User manual

ILLEGAL MOVES / WRONG MOVES
IVAN never accepts illegal moves. If you attempt such a move, the computer
sounds a low double beep, and the display will continue to indicate the square
the piece came from. Since the computer will not allow you to move to an
illegal square, it completely disregards that square and waits for a legal entry.
Either move that same piece to another square, or press the piece back down
on its original FROM square and move a different piece. If you press down
on a piece and the from square appears in the display, but you decide not to
make that move, press down on that same square again to cancel the input.
This has the same effect as using CLEAR. You may also use the CLEAR
button to change the move. Now make another move of your choice. If you
change your mind after entering your whole move, you must use the TAKE
BACK button.
CHECK, MATE, AND DRAW
When a King is in check, the computer displays a flashing “CHEC” on the
display. If you are in check, the computer will only allow you to make a move
which will bring you out of check. Any other move, and the computer will
respond that it is an illegal move. When a game ends in checkmate, the
computer displays the move as usual, and then displays “U Lose” or “I lose.”
The computer recognizes draws by stalemate, consecutive 3-fold repetition,
and the 50-move rule. See the following chart for the various draw displays. If
you are unfamiliar with these draws, refer to the “Let’s Play Chess” pamphlet.
GAME SYMBOLS SHOWN IN THE DISPLAY
Checkmate U LOSE or I LOSE
Draw (Stalemate) STALEMATE
Draw (3-Fold Repetition) DR 3
Draw (50-Move Rule) DR 50
TERMINATING THE COMPUTERS SEARCH
To interrupt the computer while it is thinking, press MOVE. This forces the
computer to play the best move it has found so far. This feature can be very
useful on the higher levels, where the computer can take a long time to move.
On the Infinite Level, for instance, the computer keeps thinking indefinitely
until it either finds a mate or determines that it cannot avoid mate but you can
stop its search on this level at any time with MOVE.
Note: On the Position Solving Levels, pressing MOVE does not cause the
computer to make a move. Instead, the computer sounds an error beep to
indicate that it was interrupted before it found a mate. To continue your
game, switch to another playing level.
CHANGING SIDES WITH THE COMPUTER
You may change sides with the computer at any time by pressing MOVE
when it is your turn to move. This causes the computer to make the next
move for your side. You may change sides as often as you wish.
Note: Pressing MOVE twice at the beginning of a game causes the computer
to make the first move for White playing from the top of the board (see Black
From The Bottom).
BOOK OPENINGS
At the beginning of a game, Ivan’s reply is usually instantaneous on many
levels, because the computer is playing moves that are stored in its book
opening library. The computer’s opening library consists of many positions
from grandmaster play. If the current board position is in its opening book,
instead of thinking about a move, Ivan instantly plays a response to that
position from its collection of moves.
THINKING ON THE OPPONENTS TIME
As you play, you will notice that the computer may reply to your moves
instantaneously. This is because the computer thinks while you are thinking,
using the time you are contemplating a move to plan ahead and develop its
strategies. The Ivan will try to anticipate the move you are likely to make and
calculate a response for that move before you have made the move. If it has
guessed right, it will strike immediately and play the move it found while you
were thinking.
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