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GAME before the game is completed. If the score is greater than 9.0, you can claim a victory with the NEW GAME key.
CLRBR: Use this option to clear the chessboard for easier problem setup. Pressing the SETUP key will enter setup mode with the chess board cleared of all pieces. You must place a White king and a Black king on the board to exit setup mode.
VOICE: Use this option to change the language Alexandra speaks. Also use it to turn most of the speech off. Some warn- ings such as “Check” and “Are You sure?” will still be heard however.
SNDEF: Use this option to turn the sound effects off.
ANNC: Use this option to turn the move announcements off.
COACH: Turn this option on to hear a warning message if one of your pieces is under attack. The threat warning “!” will be enabled when COACH option is on.
SOUND: Use this option to turn the sound on or off.
SLEEP: Adjust the automat- ic shut off time with this option. Setting it to “0” will disable auto
SPEED: Adjust the dot- matrix scroll speed with this option. Setting it to “0” will disable scrolling altogether.
Special Displays
DrawDuringMessathe game,es Alexandra will display the word “DRAW” if a
10 place, the rules of 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.
GameAlexandra- ingwillMessagesannounce mate in two (MATE2) and mate in three (MATE3). It will also display “+MATE” when exe- cuting a checkmate or when you checkmate Alexandra. When you want to claim a win, draw, or want to
ScreWhen Symbols
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 indi- cates you are in two human player mode. And lastly, when an “!” appears on the screen, you are being warned that one of your pieces is threatened with capture. (This is similar to 11
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the friendly “en garde” warning sometimes used by human players when they are attacking an opponent’s queen.)
Special Situations
Starting Play
with the Black Pieces When you want to play the
Black pieces (to let Alexandra move first), press the MOVE key before you make your first move as White. Set the Black pieces up at your end.
Castling
Remember, you must always move the king first when castling! First press your king down on its FROM square (if castling, E1). Then move and press your king down on its TO square (if castling kingside, G1). Alexandra recognizes castling maneuvers after the king is moved two squares. She then reminds you to complete castling by moving the rook. Move the rook in the routine
