Saitek chess - Manual (Page 8)

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computer and exit Level Mode. When making your selection via the
board squares, pressing CLEAR has the same effect as pressing
ENTER—it enters your level into the computer.
• To verify the level without changing it: If you press LEVEL to
verify the level but you don’t want to actually change levels, press
CLEAR. This returns you to normal play without changing the level
or clock settings, even while the computer is thinking.
Other important points to remember regarding levels:
• Changing the level always resets the chess clocks.
• We do not recommend changing levels while the computer is
thinking. If you must do this, first press ENTER to abort the
computer’s search, and make its move on the board. Then, take
back the computer’s move and change the level. Finally, press
ENTER to make the computer start thinking on the new level.
• If you change the level while the computer is thinking, the clock is
reset and the current search is aborted.
• If you press LEVEL while the computer is thinking but the level is
not changed (if you press CLEAR instead of ENTER), the com-
puter will also abort its search.
3.1 Normal Playing Levels (Squares A1-G2)
LEVEL 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 .................... 1.5 minutes ............... L 1:30
D2 .................... 2 minutes ................... L 2:00
E2 .................... 3 minutes ................... L 3:00
F2 .................... 5 minutes ................... L 5:00
G2 .................. 10 minutes ................... L10:00
When you choose one of the Normal Playing Levels, you are select-
ing an average response time for the computer. Note that the times are
averaged over a large number of moves. In the opening and endgame,
To disable this feature, turn on the Easy Mode option, as described in
Section 5.2.
2.9 Game Memory
You may interrupt a game at any time by pressing GO/STOP. Play is
then suspended, and the computer stores your current game (up to 30
individual moves). When you switch back on again, you can continue
right where you left off!
3. THE PLAYING LEVELS
Your chess computer offers 64 different levels of play! When you set
the level, keep in mind that when the computer has more time to think
about its moves, it becomes stronger and plays better—just like a
human chess player! For an overview of all the levels, refer to the Level
Chart. The levels are also described individually in this section.
Setting a Playing Level
See “USE THIS CHART TO SELECT A PLAYING LEVEL!” for a
look at how to set a level and a chart showing all the levels.
There are two methods of setting levels—by using the game keys or
the board squares. Whichever method you use, always press LEVEL
first to enter Level Mode, and the computer will display the current
playing level. When you enter Level Mode the first time, the computer is
set on Normal Playing Level D1 (with an average response time of five
seconds a move), and the display shows
L0:05 .
• To select a level by using game keys: After entering Level Mode
by pressing LEVEL, change levels one at a time by using the
BLACK/
> and WHITE/ < keys. As a shortcut, press LEVEL
repeatedly to skip over eight levels at a time. When the display
shows your desired level, press ENTER to enter your new level into
the computer and exit Level Mode.
• To select a level by pressing board squares: As indicated in the
Level Chart, each of the 64 squares corresponds to one level. After
entering Level Mode by pressing LEVEL, take a chess piece and
press the desired square to activate a level, using the chart as a
guide. When you press down on the desired square and that level
shows in the display, press ENTER to enter your new level into the