Kasparov CONQUISTADOR User manual

OWNER’S MANUAL
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Dear Fellow Chess Player.
When computers were first invented just four decades
ago few people realized that mankind was witness to
the most important single development of our time.
Today computers have become freely available and in
a few years there will be a computer in almost every
household.
Saitek has asked me to write a few words to welcome
you to the world of chess playing computers. I have
been personally associated with the company since
1983 and can therefore speak about its products from
experience.
Until recently chess computers were regarded as
simple toys which would never be capable of providing
serious opposition for the enthusiast. The rapid
advance of technology and programming skills has
certainly changed that. Today chess computers have
become an accepted part of the chess world, serving
not only to introduce new players to the world's finest
game but also encouraging them to take part in
tournaments against human opponents. Chess
computers can teach you all the basics of the game
and keep up with you even if you go on to become a
top club player.
Saitek. a Swiss-led company, has been at the forefront
of this development and has been responsible for many
of the most interesting innovations. I look forward to a
long and productive relationship with Saitek and with
you who have chosen their computers.
I wish you enjoyment and satisfaction from your Saitek
chess computer — and who knows, maybe we'll meet
in combat across the chessboard in the future!
Garry Kasparov
World Champion
Index
Keys, Lights and Features
1. Introduction
1.1 Learning chess the easy way
2. Getting started
2.1 How to move your pieces
2.2 How the computer moves
2.3 Special moves
2.4 Capturing “en passant"
2.5 Illegal moves
2.6 Check. Mate, and Draw
2.7 Taking back moves
2.8 Changing sides
2.9 New game
2.10 Game memory
3. Levels of skill
3.1 Handicap level
3.2 Casual levels
3.3 Tournament levels
3.4 Special levels
3.5 Analysis
3.6 Problem chess
3.7 Instantaneous replies
3.8 Interrupting the thought process
4. Advanced features
4.1 Non Auto
4.2 The computer as a referee
4.3 Information from the computer
4.4 Advice from the computer
4.5 Verifying the board position
4.6 How to change the board position
4.7 Setting up a special position
5. Coaching facilities
5.1 Coach level G: Normal games
5.2 Coach level F: Half coach
5.3 Coach level E: Full coach
5.4 Coach level H: Silent
5.5 Summary of coach levels
5.6 Special study games
6. Technical details
6.1 The ACL key
6.2 Care and maintenance
6.3 Technical specifications
6.4 Troubleshooting guide
7. Summary of all functions
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ENGLISH

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KEYS, LIGHTS AND FEATURES
KEYS
1 PLAY
2 NEW GAME
3 LEVEL
4. STOP
5 GO
6 TAKE BACK
7. NON AUTO
8 COACH
9 SET UP
10 INFO
11 COLOR
12. Piece Keys
Execute next move Pressing this
key when it is your turn causes
the computer to play the next
move for you. pressing it when
the computer is thinking
interrupts the thought process.
Press to reset the initial position
for a new game
Press to select level of skill.
Press to turn off the computer
The current position is saved in
memory.
Press to switch the computer on
Play is resumed at the point
where the STOP key was
pressed.
Press to take back last move. Up
to eight moves can be retracted
Used to enter a sequence of
moves
Press to set coach level (E. F. G
or H)
Enter set up mode (to change or
enter positions).
Press to get advice from the
computer.
Used to select color of piece
being verified or set up.
Used to choose promoted pieces,
verify board position and set up
new positions.
LIGHTS
13 WHITE/BLACK Side to move. When the
computer is thinking the
appropriate color lamp flashes.
14 CHECK King in check
15 END End of game.
16. SET UP A position is being entered or
modified.
17 NON AUTO The computer acts as a referee
and advisor.
18 COACH A coach level is being selected
or modified
19 INFO A suggestion is given.
20 Board lamps The computer uses these lights
to indicate game moves, take back
moves, or show you which move it is
considering. They are also used to
verify the board position and to
display the level of skill.
FEATURES
21. LCD clocks showing total time spent on
22. ACL switch (in base of set).
23 Battery compartment (in base of set).
24 Chess piece storage compartment (In base of set).
25 Socket for mains adapter.
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ENGLISH
each player
before the game. A delicate checkerboard. Under each
box is a sensory element that detects movement bin,
LCD button on the bottom of the computer

1. Introduction
Your Kasparov Team-Mate is a unique chess partne
and coach. It is programmed to play chess with you
and to teach you more about this great game. It
automatically registers your moves on its built-in
sensor chessboard, has 17 levels of skill and is
specially programmed for fast response. The coaching
features make it ideal for beginners and casual players
who wish to improve their game.
In normal games the computer will monitor your moves
and make sure that they do not violate the rules of
chess. It will help you to learn different openings and
suggest moves for you when you need help. If you are
a beginner the computer will warn you when your
pieces are threatened and if you are about to commit a
blunder. It will allow you to take back moves and
correct mistakes. In any situation the computer will
show you the move it considers best and tell you what
it thinks of the position.
1.1 Learning chess the easy way
With your Kasparov chess computer you can learn and
practise the easy way. It encourages you to improve
your chess so that you enjoy the game more. Soon you
should be able to beat the computer on the lower
levels and switch to a higher one for more challenging
games. Once you begin to hold your own on these
levels you will know that you are a proficient player and
have nothing to fear from average human opponents.
As your interest in chess develops you will want to take
a look at the eight built-in chess games and solve the
study positions with the help of the computer. This
novel feature gives you interesting insights into high-
class chess and many additional hours of pleasure with
your Kasparov chess computer.
The Chess Rules
Your Kasparov chess computer knows all the rules
of the game, including castling, en passant, and
stalemate Sometimes it may appear to be playing
irregularly when in fact it is obeying the chess rules.
In case you are not very familiar with the game we
have included a copy of the Rules of Chess.
Additional information may be found in your local
library, which is sure to have several books on the
subject.
2. Getting started
Your Kasparov chess computer contains the latest in
single-chip microcomputer technology and gives you
over 250 hours of play on four "C" type AM2/R14
alkaline batteries Open the battery compartment and
insert the batteries as shown in Fig. 1.
Set up the chess pieces in the opening position and
press GO. The computer is now ready to play a game
against you. If it fails to react properly — static
discharge can sometimes cause it to lock up — use a
pin or any other sharp object to activate the ACL
switch located at the bottom of the set. This will clear
the memory and reset the computer.
Quick Start
1 Press GO io switch on the computer
2. Set up pieces — white pieces closest to you.
3. Press NEW GAME
4. Enter moves as described below.
5. Press STOP to switch the computer off.
2.1 How to move your pieces
To make a move first press down on the piece you
wish to move. You will hear a short beep. Place the
piece on its destination square and press down again.
You will hear a second beep and the computer will
begin to compute its reply.
2.2 How the computer moves
The computer indicates its own moves by sounding a
beep and turning on two lights on the side of the
chessboard. These lights indicate the horizontal row
and vertical column of the piece the computer wishes
to move. Press this piece down on its square. The
computer will now show you where the piece must go.
Move the piece to the square indicated and press
down to complete the move.
The computer wants to move the king's pawn. Press it
down.
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It wants to move it to this square Place it there and
press down.
2.3 Special moves
When capturing you only have to key in the move of
the capturing piece.
When castling first move the king. The computer will
remind you to move the rook
When you promote a pawn the computer will want to
know which piece you choose. Press a piece key
(bottom row) to tell it which piece you want. When the
computer promotes you must press the piece keys to
find out which piece it has chosen.
In the above position promoting the pawn to a queen
would be fatal — Black can deliver immediate mate on
a6! So White should promote the pawn to a knight,
forking the black king and queen. This is how to do it:
Press the pawn down, move it to the eighth rank, press
it down there and replace it with a knight. Press the
knight key (bottom row) to tell the computer what you
have chosen.
2.4 Capturing “en passant”
Many beginners are not familiar with this rule (which
was introduced into chess in the fifteenth century).
Capturing "en passant" is when a pawn is on the fifth
rank. If an enemy pawn crosses a square attacked by
this pawn (because of its ability to move twc squares
on its first move) then the pawn may act as if the
enemy pawn had only moved one square and capture
it en passant. This can only be done on the very next
mnvA
abcdefgh
In the above position Black has just tried to avoid the
capture of his pawn by advancing it two squares from
e7 to e5.
White can capture tne pawn en passant by moving his
pawn from f5 to e6 The computer will always remind
you to remove the captured pawn from the board.
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3. Levels of skill
2.5 Illegal moves
If you attempt to make a move that is not permitted by
the rules then the computer will refuse to accept it.
You will hear a double beep (high-low) and the board
lights will stay on. showing you where the piece you
are trying to move came from. You may place it on a
legal square or on the original square and move
another piece. You will also hear the error beep if you
do not execute a computer move correctly, or if you
press an improper panel key.
2.6 Check, Mate, and Draw
When the computer puts your king in check the CHECK
light will go on If a game ends in checkmate the END
light will go on as well. The END light alone means that
the game is a draw.
2.7 Taking back moves
To take back a move simply press TAKE BACK when
it is your turn to play. The computer will help you to
retract moves by showing you which pieces were
moved and where they came from. You can take back
up to eight moves (four for each side).
2.8 Changing sides
If at any time during a game you wish to change sides
with the computer you may do so by pressing PLAY
instead of making your move. The computer will make
the next move for you and you can go on playing for
the other side. You can change sides as often as you
like. You can even press PLAY after every move and
make the computer play the entire game against itself.
Playing a game with the black pieces
If you want to play a game with the black pieces,
first set these up at the bottom of the board (the
side nearest to you). Now press NEW GAME
COLOR and PLAY The computer will make the
first move for White, moving down from the top
of the board.
2.9 New game
To start a new game press NEW GAME and set up the
pieces in the starting position.
2.10 Game memory
You can interrupt a game at any stage (even when the
computer is thinking) simply by pressing STOP Play is
interrupted and all lights are turned off to conserve
battery power. The computer will “remember” the
position for up to 24 months and be ready to resume
play when you turn it on again by pressing GO The
level and all other parameters will remain unchanged.
Your Kasparov chess computer has a total of 17
different levels of skill. They include levels for casual
play, tournaments, speed chess, analysis and problem
solving. Remember that just like a human being the
computer becomes stronger when it has more time to
think about its moves.
The levels may be changed at the beginning or at any
time during a game.
How to change levels
When you press LEVEL the lights around the side
of the board will display the level currently set. Keep
pressing LEVEL until the level vou want is
displayed.
3.1 Handicap level
Level 0 is a special handicap level in which the computer
plays almost instantaneously, with very little strategy or
tactical insight. Even rank beginners should be able to beat
it on this level.
Press LEVEL until no lights are on to set handicap level.
3.2 Casual levels
Levels 1 to 8 are for casual play. The board lights to the
left correspond with each level.
Level Average response time per move
1 1 second
2 2 seconds
3 3 seconds (switch-on level)
4 5 seconds
5 15 seconds
6 30 seconds
7 60 seconds
8 180 seconds
3.3 Tournament levels
The next four levels are for tournament play. The lights A
— D at the bottom of the board correspond to each level
described below.
Level Primary time control
A 30 moves in 30 min.
B 40 moves in 2 hrs
C 40 moves in 27a hrs
D 50 moves in 27a hrs
Secondary time control
30-moves in 30 min.
20 moves in 1 hour
(International
tournament standard)
16 moves in 1 hour
(Grandmaster
tournament)
20 moves in 1 hour (US
Chess Federation
standard)
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Take level B as an example the computer will finish the
first 40 moves in 2 hours (primary time control) and then
play the following 20 moves within 1 hour (secondary time
control). All further moves are played at a rate of 20 moves
per hour.
Please note that in accordance with tournament
regulations any time remaining at the primary time control
is carried forward to the secondary time control, e g if the
computer has made the first 40 moves in just one hour, it
has a total of two hours for its next 20 moves. The
remaining time for each time control is accumulated until
the end of the game.
3.4 Special levels
Level Description
E Speed chess — The computer will try to
complete the entire game in five minutes (total
computer thinking time — opponent's time not
included).
10 sec/move — J he computer will play each
move in 10 seconds (faster if it anticipates the
opponent's moves)
G Infinite level — The computer will go on thinking
until you interrupt it by pressing PLAY It will
also play a move if it is forced or if it sees a
forced mate.
H Problem solving level — The computer will
search for a forced mate and only play a move
if it sees one
3.5 Analysis
"Infinite level" is especially useful for understanding
complicated positions. The computer will analyse the
position for many hours, even days, and you can watch
it find better moves using the INFO function described
in section 4.3
3.6 Problem chess
The "Problem level" is used to solve mate problems
("White to play and mate in n moves") which you often
find in newspapers and magazines. It is important to
remember that on this level the computer will only play
a move if it sees a forced mate. Watch the lights on
the left-hand side of the board while the computer is
thinking. They show you the "depth of search", i.e. how
many moves the computer has checked If light 3 was
on when it played its move then it has found a mate in
three moves. You can play moves for the defending
side to see the entire continuation, even taking back
moves to try alternative defences
A chess problem
by Samuel Lovd (1867)
White to play and mate in three moves
Enter this position (as described in section 4 7) and
set level H. Press PLAY In a few seconds the
computer will show you the solution 1 a8 = B
(underpromotion to a bishop’). Try the defences
1. ... Kf8. 1. ... Ke8 and 1. ... Kg8 to see how White
mates on his third move
3.7 Instantaneous replies
All times given for the different levels of skill are
average times over a large number of moves
Depending on the stage of the game and the tactical
complexity of a position the computer may take
considerably more (or less) time on individual moves
If you have just made a move and the BLACK light to
the right of the board is flashing (or the WHITE light, if
the computer is playing with the white pieces) this
means that the computer is thinking. At the beginning
of a game, however, replies will be instantaneous on all
levels. This is because the computer is playing moves
that are stored in its "openings book" It knows a great
deal about good openings that chess masters have
discovered over the centuries.
But even in the middle of a game you may be surprised
to find the computer very often replying
instantaneously to your moves. There is a very good
reason for this While you are pondering over a move
the computer is not idle — it tries to anticipate your
possible replies. If you play one of the moves the
computer considered, then it does not need to think
any further. It just plays the move it has already
computed — instantaneously.
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3.8 Interrupting the thought process
If the computer is spending too long over a move you
can interrupt it by pressing PLAY which will cause it to
stop computing and play the best move it has found so
far. This feature is especially useful on level G
(analysis), in which the computer will go on thinking
until you interrupt it by pressing PLAY — unless there
is only one move it can play or it finds a forced mate
So please remember...
Press PLAY when the computer is thinking to
interrupt the thought process.
Press PLAY when it is your turn to play
if you want to change sides (see section 2.8).
4. Advanced features
What we have seen so far is enough to give you
countless hours of pleasure with your Kasparov Team-
Mate chess computer. You can play straight games
against it. correct mistakes and adjust the level of skill
to match your own. But there are many other things
the computer can do that make it even more fun to
use. This chapter deals with each of them individually.
4.1. Non Auto
Normally, as soon as you have made a move on the
sensor board, the computer immediately begins to
compute its reply But there are situations in which you
just want to enter moves. For instance you may want
to try a special opening against the computer, one it
doesn’t play of its own accord. Or you may want to
force it to play a certain continuation in order to
understand a complicated position.
In such cases just press NON AUTO This puts the
computer into a special mode in which it will not
compute a reply, but only keep track of the moves you
enter, making sure that they are legal. To return to
normal play press NON AUTO a second time.
Note: While you are in NON AUTO mode the NON
AUTO light is on. Pressing NEW GAME always
cancels the function.
Playing through master games
One very interesting use of NON AUTO is to study
master games. You can play through the World
Championship games, or famous games you find in
chess books, or in fact your own games against
friends or the computer, in NON AUTO mode
Whenever you reach an interesting position and
want to analyse it with the computer, press PLAY. It
will compute and execute the next move.
4.2 The computer as a referee
The NON AUTO mode has another important use.
When you play a game with a friend press NON AUTO
and then play the game on the sensor board. The
computer will act as a referee and advisor. It will
protest if anyone makes an illegal move, and if either
side needs help he can always press PLAY and get
some advice from the computer.
4.3 Information from the computer
Would you like to know what your electronic chess
partner is doing while it is computing a move? Well,
your Kasparov chess computer will gladly tell you.
giving you a wealth of information on its "thought
process". It will show you which move it is presently
considering and its evaluation of the current position.
This is not just of passing interest — it can help you to
learn more about the game.
Press INFO while the computer is thinking. It will show
you the best move it has found so far. Note that the
INFO light is turned on.
If you press INFO a second time (while the computer
is thinking) the lights on the left-hand side of the board
will show you what it thinks of the current position. The
evaluation is on a scale of 1 to 8. This is how to
interpret the display:
Light Meaning
8 White has a winning position
7 White has a clearly better position
6 White has an advantage
5 The position is balanced
4 The position is balanced
3 Black has an advantage
2 Black has a clearly better position
1 Black has a winning position
You can watch the evaluation change as the computer
looks more deeply into the position.
Note that the INFO display (best move or evaluation) is
retained throughout the game, in fact even when you
start a new game. You can switch it off by pressing
INFO a third time.
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