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Maestro Travel
Chess Computer
Instructions
Bedienungsanleitung
Mode d’emploi
Istruzioni d’uso
Instrucciones de Funcionamiento
Handleiding
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QUICK START To play a game right away, simply follow these steps! Open the battery cover and insert three “AAA” 1 (AM4/R03) alkaline batteries, making sure to observe the correct polarity. 3 x AAA (AM4/R03) Remove the stylus from the storage area on 2 the right-hand side of the unit, as shown here. Press GO/STOP to turn the computer on. If 3 you get no response, reset the unit as noted in Section 11.1. Press NEW GAME twice, in quick succession, 4 to reset the computer. If the board doesn’t NEW G
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TABLE OF CONTENTS QUICK START 4.9 LCD Contrast KEYS AND FEATURES 4.10 LCD Speed INTRODUCTION 4.11 Automove Mode 1. GETTING STARTED: THE BASICS 5. LEVEL MODE 1.1 Batteries In, Power On Setting a Playing Level 1.2 Ready to Play? Here’s How! 5.1 Fun Levels 1.3 The Computer Makes its Move 5.2 Casual Play Levels 1.4 Game Over? Start a New Game 5.3 Tournament Levels 1.5 Too Easy/Hard? Change Levels 5.4 Speed Chess Levels 2. MORE FEATURES TO EXPLORE 5.5 Problem Solving Levels 2.1 Whose Turn? Check th
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KEYS AND FEATURES 1. GO/STOP KEY: Press to turn unit on; press twice to turn off. Press to pause scrolling display; resume scrolling with ‘ (CLEAR). 2. LCD BACKLIGHT BRIGHTNESS CONTROL (Off/Medium/Full). 3. ACL (Reset): In base of unit. Used to eliminate static discharge after inserting new batteries. 4. BATTERY COMPARTMENT: In base of unit. Uses three “AAA” (AM4/R03) alkaline batteries. 5. TOUCH SCREEN CHESSBOARD: Each square registers piece move- ment when pressed gently with stylus
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INTRODUCTION Congratulations on your purchase of the Mephisto Maestro Travel Chess Computer! Featuring extraordinary chessplaying abilities and a vast array of special options, this sleek unit offers a touch screen interface and a backlit LCD screen for convenience and ease of play. Portable and always travel-ready, it will also allow you to enjoy a game of chess anywhere, at home or on the road. Once you familiar- ize yourself with the basic operation, go on to explore all the extras this uniqu
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instantly at the beginning of a game, instead of taking time to think. This is because it is playing moves which are stored in its openings library. For details, see Section 2.9. 1.3 The Computer Makes its Move When the computer moves, it first shows Thinking... briefly. While the computer considers its move for Black, the display flashes the symbol for Black (ı), while showing the computer’s clock. Once the actual move is made, the computer will beep and display its move (e.g., ıPe7-e5), and th
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2.2 Special Chess Moves Please note the following, in regard to certain chess moves. Captures: Captures are shown with an x, as in ıPa7xb6. En Passant: In this type of capture, displayed with an EP after the capturing move, the computer reminds you to remove the captured pawn by flashing it. Press the pawn to remove it from the board. Castling: After the King has been moved, the Rook will flash. Make the indicated Rook move on the board to complete the castling maneuver. Kingside castling is dis
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won or lost. A display of Checkmate! will then end the game. The computer recognizes draws by stalemate, three-fold repetition, and the 50-move rule. In each of these cases, the corresponding display will be shown after the drawing move has been made. 2.5 Try the Self-Rating System Whenever you play on any of the Tournament Levels, the computer will provide you with an approximate ELO rating after the game has ended, based on your performance. Not sure what a “rating” is? It’s a universally reco
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A QUICK LOOK AT THE MAIN MENU! • ¿OPTION: Explore a number of exciting game options. • Two Player Mode • Coach Mode • Search Algorithm • Sound On/Off • Autobook Mode • LCD Contrast • White at Top • LCD Speed • Countdown Clock • Automove Mode • Ticking Sound • ¿LEVEL: Choose from 100 different levels of play. • ¿TAKEBACK: Take back any or all previous moves. • ¿INFO: Select various automatic information displays. • Show Moves • Show Progress • Show Nodes • Show Evaluation • Show Time per Move • ¿
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2.10 Thinking on the Opponent’s Time As you play, you’ll probably notice that the computer sometimes replies to your moves immediately, even in the middle of games played on the higher levels. This is because the computer thinks on your time, using the time you are contemplating your next move to think ahead and plan its own strategies. It tries to anticipate the move you are likely to make, and calculates its responses for that move while you’re still thinking. If the computer has guessed corre
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you’ll be taken to a sub-menu, where you can make subsequent selections. Some of the items (e.g., Option Mode) will offer a variety of different choices and sub-choices, while others (e.g., Setup Mode) will allow you to activate a particular game feature. Since the instruc- tions for selecting menu items will vary, depending on the item you’ve chosen, please see the referenced section numbers for full details on accessing each of these major features. After selecting all desired options and/or c
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for a new game, most of your selected options are carried over to the next game. The only exception is Two Player Mode, which automatically returns to Player vs. Computer when you start a new game. 4.1 Two Player Mode Options: player: P-C (Player vs. Computer) player: P-P (Player vs. Player) Normally, the computer automatically answers with a countermove after you enter your move. If you activate player: P-P, however, you can enter any number of moves one by one, without allowing the computer to
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PRACTICE SETTING AN OPTION 1. Press “ (MENU) to enter the Main Menu. The display will show ¿OPTION. 2. Press ENTER to enter Option Mode. For this example, let’s pick the Ticking Clock Option. 3. Press ¯ five times, until the display shows ticks: off. 4. Press ENTER to turn this option on, and the display changes to ticks:on. 5. Press ‘ (CLEAR) to exit Option Mode, press “ (MENU) to exit Menu Mode—and the simulated ticking will start! Note: To turn this option off again, repeat the above steps. F
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4.5 Countdown Clock Options: clock: up / down Normally, the computer defaults to the clock: up option, displaying the elapsed time. Activating the Countdown Clock option, however, will display the remaining time instead. Here’s how to differentiate between the clocks symbols at a glance: [ / ] Countup Clocks (White/Black) { / } Countdown Clocks (White/Black) Note that the Countdown Clock option is only available in combina- tion with the Tournament and Speed Chess Levels. 4.6 Ticking Sound Opt
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•coach: intermediate: In this case, the computer gives the amount of assistance it deems appropriate for players who can see the most obvious points, but who also need to be made aware of others. •coach: advanced: This setting will give warnings and advice whenever the computer feels they’re necessary, such as when you commit a blunder or if a piece is in jeopardy. When Coach Mode is activated, the computer will sound intermit- tent beeps during your turn as White, as a reminder that it’s waitin
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5. LEVEL MODE: CHOOSE FROM 100 LEVELS Your chess computer has 100 unique playing levels to choose from. The levels are divided into two basic groups: • FUN LEVELS (1-60): These levels offer beginners and average players a chance to build their chess skills. On many of the Fun Levels, you’ll see the computer make mistakes on purpose—just so you can learn from it! • COMPETITION LEVELS (61-100): These levels are geared towards intermediate and more advanced players. Included are levels for casual a
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CHANGING THE LEVEL: IT’S EASY! 1. Press “ (MENU) to enter the Main Menu. The display will show ¿OPTION. 2. Press ¯ one time, and the display will show ¿LEVEL. 3. Press ENTER to enter Level Mode, and the current level is displayed. Refer to Section 5, if necessary, to identify the current level. 4. Let’s find Speed Chess Level 81. Press ˘ or ¯ to increase or decrease the levels by one; press > or < to increase or decrease the levels by ten. Watch the display for < 5 min/game >. 5. When you see <
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pawn structure, centrality, mobility, and King safety. It may overlook or walk into mates, develop its Queen too early, or make impulsive captures and checks. Chess books often advise of basic rules, yet players see their opponents breaking the rules and getting away with it. The Fun Levels provide a way to practice punishment of these typical mistakes, enabling the beginner to strengthen his game against the human opponents he’s likely to face. On some of the weaker Fun Levels, the computer wil
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74............ 40 moves in 1 hour 45 min. ............< 40 in 1:45 > 75............ 35 moves in 1 hour 30 min. ............< 35 in 1:30 > 76............ 40 moves in 2 hours .......................< 40 in 2:00 > 77............ 45 moves in 2 hours 30 min. ...........< 45 in 2:30 > 78............ 50 moves in 2 hours. ......................< 50 in 2:00 > 79............ 40 moves in 2 hours 30 min. ...........< 40 in 2:30 > 80............ 40 moves in 3 hours .......................< 40 in 3:00 > The T
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84..............15 minutes per game ................... <15 min/game> 85..............20 minutes per game ................... <20 min/game> 86..............30 minutes per game ................... <30 min/game> 87..............45 minutes per game ................... <45 min/game> 88..............60 minutes per game ................... <60 min/game> 89..............90 minutes per game ................... <90 min/game> 90............100 minutes per game ................... <100 min/game> On the Spe
