Mega 2050X Chess Computer (600-2441) Play Levels Faxback Doc. # 33670 When you play against the computer you can select a play level that matches your skill level. You can also select from many time-controlled play levels, including several that simulate tournament play. Some of the levels even let you use the computer to learn chess strategies or analyze chess problems. The 64 different play levels (from left to right) include: (See Faxback Doc. # ______ ) 15 normal play levels (A1 through G2) 1 indefinite response time level (H2) 8 tournament levels (A3 through H3) 8 sudden death levels (A4 through H4) 8 beginner levels (A5 through H5) 8 mate search levels (A6 through H6) 16 training levels (A7 through H8) When you install batteries or press ACL to reset the computer, it resets itself to level D1. After that, the computer remains on the last selected level. To see the current level, press LEVEL. The computer beeps and the display shows the code of the current level. LEVEL CODE DISPLAYS (See Faxback Doc. # ______ ) When you select a level, the display shows information about that level. For example, if you choose level B2, the display shows L 1:00. L means that the computer is set to a normal play level, and 1:00 (one minute) is the average amount of time the computer has to calculate each move during a game. See "Normal Play Levels (A1 through G2)", below. CHANGING THE LEVEL To change the current level, press LEVEL, then press the square on the game board that corresponds to the level you want. Or. press (BLACK [] ) / > or (WHITE [] ) / < until the display shows the level you want. Then press ENTER to select the displayed level. To quickly move through the levels, repeatedly press LEVEL to skip over 8 levels at a time. When the computer displays the level you want, simply press ENTER, then continue the current game. Or press CLEAR to remain on the last selected level. You can change the level at any time during a game. CHOOSING A LEVEL If you are a beginner, start out with the beginner levels (A5 through H5) or training levels (A7 through H8). The computer purposely makes mistakes on the beginner levels so you can beat the computer and learn while you play. The training levels restrict the computer's search depth, resulting in weaker play. If you are an intermediate or advanced player, try the normal play levels (A1 through G2). These range from easy all the way up to difficult. 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 (A5 through H5) The eight beginner levels let beginners and average players play (and win) more easily than in 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. Level A5 is the easiest, and the computer's playing strength increases gradually up through level H5. 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 What the computer displays when you select the level Square Time Per move Display A5 1 Second bEG: 1 B5 2 Seconds bEG: 2 C5 3 Seconds bEG: 3 D5 4 Seconds bEG: 4 E5 5 Seconds bEG: 5 F5 6 Seconds bEG: 6 G5 7 Seconds bEG: 7 H5 8 Seconds bEG: 8 NOTE: The time-per-move figure is the average amount of time the computer takes to make a move. During the opening moves of a game, the computer might move more quickly. Training Levels (A7 through H8) The 16 training levels are designed especially for beginners. At the lower training levels, the computer moves almost instantaneously, not allowing itself to study a move in any depth. Level A7 is the easiest, and the computer's playing strength increases gradually up through Level H8. The following table shows: The Square you press to select the level (after you press LEVEL) The number of ply the computer will search to find a move Square Display A7 PLY: 1 B7 PLY: 2 C7 PLY: 3 D7 PLY: 4 E7 PLY: 5 F7 PLY: 6 G7 PLY: 7 H7 PLY: 8 A8 PLY: 9 B8 PLY: 10 C8 PLY: 11 D8 PLY: 12 E8 PLY: 13 F8 PLY: 14 G8 PLY: 15 H8 PLY: 16 NOTE: A ply is one of your moves or one of the computer's moves. The number after PLY: shows the number of moves the computer will search ahead to find a move. Normal Play Levels (A1 through G2) The 15 normal play levels increase in difficulty from level A1 (the easiest) to level G2 (the most difficult). 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 is move What the computer displays when you select the level Square Time Per Move Display A1 1 second L 0:01 B1 2 seconds L 0:02 C1 3 seconds L 0:03 D1 5 seconds L 0:05 E1 10 seconds L 0:10 F1 15 seconds L 0:15 G1 20 seconds L 0:20 H1 30 seconds L 0:30 A2 45 seconds L 0:45 B2 1 minute L 1:00 C2 1 minute, L 1:30 30 seconds D2 2 minutes L 2:00 E2 3 minutes L 3:00 F2 5 minutes L 5:00 G2 10 minutes L 10:00 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 more quickly. Tournament Levels (A3 through H3) At these levels, you must make a specified number of moves within a given amount of time. If you exceed the allotted time before making the specified number of moves, the computer beeps and time flashes on the display with the elapsed time. NOTES: When you play at a tournament level, you can set the computer's chess clock to display the countdown time instead of the elapsed time. See "Countdown Clock (E1)", on Faxback Doc. # 33673. When you play at a tournament level, the computer times itself and you. See "Computer's Remaining time in a Sudden Death/Tournament Game" and "Your Remaining Time in a Sudden Death/Tournament Game", on Faxback Doc. # 33672. The following table shows: The square you, press to select the level (after you press LEVEL) The number of moves you must make within the allotted time The allotted time for the game What the computer displays when you select the level Square Moves Time Per Game Display (Alternating) A3 40 1 Hour 30 Minutes tr40/1:30:00 B3 35 1 Hour 45 Minutes tr35/1:45:00 C3 40 1 Hour 45 Minutes tr40/1:45:00 D3 35 1 Hour 30 Minutes tr35/1:30:00 E3 40 2 Hours tr40/2:00:00 F3 45 2 Hours 30 Minutes tr45/2:30:00 G3 50 2 Hours tr50/2:00:00 H3 40 3 Hours tr40/3:00:00 Sudden Death Levels (A4 through H4) At these levels, you must finish the game within a given amount of time. If you exceed the allotted time, the computer beeps and time flashes on the display with the elapsed time. NOTES: When you pay at a sudden death level, you can set the computer's chess clock to display the countdown time instead of the elapsed time. See "Countdown Clock (E1)", on Faxback Doc. # 33673. When you play at a sudden death level, the computer times itself and you. See "Computer's Remaining Time in a Sudden Death Tournament Game" and "Your Remaining Time in a Sudden Death/ Tournament Game", on Faxback Doc. # 33672. The following table shows: The square you press to select the level (after you press LEVEL) The maximum amount of time allowed for the game What the computer displays when you select the level Square Time Per Game Display A4 5 Minutes bL : 5 B4 10 Minutes bL :10 C4 15 Minutes bL :15 D4 20 Minutes bL :20 E4 30 Minutes bL :30 F4 45 Minutes bL :45 G4 60 Minutes bL :60 H4 90 Minutes bL :90 Mate Search Levels (A6 through H6) The eight mate search levels allow you to set up a position (see "Problem Setup", on Faxback Doc. # 33671) and let the computer try to checkmate the opponent's king within 1 to 8 moves, regardless of the opponent's defense. The computer searches for the shortest possible solution to checkmate problems. If no checkmate is possible or the computer cannot find a checkmate, it sounds an error beep. Then you must change levels to return to normal play. The following table shows The square you press to select the level (after you press LEVEL) The mate problem the computer will try to solve What the computer displays when you select the level Square Problem Display A6 Mate in 1 -/+ in: 1 B6 Mate in 2 -/+ in: 2 C6 Mate in 3 -/+ in: 3 D6 Mate in 4 -/+ in: 4 E6 Mate in 5 -/+ in: 5 F6 Mate in 6 -/+ in: 6 G6 Mate in 7 -/+ in: 7 H6 Mate in 8 -/+ in: 8 Indefinite Response Time Level (H2) At H2 (the indefinite response time level), the computer searches until it finds a forced mate or you stop the search by pressing ENTER. Use this level to have the computer analyze complicated positions for hours or even days. When you select this level, the computer displays 9:99:99. To stop the search and force the computer to make a move, press ENTER. (WL/EB 5/30/96)