Playing The Game

To input your moves, you simply use algebraic notation: e.g. E2-E4. To castle, just input the king's move (e.g. E1-G1) the rook will tag along. If you make a mistake whilst inputting a move, change it to an illegal move (e.g. E2-E2) and inputting will start again.

Whenever it is your move, if you press RETURN, the display will change to a list of command options:

1. Returns you to the board to play on.

2. Changes the level of the computer's play. A number is inputted, from 0 to 9.99. The number before the decimal point sets the number of moves ahead the computer will search. The number after the decimal point sets the number of moves considered at each node. The higher the level, the better (and slower!) the computer plays. Try 2.10 to start with.

3 & 4. Allow you to set up any chosen position (starting from either the current position or a blank board). First input the square to be altered (e.g. E2) then the piece that you wish to be entered there (e.g. WP, BN, BB, WR, WQ, BK) - pressing the Space bar will clear the chosen square. To set up a position in which it looks like the king can castle, but actually it can't (e.g. a rook has previously moved) enter the rook as "r" (SHIFT-R) rather than "R".

5 & 6. List out the moves made, either to the screen or, if you have one, a printer.

7. Saves the current position on cassette to allow you to continue playing later. So start the tape recording before hitting (7). Saving takes about 4-5 minutes. To reload the position: When on starting to play you are asked if you want to play black or white, instead of hitting B or W, hit L (for LOAD) and start the tape.

8. Starts a new game

To get back from any of the above modes, hit RETURN to call the command menu, and select (1).

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*RUN (RETURN)