Companion Chess Computer (600-2439) Operation Faxback Doc. # 7450
TURNING THE GAME BOARD ON OR OFF
Press GO to turn on the game board for a new game or to return to a saved
game. Press STOP to save the game and turn off the computer. The
computer stores all game positions and any next-move calculations it was
computing.
Notes: To save power, the computer automatically turns itself off if you
do not press a key or make a move for about 20 minutes. The
computer saves the game information and turns itself back on
when you press GO.
If the computer was calculating a move when you turned it off
or it turned itself off, but had not yet completed its
calculations, it resumes its calculations when you turn it back
on.
TURNING THE SOUND ON OR OFF
The computer's sound is normally on. To turn the computer's sound off,
press SOUND until the computer beeps once.
To turn the sound back on, press SOUND until the computer beeps twice.
Notes: You can turn the computer's sound on or off anytime during a game.
If you turn the computer's sound off, it does not beep when you
make an illegal move.
STORING/REMOVING GAME PIECES
1. Press down on the piece storage compartment cover's arrow, then slide
the cover in the direction of the arrow.
2. Lift and remove the cover.
3. Replace or remove the pieces from the compartment.
4. Replace the cover.
STARTING A NEW GAME
Press NEW GAME to start a new game and erase any game stored in memory.
The computer beeps three times and displays _:_.
Note: The computer always starts a new game with you playing white pieces
and your opponent playing black pieces.
PLAY LEVELS
When you play against the computer, you can select a level that matches
your skill. There are 64 different standard play levels.
When you press LEVEL, the computer displays L: and the current level on
the LCD display. For example, if you choose level B2, the display shows
L: b2.
After you install batteries or press ACL to reset the computer, it resets
itself to level A1. After that, the computer remains on the last selected
level.
Choosing a Level
The 64 levels increase in difficulty from level A1 (the lowest and
easiest) to level H8 (the highest and most difficult).
If you are a beginner, start out with the lower levels. The computer
purposely makes mistakes and restricts its search depth on the lower
levels so you can beat the computer and learn while you do it. If you
are an intermediate or advanced player, try the higher levels.
Note: When you set the level, keep in mind that when the computer has
more time to calculate its moves, it plays better.
Changing the Level
To change the current level, repeatedly press LEVEL until L: and the
level you want appears.
To quickly move through the levels, repeatedly press TAB to skip over
8 levels at a time.
When the computer displays the level you want, simply press NEW GAME (to
start a new game) or make your next move (to continue the current game).
You can change the level at any time during a game.
ENTERING MOVES
Playing chess against the computer is like playing with a human opponent-
you make your move, and the computer responds with its move. The only
difference is that you must physically move both your and the computer's
pieces. To make a move, press down gently on the center of the FROM, then
the TO squares. The FROM square is the current location of the pieces you
plan to move; the TO square is where you are moving the piece.
Note: On the LCD display, _:_ indicates it is your turn to move, while
Co-- indicates that the computer is calculating its move.
Note: Once you press a piece (either yours or the computer's) down on
a FROM square, you must complete the move by pressing a TO square
before you can press the TAB, LEVEL, PLAY or TAKE BACK keys or any
piece symbol key. If you try to use any of these keys before you
complete the move, the computer sounds an error beep.
Follow these steps to enter moves.
1. When it is your turn to move, press down the piece you want to move
on the FROM square. The display shows the FROM square and :_.
For example, if the piece you want to move is on square D2, the
display shows D2:_.
2. Press the piece gently down on the TO square where you want to move
the piece. The display shows Co -- while the computer plans its
move.
Notes: The computer might respond instantly, so you might not see Co--.
If you do not want to wait for the computer to calculate its
move, press PLAY once to force the computer to make a move.
3. When the computer is ready to move, the display shows the FROM square
and the TO square.
For example, if the computer wants to move a piece from F5 to F4, the
display shows F5:F4.
4. Press the computer's piece down on the FROM square. The computer
displays-, the letter code for the piece it wants to move (to confirm
that you are moving the correct piece), and the TO square.
The display shows one of the following letter codes:
t:= king
q= queen
r:= rook
b:= bishop
n:= knight
P:= pawn
5. Press the computer's piece gently down on the TO square. The display
shows _:_ to indicate it is your turn to move.
Here's an example of how to move pieces and communicate with the computer.
Try it now!
1. Press the white pawn on square E2. The display shows E2:_.
2. Move the pawn to square E4 and press it on the square. The display
might show Co--. The computer records your move and begins to
calculate its move.
3. The computer might display E7:E5, for example, to indicate that it
wants to move a piece from square E7 (the FROM square) to square E5
(the TO square).
4. Press the black pawn at E7 on its current location. The computer
displays -, the letter code for the piece it wants to move (to confirm
that you are moving the correct piece), and TO square.
5. Press the black pawn on the location where the computer wants you to
move it. The computer displays _:_ to indicate it is your turn to
move.
For each move, remember the three basic steps: press, move, and press
again.
CORRECTING ACCIDENTAL WRONG MOVES
If you press down on a piece and the FROM square information appears on
the display, but you decide not to make that move, press the piece down
on the FROM square again. The computer displays _:_ and you can enter
another move.
When you complete a move by pressing the piece down on the TO square, the
computer accepts it and immediately considers its next move. If you
change your mind after completing a move, wait for the computer to
indicate the move it wants to make. Enter the computer's move (see
"Entering Moves"), then press TAKE BACK. The computer shows you how to
take back its last move. After you take back the computer's last move,
press TAKE BACK again. The computer shows you how to take back you last
move. (See "Taking Back Moves.")
ILLEGAL MOVES
The computer only allows moves that comply with the rules of chess, and
will not accept an illegal move. The computer notifies you of an illegal
move or error by beeping an error tone (if the sound is on). The FROM
square information on the display also remains unchanged if you make an
error.
These things cause the computer to indicate an illegal move:
Pressing on a piece of the wrong color (for example, it is white's turn
and you press on a black piece.
Pressing on the wrong square when making the computer's move on the
board (e.g., the display shows D5:C5 and you press square B5).
Pressing on an empty square without having first pressed a piece that
can move to that square.
Moving a piece that puts or leaves your own king in check or checkmate.
Note: If you attempt to castle by moving the rook before the king, the
computer does not notify you of an illegal move, but it accepts
the rook's move as a valid move without letting you move your king,
and your turn is over. For more information, see "Castling."
FORCING THE COMPUTER'S MOVE
When it is the computer's turn, you can press PLAY while the display shows
Co-- to force the computer to make an immediate move.
CHANGING SIDES WITH THE COMPUTER
To change sides with the computer, press PLAY when it is your turn to
move. The computer takes over your pieces and makes a move. Then you
can enter moves for the computer's side and continue to play the same
game.
WATCHING THE COMPUTER PLAY BOTH SIDES
To watch the computer play itself, press PLAY every time the computer
indicates a move.
GAME INDICATORS
Checkmate
Whenever a checkmate situation occurs on the board, the computer displays
End =. Press NEW GAME to start a new game.
Check
Whenever a check situation occurs on the board, the computer displays
ch:.
Stalemate/Draw Game
Whenever the computer detects that the conditions for a stalemate have
occurred, it displays End =.
If a stalemate occurs, the game is over and cannot be continued. You
can, however, take back moves (see "Taking Back Moves"). Otherwise, press
NEW GAME to start a new game.
Note: The computer recognizes only draws by stalemate (see "Draw Games").
MAKING SPECIAL MOVES
En Passant Capture
The computer recognizes when you choose to move en passant. It also
captures a pawn en passant whenever it determines that such a move is
desirable.
When performing an en passant capture, the computer first indicates the
TO square information for its pawn. Then the computer displays the TO
square information of the captured pawn. Press the square and take away
the pawn.
Note: For more information about moving en passant, see "Capturing En
Passant."
Pawn Promotion
When one of your pawns reaches the opposite side of the board, the
computer lets you promote it. If you choose to promote the pawn to
a piece other than a queen, press that piece symbol key to register
the promoted piece, then press the TO square.
If one of the computer's pawns reaches the opposite side of the board,
the computer promotes its pawn to the piece it determines to be of most
value by displaying the TO square, -, and the letter code for the piece it
wants (see "Entering Moves").
Note: You can substitute the promoted piece if one is available, but
you don't need to. The computer accepts the pawn with the value it
was promoted to. All you need to do is remember which pawn is
yours or the computer's promoted piece. To make this easier, you
can put a piece of tape on top to the promoted piece to mark it.
Castling
The computer recognizes when you choose to castle. Castle by moving your
king first.
The computer castles whenever it determines that such a move is desirable
The computer castles by first moving its king and then its rook.
Note: Castling is a king's move. If you attempt to castle by moving
your rook before moving the king, the computer accepts the rook's
move as a valid move, but will not let you complete the castle
by moving the king. You must take back the rook's move, then
castle by moving king first. See "Taking Back Moves."
For example, follow these steps to perform a white queen's side castle.
1. Press the white king on square E1. The computer displays E1:_ _.
2. Move the white king to square C1 and press it on the square. The
computer displays _ _:A1.
3. Press the white rook on square A1. The computer displays _ r: d1.
4. Move the white rook to square D1 and press it on the square. The
computer displays Co-- to indicate it is black's turn to move.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONS
VERIFYING PIECE POSITIONS
If you want to verify the location of any piece on the chess board, you
can use the piece symbol keys to find the position of all pieces. Each
time you press a piece symbol key, the computer displays the piece's
code and location.
For example, if you want verify the white queen's position (on square D1),
press the queen piece symbol key. The computer displays _9:D1.
dot _ indicates the piece's color:
_ = white
- = black
dot 9: - indicates the piece's type:
-t: = king
-q: = queen
-r: = rook
-b: = bishop
-n: - knight
-P: = pawn
dot d 1 - indicates which square the piece is on.
If there is more than one of the same color piece on the board, repeatedly
press the piece symbol key. The display shows you the location of each
like piece of the same color, then shows you the location of each piece of
the other color. If you press the piece symbol key more times than the
number of like pieces of both colors on the chess board, the computer
beeps twice and the display shows _, the type of piece,:, and _ _.
You can use the piece symbol keys to verify the location of your pieces
and your opponent's pieces during your turn. You cannot use the piece
symbol keys during your opponent's turn.
TAKING BACK MOVES
This function lets you take back any move made by you and the computer.
You can take back up to 2 moves (your move and the computer's move).
If you change your mind about a move before pressing the piece down on the
TO square, follow the procedures in "Correcting Accidental Wrong Moves."
Note: You must complete the computer's move and take it back before
you can take back your own move.
1. Press TAKE BACK. The display shows the TO square of the last move.
2. Press the piece on the indicated TO square. The display shows the
FROM square of the last move.
3. Move the piece from the TO square to the FROM square.
4. Press the piece on the indicated FROM square. The display shows _ _:
_ _.
5. Repeat Steps 1 through 4 to take back another move.
As you take back moves, the computer does not remind you to return a
previously captured piece to the board nor a castled rook to its original
square. If you are not sure about the position of a previously captured
piece or castled rook, see "Verifying Piece Positions."
(LB/all-08/23/94)
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