW GAME.  The computer beeps and displays PLAY. 

3.  Press MODE.  The display shows SPCL. 

4.  Press SOUND.  The display shows [] PLAY 0.

Notes:  Unlike chess, the black pieces move first. 

        0 indicates you are in the checkers mode. 

The computer always starts a new game with you playing the black pieces
and your opponent playing the red pieces. 

Entering Moves 

Like in chess, making a move involves a FROM square and a TO square.  The 
FROM square is the current location of the piece you plan to move; the TO 
square is where the piece is after you move it. 

Notes:  [](filled) indicates it is black's turn to move, while []
        indicates it is the red checkers' turn to move. 

        If you try to use any key other than NEW GAME before you complete 
        the computer's move by pressing the TO square, the computer sounds 
        an error beep and the display flashes. 

Follow these steps to enter moves. 

1.  When it is your turn to move, press down the piece you want to move on
    its current (FROM) square. The display shows [](filled) and the square
    coordinates of the current (FROM) square and _ _, indicating the
    computer is waiting for the TO coordinates. 

2.  Then you move the piece and press it down on the TO square.  The
    computer displays [] to indicate it is your opponent's turn. 

3.  Once the computer has determined its move, the FROM and TO coordinates
    that the computer wants to move appear on the display. 

4.  Press the piece down on the FROM square. Then move the piece and press
    it down on the TO square.  The display shows [](filled) to indicate
    it is your turn to move. 

When one side cannot make a move or has no pieces at all, the game is 
over.  The display shows NAtE if the computer wins, or LOSE if you win.

Correcting Accidental Wrong Moves

If you press a piece down on a FROM square, but you decide not to make 
that move, press the piece down on the FROM square again.  The computer 
displays [](filled), and you can enter another move. 

If you change your mind after completing a move (after you press the piece 
down on the TO square), you must wait for the computer to indicate its 
move, enter that move, then press TAKEBACK to have the computer show you 
how to take back its last move, then your last move.

Illegal Moves

The computer only allows moves that comply with the rules of checkers.  If 
the computer detects an illegal move or an error, it sounds a beep (if the 
sound is on) and the display flashes.

Making A Capture

Capturing the Computer's Piece

Note:  As a checkers rule, a player must make any possible capture of the 
       opponent's piece before making any other move.

To capture your opponent's piece, press the piece you want to move on its
FROM square.  The computer displays [](filled), the current square
coordinate, and JP (jump) to indicate you can jump your piece to capture
the opponent's piece.  Then move and press your piece on the TO square
that you want to move to.  The computer shows the square coordinate of the 
captured piece with 1 (if the captured piece is not a king) or 2 (if the
captured piece is a king).  Press the captured piece on its square and
remove it from the board.

Note:  The computer automatically recognizes that you have a capture jump.
       An error beep sounds and the display shows JP if you do not make 
       the jump.

Capturing Your Piece

When the computer decides to make a capture jump, the display shows the 
FROM square and the TO square coordinates as normal.  Press the piece on 
the FROM square and the TO square to make the move.  After you complete 
the computer's move, the display shows the square coordinate of the 
captured piece with 1 (if the captured piece is not a king) or 2 (if the 
captured piece is a king).  Press the captured piece on its square and 
remove it from the board.

Making a Multiple Capture

If after you make a capture jump, the display still shows JP, it means 
there is another capture jump you need to make. Make the jump continuously
until JP disappears.  The computer then displays the square coordinate of
the first captured piece along with 1 or 2. Press its square and remove
the first captured piece.  The square coordinates of the other captured
pieces continuously appears on the display.  Press and remove the pieces.

If the computer makes a multiple capture, the display shows the TO square 
coordinates continuously until no more capture jumps can be made.

Note:  If the computer's move or your move captures any pieces, put the
       captured pieces on the side bar or in your pocket so you do not 
       lose them.

King Promotion

When a piece reaches the opposite side of the board (the opposite last 
row), the computer promotes it to a king.  A king can move both backward 
and forward on the board.

To crown the piece and make it king, press the FROM square and the TO 
square.  The computer then displays its TO square coordinate accompanied 
by a 2, to indicate the piece is promoted to king.  Replace the newly 
promoted piece with one of the four supplied "kinged" pieces.  Press it on 
the TO square and resume the game.

Forcing The Computer's Move

When it is the computer's turn, you can press MOVE to force the computer 
to immediately make a move.  The computer stops searching for moves and 
makes the best play from the moves it found up to the point where you 
stopped it.

Changing Sides With The Computer

To change sides with the computer, press MOVE when it is your turn to 
move. [](filled) flashes on the display while the computer takes over your
pieces and makes a move.  Then you can take over, and enter moves for the 
computer's side and continue to play the same game.

To watch the computer play against itself, simply press MOVE every time it 
is your turn to move.

Having The Computer Suggest A Move

The computer can suggest moves for you during a game.

To view the move the computer suggests for you, press HINT during your 
turn.  The computer displays the FROM and TO coordinates for the suggested 
move. 

To continue the game, simply enter your move or the suggestion the 
computer made.

Checkers Play Levels 

When you play against the computer, you can select a play level that 
matches your skill level.  There are 17 different levels.  Each level 
allows your computer to think for different periods of time (tournament 
players call these periods "Time Controls").  The longer your computer can 
think, the better moves it makes.  Generally it is best to find a level at 
which you are challenged, and you win about half the time.  The computer 
is preset to L 03.

To view your current level, simply press LEVEL when it is your turn.  
Press ON/CLEAR to resume the game.

To change the level, repeatedly press LEVEL until you see the desired 
level on the display.  Press ON/CLEAR to resume the game.

(BR EB 11/29/99)