5
Game-ending Messages
IVAN will announce mate in two
(
MATE2
MATE2
) and mate in three (
MATE3
MATE3
).
It will also display
+MATE
+MATE
when exe-
cuting a checkmate or when you check-
mate IVAN. When you want to claim a
win, draw, or want to resign—press the
NEW GAME
key.
Screen Symbols
When a ‘
+
+
’ appears on the screen, it is
a reminder that you are in check. When
an ‘O’ appears on the screen, the game
you are playing can be rated. When an ‘=’
appears, it indicates you are in two
human player mode. When an ‘#’
appears, it indicates you are in zero
human player mode. And lastly when an
‘!’ appears on the screen, you are being
warned that one of your pieces is threat-
ened with capture. (This is similar to the
friendly "en garde" warning sometimes
used by human players when they are
attacking an opponent’s queen.)
Special Situations
Starting Play with the Black Pieces
When you want to play the Black pieces
(to let IVAN move first) press the
MOVE
key before you make your first move as
White. You’ll see the White and Black
pieces switch places immediately! If
you're using the playing board with the
plastic pieces, set the Black pieces up at
your end, close to the LCD.
Castling
Remember, you must always move the
King first when castling! First press your
king down on its
FROM
square (if
castling, E1). Then move and press your
king down on its
TO
square (if castling
kingside, G1). IVAN recognizes castling
maneuvers after the king is moved two
squares. He then reminds you to complete
castling by moving the rook. Move the
rook in the routine manner, pushing on its
FROM
and
TO
squares normally.
Promoting Pawns
When your pawn reaches the other end of
the board, IVAN will automatically pro-
mote the pawn to a queen, since this is the
best choice in nearly every case. In the
unlikely event you want to promote your
pawn to a piece other than a queen, take-
back IVAN’s move, next use IVAN's SET
UP feature, then press
MOVE
.
When IVAN pushes a pawn to your back
row, it will always promote to a queen.
Remember to change the piece on the
board after either side promotes a pawn.
En Passent - taking a pawn in passing
For an en passant capture, press the
FROM
and
TO
squares of the capturing
pawn. The square of the pawn being cap-
tured will then appear on the display. This
is to remind you to remove the captured
pawn. You must press down on the cap-
tured pawn before removing it from the
board.
Taking Back a Capture
After you take back a capture, the square
of the captured piece will then appear on
the display. This is to remind you to put
back the captured piece. You must press
on the square of the captured piece. Use
the LCD chessboard, to see what was
captured.
Levels of Play
IVAN has six level types. Two of the
level types (PLY and MATE) are for
analysis. The other four level types are
