Partner 1680X Chess Computer (600-2428A) Operation - Part 1 Faxback Doc. # 17069 TURNING THE GAME ON OR OFF Switch I/O to I to turn the game board for a new game or to return to a s saved game. Switch I/O to O to save the game and turn off the computer. The computer stores all game positions and any next move calculations it was computing. NOTES: To save game information, you must install batteries in the computer even if you are using an optional AC adapter. If the computer was calculating a move when you turned it off, but had not yet completed its calculations, it resumes its calculations when you turn it back on TURNING THE SOUND ON OR OFF The computer's sound is normally on. To turn the computer's sound off, press COACH LEVEL until the computer beeps once. Then the file board light next to H (SILENT) lights for about 2 seconds. To turn the sound back on, press COACH LEVEL until the file board light next to G (NORMAL) lights for about 2 seconds. NOTES: You can turn the computer's sound on or off any time during a game. If you turn the computer's sound off, it does not beep even when you make an illegal move STORING/REMOVING GAME PIECES 1. Press down on the piece storage compartment cover's arrow, then slide the cover in the direction of the arrow 2. Lift and remove the cover. 3. Remove or replace the pieces in the compartment. 4. Replace the cover ADJUSTING THE DISPLAY CONTRAST Switch I/O to I, then slide ||||| on the back to adjust the LCD display's contrast. STARTING A NEW GAME Press NEW GAME to start a new game and erase any game stored in memory. NOTE: The computer always starts a new game with you playing the white pieces and your opponent the black pieces. PLAY LEVELS When you play against the computer, you can select a level that matches your skill. There are 64 levels. These include: 8 beginner levels (A1, L-b1 through A8, L-b8) 5 fun levels (B1, L-F1 through B5, L-F5) 1 indefinite response time level (B6, L-ln) 1 problem level (b7, L-CF) 1 mate finder level (B8, L-Fi) 8 practical levels (C1, L-P1 through C8, L-P8) 8 brute force levels (D1, L-t1 through L-t8) 8 fixed depth search levels (E1, L-d1 through E8, L-d8) 8 passive levels (F1, L-c1 through F8, L-c8) 8 aggressive levels (G1, L-g1 through L-c8) 8 normal play levels (H1, L-n1 through H8, L-n8) The computer uses rank/file board lights to display the current level. It also displays a code on the LCD display that corresponds to the current level. For example, if you choose level B2, the rank/file board lights indicate square B2, and the display shows L-F2. After you install batteries or press ACL to reset the computer, it resets itself to level H4. After that, the computer remains on the last selected level. VIEWING THE CURRENT LEVEL To view the current level, press LEVEL once. The computer beeps, the rank/file board lights indicate the level, and the display shows the code that corresponds to the level. CHANGING THE LEVEL You can change the level during your turn during a game. 1. Press LEVEL. The computer beeps, the rank/file board lights show the current level, and the level's code appears on the display 2. Press the square on the game board that corresponds to the level you want. The rank/file board lights and the display changes 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-A8) or fun levels (B1-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) more 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, 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 computer moves in the beginning levels Level A2 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. Like in the beginner levels, the computer makes common mistakes at these levels, such as capturing an opponents pawn by sacrificing its own higher-value place. To select any of these levels, press LEVEL, press square B!-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 for one move that will checkmate an opponent. Use this level to have the computer analyze complicated positions for hours or even days. To select this level, press LEVEL, 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 if 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 capture an opponent's piece worth more than 2 points. NOTE: The computer assigns point values to the following pieces: Pawn (1 point) Bishop (3 points) Knight (3 points) Rook (5 points) Queen (9 points) To select this level, press LEVEL, press square B&, 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 checkmate 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 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, 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 an opponent can easily attack them. To select any of these levels, press LEVEL, 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 possibility during play. To select any of these levels, press LEVEL, 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 play (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 checkmate in two moves. This gives beginners and average players a better chance to win. To select any of these levels, press LEVEL, 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 allow 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 passive level, the computer will avoid attacks and keep closed positions, and often exchange pieces unreasonably, such as its rook for an opponent's pawn. This results in weaker play. To select any of these levels, press LEVEL, 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, 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 │ 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 more quickly.