Saitek Chess Explorer Silent Mode Square C1 On+SIL Off-SIL, Easy Mode Square B2 On+EASy Off-EASy

c. Silent Mode (Square C1) On:+SIL Off:-SIL

Normally, the computer always beeps when it has found its move. For completely silent operation, turn on Silent Mode.

d. Ticking Clock (Square D1) On:+tICk Off:-tICk

When you turn this option on, you activate a ticking sound that makes the computer’s clock sound like a real chess clock! Just imagine—you can create the atmosphere of a championship chess tournament in your own living room!

e. Countdown Clock (Square E1) On:+cdn Off:-cdn

Turning this option on causes the computer to display the countdown time instead of the elapsed time. Note that this option is only available in combination with the Tournament and Blitz Levels.

f. System Test (Square F1) On:+tESt Off:-tESt

The System Test is included primarily as a troubleshooting tool. After activating this option by selecting +tESt, pressing BLACK/> repeat- edly will cycle through all the segments in the LCD display. To exit the test, press CLEAR and ENTER together to reset the computer.

CAUTION: Be careful not to activate this option during a game, since resetting the computer is the only way to exit the test, and your current game will be lost.

g. Auto Power Down (Square G1) On:+aPd Off:-aPd

The Auto Power Down option is a battery-saving feature! With this option activated, the computer will automatically turn itself off if no keypresses or moves are made for about 15 minutes. To continue the game where you left off, press GO/STOP to turn the computer back on. Note that the computer will not turn itself off while it is thinking.

h. Play White from the Top (Square H1) On:+tOP Off:-tOP

Want to depart from the usual standard and let the computer play the White pieces from the top of the board? Then try out this interesting

option! Choose +tOP at the beginning of a new game, and set up the board with the Black pieces closest to you, as shown in the diagram in this section. Then, press ENTER to start the game. Watch as the computer makes the first move for White from the top of the board!

See “TRY BLACK FROM THE BOTTOM: HERE’S THE POSI- TION” for the correct board set-up when using this option.

When the computer plays White from the top, board notation is automatically reversed. Additionally, this option will go back to its default setting of OFF when you start a new game.

5.2 Playing Mode Options (Squares A2-H2)

These options affect how the computer selects its moves.

Press OPTION twice to select the Playing Mode Options. Then use the BLACK/> and WHITE/< keys to select options within this group, and press ENTER to turn options on (+) or off (–).Or, simply press the option squares to turn options on or off.

a. Selective Search (Square A2) On:+SEL Off:-SEL

The program in this chess computer normally uses a Selective Search algorithm. This allows the computer to see combinations that would otherwise take much longer to compute. Turning this option off by choosing -SELmakes the program switch to a powerful Brute Force algorithm. This search method minimizes the risk of an occasional oversight.

Note that the Mate Search Levels always use the Brute Force method.

b. Easy Mode (Square B2) On:+EASy Off:-EASy

Want to win more games against the computer? Try turning on Easy Mode, which prevents the computer from thinking on your time! This weakens all the playing levels without affecting the computer’s time controls. Normally, as described in Section 2.8, the computer thinks on your time, using the time you are contemplating your next move to think ahead and plan its strategies. This is part of what makes your computer such a tough opponent! By using Easy Mode to make all the levels weaker, you effectively have many more levels to choose from.

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