Threat Area, Color Area, Score Area | Excalibur electronic 404

Function Keys

There are more special features than there are function keys! So each key has two labels.

The bottom label shows the primary function of the key. The top label its sec-

Your Excalibur Touch Chess is packed with features! Each key has two labels. To activate the feature named at the bottom label, just press the key. For the feature given at the top label, first press MODE and then the key.

Your Touch Chess partner is packed with valuable special features that can help you learn to play better and better chess—and to have a lot of fun!

Special Touch Areas

Features are controlled by four special areas above the chess board and six func - tion keys. The four special areas are shown in the above figure and perform as follows:

THREAT AREA

If the Threat Warning indicator ‘!’ is on, pressing the center of this area will flash the threatening move on the chess board.

COLOR AREA

Press this area during Setup mode to change the color of the side to move.

SCORE AREA

Press the center of this area to change between displaying the number of the current move, to displaying the position score. Pressing it again will return the display to the move number.

The scoring totals the following values: Pawns—1, Knights—3, Bishops—3, Rooks—5, and Queen—9.

CLOCK AREA

Your Touch Chess normally shows the time taken for each move. Press the cen- ter of this area to instead show the total game time. Press it again to return to move time.

ondary function.

Below are the features available to you through the primary functions. Remember, to access any of these fea- tures, you simply press the proper key, looking at the bottom label.

Primary Key Functions

OFF KEY

This key turns the unit off, automatically saving a game in progress. If it is not "thinking," Touch Chess will automati- cally turn off after a period of time, sav- ing your game position. Use the ON key to resume the game.

MODE/ON KEY

Use this key to turn on Touch Chess. Also use it to select the secondary function mode of the other keys. (See "Secondary Functions," page 3.) You can even use it as a clear or "escape" key to exit any of the special modes like OPTIONS, SETUP, LEVEL, and RATING.

UNDO KEY

This key lets you take back a move or moves you’ve decided against. Press this key repeatedly to continue taking back moves. After you take back a move, you can use the MOVE key to replay the taken-back move or moves.

HINT KEY

Press this key if you want to get hints from your Touch Chess partner. It dis-

plays and flashes a recommended

move on the screen. To make the hint move, just press the MOVE key.

If the hint is a book move or a replay

move, or will be shown

instead of .

MOVE KEY

Press this key to switch sides (colors) with your computer. Also use MOVE to replay moves in the undo move mode (see "UNDO,” left).

LEVEL KEY

Use this key to set the level of play (for more information, see “Levels of Play,” page 5). Press LEVEL again to change the level by one. Use the NEXT+ or SETUP- keys to change the level by ten. Also use the LEVEL key to enter level option mode.

How to Change Level Options:

When the level is displayed, pressing the OPTIONS key shows:

: In this mode, Touch Chess uses a more selective search for thinking. It may miss a tactical move, but it can look more deeply into the position. Press +NEXT to turn FAST on or off. Or press the OPTIONS key again to show:

: Allows the computer to random- ly choose between two good moves so that you get to practice and play against different responses. Press the +NEXT key to turn random on or off.

Secondary Key Functions

Below are the features available to you through the secondary functions. To access any of these features, you first press the MODE key and then press the indicated key, looking at the top label. You may press MODE again to stop using a secondary function.

OPTIONS KEY

Pressing the OPTIONS key repeatedly will display all selectable options. To select or change an option, use the +NEXT key.

Options Before the Game Starts

: Select one of 34 book opening lines of play. (See page 5.)

: Select one of 16 Great Games. (See page 6.)

: Select one of 31 mate-in-2 prob- lems. Problem 32 is a mate-in-3 problem. If you can’t find the solution, make Touch Chess show you the correct moves to a problem by setting the level to 73, and then pressing the MOVE key.