Excalibur electronic LCD CHESS Computers can sometimes lock up due to static dis, and Features

When the level is displayed, press-		will play, and the longer it will
ing the OPTIONS key shows:		think during its moves. With over
“FAST”: Uses a	more selective	1,000 level setting combinations
		(incorporating options such as FAST,
search for thinking. In this mode,
		RANDOM, INFO, HELP and the train-
LCD Chess will play faster and
		ing modes) to choose from, you can
look more deeply into the position.
Press NEXT PIECE to turn FAST		learn and grow with this chess
on or off. Or press the OPTIONS		computer!
key again to show:		The first four levels (1, 2, 3 and 4)
“RAND”: Allows the computer to		are beginner levels and take
randomly choose	between two	approximately 4, 8, 12 and 16 sec-
good moves so that you get to prac-		onds per move, respectively. Level
tice and play against different		5 is a fixed 1-ply (one-half move)
responses. Press the NEXT PIECE		search. Levels 6 through 72 take
key to turn RANDom on or off. Or		about 1 second per level number, so
press the MODE key.		level 6 will average about 6 sec-
		onds per move. The amount of time
Additional Information		taken will vary depending on the
and Features		position, the stage of the game, and
Screen Symbols		whether or not the FAST level
When a “+” appears on the screen,		option is on. (See “Options,” pages
it is a reminder that you are in		4 & 5.)
check. When an “O” appears on the		Level 73 is an infinite level. LCD
screen, the game you are playing
can be rated. When an "=" appears,		Chess will take as long to move as
it indicates you are in two- player		you want it to, or until it finds a
mode. And lastly when an “!”		mate position in its search. Level
appears on the screen, you are		73 is good for problem solving
being warned that one of your		(like the MATE problems available
pieces is threatened with capture.		under OPTIONS), or it can be used
(This is similar to the friendly "en		to play against. When you are tired
garde" warning sometimes used by		of waiting, press the MOVE key
human players when they are		while the computer is thinking, and
attacking an opponent’s queen.)		the computer will stop thinking and
Levels of Play		play the best move it’s found so far.
Generally, the higher the level you		Setup
select, the better your LCD Chess		8 You may change any piece on the

board by using SETUP. The display will show “SETUP.” Use the DIRECTION button to move the piece around the board.

When setup starts, the setup piece is an empty square shown by the black color figure. To place this piece on a square, press MOVE. To change the setup piece, use the NEXT PIECE and LAST PIECE keys. To change the piece’s color, use the ❑ /■ key. When you are finished with setup, press the MODE key. When you first enter setup mode, you may also change the color of the side to move by pressing the ❑ /■ key.

Auto Play

If you would like to watch the com- puter finish a game for you auto- matically, push the MODE key, then press OPTIONS, until the option “PLAYR” is showing. Use the LAST PIECE key to change the number of players to zero. Press MODE to exit the OPTIONS mode. Now press the MOVE key and watch the game play itself. You may stop auto play at any time by pressing the MOVE key. Doing so will set the number of players back to one.

Book Opening Trainerfor

LCD Chess makes it easy you to learn the same openings that world chess champions play! At the 9

English beginning of a game, you may choose to learn one of 30 popular book openings—ways to begin the game—used by chess masters. Press MODE, then OPTIONS, to

display “ ,” and then press the LASTOPPIECEN or NEXT PIECE keys to select the number of the opening you want to learn. (See below.) Then press the MODE key to return to normal play.

Now play a move. If your move is not the correct opening move, an error buzz will sound. To learn the correct move press HINT. When the computer comes back with its move, you will briefly see the word “OPEN” on the screen if you have another opening move to make. If the word “OPEN” does not appear, you may continue normal play. You have completed the training for that opening line.

Computers can

sometimes "lock up"

due to static dis-

charge or other elec- trical disturbances. If this should happen, use a slim, pointed object to press the button marked “RESET.”