Saitek Chess Explorer manual Normal Playing Levels Squares A1-G2, Infinite Level Square H2

•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.

3.1Normal 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, the computer tends to play faster, but in complicated middlegame positions, it may take longer to move.

3.2 Infinite Level (Square H2)

LEVEL	TIME	DISPLAY
H2	No time limit	9:99:99

On the Infinite Level, the computer will search indefinitely, until it finds a forced mate or forced move; until it has fully searched the position to its maximum depth; or until you stop the search by pressing ENTER. If you halt the search, the computer makes the move it cur- rently thinks is best. Try experimenting with this level—set up interest- ing board positions and let the computer analyze them for you! It will think for hours or even days on end, trying to come up with the best possible move. And don’t forget to watch the computer as it thinks— take advantage of the Rotating Display feature (see Section 5.3).

3.3 Tournament Levels (Squares A3-H3)

LEVEL	MOVES/TOTAL TIME	ALTERNATING DISPLAY
A3	40 moves in 1 hr. 30 min	tr40	1:30:00
B3	35 moves in 1 hr. 45 min	tr35	1:45:00
C3	40 moves in 1 hr. 45 min	tr40	1:45:00
D3	35 moves in 1 hr. 30 min	tr35	1:30:00
E3	40 moves in 2 hrs	tr40	2:00:00
F3	45 moves in 2 hrs 30 min	tr45	2:30:00
G3 ....	50 moves in 2 hrs	tr50	2:00:00
H3	40 moves in 3 hrs	tr40	3:00:00

The Tournament Levels require you to make a certain number of moves within a given amount of time. If a player exceeds the allotted time for a given number of moves, the computer flashes TImE along with the elapsed time to show that the game is over. If you wish, you can continue to play even after the time has run out.

If you choose a Tournament Level, you may want to set the chess clocks to display countdown time instead of the elapsed time (see Section 5.1). When the game time runs out, the countdown clock automatically reverts back to the normal clock display.

3.4Blitz Levels (Squares A4-H4)

LEVEL	TIME PER GAME	DISPLAY
A4	5 minutes	bL: 5
B4	10 minutes	bL:10
C4	15 minutes	bL:15
D4	20 minutes	bL:20

8