Millennium King Element User manual

User manual
for
‘The King Element’ M823
Version 1.40 (November 2020)

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1 Important information
This user manual contains a short version of the instructions for your King chess computer
(software version 1.40 from November 2020). The computer has two ‘modes’ of operation: –
•
‘Comfort’ mode
–for inexperienced chess players. On its lowest ‘level’ of playing strength
in this mode, the computer can give practice to beginners or children.
•
‘Expert’ mode
–for strong players. In this mode the computer has a greater variety of
levels and a wider range of special functions.
This short manual describes ‘Comfort’ mode only
. Full-length instructions, in which ‘Expert’ mode
is covered, may be obtained from the Millennium website: http://www.computerchess.com/.
The King Element is set to play in ‘Comfort’ mode when you first acquire it. If you want to switch
to “Expert” mode, see Sections 5.4.1-3 of this manual.
Before using this product, please read the following safety notes and operating instructions completely, and
pay careful attention to them. Please store this user manual with the product, so that you can refer to it later
if needed. If you later give this product to another user, please also give them this manual.
1.1 Safety instructions
Please note that this device is not a child’s toy within the meaning of Directive 2009/48/EC. If you let your
children use it, instruct them accordingly and ensure that the device is used only as intended.
• Keep the packaging bags and film away from babies and small children, as there is a danger of
suffocation!
• In order to avoid damage, do not expose the device to heat, e.g. from radiators or from direct
sunlight, and do not expose it to any kind of moisture.
• In order to avoid malfunctions, do not operate this device on or near devices that create magnetic
fields or electromagnetic radiation, such as for example televisions, loudspeakers, mobile and
cordless telephones, WiFi devices etc.
• Do not open the device under any circumstances. It does not contain any serviceable parts. In the
event of malfunction, contact the service address or your local shop.
1.2 Notes on storage and cleaning
• Please note that real wood needs extra care. Handle the wood carefully, always store the device
where it is dry and do not expose it to strong sunlight.
• When required, only clean the device’s surface with a slightly damp cloth, and ensure that no
moisture can penetrate into the device.
• Do not use solvents or other aggressive or abrasive cleaning agents, as these can damage the
device’s surfaces and lettering.
1.3 Notes on the power supply
Only operate the device with the original AC adaptor supplied with the MILLENNIUM chessboard.
Input: 100–240 V 50/60 Hz, 0.45A max
Output: 9V DC 1A
When using the AC adaptor, please observe the following:
• The power socket should be located close to the device and should be easily accessible.
• The device should not be connected to more power sources than recommended.

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• The electrical contacts must not be short-circuited.
• Before cleaning the device, ensure you disconnect the adaptor from the mains.
• Regularly check the product and the AC adaptor for damage, and do not use either of them if they
are damaged. Never open them up.
• Please observe any safety information printed on the AC adaptor.
1.4 Package contents
This user manual covers two different models, ‘The King Element’ and ‘The King, Fischer Edition’.
After unpacking, please check the contents for completeness and any possible signs of damage that could
have occurred during transport. In the event of a complaint, please promptly contact the dealer from whom
you obtained the product.
1.4.1 M823 The King Element
The package only contains the ‘King Element’ module.
The module itself cannot operate on its own. It operates with a MILLENNIUM Exclusive model M820. You need
an M820 sensor board; the ‘King Element’ replaces the original clock module.
1.4.2 The King, Fischer Edition
The package contains the following items:
• 1 chessboard M820
• 17 white chess pieces (including an additional queen)
• 17 black chess pieces (including an additional queen)
• 1 computer unit: ‘The King’ (Fischer Edition) with liquid crystal display (LCD)
• 1 AC adaptor
• 1 cable with two identical connectors (to connect the computer unit to the chessboard)
• 1 instruction manual
• 1 guarantee card
2 Getting started
2.1 Connecting the cables
At the rear of the computer unit there are three sockets.
1. Take the AC adaptor (supplied with the MILLENNIUM M820 chessboard) and insert the small
connector on the end of the cable into the right-hand socket at the rear of The King computer unit.
2. The cable with identical connectors at both ends (also supplied with the MILLENNIUM M820 board) is
for connecting the computer unit to the chessboard. Please handle it carefully –note that each
connector must be the right way up when you insert it into its socket. The connector has four narrow
pins and one wider pin. Turn the connector so that the wider pin is at the bottom, to enable it to fit
precisely into the openings in the socket. The wider opening in the socket is indicated by the arrow in
the illustration below:
3. Plug the cable into the socket on the right-hand side of the MILLENNIUM chessboard, and also into
the left socket on the rear of the computer unit.
4. Connect the AC adaptor to a power supply. A sound signal is emitted.

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2.2 Selecting the language
The chess computer’s LCD display can show its text in any of the following 7 languages:
Language
Shown on display
English
English
German
Deutsch
French
Français
Dutch
Nederlands
Italian
Italiano
Spanish
Español
Russian
Pусский
After you connect the power and hear the sound signal, the LCD display shows the word ‘English’ together
with the version number of the chess program:
To select the English language, confirm by pressing a GREEN button.
Or to choose a different language:
1. Press the down-arrow button òas many times as needed until the language you want is displayed.
2. Then confirm with GREEN. (The language may later be changed, via the ‘Options’. See Section 5.4.)
2.3 Preparing for a game
Once you have selected the language, the ‘Clock’ display appears:
German:
English:
You can now prepare for a game: –
1. Place the chess pieces on their starting squares. Either White or Black can play from your end. The
chessboard automatically detects where each piece is located.
2. If any pieces are not correctly placed on their squares, the red lights (LEDs) at the corners of those
squares will shine. Once the position is corrected, the lights go out.
3. You can now begin a game against the computer on its ‘A2 Normal’ level of playing strength. If you
want The King to play White, give the ‘Move’ command as described in Sections 5.1, 5.5.
2.4 Adjusting the backlight
The LCD display has a backlight that you can adjust by pressing the button as many times as necessary.
2.5 Switching on and off
If the computer is running and you press the On/Off button , the following display (featuring the
program’s version number) appears:

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German:
English:
If the computer is connected to a PC or laptop via a USB cable, you can now perform operations such as
loading or saving games. For this, see the ‘Expert’ user manual on the Millennium website.
If instead you press the GREEN button, the computer switches off.
Or if you press the RED button, it reverts to the ‘info’ screen (see Section 4) or the menu (Section 5.1).
If switched off in the correct manner (as above), the computer will still retain the current game in its memory,
even if you afterwards disconnect the power. The parameters (level, etc.) that you have specified will remain
unchanged. When the power is reconnected, the computer automatically switches on. To switch on when the
power has not been disconnected, press the button.
After switching on, you can resume play from where you left off.
2.6 Reset
To delete previous data:
1. Disconnect the computer from the power supply.
2. Hold down a RED button and reconnect the power.
3. Keep the RED button held down until the start screen appears (as in Section 2.2).
The computer is now in the same state as when you first acquired it, except that any games saved as in
Section 5.10 will be retained. This operation may occasionally be useful in case of a problem you don’t
understand.
2.7 The buttons and their functions (summary)
Either GREEN button Confirms an instruction.
Either RED button Cancels an instruction.
Note: The RED and GREEN buttons have various uses depending on the situation. Their functions at any
particular moment are indicated by the ‘inverted’ wording (i.e. text on a dark background) in the bottom line
of the display: RED in the left corner, GREEN in the right corner. The corner of the display is blank if the
button has no function in the current situation.
Switches the computer on or off.
NEW Starts a new game.
Adjusts the display’s backlighting.
Retracts moves.
Replays moves.
ïMoves the cursor left. Switches screens. Alters a parameter.
ðMoves the cursor left. Switches screens. Alters a parameter.
ñMoves the cursor up.
òMoves the cursor down.
If held down, buttons will ‘auto-repeat’.

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3 Playing against the computer
3.1 Your move
3.1.1 Ordinary moves
Make your move just as you would on an ordinary chessboard. The move is acknowledged with a short buzz.
Normally the computer waits for about 0.3 seconds before registering your piece on its new square. This
means that you can carry the move out either by picking the piece up or by quickly sliding it. If you slide the
piece, it must not linger for too long (more than 0.3 seconds) on an intermediate square, or your move will be
misinterpreted.
To carry out a capture, either your own or the computer’s piece may be picked up first.
3.1.2 Special moves
• En passant capture: The captured pawn may be removed before, during or after the move of your
own pawn.
• Pawn promotion: Move the pawn to the promotion square, or simply remove it from the board. Place
the queen (or other piece) on the promotion square.
• Castling: First move the king, then the rook.
In normal (i.e. ‘classical’) chess, this simple procedure for castling is always recommended. In
‘Chess960’, an alternative method is sometimes necessary. For this, see the ‘Expert’ user manual on
the Millennium website.
3.2 The computer’s move
To announce the computer’s move, the red LEDs on the chessboard ‘blink’, indicating the ‘from’ and ‘to’
squares alternately. The move is also shown in notation on the ‘Game score’ screen (see Section 4.3).
After you move the computer’s piece, it may be necessary to complete a ‘special’ move. The LEDs indicate the
square or squares where a piece must be placed or removed. Note also the ‘prompts’ at the bottom left of the
screen:
In this example, the square h8 must be vacated and the black rook must be placed on f8 (to complete a
castling move).
If the computer gives check, its move is followed by a double buzz, and the lights round the square of your
king and the checking piece(s) will momentarily ‘blink’.
3.3 Errors
If the position on the chessboard is incorrect –for example if you have knocked a piece over or tried to make
an illegal move –the ‘prompts’ in the bottom line will indicate the square, or two of the squares, where
something must be adjusted; and the red LEDs at the corners of the squares will shine.
If you need further guidance on where all the pieces should be placed, you can use the ‘Verify’ function –see
Section 5.9. Until the position is corrected, you cannot start your next move.
3.4 Symbols displayed in the bottom line
• (rotating hourglass): The computer is thinking about its move.
• : You are to move with White.
• : You are to move with Black.

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3.5 Retracting and replaying moves
3.5.1 Retracting moves
If you want to take back the last move played, you may press the clockwise arrow button . The red LEDs
on the chessboard, and the prompts in the bottom line of the screen, direct you to move the piece back. For
example:
The white bishop must be returned from h4 to g5.
You may also simply retract the move without first pressing the clockwise arrow button.
3.5.2 Retracting a sequence of moves
After retracting one move, you may also retract the previous one or a longer sequence.
To do this, you can repeat the same procedure as before. However, in a long sequence it is not obligatory to
take back each individual move on the board. For example, to retract the last seven moves played, you can
simply press seven times, then proceed to reconstruct the position. If you need help with this, use the
‘Verify’ function (see Section 5.9).
3.5.3 Replaying moves
A move that you have retracted can be replayed by pressing the anticlockwise arrow button and moving
the piece on the board as prompted by the lights and the screen.
To replay a sequence, you may repeat this same procedure to execute each individual move. Alternatively,
you may simply press several times and then reconstruct the position at the end of the sequence.
3.5.4 Continuing the game
At any time after retracting or replaying moves, you can resume the game from the current position on the
board. Carry out a move in the normal way, or give the ‘Move’ command (see 5.5) to make the computer play
next –you will then be playing for the opposing colour.
3.6 Result of the game
The final move is accompanied by three ‘beeps’, and the result is announced in the bottom line of the
display:
• Mate Checkmate
• Stale Stalemate
• Draw 3x Draw by threefold repetition
• Draw 50 Draw by 50-move rule
• NoMat Draw due to insufficient material (neither side can mate the opponent)
• TooLong The game cannot be continued, as it would exceed the available
memory space (maximum: 256 moves for each side).
If the computer thinks its position is hopeless, it may offer its resignation. In the following example it thinks
it has a disadvantage equivalent to 5.73 pawns:
German:
English:

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Or if it thinks the position is very drawish, you may see:
German:
English:
In either case, after pressing a GREEN or RED button, you may continue the current game if you wish –or
press NEW to start a new game.
Note: The computer will not resign or offer a draw when playing on its lowest level (‘Play & Win’).
3.7 Starting a new game
You can start a new game any time, except in the middle of some special operations described in Section 5.
Press the NEW button. The screen shows ‘New Game?’ and either the word ‘Classic’ or an arrangement of
pieces to start a game of ‘Chess 960’. To switch between these displays, use ñor ò.
With ‘Classic’ displayed, you can begin a game of ordinary (‘classical’) chess by pressing GREEN or simply
placing all 32 pieces on their home squares. Either White or Black may play from your end.
Instead, a press on RED would cancel the ‘new game’ command and leave the position unaltered.
For an explanation of ‘Chess960’ (also known as ‘Fischer Random Chess’), and how to play it with the
computer, see the Millennium website: http://www.computerchess.com/.
4 The info screens
4.1 Switching between info screens
In ‘Comfort’ mode the computer offers two different screens or ‘pages’ of information. The ‘Clock’ screen
displays the thinking times for the two players. The ‘Game score’ screen records the moves of the game. To
switch from one screen to the other, press ïor ð.
When either of these ‘info’ screens is displayed, you may press GREEN to access a menu of the computer’s
special functions. See Section 5.1.
4.2 Info screen: Clock
This screen was displayed when you first connected the power and selected the language –see illustration in
Section 2.4.
If the ‘Timer’ (see 5.4.7) is ‘off’, the screen shows the total thinking time taken so far by White and Black.
If the Timer has been switched on, each side is allotted 15 minutes’ thinking time for the entire game, and
the time counts down. If a player exceeds the time limit, the ‘Clock’ screen shows the following:
However, the game may be continued even after the player has ‘lost on time’.
Note that your own clock time remains ‘frozen’ until you have carried the computer’s move out. This means
that the playing conditions are fair, especially with the Timer ‘on’ –you don’t have to move your opponent’s
piece in your own thinking time.

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4.3 Info screen: Game score
This screen shows the most recent moves, for example:
German:
English:
The number +0.27 is the computer’s evaluation of the position: The King believes it has a small advantage,
worth 0.27 of a pawn. Further examples of what may appear in this place on the screen are:
-1.89 The computer has a disadvantage nearly equivalent to 2 pawns.
Book The position is in the computer’s ‘book’ of standard chess openings.
+M 7 The computer can force checkmate in 7 more moves.
-M 4 The opponent can force checkmate in 4 more moves.
The number 00:05 is the time (mm:ss) taken by the computer over its last move.
Moves that have been retracted (see Section 3.5) are indicated as follows:
In this example, Black’s 13th move has been retracted.
Note: The ‘score’ is not shown when The King is playing on its lowest level (‘Play & Win’).
5 Special functions
5.1 The menu
If you press a GREEN button when one of the of the ‘info’ screens is shown (see Section 4), the menu of
special functions appears. In ‘Comfort’ mode there are 9 of them: ‘Comfort levels’, ‘Elo levels’, ‘Options’,
‘Move’, ‘Hint’, ‘2 Players’, ‘Position setup’, ‘Verify’ and ‘Save/Load game’.
Four functions at a time are listed, with one of them highlighted (i.e. displayed on a dark background), e.g.:
German:
English:
By repeatedly pressing ñor ò, you can display them all in rotation and highlight each one in turn.
To select an item, highlight it and press a GREEN button.
To return from the menu to the info screen, press a RED button.
Note: When operating the special functions, remember that the uses of the RED and GREEN buttons are
always indicated by the ‘inverted’ wording at the left and right of the bottom line. Notice also the arrow signs:
2The ñ/òbuttons are currently enabled for menu operations.
2D All 4 direction buttons (ïðñò) are enabled.
DIndicates that a parameter can be altered with ïor ð.

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5.2 Menu: Comfort levels
If you select this item, The King offers you a choice of 4 levels of playing strength:
German:
English:
Here, the * shows that the computer is currently set to play on level A2. By means of the ñ/òbuttons, any
line on the screen can be ‘highlighted’. To switch to a new level, highlight it and press GREEN.
To return to the ‘info’ screen without changing the level, press RED.
These are ‘Adaptive’ levels: the computer adapts its play to its opponent’s strength. If your play during a
game improves, The King starts offering more resistance. On the weakest level (A0), even complete
newcomers to chess can benefit from practising against the computer.
Stronger levels can be selected from the ‘Elo’ category (see 5.3).
5.3 Menu: Elo levels
After selecting this item, you can choose between 9 levels in 3 categories: ‘Normal’, ‘Advanced’ and ‘Club’.
To display them all and ‘highlight’ each one in turn, press ñor òrepeatedly.
The screen shows the computer’s estimated playing strength on each level, e.g.:
German:
English:
In this example, the ‘highlighted’ level corresponds to an international (‘Elo’) rating of 1600.
To select a new level, highlight it and press GREEN. To return to the ‘info’ screen with the level unchanged,
press RED.
5.4 Menu: Options
5.4.1 Overview of the options
The ‘options’ are a set of special features that you have the possibility to modify. In ‘Comfort’ mode
there are 9 of them. To inspect them, select ‘Options’ from the menu. This displays four options from
the list, e.g.:
German:
English: