Game Memory; The Playing Levels - Saitek Mephisto CT01 Instructions Manual

2.11 Game Memory

If you want to interrupt your game for any reason, you may
do so by pressing GO/STOP. Play is then suspended, and
the computer will store your current position for up to two
years (with fresh alkaline batteries). When you switch back
on again, simply continue right where you left off!

3. THE PLAYING LEVELS

With 768 level settings to choose from (incorporating the
Teach Modes), you can definitely learn and grow with this
chess computer! When you set the level, keep in mind that
the more time the computer has to think about its moves, the
stronger and better it plays—just like a human player!
Please refer to "A QUICK AND EASY GUIDE TO
LEVEL SELECTION!" for an overview of all the levels.
As shown in the Level Selection Chart, each playing level
corresponds to one of the 64 board squares. The levels are
categorized into three different groups: Fun Levels (Squares
A1-B8), Fixed Depth Levels (Squares C1-D8), and Casual
Levels (Squares E1-H8). On the higher levels, the computer
thinks more deeply and becomes a progressively more
challenging opponent. The highest level in each of the
groups produces the best moves the computer can make
within the constraints of that particular level setting. Experi-
ment a little—start out with some of the lower level settings,
and advance to the more difficult levels as your skills grow!
Note that on some of the higher levels, the computer may
take a long time to complete its search. If you want to force
the computer to stop thinking and make a move, simply
press PLAY at any time.
Press LEVEL to enter Level Mode, and the current level is
shown, with the display alternating between the Level
Square and the Level Name. As an example, Level A4 (Fun
Level 4) displays as L:A4 and Fu 4. To change the level,
simply press a board square (using the Level Selection
Chart as a guide), and that level will be displayed. Press
LEVEL again to exit Level Mode, with your newly selected
playing level in effect.
Other important points to remember regarding levels:
• If you press LEVEL to verify the level, but you don't want
to change levels, press LEVEL again to exit without
making any changes.
• You can use LEVEL to check the playing level while the
computer is thinking, but you cannot change the level
until it's your turn to move.
• Pressing NEW GAME resets the computer and retains
the current playing level.
3.1 Fun Levels (Squares A1-B8)
LEVEL ALTERNATING
SQUARE DISPLAY
A1 ....... L:A1 / Fu 1 ..... B1 ....... L:B1 / Fu 9
A2 ....... L:A2 / Fu 2 ..... B2 ....... L:B2 / Fu10
A3 ....... L:A3 / Fu 3 ..... B3 ....... L:B3 / Fu11
LEVEL ALTERNATING
SQUARE DISPLAY
A4 ....... L:A4 / Fu 4 ..... B4 ....... L:B4 / Fu12
A5 ....... L:A5 / Fu 5 ..... B5 ....... L:B5 / Fu13
A6 ....... L:A6 / Fu 6 ..... B6 ....... L:B6 / Fu14
A7 ....... L:A7 / Fu 7 ..... B7 ....... L:B7 / Fu15
A8 ....... L:A8 / Fu 8 ..... B8 ....... L:B8 / Fu16
If you are a novice or beginning player, the Fun Levels are
especially for you—they'll give you the opportunity to beat
the computer for a change! Here, the computer does not
exhaustively search for the best available move, as you
would normally expect. Instead, it disregards scores and
uses a strong randomizer to deliberately weaken play—
which causes it to sometimes make moves that are not
necessarily the best it has found. This variability makes the
computer prone to some very human errors in judgment.
Beat the computer by capitalizing on its mistakes, and you
may soon discover that you can win games against friends
in the same manner! The Fun Levels start out easy and get
a little stronger as they go, allowing you to strengthen your
playing abilities along the way.
3.2 Fixed Depth Levels (Squares C1-D8)
LEVEL SQUARE SEARCH DEPTH
C1 .................. 1 ply .................. L:c1 / Fd 1
C2 .................. 1 ply+ ................ L:c2 / Fd 2
C3 .................. 1 ply++ .............. L:c3 / Fd 3
C4 .................. 2 ply .................. L:c4 / Fd 4
C5 .................. 2 ply+ ................ L:c5 / Fd 5
C6 .................. 2 ply++ .............. L:c6 / Fd 6
C7 .................. 3 ply .................. L:c7 / Fd 7
C8 .................. 3 ply+ ................ L:c8 / Fd 8
------------------------------------------------------------
D1 .................. 3 ply++ .............. L:D1 / Fd 9
D2 .................. 4 ply .................. L:D2 / Fd10
D3 .................. 4 ply+ ................ L:D3 / Fd11
D4 .................. 4 ply++ .............. L:D4 / Fd12
D5 .................. 5 ply .................. L:D5 / Fd13
D6 .................. 5 ply+ ................ L:D6 / Fd14
D7 .................. 5 ply++ .............. L:D7 / Fd15
D8 .................. 6 ply .................. L:D8 / Fd16
On the Fixed Depth Levels, the computer's search depth
is limited to a certain number of moves, or ply. A "ply" is an
individual move, or a move for either side. For example, on
Level C1, the computer searches to a depth of one ply, and
thus looks ahead only one individual move. On this level,
therefore, it will often overlook a mate in one. This produces
weaker play, giving beginners a better chance of beating the
computer! Use these levels to sharpen your skills—as you
conquer each level, graduate to the next!
The levels marked with plus signs (+ and ++) indicate
small, incremental jumps in the search depth. On these
levels, the computer will look ahead that particular number of
ply, plus a few extra moves (+), or a few more selected extra
moves (++).
Note that the computer may take a long time to move on
some of the Fixed Depth Levels. On Levels C6 and above,
for instance, it might not be unusual for the computer to think
6
ALTERNATING DISPLAY