Changing Sides With The Computer; Game Memory; Thinking On The Opponent's Time - Saitek Mephisto Maestro Chess Mode D'emploi

HAVING PROBLEMS? SOME TIPS!
• Is it really your turn to move? Check the color symbol in
the display window—if the square for the computer's color
is flashing, the computer is currently thinking about its
move.
• Did you execute the computer's last move incorrectly?
If the display shows an error message, Er:d5 for ex-
ample, press the indicated square to correct the problem
and complete the computer's move.
• Does the computer merely beep and keep showing your
"from" square when you try to move? You are attempt-
ing to enter an illegal move. Either move the piece to
another square, or press the indicated from square again to
erase the move, and make a different move. Trust the
computer—it knows all the rules of chess and will not allow
an illegal move!
• Are you unsure of the board position? Have some
pieces been moved inadvertently? Use Verify Mode to
check the piece positions. For details, see Section 5.1.
• Is your King in check? If your King is in check, you must
move it out of check before you can make any other move.
• Computer won't make a move? Two Players Mode is
active. Press CLEAR once or twice to exit Two Players
Mode. Then, either make your own move or press ENTER (if
it is the computer's turn).
higher levels, especially on the Infinite Level, where the
computer thinks indefinitely unless you stop it.
Note: On the Problem Solving Levels, pressing ENTER
does not cause the computer to make a move. Instead,
after a short time the computer sounds an error beep and
displays – – – – – to indicate that it was interrupted before
it found a mate. To continue your game, switch to another
playing level.

2.6 Changing Sides with the Computer

You may change sides with the computer at any time,
and as often as you wish during any game. To do so,
simply press ENTER when it is your turn. The computer
will immediately start thinking about the next move for
your side!
2.7 Openings
At the beginning of a game, the computer's reply is
usually instantaneous on many levels. This is because it
is playing moves which are stored in its memory . The
computer's openings consist of many positions from
grandmaster play. If the current board position is in its
opening, the computer plays a response to that position
from its collection of moves, instead of thinking about the
move.
Your computer can also handle opening transpositions,
with its built-in Automatic Transposition Manager. A
transposition occurs when a position reached by a certain
set of moves can also be reached when those same
moves occur in a different order.
Note: This chess computer offers a unique user-select-
able book feature, which lets you choose from various
types of openings, or even turn the book off, if desired.
For details, see Section 6.2.

2.8 Game Memory

You may interrupt a game at any time by pressing
STOP. Play is then suspended, and the computer stores
your current position and game (up to about 200 indi-
vidual moves). When you switch on again, you can re-
sume your game right where you left off!
2.9 Two Players Mode
Normally the computer automatically answers with a
TRY OUT TWO PLAYERS MODE!
• Play through master games. Press CLEAR then ENTER
to get the computer's analysis of any board position!
• Replay a sequence of moves in order to study them.
• Study book lines by entering them manually.
• Play against a friend, with the computer checking all
moves for legality on both sides!
countermove whenever you enter a move. If you enter
Two Players Mode by pressing TAKE BACK however,
you can enter any number of moves one by one without
letting the computer answer. This feature can be used to
enter a series of moves for both sides or to replay a game
to a certain position. It also allows you to play against
another person, with the computer acting as referee and
checking the legality of all moves. To exit Two Players
Mode, press CLEAR.
You might also want to go back to an earlier position
(up to about the last 200 individual moves) of a game and
play on from there. This is possible, of course, by actually
taking back until the desired position is reached and then
continuing play, as noted in Section 1.4. However, you
can also take back moves rapidly without actually taking
back step by step on the chessboard. This is done by first
pressing TAKE BACK to enter Two Players Mode. Then,
press ENTER to jump forwards to the final position of the
game or backwards to the initial position in memory. You
can also press TAKE BACK to jump forwards in 10 move
count steps or jump to the final position/initial position in
memory. Press BLACK/+ or WHITE/– to jump forwards
or backwards an individual move at a time. Press CLEAR
when you reach your desired position. You can then
make moves for both sides from that position, or press
CLEAR again to exit Two Players Mode and play against
the computer from that position. If it is the computer's turn
to move after exiting Two Players Mode, press ENTER.
Note: If you need help while playing against another
player in Two Players Mode, you can press INFO and the
computer will display its suggested move and evaluation,
if available.

2.10 Thinking on the Opponent's Time

As you play, you may notice that the computer some-
times replies to your moves instantaneously, even in the
middle of games played on the higher levels (when Power
Saving Mode is turned off). This is because the computer
thinks on your time, using the time you are contemplating
your next move to think ahead and plan its strategies. It
tries to anticipate the move you are likely to make, and
then calculates its responses for that particular move
while you are still thinking. If it has guessed right, there is
no reason for it to keep on calculating—it immediately
plays the move it has already found!
You may turn this feature off by selecting one of the
Power Saving Modes, as described in Section 6.2.
3. LEVELS OF SKILL
Your chess computer offers 64 different playing levels,
including levels for casual play, tournament play, speed
chess, problem solving, and even levels especially for
beginners. When you set the playing level, keep in mind
that when the computer has more time to think about its
moves, it becomes stronger and plays better—just like a
human chess player!
Your chess computer also has a unique Power Saving
Feature, as detailed in Section 6.2. This option greatly
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