Radio Shack 1650 User manual

Cat. No. 60-2187
RAO SAC 1650
COMPUTERIZED PORTABLE SENSORY CHES
PLEASE READ BEFORE USING THIS EQUIPM NT
®
Radio /haek
l
I

You'll never be without a chess partn r again, with your
RADIO SHACK 1650 Sensory Chess Game.
You can select om nine differnt levels of ability r the
computer (eight normal play levels and one"special problems"
level), to match your own abili. The easiest level will allow
even a beginner to win occasionally; e most diffic ult level
will give even a master a rou h time.
Other features inude:
• S e l e  ab le P lay Modes The co m puter can be y o u r
oppon en t, play both si d s of a g am , o r  t he refer e e in a
game beeen you and a friend.
• Take Ba Up to tw o m oves ma y be t a k en back if you
ch ang e y o u r m i n d.
• Memory - T h e po w er ma y b e tu ed o  in the m i ddl e of a
g a me and the c om p ut e r w i  re m emb er the position o f t he
bo ard, t h e leve l of play , and whos t u  i t is for up to one
year.
•  e gal M o v e Signal -The c o mpu t r s ig nal s i f you t r y to
ma k e a n i lle g al mo v e .
• U s ua l C hess Rules - The c om p utr  llows the u sual rul e s
of chess, including casing, capturing en pass ant, pawn pro
motion , e t c .
Copyght 198 Tandy Corporation
2
"Plug-in" Pies -The move are entered into the compu
t e r w h e n t h e p i e c es are p resse d li g htly into th hol s in th e
chess b oar d .
• Carrying Case Cover -The p ie ce s ar h ld i n p la c e so you
m ay m o v e t he ga m e wi t ho u t chan g in g th p osition of t he
board. It may also be placed under the board as a suppo
s t and  r eas y viewin g.
• Ba ery Power -Three AA batt ri s w ill p ower th unit  r
up to 50 h o u r s o f p lay . F or b est results , w r c o mme nd o ur
Ca t . N o . 23-552 al k aline b a  ri s .
Impoant Note
• Your RADIO SHACK 1650 Senso Chess Game is pro
grammed to p la y c hess with you , not to tach th e ga me
t o you. We h a ve in  uded a co py of t h e r u ls of c h ess , in
c as e you are not  miliar wi t h t h e ga m . I f y ou ned add it io na l
i n  rmat i o n , y o u r local li b rary has sveral g ood b oo ks on the
s ub j ect .
• e computer is programmed w ith a varie of i-<tant
respo  es to o penin g moves . These res p onses  om t h e ' Gp e n
ing ook", The computer will, however, calculate res nses
r any u n u s u al open i n g moves .

KEYS AND FUNCTIONS
3
3
(1) Sensory Chess Board - enters the m ves into the comnt
ter when the pieces are pressed into the board's holes
(page 6)
(2) Battery Compament (See page 5 for battery installa
tion.)
(3) Chess Piece Compament  holds the complete chess set
and reference instructions.
(4) Control Indicators
WHITE -lights when it is white's turn to move, or when
white pieces are bein set-up (page8-9)or verified (page
8
BLACK lights when it is black's turn to move, or when
black pieces are being set-up or verified.
2nd F lits w hen t he 2nd F k e y is p re ssed. P r essi n g
2nd F again turns it off.
CHECK  lights w h en the c om p uter p l aces you i n che ck.
MATE -lights in dition to the CHECK indicator when
a check mate situation is reached; the game i over. The
WHITE o r B L ACK i n di c ator w i  l igh t t o s h ow w h ic h
player has been checkmated.
The MATE indicator lights alone when the game is
declared a draw because of a stalemate or immediate
three-fold repetition, or when the computer finds no mate
wit h i n u r mov es t o a g i ve n ches s p r o ble m wh e n se t to
level 8.

(5) Control Panel Keys
NEW GAME press o set the computer for the beginning
of a new game with the level unchanged, white to play
from the bottom, and same response status (ie. 'Player
vs computer" or 'Player vs Player'' mode) as was set
before.
Press when the 2nd F indicator is on, to completely clear
the computer,
LEVEL - press to select one of the nine ability levels  r
the computer: 07 for normal play, 8 or special problem
sol v in g (p a g e 10).
Press w h en the 2nd F indicator is on , to tu t he s ou nd
on/o
PLAY -press when y ou wa  the c om pute r t o ma k e y o ur
m ov e  r y ou ; this allows y o u to s wi t ch c ol o r s w it h t he
c ompu ter , or ma k e the com p uter p l a y b oth s ides. Al so ,
whe n p la yi n g a t leve l 0-7 the comput e r ca n b e v ery slow
 m a k in g i t s m o v es , b ecause of a  the po s s ibili t i es i t
considers. Press this key while the computer is "thinking''
to force it to make a move immediately.
Press when the 2nd F indicat or is on, to change to the
player-vs-payer mode (page 10).
2n d Function press  t u  o n t he 2nd F indicator. T his
a c t i va tes t h e alt e at e fun c t io n s of t h e control panel k e y s .
Press it again to turn the 2nd F indicator off.
TA K E BACK -press w hen y o u w a nt t o ta k e b ac k mo v es
already entered into the computer (see page 6-7)
4
Pi ece Keys press t o select p artic u lar ch e ss p ie c es when
i n th e s e t - up or verif y mode .
(6) ON/MEMORY Switch activates t h e g ame w h e n set to
ON; holds t h e pos iti on of the b oard in the computer's
memory, while conserving battery power, when set to
MEMORY .
(7) H o riz o ntal P o s iti o n Indica ors  show the h ori z o n tal
pos i t i on of t he pieces on the b oar d .
(8) Vertical Position/evel Indicators show t he v e r t i c al
position of the pieces on the board.
T hese i n d ica tors also show t h e le v el of pla y s elected  r
th e c o m puter (0 = no i n d icators l ig hte d , 8= all i n di c a tors
l i g hte d ) .
(9) A C L B utto n - I f the com p uter loc k s up , b eca u se of s tat i c
di sc h ar g e or s ome o t h er reason s, set t he MEMORY/ON
sw i tch to MEMORY, t h en use a p i n or ot h er s ha rp o b j e c t s
to p ress the ACL button T h i s resets t h e c omp u t e r a n d
clears the memor y .

GETTING STARTED
Bae Instaation
Remove e baery compament cover on the b ttom of the
unit and install three AA baeries. Be sure to observe correct
polarity as indicat inside the compament. Then replace e
cover.
For longest life, we rec mmend our 23-552 alkaline batteries.
Never leave weak or "dead" baeries in this unit. Even "leak
pof" baeries can leak daming chemicals.
5
Seing the Level
After installing the baeries, set the ON/MEMORY switch to
ON and press LEVE The number of lighted veical position.
level indicators will sho w the se in g of t h e computer' s s kill
level (08). is  e easie s t le v e l and 7 is t h e m os t diff i cult .
Level 8 is a spe c ial p r blem s olving level (page10).
The level will a u tomaticall y  1 ( o ne indicator on wh e n \ ou
pre s s the LE V EL k e y) the first time you tu on the g a me or
a n y time the b a eries hav e bee n r e mo ve d.
R epeated ly pre s s LE VEL u nt i l yo u reac h t h e d e s i r e d lev el
set t in g. Y o u m ay ch a n g e the l e v el sein g as oft e n as you
like at the be g innin g f a ga m e , o r during a g ame (wh e n it is
y our tu  to ma k e a mo v e ).
Y u may check the level seing during a me, when it is your
tu, by p re ss in g L E V E L once. W hen y o u r e sume p l ay, the
v e  ical position / level i n d i c ators wi l l go o ff.

PLAYING THE GAME
Making Moves
Your Moves
To make a move, press down on the piece you w nt to move;
you wi hear a beep and the vertical/horint l indic tors will
mark the present position of the piece. Then move the piece to
its new position and press down gain. You will he r nother
beep.
If you ch nge your mind about your move bere you press
down the piece in its new position, press it a second time in
its present position and begin g in (with the same piece or a
dierent one).
mputer Mov
After you complete your move the computer will begin to
consider its move, unless the computer is set r the Pl yer vs
Player mode (page ). The indicator r the computer's side
(Black or Whi) will ash while the computer is 'thinking'.
en ready, the computer wi indic te its move. First the
horizontal/veic l indicators will show the position of the
piece to be moved. Press 1t down nd the computer wil I indic
te the piece's new position; move the piece nd pss it down
in i new position.
Is your rn again.
The mputer m y take anhere om a few sends to
many hours to decide its move, depe ndi n g o n th e l evel se  in g
and th e p ro g ress of the g ame . You m a y p r e ss PL A Y dur in g t h is
t ime t o r ce the computer to m ak e it s m o v e immediatel y .
6
Taking Back Moves
W hen it is y our tu , y ou may t a ke back (e r a se) t h e p r e v io u s
 o individu l moves.
To d o thi s, p r ess T AKE BACK . T he i ndicators will s ho w e
l as t piece move d ( the computer ' s mo v e ). Press the piece do w n
an d t he in d i cat ors will sho w its p r evi ous p o sition. Move e
pi e ce to th t p osition nd press it down again.
If the m ve you are taking back was a pring move, remem
be r to put back t he c a p tured piece . If you are unsure of w h ich

piece to put bk, use the veri mode (p ge 8) to identify
the piece.
Now pre TAKE BACK again and llow the same procedure
to take bk your previous move.
If you only take back one individual move (the computer's)
you may enter a new move or the computer. However, this
wi switch e sides you and the computer are playing (white/
black); when you enter a move manuay, the computer auto
matic ally makes e next move.
Iegal Mov
If you attempt to make an legal move during your tu, the
computer will sound a o-tone, high-low signal and continue
to show e previous position of yr piece. In this case, you
may t a dierent move for at piece or return that piece to
its previous position (press it down) and move another piece.
If you aempt to make move r the computer, other than
the one it indicates, e twtone signal wi sound
If you pres s an improper contr panel key (such a LEVEL,
ile the computer is deciding i move) a low pitched signal
will sound.
7
Caling
 we it to e
If you want to castle, press down the king, mo ,e rook
proper position, and press it down again. Then move"
to the proper position without pressing it down
(Check, Checkmate, Stalemate,
and D aw by 3-fold Repetition)
When the computer puts yr king in chk, the CHECK
indicator will light. If you put the computer's king in chk
the computer will k now it, t the indicator will not high
If a game ends in checkmate, the CHECK and MATE indica
tors will light; the WHITE or BLACK indicator will also light
to show w h i c h si d e is checkmated.
F or a s t a l e m ate or d ra w by immiate 3 fold repetition, o n ly
the M ATE indicator will light .
Staing a New Game
You may reset the computer for a new game, when it is yr
t u , b y pre  i n g NEW GAME. T he l ev e l w i re m in t h e s a me.
Changing Sides
In addition to e meth deribed under "Taking Bk

piece to put back, use the veri mode (page 8) to identi y
the piece.
Now pre TAKE BACK again and llow the same procedure
to take bk your previous move.
If you only take back one individual move (the computer's)
you may enter a new move r the computer. However, this
wi switch the sides you and the computer are playing (white/
black); when you enter a move manually, the computer auto
matically makes the next move.
Iegal Moves
 you aempt to make an illegal move during your tu, the
computer wi sound a o-tone, high-low signal and continue
to show the previous position of your piece. In this case, you
may t a dierent move r that piece or re that piece to
its previous position (press it down) and move another piece.
If you aempt to make a move r the computer, other than
the one it indicates, the o-tone signal will sound.
If you press an impper col panel key (such as LEVEL,
whe the computer is deciding its move) a low pitched signal
will sound.
7
Caling
e it to e
If you want to castle, press down the king, mo" ,e r ook
proper position, and press it dow again. Then move'
to the p  per position without pressing it down.
(Check, Checkma e, Stalemate,
and Draw by 3-fold Repetition)
  • the CHECK
When the computer puts your king in che, ; 
indicator ll tight. If you put e computer's king i."""
the computer will know it, but the indicator will not I '
If a game ends in checkmate, the CHECK and MATE indica
tors will light; e WHITE or BLA CK indicator will also light
to show which side is check m ated.
 nly
F r a stalemate or draw by immediate 3-fold repetition, O
the M A T E i ndi c ator wil l l i ght.
Staing a New Game
Y u ma y rese t t h e c m p u t er r a new g ame , w h e n i t i s y r
t u, by p re ssin g N EW G A ME. T he level will r e m ai n the sae.
Changing Sides
In add i ti o n to t he me t h  d e  r i bed und e r " T a kin g B k

Clearing the Board
If you want to clear the board completel , in order to set up
special situations, press the 2nd F key so that the 2nd F
indicator lights; then press NEW GAME. (See "Seing Up
Special Situations"' below.)
i
◄
you
only
l the
not
ions
y 
side, by pressing the WHITE/BLACK key. The WHITE k4
BLACK control indicators will show which side is bein%
veried.
You may verify a the piece positions r b oth sides or only a
single piece. Always check he WHITE/BLACK control
ind i cator s wh en y o u a re v e r i f yin g .
If you enter a new move the computer wi l automatilly
retu to the p ay mode.
If you wish to set up a situation with only a few pie
m a y cle a r the bo a rd ( as describ e d above) an d t h e n
the p ieces y o u n ee d .
ing Up Special Situations
T hi s fea tur e a  ows you to m o v e , a dd , or r em ov e p iec e
bo ar d in a n y w a y y ou l ik e . ( The no r mal  les of ches
a pp l y in this mo de .) Us e this mode t o set up s p eci a ls ,
t o hel p y ou pr actice y ou r chess s k ills . This m o d e
entered a n y time -even d u r i n g a ga m e.
I f y o u u p s et t h e po si t i o n of the p ie c es , or r o t h er re a son s a r e
not su re  at th e b oard i s c o r r ect , the co mp ut er ca n t e ll y o u
he pr o p er p o siti o n o f e v e  p iece .
When it is your rn, press e desired piece key. A vertical
indic a t or a n d o ne or mo re h or i zo nt a l ind i c a t o rs w i  show the
position(s) o f  e select ed p iece ( s ) . P r ess th e s a m e piece k e y
a g ain to se e i f the r e a re a n y mo re p ieces o f th a t k in d on th e
b o a r d. I f t h e  mp ute r  n d s n o mor e o f the se l ec te d pi e c e , i t
w und a o-tone signal and re to the play me (the
rre WHITE BLACK ntrol i nd i  to r will light).
If a piece is missing or in e wrong place, put it back without
preing down. Y ou m a y v e ri f y  e p i e ce po sitions  r eithe r
Verifying Pie Position
Moves," you may change sides with the computer by pressing
PLAY when it is your turn. The computer will indicate a move
for your side and you may begin playing the other side.
You may cha nge sides as oen as you like; you may e en press
PLAY eve time and let the computer play the entire game
against itself.
If you want to bin a me playing the black pieces, set up
th e boa r d w h the b l ac k p ieces a t the bo  o m a n d th e wh i t e a t
t he t o p. T h e n pr ess NEW G AME and P LAY in t u  . T h e
co mpute r w i  ma k e a m ov e r w hite ( a t th e t o p o f t he bo ar d )
and y begin by moving the black pieces.
8

 enter the set-up mode, press 2nd F so th t the 2nd F
~eator lights; en press e piece key for the piece you
 ·
want to move, add, or remove; select e desired color by
pressing e WHITE/BLACK key.
To move a pie, press down the desired piece (in its current
position), move it to a new position, and press it down g in.
To add a piece, simply press down the new piece in any empty
space.
 remov e piece , p ress down the p iece in it s c ur ren t po siti o n
and r move it.
en you exit the set-up mode, by pressing the 2nd F Key so
at the i n dic a tor goes o ff, the f irst move m us t  m a de by the
side with the sme co l or s the l ast p iece yo u s et- up. I f y o u
want t he co mp uter to m ke the f irst move f ter e x itin g t he
set-up mode, press e PLAY Key. This mode is especially
useful w hen u s in g l evel 8 (p age 10).
(Remarks: C re f u lly check the p osition b e  re startin g to play
ae r seing up position. T he computer a l w y s ssu me s t h at
you hav e ente r ed l e g l position. A nd th u s n y i ll e g l p osition
may y i ld unpredictable response).
Tuing the Sound On and O
Th sounds  o m y our C he ss G me a id you d ur in g pl y nd
wa you wh en a m i st k e h s b een m de. H o w ever , y ou mi g ht
nd s it u tions where the so u nds re dis  acting to y o u or
others. In is case you may temporar ly turn off the sound.
9
~refully
the keys «a
You mu wa t ch t he i ndi  t o rs a n d pre ss
w h en pl a y i ng witho u t sound .
4 F indicator
To turn off the sound press LEVEL while the 2
is on. Repeat the procedure to turn the sound on again.
Game Memory
You may move e ON/MEMORY stch to MEMO"""""
time during a gam e , ev e n w h i l e the co m p ute r 1s deci b'�; y
a move. The ay will be stop ped at that point, and 
·II remember t
po er will be conrved, but the computer w ;
:    you move e
position of the board and will resume ay en
s w it c h b c k t o ON .
T h e c o m pu t er will " r ememb e r " t he p o s ition o f t he b o a r d f or
u p t o on e y e a r, w i th a  e s h s et of b at t eries .
Ave age Computer Move Times
T he ti m e t h e c o m p ute r t ak es t o e v a lu ate a n d res p o n d to a
move will vary, depending on the level seing and the progress
of th e gam e . I t wi ll r e sp ond s ter t o openi n g m oves , s l ower
d ur i n g t he m i d dle of t he ga me , a nd faster g ain a t the end o f a
g m e.