Portable 1750L Sixty Four Level Chess Computer (600-2444) Levels Faxback Doc. # 32298 PLAY LEVELS When you play against the computer, you can select a play level that matches your skill level. There are 64 different levels. When you install batteries or press ACL to reset to computer, the play level resets to level H3. After that, the computer remains on the last selected level. VIEWING THE CURRENT LEVEL To view the current level, press LEVEL. The computer beeps, and the rank/ file board lights showing the current level flash. Press LEVEL again to continue. CHANGING THE LEVEL You can change the level during your turn during a game. 1. Press LEVEL. The computer beeps, and the rank/file board lights flash to show the current level. 2. Press any piece onto the square on the game board that corresponds to the level you want (see "Choosing a Level", below). The rank/file board lights change to show the level you selected. 3. Press LEVEL again. CHOOSING A LEVEL If you are a beginner, start out with the beginner levels (A1 through A8) or fun levels (B1 through B5). The computer purposely makes mistakes on these levels so you can beat the computer and learn while you play. 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 think about its moves, it plays better. Beginner Levels (A1 through A8) The eight beginner levels let beginning and average players play (and win) move easily than other levels. The computer makes common mistakes such as leaving pieces unprotected, failing to capture unprotected pieces, and capturing pieces while leaving the king unprotected. To select any of these levels, press LEVEL, use any piece to press square A1-A8, then press LEVEL again. NOTES: The computer's opening book memory contains many major opening strategies so the computer can respond more rapidly during a game's opening moves. The computer does not use its opening book memory to compute moves in the beginner levels. Level A1 is the easiest, and the computer's playing strength increases gradually up through Level A8. The following table shows: The square you press to select the level (after you press LEVEL). The average amount of time the computer takes to determine its move at that level. Square Times Per Move A1 1 Second A2 2 Seconds A3 3 Seconds A4 4 Seconds A5 5 Seconds A6 6 Seconds A7 7 Seconds A8 8 Seconds Fun Levels (B1 through B5) The five levels are designed especially for beginners. As in the beginner levels, the computer makes common mistakes at these levels, such as capturing an opponent's pawn by sacrificing its own higher-value piece. To select any of these levels, press LEVEL, use any piece to press square B1-B5, then press LEVEL again. At the lower fun levels, the computer moves almost instantaneously, not allowing itself to study a move in any depth. NOTE: Level B1 is the easiest, and the computer's playing strength increases gradually up through Level B5. The following table shows: The square you press to select the level (after you press LEVEL) Information about how the computer plays at the level Square Information B1 Computer might sacrifice its own higher-value piece 100 percent of the time. B2 Computer might sacrifice its own higher-value piece 75 percent of the time. B3 Computer might sacrifice its own higher-value piece 50 percent of the time. B4 Computer might sacrifice its own higher-value piece 25 percent of the time. B5 Computer ignores obvious mate-in-1 move. Indefinite Response Time Level (B6) At the indefinite response time level, the computer searches indefinitely for one move until it checkmates an opponent or 8 ply depth has been searched. Use this level to have the computer analyze complicated positions for hours or even days. To select this level, press LEVEL, use any piece to press square B6, then press LEVEL again. If the computer finds such a move, the rank/file board lights show the move, Otherwise, it continues to analyze the current game without making another move until it finds one (or exhausts the batteries!). To stop the search and force the computer to make a move, press PLAY. The computer displays the best move it found, and play continues. Problem Level (B7) At the problem level, the computer searches for one move that will win 2 points or more. NOTE: The computer assigns these point values to the pieces: Pawn (1 point) Bishop (3 points) Knight (3 points) Rook (5 points) Queen (9 points) To select this level, press LEVEL, use any piece to press square B7, then press LEVEL again. If the computer finds such a move, the rank/file board lights show the move. If the computer cannot find such a move, it then analyzes the current game to find a series of no more than four moves that will check mate the opponent's king. If the computer finds such a series of moves, the rank/file board lights show the first move in the series. If the computer cannot find such a series of moves, it sounds an error beep. Then you must change levels and press PLAY to return to normal play. Mate Finder Level (B8) The mate finder level lets you set up a position (see "Problem Setup", on Faxback Doc. # 32299) and let the computer try to checkmate the opponent's king within 1 to 4 moves, regardless of the opponent's defense. To select this level, press LEVEL, use any piece to press square B8, then press LEVEL again. If the computer finds such a move, the rank/file board lights show the move. The computer sounds an error beep if any of the following occur. No checkmate is possible The computer cannot find a checkmate You press the PLAY button while the computer is searching for a solution. If an error beep sounds, you must change levels to return to normal play. Practical Levels (C1 through C8) At the practical levels, the computer attempts to capture the opponent's pieces and place the opponent's king in check as often as possible. However, the computer sometimes overlooks traps set by an opponent, and sometimes positions its pieces so on opponent can easily attack them. To select any of these levels, press LEVEL, use any piece to press square C1-C8, then press LEVEL again. The following table shows: The square you press to select the level (after you press LEVEL) The average amount of time the computer takes to determine its move Square Time Per Move C1 1 Second C2 2 Seconds C3 5 Seconds C4 10 Seconds C5 30 Seconds C6 1 Minute C7 2 Minutes C8 3 Minutes Brute Force Levels (D1 through D8) The computer normally limits its search to moves most likely to be successful. However, at the brute force levels, the computer checks every move possibility during play. To select any of these levels, press LEVEL, use any piece to press square D1-D8, then press LEVEL again. The following table shows: The square you press to select the level (after you press LEVEL) The average amount of time the computer takes to determine its move Square Time Per Move D1 1 Second D2 2 Seconds D3 5 Seconds D4 10 Seconds D5 30 Seconds D6 1 Minute D7 2 Minutes D8 3 Minutes Fixed Depth Search Levels (E1 through E8) At the fixed depth levels, the computer's search depth is limited by the level you choose. The level number indicates the number of ply (one of your moves or one of the computer's moves) the computer will look ahead to find a move. For example, if you set the computer to fixed depth search level E1, the computer searches ahead only one move, so it will often overlook a check mate in two moves. This gives beginners and average players a better chance to win. To select any of these levels, press LEVEL, use any piece to press square E1-E8, then press LEVEL again. The following table shows: The square you press to select the level (after you press LEVEL) The number of ply the computer will search ahead to find a move Square Ply E1 1 E2 2 E3 3 E4 4 E5 5 E6 6 E7 7 E8 8 Passive Levels (F1 through F8) The computer normally chooses opening moves that follow active openings and open positions. However, you can set the computer so it can choose moves that follow more passive and closed strategies. For example, if you set the computer to a passive level, the computer will avoid attacks and keep closed positions, and might exchange pieces unreasonably, such as its look for an opponent's pawn. This results in weaker play. To select any of these levels, press LEVEL, use any piece to press square F1-F8, then press LEVEL again. The following table shows: The square you press to select the level (after you press LEVEL). The average amount of time the computer takes to determine its move. Square Time Per Move F1 1 Second F2 2 Seconds F3 5 Seconds F4 10 Seconds F5 30 Seconds F6 1 Minute F7 2 Minutes F8 3 Minutes Aggressive Levels (G1 through G8) If you set the computer to the aggressive levels, it will avoid exchanging pieces so it can present more potential attacks to an opponent (to keep the game complicated). It will also check and attack an opponent's pieces in an aggressive manner. This results in stronger play. To select any of these levels, press LEVEL, use any piece to press square G1-G8, then press LEVEL again. The following table shows: The square you press to select the level (after you press LEVEL). The average amount of time the computer takes to determine its move. Square Times Per Move G1 1 Second G2 2 Seconds G3 5 Seconds G4 10 Seconds G5 30 Seconds G6 1 Minute G7 2 Minutes G8 3 Minutes Normal Play Levels (H1 through H8) The normal play levels provide the most challenging and difficult play. These levels increase in difficulty from level H1 (the easiest) to level H8 (the most difficult). To select any of these levels, press LEVEL, use any piece to press square H1-H8, then press LEVEL again. The following table shows: The square you press to select the level (after you press LEVEL). The average amount of time the computer takes to determine its move. Square Time Per Move H1 1 Second H2 2 Seconds H3 5 Seconds H4 10 Seconds H5 30 Seconds H6 1 Minute H7 2 Minutes H8 3 Minutes NOTE: The time-per-move figure is the average amount of time the computer takes to make each move. During the opening moves of a game, the computer might move quickly. (LB/eb 04/26/96)