Take level B as an example the computer will finish the
first 40 moves in 2 hours (primary time control) and then
play the following 20 moves within 1 hour (secondary time
control). All further moves are played at a rate of 20 moves
per hour.
Please note that in accordance with tournament
regulations any time remaining at the primary time control
is carried forward to the secondary time control, e g if the
computer has made the first 40 moves in just one hour, it
has a total of two hours for its next 20 moves. The
remaining time for each time control is accumulated until
the end of the game.
3.4
Special levels
Level Description
E Speed chess — The computer will try to
complete the entire game in five minutes (total
computer thinking time — opponent's time not
included).
10 sec/move — J he computer will play each
move in 10 seconds (faster if it anticipates the
opponent's moves)
G Infinite level — The computer will go on thinking
until you interrupt it by pressing
PLAY
It will
also play a move if it is forced or if it sees a
forced mate.
H Problem solving level — The computer will
search for a forced mate and only play a move
if it sees one
3.5
Analysis
"Infinite level" is especially useful for understanding
complicated positions. The computer will analyse the
position for many hours, even days, and you can watch
it find better moves using the INFO function described
in section 4.3
3.6
Problem chess
The "Problem level" is used to solve mate problems
("White to play and mate in n moves") which you often
find in newspapers and magazines. It is important to
remember that on this level the computer will only play
a move if it sees a forced mate. Watch the lights on
the left-hand side of the board while the computer is
thinking. They show you the "depth of search", i.e. how
many moves the computer has checked If light 3 was
on when it played its move then it has found a mate in
three moves. You can play moves for the defending
side to see the entire continuation, even taking back
moves to try alternative defences
A chess problem
by Samuel Lovd (1867)
White to play and mate in three moves
Enter this position (as described in section 4 7) and
set level H. Press
PLAY
In a few seconds the
computer will show you the solution
1 a8 = B
(underpromotion to a bishop’). Try the defences
1. ... Kf8. 1. ... Ke8 and 1. ... Kg8 to see how White
mates on his third move
3.7
Instantaneous replies
All times given for the different levels of skill are
average times over a large number of moves
Depending on the stage of the game and the tactical
complexity of a position the computer may take
considerably more (or less) time on individual moves
If you have just made a move and the BLACK light to
the right of the board is flashing (or the WHITE light, if
the computer is playing with the white pieces) this
means that the computer is thinking. At the beginning
of a game, however, replies will be instantaneous on all
levels. This is because the computer is playing moves
that are stored in its "openings book" It knows a great
deal about good openings that chess masters have
discovered over the centuries.
But even in the middle of a game you may be surprised
to find the computer very often replying
instantaneously to your moves. There is a very good
reason for this While you are pondering over a move
the computer is not idle — it tries to anticipate your
possible replies. If you play one of the moves the
computer considered, then it does not need to think
any further. It just plays the move it has already
computed — instantaneously.
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