Mega 2050X Chess Computer (600-2441) Game Information Faxback Doc. # 33672 Your chess computer displays information about its calculations during play. Studying this information can help you learn more about chess. You can view game information at any time during a game. If you view it while waiting for the computer to move, you can watch the information change as the computer considers the best response to a move you made. NOTE: You can set the computer to automatically display game information as it computes its next move. See "Rotating Display Options (A3 through H3)", on Faxback Doc. # 33673. You can view the following types of game information. Principal variation Search information Chess clocks Move counter PRINCIPAL VARIATION The computer predicts the moves it thinks an opponent will make (up to 4 ply ahead), then computes countermoves to those moves. These countermoves are called principal variations. To view the first principal variation, press INFO during the computer's turn. (BLACK [] ) flashes, and the display shows the FROM and TO squares for the first countermove the computer is considering. Then press (WHITE [] ) / < or (BLACK [] ) / > to see additional countermoves, if any (up to 4). NOTES: If you press INFO during your turn, the computer suggests a move for you. See "Having the Computer Suggest a Move", on Faxback Doc. # 33669. The computer displays ----- as you press (WHITE [] ) / < or (BLACK [] ) / > if it has not yet computed a second, third, or fourth countermove. To continue the game, simply enter the computer's move when the computer displays it. SEARCH INFORMATION Evaluation Rating The computer can evaluate the current board position. To view the computer's evaluation, press INFO twice. (BLACK [] ) flashes or (WHITE [] ) is displayed, and the display shows + or - and nn. + or - and nn is an evaluation rating that shows the computer's assessment of the current game based on the following factors. + or - shows the player who the computer thinks has the advantage. If + is displayed, it means that white has an advantage over black. If - is displayed, it means that black has an advantage over white. nn shows a combination of the following values: The point value of the piece the computer thinks it might win or lose. The computer assigns point values to the following pieces: Pawn (1 point) Bishop (3 points) Knight (3 points) Rook (5 point) Queen (9 points) The computer's general assessment of the position of all pieces on the board. NOTES: The evaluation rating might change during the computer's move because the computer explores different strategies in its analysis. The evaluation rating might be a fractional number. The computer will not display an evaluation rating while set to a mate search level. To continue the game, simply enter the computer's move when the computer displays it, or enter your move when it is your turn. Current Search Depth The computer responds to an opponent's moves by predicting the opponent's next several moves, then countering those moves. To view the current search depth (the number of ply of a player's moves the computer is looking ahead and the number of possible countermoves it is considering), press INFO twice, then press (BLACK [] ) / > once. (BLACK [] ) flashes or (WHITE [] ) is displayed, and the display shows the search depth. For example, if the computer displays 7_ 1, the computer is searching 7 ply of moves ahead for a player, and is considering 1 possible countermove. NOTES: The computer displays ----- as you press (BLACK [] ) / > if it has not yet completed a search depth. The search depth might change during the computer's move. The computer will not display search depth information while set to a mate search level. To continue the game, simply enter the computer's move when the computer displays it, or enter your move when it is your turn. Current Countermove To view the countermove that the computer is currently considering, press INFO twice, then press (BLACK [] ) / > twice. (BLACK [] ) flashes or (WHITE [] ) is displayed, and the display shows the FROM and TO squares for the countermove. NOTES: The current countermove might change during the computer's move because the computer explores different strategies in its analysis. The computer will not display current countermove information while set to a mate search level. To continue the game, simply enter the computer's move when the computer displays it, or enter your move when it is your turn. Position Total To view the number of positions per second that the computer is checking while determining its countermove, press INFO twice, then press (BLACK [] ) / > three times. (BLACK [] ) flashes or (WHITE [] ) is displayed, and the number changes on the display. CHESS CLOCKS The computer's chess clocks keep track of the elapsed time and remaining time for both sides during a game. You can view any chess clock any time during a game. The chess clocks stop whenever you take back a move, change the playing level, select options, verify or set up a position, or press GO/STOP to turn off the computer. When a game is saved, the computer also saves the contents of the chess clocks in memory and turns them back on when play continues. NOTE: The computer resets all chess clocks to 0:00:00 when you press NEW GAME. To continue a game after viewing a chess clock, simply enter the computer's move when the computer displays it or enter your move when it is your turn. Elapsed Time Since Any Move To view the elapsed time since either you or the computer made a move, press INFO three times. (BLACK [] ) or (WHITE [] ) and the clock is displayed. Elapsed Time Since Computer Started Current Game To view the elapsed time since the computer started the current game, press INFO three times and press (BLACK [] ) / > once. (BLACK [] ) or (WHITE [] ) and the clock is displayed. Elapsed Time Since You Started Current Game To view the elapsed time since you started the current game, press INFO three times and press (BLACK [] ) / > twice. (BLACK [] ) or (WHITE [] ) and the clock is displayed. REMAINING TIME IN A SUDDEN DEATH/TOURNAMENT GAME In a sudden death or tournament game, both you and your opponent have a specific amount of time to complete all moves. As you and your opponent play, you might make your moves faster or slower than the opponent. Therefore, the chess clocks keep track of your remaining time and the computer's remaining time separately. Computer's Remaining Time To view the time the computer has remaining before sudden death or tournament time expires, press INFO three times and press (BLACK [] ) / > three times. (BLACK [] ) or (WHITE [] ) and the clock is displayed. NOTE: If you are not playing a sudden death or tournament level game, the display shows ----. Your Remaining Time To view the time you have remaining before sudden death or tournament time expires, press INFO three times and press (BLACK [] ) / > four times. (BLACK [] ) or (WHITE [] ) and the clock is displayed. NOTE: If you are not playing a sudden death or tournament level game, the display shows -----. Resetting the Chess Clock Press NEW GAME to reset all chess clocks to 0:00:00. MOVE COUNTER The computer counts the total number of your moves during a game. You can view the move counter any time during a game. To view the move counter, press INFO four times. No and the number of moves you have taken are displayed. To continue a game after viewing the move counter, simply enter the computer's move when the computer displays it, or enter your move when it is your turn. (WL/EB 5/30/96)