chess state that a player can claim a draw. If you wish, you can ignore the message and continue the game. When a stalemate is reached, the display will read StALE.
Game-Ending Messages
Touch Chess will announce mate in two (MAtE2) and mate in three (MAtE3). It will also display +MAtE when executing a checkmate. When you checkmate Touch Chess, it will display I LOSE. When you want to claim a win, draw, or want to resign, press the 2nd key and then START.
Screen Symbols
When a ‘+’ appears on the screen, it is a reminder that you are in check. When an ‘O’ appears on the screen, the game you are playing can be rated. When an ‘=’ appears, it indicates you are in two human player mode. Lastly, when an ‘!’ appears on the screen, you are being warned that one of your pieces is threatened with capture. (This is similar to the friendly "en garde" warning sometimes used by human players when they are attacking an opponent’s queen.)
Levels of Play
Generally, the higher the level you select, the better Touch Chess will play, and the longer it will think dur- ing its moves. The first four levels (1, 2, 3 and 4) are beginner levels and take approximately 4, 8, 12 and 16 seconds per move, respec- tively. Level 5 is a fixed
Level 73 is an infinite level. Touch Chess will take as long to move as you want it to, or until it finds a mate position in its search. Level 73 is good for problem solving (like the MATE problems available under OPTIONS), or it can be used to play against. When you are tired of waiting, press the MOVE key while the computer is thinking, and the computer will stop thinking and play the best move it’s found so far.
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