Master Chess Computer
(600-2217)                 Viewing Game Information   Faxback Doc. # 62201

Your Master 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. # 62202.

You can view the following types of game information:

  Principal variation            Chess clocks
  Search information             Move counter

Principal Variation

The computer predicts the moves it thinks an opponent will make (up to 4 
plays ahead), then computes countermoves to those moves.  These counter 
moves 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 square coordinates 
for the first countermove the computer is considering.  Then press </WHITE 
or BLACK/> 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.
       # 62198.

       The computer displays ----- as you press </WHITE or BLACK/> 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 determine the 
player with the advantage or best game. To view the computer's evaluation, 
press INFO twice. [] flashes or [] appears, and the display shows (+) or 
(-) and n.n.

(+) or (-) and n.n (each n represents a digit) is an evaluation rating 
that indicates the computer's assessment of the current game based on 
these factors:

  (+) or (-) shows the player who the computer thinks has the advantage.
  (+) means that white has an advantage over black. (-) means that black
  has an advantage over white.

  n.n (9.3, for example) indicates 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 as
       the computer analyzes different strategies.

       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 plays of a player's moves 
the computer is looking ahead) and the number of possible countermoves the 
computer is considering, press INFO twice, then press BLACK/> once.

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

Notes: If you press BLACK/> while the computer is still searching, it
       displays -----.

       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 BLACK/> twice.  The display shows the FROM and TO 
square coordinates for the countermove.

Notes: The current countermove might change during the computer's move as
       the computer analyzes different strategies.

       The computer will 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 BLACK/> 
three times.  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 a 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 resumes at those settings 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 Last Move

To view the elapsed time since either you or the computer last made a 
move, press INFO three times.

Elapsed Time Since Computer Started the Current Game

To view the elapsed time since the computer made its first move, press 
INFO three times, then press BLACK/> once.

Elapsed Time Since You Started the Current Game

To view the elapsed time since you made your first move, press INFO three 
times, then press BLACK/> twice.

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.

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

Computer's Remaining Time

To view the time the computer has remaining before sudden death or 
tournament time expires, press INFO three times then press BLACK/> three 
times.

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 BLACK/> four times.

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

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. The computer displays no 
(number) and the number of moves you have taken.

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 9/28/00)

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