Novag Carnelian II User manual

NOVAG
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•INSTRUCTION
•ANLEITUNG
•MODE D'EMPLOI
•INSTRUCCIONES
•MANUALE D'USO

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
GENERAL HINTS
1. Short Instructions
2. Impossible and Illegal Moves
3. Capturing a Piece
4. Game Features:
a) Castling
b) En Passant Captures
c) Pawn Promotion / Underpromotion
d) Stalemate / Draw
e) Check and Checkmate
SPECIAL FUNCTIONS
5. NEW GAME (New Game Key)
6. SETTING THE SKILL LEVEL (Level Key)
7. MAIN FUNCTIONS OF THE GO KEY
8. CHOICE OF COLOR FOR NEW GAME (Color Key)
9. CHANGE OF COLOR (Color Key)
10. TAKE BACK A MOVE (Take Back Key)
11. VERIFYING A POSITION (Ver/Set Key)
12. SETTING UP A POSITION (Ver / Set Key)
A. Removing a piece
B. Entering a piece
C. Moving a piece to another square
13. CLEARING THE ENTIRE BOARD (Clear Key)
14. MOVE SUGGESTION (Hint Key)
15. TRAINING FUNCTION (Training Key)
16. ACOUSTIC SIGNALS (Sound Key)
WARRANTY
CARE OF THE NOVAG Chess Computer
RULES OF CHESS

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GENERAL HINTS
Your NOVAG Chess Computer can be your tutor if you are a beginner or your challenging
chess partner if you are already a chess player. In case you are a beginner, we recommend you
familiarize yourself with the rules of chess first. Relevant literature is available in bookstores.
Before you start to play with your chess computer read first the GENERAL HINTS. The
instructions are laid out in such a way that each section is self contained, so you do not have to
read everything at once.
BATTERIES:
The NOVAG Chess Computer runs on 6 x 1.5V alkaline batteries (not included). Open the
battery door at the bottom of the unit and insert the batteries as indicated by the +/- signs. A set
of new alkaline batteries runs approx. 100 hours. Notice that weak batteries make the
performance of the computer unreliable.
ADAPTOR:
The NOVAG adaptor (Art.No.8210/1021) is not included with your set, but is available
separately from your dealer. Please note that it is a d.c. 9V adaptor with 300 mA and it has a
negative center. If you cannot get the NOVAG adaptor, please make absolutely sure that you
do not buy an adaptor which does not have these specifications. If you use a too powerful
adaptor it might burn the components in your unit. Before using the adaptor, check that the
voltage of your electric mains is within the range specified on the adaptor label.
Make sure you first connect the adaptor with the computer before you plug it into the mains.
The adaptor jack is at the back panel of the computer. We suggest to only use the adaptor
which has been specially developed for this computer.
MEMORY:
The NOVAG Chess Computer has a long term memory and will retain the last board position.
However, make sure that there are batteries in the NOVAG Chess Computer or an adaptor is
connected otherwise you will lose the memory contents.
Note: If you are using the SET UP or VERIFY mode the computer will save the current
mode when you switch the computer off before you exit these modes. When you
switch on the computer again the SET UP LED or the VERIFY LED will be still on.
To continue the game or start a new game press the GO key first to exit these modes.
The indicator lights will be referred to as LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) in the following
instructions.

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1. SHORT INSTRUCTIONS
a) Before commencing to play set up the chess pieces in the opening position. White pieces
on rank 1 and 2, Black pieces on rank 7 and 8.
b) The power switch is a 2-position switch and is at the backside of the cabinet. It is marked
ON/OFF. Push this switch towards ON (towards the power socket). This switch operates
both adaptor and batteries. If you use an adaptor, the batteries will automatically be
disabled.
c) Press NEW GAME. You will hear 3 beeps and the LCD will show " – – – – " with the
white block. You can now make your opening move for White.
d) If you want to increase the level of skill, press the LEVEL key and the square
corresponding to the requested level (A1, A2, A3, up the H8). On the LCD display you
will see for example "LE A3" indicating the selected level (see section 6. for level setting
and their time controls). Press the GO key to exit the level setting mode.
e) Your chess computer has a SENSOR chessboard which registers your moves
automatically when the appropriate squares are gently pressed. Moves to be executed for
the computer are indicated by the rank and file LEDs and are also shown on the LCD
display. Each square of the chessboard can be called out by the co-ordinates of each square
from a1 to h8. Gently press down the piece you want to move and the two respective rank
and file LEDs will light up. Then set the piece down onto the square you wish to move to
by gently pressing it down again. (Your complete move will be shown on the LCD
display.) Once the NOVAG Chess Computer has registered your move it will immediately
start computing its counter move.
f) To make a move for the computer - once the counter move has been calculated - the Chess
Computer will show on the LCD display its move and also the corresponding rank and file
LEDs will light up. Gently press on the square indicated, lift up the chess piece and

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complete the move as if making this move for yourself. Please remove any captured pieces
without applying any pressure on that square.
Note: When your computer is calculating (the Black/White block is blinking) all key presses
will be ignored except for the GO key which will interrupt the computer’s calculation
and force the current move being analyzed to be played at once.
2. IMPOSSIBLE AND ILLEGAL MOVES
Your NOVAG Chess Computer was programmed in accordance with the International Chess
Rules and does not accept or make illegal moves.
If you try to make an illegal move, you hear a beep and on the LCD display the "ERROR" sign
is shown. Retract your move without pressing on any square. You can now make another legal
move.
If you try to move the wrong piece when executing a computer move, you hear a beep and the
rank and file LEDs of the correct square will light up. To execute this move correctly press
gently on the square indicated.
3. CAPTURING A PIECE
If the computer indicates a move onto a square that is occupied by an opponent's piece, it
means that this piece is captured and must be removed from the game board. Simply take it
from the board without applying pressure. A computer move will be shown on the LCD
display by the symbol "x" and in cases of "en passant" pawn captures this will be indicated by
the symbol "EP".
4. GAME FEATURES
a) Castling
The computer displays Castling with the King's and the Rook's move. When Castling press
first the 2 squares for the King and then move the Rook by applying pressure on the
appropriate squares indicated by the lit up LEDs. Do the same when executing a Castling
move for yourself.
Note: You may not castle while your King is in check, nor may you castle through check.
The NOVAG Chess Computer accepts and executes Castlings in set up board
positions.
b) En Passant Captures
The computer captures En Passant automatically. You may capture En Passant whenever the
rules permit. If you make this special pawn capture you only have to enter the "from" and "to"
squares of this move as in a normal move. Please remember to remove the captured pawn

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from the board and to gently press that square. When the Chess Computer makes an en
passant capture it will show the symbol "EP" on the LCD.
Official Rules of Chess:
Apawn attacking a square crossed by an enemy pawn which has been advanced two squares
in one move from its original square may capture this enemy pawn as though the latter had
been moved only one square. This capture may be made only on the move immediately
following such an advance and is called capturing "en passant".
c) Pawn Promotions / Underpromotions
If one of your pawns reaches the opposite side of the board, the chess computer will allow you
to promote or underpromote it to any desired piece.
As soon as this happens, the rank and file LEDs of the square flash and the word "Pro?" will
be shown on the display. You can now choose the piece you want to promote/underpromote to
by pressing the respective Piece Symbol Key. The LEDs will disappear and the computer will
start computing its counter move.
If a computer pawn reaches the opposite side of the board, the computer indicates on the LCD
display into which piece the pawn will be promoted/underpromoted.
The computer also accepts/executes pawn promotions in set-up board positions.

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d) Stalemate /Draw
AStalemate condition is indicated by the STALE and MATE LEDs as well as on the LCD
display.
Draw to insufficient material will be announced by the word "dr Ins" on the LCD display.
e) Check and Checkmate
If the computer puts you in check the CHECK LED will light up and a cross sign "+" will be
displayed on the LCD. If you put the computer in check this will not be specifically displayed.
In a checkmate situation the CHECK and MATE LEDs light up and the word
"MATE " together with a double cross sign will be shown on the LCD display indicating the
end of the game.
SPECIAL FUNCTIONS
5. GAME (New Game Key)
Press the NEW GAME key every time you switch the computer on or whenever you want to
commence a new game. The previous game is canceled and in the computer memory all
pieces are now in the opening position.
6. SETTING THE SKILL LEVEL (Level Key)
Your NOVAG Chess Computer has a total of 128 level settings to choose from. You can learn
and improve your chess skills with this chess computer.
As shown in the chart of playing levels, each level corresponds to one of the 64 board squares.
The 128 level settings are grouped into 64 WHITE levels and 64 BLACK levels. The LCD
display will show either “LE with the white bar” or “LE with the black bar”. However we will
use in this instruction the abbreviation ‘W’ for WHITE level group and ‘B’ for BLACK level
group.
To set the computer to any of these playing levels, press the key marked LEVEL and you will
see the current level setting indicated by the two corresponding rank and file LEDs as well as
on the LCD display. If this is not the level that you wish to use, please press the corresponding
chess board square and /or the LEVEL key once more to change to the required level group.
Example:If you wish to set level 12 (= Fixed Time Level = WB4), press LEVEL key once or
twice for the white level setting, then press square B4. This will be indicated by the
corresponding rank and file LEDs and you will see "LE b4" with the white bar on display.
(Please see level chart and list of pla ying levels below for reference) .

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Once you have set the desired level, press GO to exit this mode. Now you may enter your first
move.
Numbering system to select the playing levels on the chessboard:
8A8 B8 C8 D8 E8 F8 G8 H8
7A7 B7 C7 D7 E7 F7 G7 H7
6A6 B6 C6 D6 E6 F6 G6 H6
5A5 B5 C5 D5 E5 F5 G5 H5
4A4 B4 C4 D4 E4 F4 G4 H4
3A3 B3 C3 D3 E3 F3 G3 H3
2A2 B2 C2 D2 E2 F2 G2 H2
1A1 B1 C1 D1 E1 F1 G1 H1
A B C D E F G H
Note: When you are selecting the playing levels the Black/White LEDs as well as the
VERIFY and SET UP LEDs will light up.
You may check or change the playing levels at any time during a game, but not whilst
the computer is calculating. If you wish you can interrupt the computing time and call-
off a computer move instantly by pressing the GO key. This will be the best possible
move the computer has calculated up to that moment.
If you switch the computer off to continue your game at a later time, or press the NEW
GAME key, the previous playing level will be retained provided you have batteries in
your computer or it is connected to the adaptor.

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THE 128 LEVEL SETTINGS AND THEIR CHARACTERISTICS ARE
SHOWN BELOW :
•White Level Group (WA1 - WD8)
for FIXED TIME LEVEL SETTING:
There is a fixed computing time per move. The computer will always respond in exactly the
specified amount of time, unless there is only one legal move, in which case it will play
instantly. In the case that the computer sees it can force a checkmate it will make its move as
soon as it finds the mating sequence.
Level Time Level Time
(1) WA1 2 sec. (9) WB1 60 sec.
(2) WA2 5 sec. (10) WB2 75 sec.
(3) WA3 10 sec. (11) WB3 90 sec.
(4) WA4 15 sec. (12) WB4 120 sec.
(5) WA5 20 sec. (13) WB5 150 sec.
(6) WA6 25 sec. (14) WB6 180 sec.
(7) WA7 30 sec. (15) WB7 210 sec.
(8) WA8 45 sec. (16) WB8 240 sec.
(17) WC1 5 min. (25) WD1 30 min.
(18) WC2 6 min. (26) WD2 40 min.
(19) WC3 7 min. (27) WD3 50 min.
(20) WC4 8 min. (28) WD4 1 hour
(21) WC5 9 min. (29) WD5 2 hours
(22) WC6 10 min. (30) WD6 4 hours
(23) WC7 15 min. (31) WD7 6 hours
(24) WC8 20 min. (32) WD8 8 hours
•White Level Group (WE1 – WH8)
for AVERAGE TIME LEVEL SETTING:
The computer will take an average of the specified amount of time per move. If it has only one
legal move it will respond instantly.
Note: These times are average times over a large number of moves. In the opening and
endgame the computer tends to play faster, but in complicated middle game positions
it may take longer to move.

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Level Time Level Time
(33) WE1 2 sec. (41) WF1 60 sec.
(34) WE2 5 sec. (42) WF2 75 sec.
(35) WE3 10 sec. (43) WF3 90 sec.
(36) WE4 15 sec. (44) WF4 120 sec.
(37) WE5 20 sec. (45) WF5 150 sec.
(38)) WE6 25 sec. (46) WF6 180 sec.
(39) WE7 30 sec. (47) WF7 210 sec.
(40) WE8 45 sec. (48) WF8 240 sec.
(49) WG1 5 min. (57) WH1 30 min.
(50) WG2 6 min. (58) WH2 40 min.
(51) WG3 7 min. (59) WH3 50 min.
(52) WG4 8 min. (60) WH4 1 hour
(53) WG5 9 min. (61) WH5 2 hours
(54) WG6 10 min. (62) WH6 4 hours
(55) WG7 15 min. (63) WH7 6 hours
(56) WG8 20 min. (64) WH8 8 hours
•Black Level Group (BA1 - BD8)
for EASY LEVEL SETTING:
The Easy levels are especially for novice players. On these levels the computer restricts its
search. It deliberately plays weaker, like a human beginner, for whom the computer's depth
search is limited to various ply searches with different specified capture depth searches.
Level Search per move
(65) BA1 1 ply search + 1 ply capture
(66) BA2 1 ply search + 2 ply capture
(67) BA3 1 ply search + 3 ply capture
(68) BA4 1 ply search + 4 ply capture
(69) BA5 1 ply search + 5 ply capture
(70) BA6 1 ply search + 6 ply capture
(71) BA7 1 ply search + 7 ply capture
(72) BA8 1 ply search + 8 ply capture
(73) BB1 2 ply search + 1 ply capture
(74) BB2 2 ply search + 2 ply capture
(75) BB3 2 ply search + 3 ply capture
(76) BB4 2 ply search + 4 ply capture
(77) BB5 2 ply search + 5 ply capture
(78) BB6 2 ply search + 6 ply capture