10
Square G2 ...................... 2 seconds
Square G3 ...................... 5 seconds
Square G4 .................... 10 seconds
Square G5 .................... 30 seconds
Square G6 ...................... 1 minute
Square G7 ...................... 2 minutes
Square G8 ...................... 3 minutes
In direct contrast to the levels described previously in
Section 3.9, on Levels G1-G8, the computer is much
more active and plays more aggressively. It will try to
open up positions by exchanging or sacrificing pawns,
and it will actively avoid piece exchanges to keep board
positions as complicated as possible! On these playing
levels, the computer also likes checks and direct attacks
on your pieces. Be prepared for anything!
3.11 Normal Playing Levels (H1-H8)
NORMAL PLAYING LEVELS
AVERAGE TIME PER MOVE
Square H1 ...................... 1 second
Square H2 ...................... 2 seconds
Square H3 ...................... 5 seconds
Square H4 .................... 10 seconds
Square H5 .................... 30 seconds
Square H6 ...................... 1 minute
Square H7 ...................... 2 minutes
Square H8 ...................... 3 minutes
The Normal Playing Levels are also this computer’s
strongest and most challenging levels! Whenever you
choose one of these levels, you are basically selecting an
average response time for the computer. On these levels,
the computer uses a Selective Search algorithm, allowing
it to quickly come up with move combinations which
would otherwise take much longer to find.
4. SPECIAL COACHING MODES
4.1 Teach Modes: Learn All About Tactics!
Your chess computer contains five built-in Teach
Modes. This feature allows you to learn basic moves and
master the tactics of the pieces, one at a time. For each
individual Teach Mode, the only pieces on the board are
Kings, pawns, and the selected piece type. This will help
beginners to concentrate solely on one piece at a time,
without losing focus and being distracted by other pieces
on the board!
To enter Teach Mode, press LEVEL. The computer
uses board lights to indicate the currently selected level of
play. If you want to change the level, press the corre-
sponding board square, as described in Section 3. If you
do not change the level, the current level will remain in
effect. After deciding on your playing level, you are now
ready to choose the Teach Mode you would like to try out!
As shown in the Teach Mode Chart above, selecting
the piece you want to study is easy—simply press the
corresponding Piece Symbol key (QUEEN, ROOK,
BISHOP, KNIGHT, or PAWN). As indicated in the chart,
pressing a Piece Symbol key turns on a pair of board
lights to indicate the piece you have selected to study.
After making your choice, press LEVEL to enter your
selection into the computer. The computer is now ready
for a new game, using the newly selected Teach Mode
and playing level. Remember that the only pieces on the
board will be Kings, pawns, and the piece type you have
chosen to study!
Note that the KING key is reserved for the standard
game, using all 32 chess pieces. When KING is pressed
in Teach Mode, board lights 2 and 7 turn on to indicate
the standard board. Pressing LEVEL to exit Teach Mode
at this point simply returns you to a new game, playing
with all the pieces.
Please also note the following points:
•
If you press LEVEL and then decide not to change
the playing level or Teach Mode, simply press
LEVEL again, and the current game status will
remain as is.
• If you do not press a square to select a new level,
the current level will remain in effect.
• If NEW GAME is pressed during any game, the
computer will switch back to the standard game,
with the current playing level still in effect.
• If you accidentally press any piece symbol key in
Level Mode, you will lose the current game after
exiting Level Mode. To continue with the current
board, press any square key, TAKE BACK, NON
AUTO, VOICE/COACH, PLAY EVALUATE, HINT
or SAY AGAIN to deselect the Teach Mode before
exiting Level Mode.
4.2 Voice/Coach Levels: Practice Your Game!
Your chess computer has four different Voice/Coach
Levels, which are accessed by repeatedly pressing
VOICE/COACH. Each time this key is pressed, a corre-
sponding board light turns on briefly (E-H), as noted
below. To verify which Voice/Coach level is in effect at
any time, simply press any square then VOICE/COACH—
and the board light will identify the current level.
• Coach Level E: Voice On, with Full Coach
Level E is a special level which encourages beginners
to improve their skills and understanding of the game of
chess. On this level, the computer gives you all possible
voice output, and also gives you important additional
information during the game:
• When one of your pieces is in danger, i.e., the
computer is likely to attack it on the next move, the
computer will alert you to this. It may tell you, for
example, to Watch your Bishop! It will also flash
the square of the endangered piece for a few sec-
onds. You may continue the game after the square
has stopped flashing by either making your next
move, or by pressing TAKE BACK to take back
your last move and making another one.
• Voice/Coach Level F: Voice Only
When you select this level, board light F turns on
E
F
G
H
Press VOICE/COACH repeatedly to select your Voice and
Coach Level options, as shown below.
VOICE AND COACH OPTIONS
Level E: Voice ON, Coach ON
All voice output PLUS coach functions.
Level F: Voice ON, Coach OFF
Voice used for moves, NEW GAME, etc.
Level G: Beeps ON, Coach OFF
Beeps only.
Level H: Voice OFF, Coach OFF
Silent Mode – no beeps, no voice.
Board Light