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User manual ‘The King Element’ M823 Version 1.40 (November 2020)
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This short manual describes ‘Comfort’ mode only . Full-length instructions, in which ‘Expert’ mode is covered, may be obtained from the Millennium website: http://www.computerchess.com/. The King Element is set to play in ‘Comfort’ mode when you first acquire it. If you want to switch to “Expert” mode, see Sections 5.4.1-3 of this manual.
M823 The King Element The package only contains the ‘King Element’ module. The module itself cannot operate on its own. It operates with a MILLENNIUM Exclusive model M820. You need an M820 sensor board; the ‘King Element’ replaces the original clock module.
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Selecting the language The chess computer’s LCD display can show its text in any of the following 7 languages: Language Shown on display English English German Deutsch French Français Dutch Nederlands Italian Italiano Spanish Español Russian Pусский After you connect the power and hear the sound signal, the LCD display shows the word ‘English’ together with the version number of the chess program: To select the English language, confirm by pressing a GREEN button.
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If the computer is connected to a PC or laptop via a USB cable, you can now perform operations such as loading or saving games. For this, see the ‘Expert’ user manual on the Millennium website. If instead you press the GREEN button, the computer switches off.
In normal (i.e. ‘classical’) chess, this simple procedure for castling is always recommended. ‘Chess960’, an alternative method is sometimes necessary. For this, see the ‘Expert’ user manual on the Millennium website. The computer’s move To announce the computer’s move, the red LEDs on the chessboard ‘blink’, indicating the ‘from’ and ‘to’...
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Retracting and replaying moves 3.5.1 Retracting moves If you want to take back the last move played, you may press the clockwise arrow button . The red LEDs on the chessboard, and the prompts in the bottom line of the screen, direct you to move the piece back. For example: The white bishop must be returned from h4 to g5.
Instead, a press on RED would cancel the ‘new game’ command and leave the position unaltered. For an explanation of ‘Chess960’ (also known as ‘Fischer Random Chess’), and how to play it with the computer, see the Millennium website: http://www.computerchess.com/. 4 The info screens Switching between info screens In ‘Comfort’...
Info screen: Game score This screen shows the most recent moves, for example: German: English: The number +0.27 is the computer’s evaluation of the position: The King believes it has a small advantage, worth 0.27 of a pawn. Further examples of what may appear in this place on the screen are: -1.89 The computer has a disadvantage nearly equivalent to 2 pawns.
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Menu: Comfort levels If you select this item, The King offers you a choice of 4 levels of playing strength: German: English: Here, the * shows that the computer is currently set to play on level A2. By means of the ñ/ò buttons, any line on the screen can be ‘highlighted’.
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Using ï or ð you can choose between ‘Comfort’ and ‘Expert’. Choosing ‘Expert’ will display a menu of 12 functions and place the computer in ‘Expert’ mode. For this, see the full-length instructions obtainable from the Millennium website: http://www.computerchess.com/. 5.4.4 Options: Language There is a choice of 7 different languages for the screen messages.
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The screen shows: the computer’s assessment of the position before your move (compare Section 4.3); • its own possible reply; • its assessment of the position following that reply. • In this example, the position was previously rated as equal, but The King can now deliver checkmate in two moves.
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‘classical’ chess. They can be on any squares from which castling is possible in ‘Chess960’. For this, see the ‘Expert’ user manual on the Millennium website. When the pieces are in place and any changes to the properties are complete, press GREEN to confirm the new position.
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Note (2): en passant The first move from the position you have constructed cannot be a capture . To create a position where such a move is possible, set up the immediately preceding position, then carry out the move that allows the capture. Menu: Verify The ‘Verify’...
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