TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE
Your computer has been manufactured and tested to very high quality standards and it is most unlikely to have a
fault. We have found in the past that almost all so-called “faults” can be traced to the user accidentally pressing a
wrong key or moving a piece to the wrong square, which makes it appear later in the game that the chess computer is
not operating as expected.
THE MOST COMMON “FAULT” TO BE FOUND WITH CHESS COMPUTERS IS THAT THE USER
HAS DONE SOMETHING WRONG AND, WITHOUT REALIZING IT, PUTS THE BLAME ON THE
C O M P U T E R !
Often a “fault” is due to the user having misunderstood something about the way the pieces move. You may wish to
consult the rules of chess to make sure you are not making an illegal move.
Just in case you do encounter a problem when using your computer we have prepared this troubleshooting guide.
THE DISPLAY SHOWS NOTHING
If there is nothing showing on the display and the computer does not react to any key press or to pressing any of the
pieces down on its square:
1 If you are using a power adapter make sure that the adapter is the correct voltage and polarity, as shown on the label
on the underside of the computer. Also ensure that the adapter is plugged in properly to the computer and plug
outlet has not blown a fuse).
2.If you are using batteries make sure that they are held firmly by the battery clips and that you have observed the
correct polarity. See the diagram engraved in the battery compartment. If you have had the batteries a long time they
may have run down so try replacing them.
3. If the batteries or power adapter appear to be OK the computer may have been affected by a static discharge which
may have caused it to “lock up”. Press a thin object in the “ACL” hole in the front of the computer and press it down
firmly once.
THE COMPUTER REFUSES TO MAKE A MOVE
If the computer has been playing normally but then refuses to make a move:
1. If the computer’s color symbol is flashing then the computer is still thinking. Be patient if you can, or press the
MOVE
key and the computer will respond immediately with the best move it has found so far.
2. If your color symbol is on, the computer thinks that you have not made your last move. Make sure that the pieces
on the board are on the same squares as those in the computer’s internal memory. You can do this by using “Verify
Position” mode. If the pieces all appear to be on the same squares as the computer thinks they should be, this means
that it is still your turn to move.
THE COMPUTER REFUSES TO ACCEPT YOUR MOVE
If you make a move but the computer refuses to accept it as a move:
1. Make sure that you have completed your move by pressing down on the “TO” square.
2. If you your move was castling, make sure that you have moved your rook and king.
3. If the move was an en passant capture, make sure that you have moved the capturing pawn in the correct way and
that you also pressed down on the square of the captured pawn before you removed it from the chess board.
4. If your move was a pawn promotion make sure that you pressed down on the promotion square with the newly
promoted piece.
5. Look to see if the computer’s last move put you in check and if so, make sure that your reply move does not leave
you in check.
6. Look to see if your move puts your king in check, either by moving the king to a square attacked by an enemy
piece or by moving something away from a square where it blocked an attack on your king by an enemy piece.
