Kasparov Mk12 User manual

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CHESS
TM
COMPUTER
Mk12 TM
Owner'sManual

INSTRUCTIONS P-1-12
GEBRAUCHSANLEITUNG S.13-26
MODE D'EMPLOI p. 27-38
GEBRUIKSAANWIJZINGbl.39-50

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.
SciSys 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 1983and 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 tc 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.
GARRYKASPAROVSciSys has been at the forefront of this develdpment and has been responsible for many of the
WORLDCHAMPION most interesting innovations. It is the only chess computer company under Swiss
management, and I look forward td a long and productive relationship with SciSys and with you
who have chosen their computers.
Iwish you enjoyment and satisfaction from your SciSys chess computer — and who knows,
maybe we'll meet in combat across the chessboard in the future!
Good luck!
Garry Kasparov

Features
1Lights
Thecomputerusesthe16lightsaroundtheedgeofthe
boardtoindicategamemoves,sidetoplay,check,draw
ormate.Theyarealsousedtoverifytheboardposition,
displaythelevelofskillandtogiveyouaninsightintothe
thoughtprocessofthecomputer.
Keys
Piecekeys
NEWGAME
LEVEL
PLAY
TAKEBACK
NONAUTO
HELP
9STUDIES
10DISPLAYMOVE
11EVALUATE
Thesesixkeysareusedtoverify
boardposition.
Presstoresettotheinitial
positionfora newgame.
Presstoselectlevelof skill.
Presstoforcethecomputerto
playthenextmove.
Presstotakebacklastmove.
Usedto enterasequenceofmoves.
SetshelplevelsF,G orH:
LevelF — Fullhelp
Level G — Game normal: beeponly
LevelH — Hush:silent
Presstoselect"studies",i.e.
specialbuilt-inpositionsyoucan
playagainstthecomputer(see
section18).
Presswhilethecomputeris
thinkingtoseewhichmoveitis
considering.
Presswhilethecomputeris
thinkingtoseehowthesearchis
progressingandwhothe
computerthinksiswinning.
12.
Sensorchessboard
Eachsquareofthechessboardhasa built-insensorthat
registerspiecemovement.
Switches
13. GO
STOP
14ACL
Switchesthecomputeron.Playis
resumedatthepointwherethe
computerwasswitchedoff.
Turnsoffthecomputer.The
currentpositionisstoredin
memoryforuptotwoyears.
Thisswitchatthebackofthe
computercanbeusedincaseof
disturbancetoclearthememory
andresetthecomputer
Note: PLAY,DISPLAYMOVEandEVALUATEmaybepressed
whenthecomputeristhinking,allotherkeysonlywhenitis
yourturntomove.

Introduction
YourKasparovchesscomputer is programmed to playchess
with you and to teach you moreaboutthisgreatgame. It
automaticallyregistersyourmoves onits built-insensor
chessboard, has eightlevels of skilland is especially
programmed for fastresponse. The computeralsohas a
number of novelcoachingfeatureswhichmake it ideal for
beginnersand casualplayers who wish to improvetheirgame.
Innormalgames the computerwillmonitoryourmoves and
makesurethattheydo not violate the rules of chess. It willhelp
youlearndifferentopeningsandsuggestmoves for youwhen
youneedhelp. If you area beginner the computerwillwarn you
whenyourpieces are threatenedand letyou takeback a move
ifyoucommit a blunder.While itis computing its moves it will
evenshowyou the move itis consideringandtellyouwhat it
thinks ofthe position
WithyourKasparovchesscomputeryou can learnandpractise
theeasyway. It encouragesyou to improveyourchess so that
youenjoy the gamemore.Soonyoushould be able to beat the
computer onthe lowerlevelsand switch toa higherone for
challenginggames.Once you begin to holdyourown on these
levelsyouwillknowthatyou area proficientplayerand have
nothing to fearfromaveragehumanopponents.
Asyourinterest in chessdevelopsyouwillwant to takea look
at the eightbuilt-inchessstudiesand solvethemwith the help
of the computer.Thisnovelfeaturegivesyouinteresting
insightsintohigh-classchessand manyadditionalhours of
pleasurewithyourKasparovchesscomputer.
Important note
Thiscomputerknows allthe chessrules,includingcastling, en
passant,andstalemate.Sometimes it mayappear to beplaying
irregularlywhen in fact itis obeying the rules ofthe game. In
caseyou arenot veryfamiliarwiththegame we haveincluded a
copy of theRules of Chess. If youneedadditionalinformation
yourlocallibrary is sure to haveseveralbooks onthe subject.
1.Gettingstarted
YourKasparovchesscomputercontains the latest in single-chip
microcomputertechnologyandgivesyouover1000hours of
playonfour AA cells(alkaline).Open the batterycompartment
andinsert the batteries as shown in Fig. 2.
Setup the chesspieces inthe openingpositionand slide the
STOP/GOswitch tothe positionmarkedGO. The computer is
nowready to playa gameagainstyou. Ifit fails to reactproperly
—staticdischargecansometimescause itto lockup — use a
pin orany othersharpobject to activatetheACLswitchlocated
at the bottom ofthe set.Thiswillclear the memoryandreset
thecomputer.
2.Settingthelevelof skill
Thecomputer has8 levels of skillwhich maybe changed atthe
beginning oratany timeduring a game (but onlywhen itis your
turn to move)

Level Averageresponsetime per move
1 1 second(handicap)
2 2 seconds(handicap)
3 3 seconds(switch-onlevel)
4 5 seconds
5 15seconds
6 60seconds
7 75seconds
8 unlimited(usercontrolled)
Theabovetimes are averagedover a largenumber of moves.
Depending onthe stage of the game andthe tacticalcomplexity
of a position the computer may takeconsiderablymore (or less)
time on individualmoves. On level 8the computerwill goon
thinkinguntilinterrupted bythe user (see section 10).
When you pressLEVEL the computerwill usethe lights onthe
leftside of the board to display the levelcurrentlyset.Keep
pressingLEVELuntil the level you want is displayed.
3. Your moves
Tomake a movefirstpressdown onthe piece you wish to
move. You willhear a shortbeep.Place the piece on its
destinationsquareandpressdownagain. You willhear a
secondbeepand a light tothe left of the boardwillbegin to
flash. Thismeansthat the computer has acceptedyourmove
and has started to compute its reply.
Note: Atthe beginning of a game the replywillusually be
instantaneous onany levelbecause the computer is playing
movesthat are stored inits "openingsbook".
Tomake a capture you onlyhave tokeyinthe move of the
capturingpiece,whencastlingonly the king'smove.When a
pawnpromotes it is automaticallychangedinto a queen.
4. Computer moves
Thecomputerindicates itsown moves by sounding a beep and
turning ontwo lights onthe side of the chessboard.Theselights
indicate the horizontal row andverticalcolumn of the piece the
computerwishes to move.Pressthispiecedown onits square.
Thecomputerwill now showyouwhere the piecemust go.
Move the piece to the squareindicated and pressdown to
complete the move.
Note: YourKasparovchesscomputerknows how to
"underpromote" in exceptionalcircumstances. To check if this
hashappened you mustverify the position (as described in
section 16) after it has made its move.
5.Illegal moves
If you attempt to make an illegalmove the computerwillsound
adoublebeep(high-low)andshowyouwhere the pieceyou are
trying to movecame from. Youmay place the piece ona legal
square or onthe originalsquareandmoveanotherpiece. You
willalsohear the errorbeep if youdonot execute a computer
movecorrectly or press an improperpanel key.

6. Check, Mate, and Draw
Whenthecomputerputsyourkingincheckyouwillhear an
additionalbeepandtheCHECKlights at thebottom of theboard
will flash. If a gameendsincheckmatetheMATElightswill
flash, andincase of a stalematetheDRAWlightswillbeturned
on.
7.Newgame
Tostart a newgamewaituntil it isyourturn to moveandthen
pressNEWGAME.Youwillheara triplebeep(high-low-high)
whichindicatesthatthecomputer is readytoplayfromthe
initialposition.Thelevel of skillremainsunchanged.
8. Taking back moves
Totakebacka movesimplypressTAKEBACKwhen it isyour
turntoplay.Thecomputerwillhelpyou to retractthelasttwo
moves(one for Blackandone for White)byshowingyouwhich
piecesweremovedandwheretheycame from.
9. Changing sides
If at anytimeduring a gameyouwishtochangesideswiththe
computeryoumaydosobypressingPLAYinstead of making
yourmove.Thecomputerwillmakethenextmove for youand
youcangoonplaying for theotherside. If youwant to play a
gamewiththeblackpieces,pressNEWGAMEandPLAY.The
computerwillmakethefirstmove for Whiteandyoucanplay
thegamewiththeblackpieces.
Youcanchangesidesasoftenasyoulike.Youcanevenpress
PLAYaftereverymoveand makethecomputerplaytheentire
gameagainstitself.ThePLAYkeyisalsousefulwhenyouneed
helpand wantthecomputertosuggest a moveforyou.
10. Interrupt
Ifthecomputerisspendingtoolongover a moveyoucan
interrupt it bypressingPLAYwhichwillcause it tostop
computingand playthebestmove it hasfoundsofar.This
feature is especiallyuseful in level8,inwhichthecomputerwill
goonthinkinguntityouinterrupt it bypressingPLAYunless
thereisonlyonemove it canplay orit findsa mateinone,two
orthree.
11. Nonautofunction
PressingtheNONAUTOkeyturns off theAutomaticReply
function, soinwhich it willnotcomputecountermovesbutonly
keeptrack of themovesyouenter for bothsides,makingsure
thattheyare legal. Thisallowsyoutoenterspecialopenings or
toforcethecomputertoplaya certaincontinuationduring a
game. To return to normalplaypressNONAUTOa second
time.
Note: PressingNEWGAMEalwayscancelsthenonauto
function