Saitek Talking Chess Trainer manual Level , Level

which shows for one second. For example, if square F4 is selected, the display will show:

• The selected square	L:F4	and then…
• The number of moves in
the Primary Time Control	40	and then…
• The duration of
the Primary Time Control	2:00

3.8 Fixed Depth Levels

The Fixed Depth Levels in file G limit the skill of the computer—not by the time to search for its next move, but by the number of moves it searches ahead. At the lower levels, it behaves like a novice player. At the lowest level, G1, where the computer looks ahead only one individual move, it does not anticipate the game at all, and could even miss a mate that you might make in one more move. At the other end of the scale, on Level G8, the computer will review all the possibilities within the next 8 individual moves.

On these levels, the display alternates between the level you have selected and how many individual moves (ply) ahead the computer searches:

• The selected square	L:G5	and then…
• The number of individual moves
the computer is looking ahead	5PLY

3.9 Tactical Levels

The Tactical Levels are found on squares H1 through H8. These levels limit how many individual moves ahead the computer looks, but in this case the computer does not evaluate strategic advantages, and looks only for material gain such as checkmate or draws. The number of individual moves the computer looks ahead is equivalent to the chess- board square, e.g., H1 equals one individual move ahead, and H8 equals 8 moves ahead.

On the Tactical Levels, the display alternates between the level you have selected, and how many individual moves

(ply) ahead the computer will search.
• The selected square	L:H8	and then…
• The number of individual moves
the computer is looking ahead	8PLY

3.10 Teach Modes

Your chess computer contains 11 built-in Extended Teach Modes. This feature allows you to learn basic moves and master the tactics of the pieces, one at a time! For each individual Teach Mode, the only pieces on the board will be Kings and Pawns, or Kings and Pawns and one or two selected piece types. This allows beginners to concentrate on one or two pieces at a time, without losing focus and being distracted by other pieces on the board. More devel- oped players can use this feature to practice playing with selected combinations of pieces.

Note the following, in regard to Level and Teach Modes:

•If NEW GAME is pressed during a game, the computer will exit Teach Mode and switch back to the standard 32- piece game, with the current level still in effect.

•If you press LEVEL and then decide not to change the current playing level or Teach Mode, simply press LEVEL again—and the current status will remain as is.

•You may select a new level at any time during your turn. If you do so, however, note that the clock will be reset.

•If you press more than 2 Piece Symbol Keys during a Teach Mode selection, only the last 2 symbol selections will be valid when you exit Level Mode.

•If you accidentally press a Piece Symbol Key in Level Mode, you will lose your current game after exiting Level Mode. To continue with the current game, press the square corresponding to the current level of play before exiting Level Mode. Note, however, that the clock will have been reset.

3.11 Selecting Levels and Teach Modes

Press LEVEL to enter Level Mode, and the current level is displayed. For example, Level A3 shows as L:A3, alternating with Fun3 (the level selected by pressing board square A3).

To change the level, simply press a board square, and the display will show the new level, alternating with the level details. Press LEVEL again to exit Level Mode.

Note the following key sequences and effects:

LEVEL, LEVEL	No change; previous level
LEVEL, Square, LEVEL	remains selected.
	New level selected, clock
LEVEL, Piece Symbol,	resets.
	Starting position of selected
LEVEL	Teach Mode is set at
LEVEL, Square,	previously selected level.
	Starting position of selected
Piece Symbol, LEVEL	Teach Mode is set at new
LEVEL, Piece Symbol,	level.
	New level is set, previous
Square, LEVEL	Teach Mode selection is
	canceled, existing game is
	retained.

To select Teach Mode, press LEVEL. The display will show the skill level, as indicated by the equivalent chess- board square, alternating with the level details. To select a Teach Mode, press one or two of the Piece Symbol Keys (%, $, #, @ or !) you would like to use. The display will then show the selected pieces. For example, if you want to play with Kings, Bishops, Knights, and Pawns, after pressing LEVEL, you should press # and @. The display will show your selection. Then, press LEVEL to exit Level Mode and enter your selection into the computer, and you can begin your game. Since the King is always required for the game, you do not need to select this piece for the Teach Mode. In fact, pressing & is how you select a normal, 32-piece game.

Note that Non Auto is automatically canceled whenever a Teach Mode is selected in the existing Level Mode.

The 11 Teach Modes and the normal game are indicated by the following displays:

TEACH MODE	DISPLAY
Kings and Pawns	te:_p
Kings, Knights and Pawns	te:_n
Kings, Bishops and Pawns	te:_b
Kings, Rooks and Pawns	te:_r
Kings, Queens and Pawns	te:_q
Kings, Knights, Bishops and Pawns	te:nb
Kings, Knights, Rooks and Pawns	te:nr
Kings, Knights, Queens and Pawns	te:nq
Kings, Bishops, Rooks and Pawns	te:br
Kings, Bishops, Queens and Pawns	te:bq
Kings, Rooks, Queens and Pawns	te:rq

All Pieces (standard board-normal game) .. te:sb

3.12 Openings Coach Mode

Your computer has 16 different opening sequences in memory, all of which can be played through so that you may learn them. Press OPENINGS COACH, and, when first selected, the computer will beep and the display will flash

o(:

You can then choose which opening game you want to

review by pressing one of the squares from A1 to B8. Figure 3-1 lists the available openings. For example, to select the third Openings Coach, press square A3, and o(:3 will flash in the display to confirm that the third Openings Coach has been selected. The two bars indicate that the computer will display moves for both sides, so you can watch and learn. Press the same square again and the display will change to o_:3, indicating that the computer will play the white side and let you work out the moves for black. Another press on the square changes the bar to show that the computer will play black while you play white. One more press will remove the bars altogether, indicating that the computer will leave all the moves to you while it monitors your moves for legality. Press

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