Excalibur electronic 974 manual From, How to Update

SLEEP: Adjust		the automatic
shut off time with this key. Setting
it to “0” will disable auto shut-off
altogether.
FLiP: Use this option to flip the
chess board around.
TOUCH: Use this option if you
are using the accessory chess board
DOCKER.	When	turned	on,
Electronic Chess will not wait for
you to press on its		from and	to
squares during its move.
SCORE KEY
Your display normally shows the
current move number. Instead, if
you want to see the piece-score of
your current position, press this key
repeatedly to turn this feature on or
off. The scoring totals the following
values: Pawns—1, Knights—3,
Bishops—3,	Rooks—5,		and
Queen—9.

SPEAKER KEY

Pressing this key will display SOUnd. Press this key repeatedly to select between: “2”—All sound on; “1”—No sound on key presses; “0”—No sound, except for error buzzes.

THREAT KEY

If the Threat Warning indicator “!” is on, pressing this key will flash the threatening move on the

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chess board.

PLAYER KEY

Pressing this key will display PLAYr. Repeatedly press this key to select between: “1”—Human vs Computer; “2”—Human vs Human; “0”—Computer vs Computer.

SETUP KEY

Press this key to promote a pawn that reaches your opponent’s back rank to a piece other than a queen. (The promotion to a queen is the most common, so it is automatic.) You can also use this key to set up special positions (see page 14).

θ /ν KEY (CONTRAST)

Press this key repeatedly to adjust the display contrast to one of six- teen settings. This allows you to compensate for differences in light- ing and battery strength.

NEW GAME KEY

Use this key to start a new game.

RATING KEY

Electronic Chess rates your play! Use this key to view your current rating. Also use it to enter game results for a new rating if the “O” symbol is on, showing you played a ratable game with no hints or take- backs.

How to Update

While viewingYour Rating:your rating with the “O” symbol on, the first press of the OPTIONS key shows:

Win—If you won the game, press the RATING key to see your new rating. Or press OPTIONS a sec- ond time to show:

LOSE—If you lost the game, press the RATING key to see your new rating. Or press OPTIONS a third time to show:

DrAW—If you drew the game, press the RATING key to see your new rating. Or press OPTIONS to return to your unchanged rating dis- play.

WhenPlayingyou wantthe toBlackplay thePiecesBlack pieces (to let Electronic Chess move first) press the GO key before you make your first move as White. You’ll see the White and Black pieces switch places immediately!

DuringDrawthe game,Messagesyour Electronic Chess will display the word DrAW if a three-time repetition of position occurs, or if there has been no pawn moved and no exchanges for 50 moves. When either of these situa- tions takes place, the rules of chess state that a player can claim a draw. If you wish, you can ignore the

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message and continue the game. When a stalemate is reached, the display will read StALE.

ElectronicGame-EndingChess willMessagesannounce mate in two (MAtE2) and mate in three (MAtE3). It will display +MAtE when executing a check- mate. When you checkmate your Electronic Chess, it will display I LOSE. When you want to claim a win, draw, or want to resign—press the 2nd key and then NEW GAME.

WhenScreena “+” Symbolsappears on the screen, it is a reminder that you are in check. When an “O” appears on the screen, the game you are play- ing can be rated. When an “=” appears, it indicates 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 cap- ture. (This is similar to the friendly "en garde" warning sometimes used by human players when they are attacking an opponent’s queen.)

Generally,Levelsthe ofhigherPlaythe level you select, the better your Electronic Chess will play, and the longer it will think during its moves. The first four levels (1, 2, 3 and 4)