Saitek Travel Chess manual Fixed Depth Levels, Tactical Level, Teach Modes

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 be- haves 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 Level

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 chessboard 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.

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