User manual

THE COMPUTER REFUSES TO MAKE A MOVE
If the computer has been playing normally but then refuses to make a move:
1. If the computer’s color symbol is flashing then the computer is still
thinking. Be patient if you can, or press the MOVE key and the computer
will respond immediately with the best move it has found so far.
2. If your color symbol is on and the clock is ticking, the computer thinks
that you have not made your last move. Make sure that the pieces on the
board are on the same squares as those in the computer’s internal memory.
You can do this by using “Verify Position” mode. If the pieces all appear to be
on the same squares as the computer thinks they should be, this means that it
is still your turn to move.
THE COMPUTER REFUSES TO ACCEPT YOUR MOVE
If you make a move but the computer refuses to accept it as a move:
1. Make sure that you have completed your move by pressing down on the
“TO” square.
2. If you your move was castling, make sure that you have moved your rook
and king. Always making sure to move the King first.
3. If the move was an en passant capture, make sure that you have moved the
capturing pawn in the correct way and that you also pressed down on the
square of the captured pawn before you removed it from the chess board.
4. If your move was a pawn promotion make sure that you pressed down on
the promotion square with the newly promoted piece.
5. Look to see if the computer’s last move put you in check, and if so, make
sure that your reply move does not leave you in check.
6. Look to see if your move puts your king in check, either by moving the
king to a square attacked by an enemy piece or by moving something away
from a square where it blocked an attack on your king by an enemy piece.
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TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE
Your computer has been manufactured and tested to very high quality
standards and it is most unlikely to have a fault. We have found in the past
that almost all so-called “faults” can be traced to the user accidentally pressing
a wrong key or moving a piece to the wrong square, which makes it appear
later in the game that the chess computer is not operating as expected.
THE MOST COMMON “FAULT” TO BE FOUND WITH CHESS
COMPUTERS IS THAT THE USER HAS DONE SOMETHING
WRONG AND, WITHOUT REALIZING IT, PUTS THE BLAME ON
THE COMPUTER!
Often a “fault” is due to the user having misunderstood something about the
way the pieces move. You may wish to consult the rules of chess to make sure
you are not making an illegal move. Just in case you do encounter a problem
when using your computer we have prepared this troubleshooting guide.
THE DISPLAY SHOWS NOTHING
If there is nothing showing on the display and the computer does not react to
any key press or to pressing any of the pieces down on its square:
1. If you are using a power adapter make sure that the adapter is the correct
voltage and polarity, as shown on the label on the underside of the computer.
Also ensure that the adapter is plugged in properly to the computer and plug
outlet has not blown a fuse).
2. If you are using batteries make sure that they are held firmly by the battery
clips and that you have observed the correct polarity. See the diagram
engraved in the battery compartment. If you have had the batteries a long
time they may have run down so try replacing them.
3. If the batteries or power adapter appear to be OK the computer may have
been affected by a static discharge which may have caused it to “lock up”.
Press a thin object or paper clip in the RESET hole in the base of the
computer and press it down firmly once.