Bedienungsanleitung Instructions Instruzioni d’uso Handleiding Mode d’ emploi Instrucciones de Funcionamiento modena Hegener + Glaser AGDear Chess Friend! We would like to welcome you to the growing number of MEPHISTO chess computer owners and we wish you many hours of pleasure with your computer. MEPHISTO is a German designed, quallity product. and is simple to use and equipped with many functions. MEPHISTO is an ideal tournament and t partner for anyone interested in chess. ing This manual is provided to enable you to learn how to operate the computer in the shortest time and so to help you to avoid any disappointments from the first moment on. The manual is organized so that each section can be read seperately if necessary. Sections which provide more information are referred to where possible, We strongly recommend that you read the entire manual through in order to gain an overview of the possibilities that the machine offers you. Later you can use the individual chapters for reference purposes if you have to check any special functions again. Enjoy your games with yournew electronic chess partner! PART 1 1. General Notes 2. Getting Started 3. Making Moves 3.1 Starting a Game 8.2 The Chess Clock 3.3. Capturing Pieces 3.4 En Passant 3.5. Castling 3.6 Pawn Promotion 3.7 Illegal Moves 3.8 Check, Checkmate 3.9. Stalemate, Draw 3.10 Resigning 3.11 Starting/Aborting Move Analysis 3.12 New Game PART 2 4. User Interface 5. Book Mode 6. Information Mode 7. Memory Mode 8. Position Mode 9. Level Mode 10. Function Mode 4 The Keyboard 20 20 20 20 at 24 21 21 2t 22 22 22 23 23 23 25 26 27 30 33 34MEPHISTO modena PART 1: YOUR FIRST GAME AGAINST THE COMPUTER 1. General Notes Your MEPHISTO is a chess computer which has been designed for simple and logical use. PLAY 800k nfo Mery postion as Ss co & a 2&2 & usVer FUNTION ENTER CLEAR @ g Lew eave! Using only 8 keys it is possible to make all the settings necessary and to obtain access to extensive information. A 4-character display, 6 function LED's (small lights, which are located above the keys) and 8 co-ordinate LED's (on the left and lower edges of the board) are also available to help you operate the computer. The first part of this manual gives you all the information you need to be able to play against your computer. The second part describes the individual functions and their use in detail. 2. Getting started Your MEPHISTO can be powered either by batteries or by a mains adapter. Either: fit the mains adapters connector into the socket provided on the back of the unit and connect the adapter to the mains supply, Or: open the battery compartment, which is on the upper right of the computer, and fit 6 suitable 1.5V batteries (use alkaline cells if possible). You may also use rechargeable batteries (accumulators). Please note however, that these should be charged seperately in an external, suitable charger. 20 Please keep our environment in mind! Don't put used batteries in your household waste. Hand them in at a proper collection centre. ‘As soon as you have powered your computer in ‘one of the two ways just described, you can set up the pieces in their basic starting position on the board before switching the unit on. The ON/ OFF switch is located at the back of the computer next to the power socket. The display will now show ‘PLAY’. 3. Making Moves 3.4 Starting a game Your MEPHISTO is a so-called ‘pressure sensor’ chess computer, i.e. moves are registerod by the computer via pressure appliad to the squares on the board. Letus assume that you wish to begin agame with the move E2-E4. Press the white pawn standing on E2 down onto this square. A beep registers this and the co-ordinate LED's for the E-file (at the bottom of the board) and the second rank (on the left) will light up. o 2 We ea AMAR AMA 020000 20 This indicates that the first half of your move (E2) has been registered. Place the pawn on square E4 and pross it down again (the target square of your move). MEPHISTO will sound another beep to confirm that it has registered this part of theIntroduction move and will start to calculate a replying move. The computer's response is then shown in the display, e.g. Eie5 Now you have to make the move forthe computer on the board. To make things easier for you, the LED's on the edge of the board light up to show you the move, starting with the LED's of the first part of that move. If the reply is £7-E6 thon the LED's in the E-file and the seventh rank will be switched on. The intersection square of these two lines marks the square from which the move is to start (the pawn on E7 in this example). Press the piece down onto this square. A beep will sound again and the LED's on the edge of the board will change to show the target square’s location (in our example E5). Press the piece down on this square. A beep is sounded again and the display will jump back to the chess clock mode again. As long as the computer receives moves from its opening book in memory it will not concede any time for move calculation. When, however, the computer leaves its opening book and starts to analyse moves the display will switch to chess clock mode. In addition, the display will blink at one second intervals. When it has finished calculating a move, the computer will beep to signal this and will indicate the move both on the display and via the LED's on the board. When you switch on the computer for the first time it will be set to play at a normal playing level with an average analysis time of 10 seconds per move. You can find out how to change the playing level in the section ‘Level Modes’, 3.2 The Chess Clock The computer automatically shows the chess clock in the display when it is your turn to move, or when it is analysing, The chess clock is a so-called ‘four mode chess clock’, i.e. it shows the following two times tor itself and for the player: 21 © firstly the total time used © secondly the time used per move The total time is constantly shown, whilstthe time per move can be called via keyboard commands, as described in the section ‘Information Mode’. 3.3 Capturing Pieces Remove the piece you are capturing from the board first and then make your move as normal (pressing down on the starting and then target squares as previously described). I the computer indicates a square occupied by ‘one of your pieces, then it wishes to capture the piece standing there. However, the computer will use the board LED's to remind you that the plece first has to be removed (without pressing it down onto the board). Remove the captured piece and then press the moving piece on its target square. 3.4 En Passant This type of move is made {ike a normal move (pressing the starting and then target squares). However, the computer will use the board LED's to remind you to remove the pawn being captured. Press the captured piece onto the board before removing it. Ifyou are not sure when the en-passant rule can be used, we recommend that you refertoa chess book concerned with the rules of the game. 3.5 Castling In accordance with the rules of chess, the King is, always moved first followed by the Rook's move. After you have made the King's move MEPHISTO will automatically show you the corresponding Rook's move using the LED's on the board. 3.6 Pawn Promotion If one of the computer's pawns reaches the opposite side of the board, then it will display the symbol for the piece into which the pawnis to be promoted. In the majority of cases, the computer will promote to a Queen. The display then shows: PeedMEPHISTO modena In addition, the LED above the key for the Queen will flash. Make the move and then place the new piece on the board (pressing it down again). The coordinate LED's will be switched off and the display will return to the chess clock mode. \fone of your pawns reaches the opposite side of the board, then MEPHISTO will ask in the display for the type of piece into which the pawn is being promoted: Pro¢- 800K INO MEMORY POSITION ao cS & D 2 & LeveL FUNGTION ENTER CLEAR e & Unew cane At the same time the LED's above the keys for a Knight, Bishop, Rook and Queen will be switched on, Press the corresponding key for the promotion piece and exchange the pawn on tho board with the new piece (without pressing this down). 3.7 Illegal Moves Hyou have made a move which is illegal to rules of chess then MEPHISTO will sound an error beep to remind you. ‘Take the move back without pressing the offending piece onto the board and continue with a new, legal move. 3,8 Check, Checkmate It the computer checks you, then it will flash the LED above the King’s symbol key. If the move checkmates you then the computer will display the following ater you have made the move: HAGE 22 3.9 Stalemate, Draw Htyou make a move which results in a stalemate, the computer will display the following instead of (PREE Adrawis reported in the display ands indicated according to the reason for the draw. The followit types of draw can occur according to the rules ot chess: © not enough material on the board to checkmate: ~ nm c = © draw due to threefold repetion: r— J @ draw due to 50 moves rule: nr reso 3.10 Resigning If MEPHISTO realizes that it has no chance of avoiding defeat during its analysis. then it will offer to resign whilst displaying its next move: r—SG If you wish to continue the game then just carry ‘on playing, 3.11 Starting/Aborting Move Analysis By pressing the ENTER key you can either start move analysis by the computer, or interrupt its present analysis.=a a t 4 9.12 New Game Ifyou wish to start a new game, press the following keys simultaneously: ENTER + CLEAR (activates the NEW GAME function). Aspecialbeep sounds and PLAY appears in the display again. The settings valid before this remain valid (e.g. the playing level). Set up the pieces in the basic starting position and start your new game. Introduction PART 2: CHESS COMPUTERS FOR ADVANCED USERS The first part of this manual has shown you how to play against the computer, but your MEPHISTO is of course able to do much more than just register and play moves. lis extensive and partially unique features are described in this part of the manual. 4. User Interface MEPHISTO is operated via 8 keys: ° ° ° ° eSox nfo weory position me Ss SS 5 4 & ie FNeTON ENTER —_cLeaR io a) e ¢ Lew came! © Gfunction keys © and 2 input keys (ENTER and CLEAR) Each of the 6 function keys corresponds to an individual mode. Each mode is selected by pressing the corresponding key. The following modes are available: Book Mode (BOOK key) © Information Mode (INFO key) ® Memory Mode (MEMORY key) © Position Mode (POSITION key) © Level Mode (LEVEL key) © Function Mode (FUNCTION key) ‘An LED is switched on above the respective key when you select a mode. A mode is always deactivated by pressing the CLEAR key. 5. Book Mode In the Book mode you can make the computer show you moves during the opening phase of a game, or you can influence the openings choice of the computer. 23MEPHISTO modena 5.1 General Information In the course of time chess theory has noted that certain move sequences in a game are recommendable and has systemized these. Many of these sequences have been given their own name, such as the ‘Spanish Opening’ or the ‘French Defence’ etc. As soon as MEPHISTO recognizes a particular ‘opening line and has found it in its opening book, It plays the answering moves from its book, without calculating these. The openings program also recognizes move transpositions. For this reason it may happen that MEPHISTO will leave a stored line to analyse its own moves before returning to a stored line. 5.2 Move Hints di ing the Opening It you press and hold the BOOK key when you switch the computer on (the LED above the key lights) then MEPHISTO will allow you to look into its opening book. ECEY ° 2. INFO MEMORY oa ° BOOK POSITION FUNCTION ENTER che AR cs & Lvew came! The display shows E2E4 now, amove for the side whose tum itis, i.e. for White. Ifyou wish to know whether MEPHISTO has another move in its opening book other than E2E4, then press the BOOK key again. The display will switch to show you D204. Each time you press the BOOK key the display will show you another stored opcning move. The computer will show you the first move (E2E4) again when it has no more moves in memory. Sometimes you will see dots between the characters and numbers shown, e.g 24. 62.6.4 MEPHISTO’s opening book differentiates between active and passive moves. Active opening moves are ones which the computer will select when itis playing. Passive moves howover, are recognized by MEPHISTO so that it can find the answering Moves ifan opponent plays these, butit will avoid playing them itself as this could lead to positions which the computer's program may notbe able to handle so well. Passive moves are indicated by dots between the characters and numbers onthe display. You can leave the Book mode at any time by pressing the CLEAR key. It is up to you whether you wish to follow MEPHISTO's advice or not. ‘The display switches back to normal chess clock mode, Even when a few moves of a game have already been played you can use the Book mode to gain an insight into the opening book. You can use the moves shown as suggestions for your own moves it you wish, ‘The more moves that have been played, the less branches of possibilities are available. If the display doesn't change after you have pressed the BOOK key several times, then this means that only one line is available to continue with. \{ no moves are available in the book then the display will show: Press CLEAR (return to chess clock) and continue the game in the normal mode. 5.3 Influencing the Opening Line Choice of the Computer If you press the BOOK key during the opening phase of a game instead of playing the move on the board, MEPHISTO will switch to an alternative move. In this case the computer may also play moves which are not active ones and which would otherwise not be played, ‘The more moves that have been played, the less branches of possibilities are available. If thedisplay doesn't change after you have pressed the BOOK key several times, then this means that only one line is available to continue with. Make the last move shown on the board. an 25 6, Information Mode i xd. The Information mode is activated by pressing 9 the INFO key (the LED above the key lights). In if this mode you can call up information about the 1 {chess computer's move analysis. to yy EYMES ° . ° ° BOOK INFO MEMORY POSITION ENTER CLEAR lew camel is "| re 7# # Alter you have activated the Information mode d 4° and each time you press the INFO key, different is # = nformation is displayed. The following possibilities © are availablo: © 6.1 Info 1 (Main , Move Hint) ifthe computer has already left the opening book and started analysis (or is presently thinking) jen the main line (of the continuation of play) “can be called into the display by pressing the INFO key once. ‘As the display can only show one move at atime, the ENTER key can be used to call up further ‘Moves in the main line (up to 6 half-moves). 00K Nfo_—-MEMORY POSITION ca Co q @ B = LEVEL FUNCTION ENTER CLEAR e © nel s e Information Mode Ifyou call up the main line when it is your turn to move then you can use the first move shown as amove suggestion. Press CLEAR to leave the Information mode and to return to chess clock mode. 6.2 Info 2 (Position Evaluation, Analysis Depth, Time per Move) If the computer has already analysed moves, or is presently thinking, then pressing the INFO key twice will cause the display to show something similar to the following: - 150 This is the current position evaluation in pawn units. A minus sign before the value means that the computer sees itself at a disadvantage. The value -1.50 therefore means that the computer sees itself at a disadvantage of 1.5 pawns. ‘The ENTER key also has a special function in the Info 2 mode. If you press the ENTER key during the position evaluation display then the display switches to show the analysis depth. ‘The display ‘d 6’ means that the computer has analysed up to a depth of 6 half-moves (or plys).. Pressing ENTER again switches to show the time per move. This shows you the time taken for the present move. 6.3 Info 3 (Move Counter) If the computer has already analysed moves, or is presently thinking, then pressing the INFO key three times will show the move counter, i.e. the number of moves already played. nef Press the CLEAR key to leave the Information mode at any time and to return to normal chess clock mode.MEPHISTO modena 6.4 Info Overview The diagram below shows you how to find the information you are looking for and which keyboard commands are necessary to get this. GD) he jG] anes — see tae ove Cour 7. Memory Mode Press the MEMORY key (the LED above the key lights up) to switch to the Memory mode, in which moves and move sequences can be i the computer's memory or read from eccx Fo. MeMORY —_osfrion A a & LeveL FUNCTION cueAR cs @ & came! ‘The Memory mode can only be activated when it is your turn to move. 7.1. Entering Move Sequences, Referee Function If you wish to enter moves or move sequences from the basic starting position, then press the MEMORY key once. The following display is shown: nm ne 26 This serves to remind you that moves have to be entered for both players in this mode. Make the moves for both White and Black on the board. The computer will check that they are legal but will not calculate moves itself. The moves made are shown in the display. ‘Assoon as you have reached the desiredposition leave the Memory mode by pressing CLEAR and continue with the colour of the side whose turn it is to play. You can of course play a whole game against a human partner in Memory mode. The computer will act as a roferee, checking that the moves are legal ones, according to the rules of chess. This option is especially useful for chess novices. illegal moves are indicated by the error beep. Take the offending move back again without pressing the piece onto the board and continue with another (legal) move. 7.2 Taking Moves or Move Sequences back MEPHISTO’s builtin memory allows you to take back one or all of the moves in agame, whilst the game is still in session. To do this press the MEMORY key twice when itis your turn to move. The last move played is then displayed with dots between the notation, e.g. LELF.6 ‘Take the move back by pressing the target square and then the starting square of the move. As soon as you have pressed the starting square, the display shows the move prior to the one just taken back. When you have taken the next move backas just desoribed, the move prior to that one is shown etc. You can continue with this until all of the moves are read out of the computer's memory. At the end of the procedure the display ~ (SLA When a capturing move is taken back, LED's on the board light up to show an empty square where a piece was captured and which must be replaced.e 8 it je or Ooo Caw AO The display tells you which piece was originally standing there and confirms the location of the square again. In addition, an LED flashes (alternately to the MEMORY key LED) above the piece symbol for the captured piece. Press the captured piece down onto the board when replacing it. The LED's for this square are switched off and the LED for the Memory mode are switched on again. You can leave the Memory mode at any time and continue the game with tha colour whose turnitis from the new position on the board by pressing the CLEAR key. 7.3 Reading Moves or Move Sequences from Memory MEPHISTO's builtin memory also permits youto read out some or all of the moves which have been taken back. To do this don't press tho CLEAR key alter taking the moves back (leaves, the Memory mode), but press the ENTER key. The display and board LED's then show the last move taken back. Make the move on the board. As soon as the piece has been pressed onto the target square, the display switches to show the next move which was taken back. After this has been taken back the next move is shown etc. In this way you can page forwards through all the moves taken back until the end, at which point the notation of the last move is not shown, but: End You can, of course, leave the Memory mode at any point by pressing the CLEAR key and continue the game against the computer with the colour whose turn it is from the position on the board. 7.4 Replaying a Game MEPHISTO's built-in memory allows you to replay a game from the start either during it, or after it has finished, Todo this, press the MEMORY key and then the POSITION key when it is your turn to move. The following display appears: Memory Mode SrA Set up the pieces in their basic starting position and then press the ENTER key. The display and the board LED's show you the first move of the game. Make this move on the board. ‘As soon as the piece has been pressed onto the target square the second move is shown. When this has been made the next move is shown etc. In this way you can replay all the moves-of a game. When you have reached the end of a game the display will show the following instead of the move notation: End You can leave the Memory mode at any time by pressing the CLEAR key, and can continue the game against the computer with the side whose ‘to move from the position on the board. 7.8 Saving a Game Ifyou wish to interrupt a game and to continue it ata later date or at another location then simply move the ON/OFF switch to OFF. MEPHISTO will automatically save the current game status, the moves made andall the settings permanently. You can then switch on the machine later and simply continue from the last position. Ityou should find that some of the pieces have been displaced on the board and you are not sure of their correct location, then check the position on the board (see section 8.1) and reconstruct it. 8. Position Mode Pressing the POSITION key activates the Position mode (the LED above thekey lights up). In this made you can check or change the current position or can contruct a new one. 27MEPHISTO modena on roads ° ° ° ° adok Po enfony postion A a2 & LEVEL FUNETION ENTER we & Lrew came The Position mode can only be activated when it is your tum to move. In order to select a type of piece in the Position mode, symbols have been printed under the corresponding keys. The display is also used to give you information about the types and positions Of pieces. Due to the limitations of the display symbols have been usedto represent the various pieces: b=Pawn — S =Knight L =Bishop & -Rook d=Queen U -king The corresponding black pioces are indicated by a minus sign betore the symbol. 8.1 Checking the Position Hf you wish to check the current position on the board (e.g. after entering a chess problem, or if some pieces have been displaced and you are not sure where they should be) then first press. the POSITION key to activate the Position mode. Using a simple example we would like to show you how to use the position check possibility: 1) Press the ENTER and CLEAR keys together (New Game function). A beep signal can be heard and the display shows 'PLAY’. All the pieces are now in the basic starting position, 2) Press the POSITION key. The display shows: Pas 28 3) Assume that you wish to check the position of the Kings. Press the key above the King's symbol. The LED starts to flash and the display shows: ve | The board LED's also light up to show you the Position of White's King. 4) Press the key above the King's symbol again. The display and the board LED's change to show you the location of Black's King: “PEG 5) Press the key above the King’s symbol again and the LED above the key is switched off whilst the display shows: b-- meaning that there are no more Kings on the board. You now have two possibilities: - either you press the King’s key again to see where White's King is located, and agin to see where Black's King is etc ~ oF you solect another type of piece using the respective key. Let us check the Knights next. After you have pressed the Knight's key once the white Knight on Bt is first shown, Pressing again shows the next white Knighton G1. Following this (keep pressing the key) the black Knights are shown. When you press the key for the fifth time the LED is switched off and you have the same two possbbilities to continue as just described with the Kings. 6) Now that you have understood the basic Principle it should be easy for you to check an entire position. Before you continue, we would like you do this. 7) In practice it is not always necessary to check all the pioces for White and Black on the board before jumping to the next type of piece. For example you may only wish to check whether anof bol. vs: the ain. ow ain ilst Pawn Is on 82 or B3 before continuing with the Knights. For this reason it is constantly possible to change the type of piece selected whilst in Position mode. To try this out just press the keys for the Pawns, Knights, Bishops, Rooks, Queens and Kings in turn. The display and the LED's will change accordingly. 8) As soon as you have informed yourself about the position on the board you can leave the Position mode by pressing the CLEAR key. The LED above the POSITION key is switched off. 8.2 Entering a Position When you wish to set up a position (e.g. a chess problem, or a ‘hanger’, which you want to analyse) then first set up the position on the board. Let us assume that you wish to enter the position shown below into the computer: Press the POSITION key (the display shows ‘POS') and then the ENTER key: ro | hes The computor asks whether you want to delete the old position. Contirm by pressing the ENTER ey. The computer beeps to let you know that it has erased the old position on the boardinits memory and the display shows ‘POS Let us start by entering the Kings’ positions. Press the key above the King's symbol. The lay shows: 29 Position Mode be - Next take the white King and press it onto E1, its location, A beep sounds, the board LED's forthe E file and firstrank lightup and the display changes to show: HET This confirms that a white King is standing on E1. Next take the black King and press it onto square F8. The procedure just described repeats itself, This means that a second white King is now located on square F8. As however we are entering a black King you must press the piece down a second timo. Another beep is sounded and the display switches to: - UF confirming that a black King is now on square F8. Summing up: pressing once - white pieces pressing twice - black pieces Now let us turn ourattention to the white Pawn on C3. First you must tell MEPHISTO that we are now dealing with a Pawn and not a King, To do this press the key above the Pawn symbol. The display changes to: bo) and the computer is ready to accept entries for Pawns. What happens if you press the square once too often? Try it - press the white Pawn on C3 down twice. Now you have ablack Pawn on C3 instead of a white one, What now? Press the square for the third time and the display changes to ra aha