AtariAge Logo LYNX
  Have You Played Atari Today? 2600|5200|7800|Lynx|Jaguar|Forums|Store  
Title:

System:

Region:

Fidelity Ultimate Chess Challenge - Telegames - Atari Lynx    Manual Scan icon HTML Manual   

Copyright c 1991, Telegames, Inc. All rights reserved.

Introduction

Congratulations! You have just purchased the most powerful portable 
chess game available. The Ultimate Chess Challenge is based upon 
the proven chess-playing technology from the laboratories of Fidelity 
Electronics - the premier manufacturers of dedicated chess computers 
and the developers of the only United States Chess Federation Master 
rated (2325) program. With 17 skill levels, multi-player capability,
and selectable 2-D or 3-D modes, you have purchased a product that 
will challenge even the most serious chess players.

We know that The Fidelity Ultimate Chess Challenge will provide you 
with many hours of enjoyment.


Getting Started

The Fidelity Ultimate Chess Challenge is a multi-level strategy game 
for one or two players.

1. With your Lynx system off, insert the game card as described In 
the Lynx Owner's Manual.

2. Press ON. The Telegames and Fidelity Ultimate Chess Challenge 
opening screens appear, followed by the Game Setup display. Press 
A or B at any time to skip the introductory screens.

Note: To press a button, press and release the button quickly. To 
hold down a button, hold the button down for at least one second.


Special Note!

Most Lynx products contain a standard feature that causes the game 
to turn iself off if left unattended after 5 minutes on batteries,
and after 1 hour on the AC power supply.

Since chess is an intricate game, requiring many minutes of deliberation 
between moves, it was decided that this feature could interfere wth 
advanced levels of play and n was therefore removed.

Please remember, your Lynx will not tum itself off if left unattended!


Optional Game Controls

To enhance play, the following optional game controls allow you to 
modify the display, and pause and restart the game:

To flip the screen 180 degrees and reverse the controls, press 
OPTION 2 and PAUSE at the same time.

To pause the game, press PAUSE. An animated "PAUSED" message is 
displayed when pause mode is active. Repeat to resume play.

To start a new game, press OPTION 1 and PAUSE. Restart causes the 
game to return to the Game Setup display wth the most recently 
selected options still intact. If you exit the Game Setup display 
without making any changes, you will be starting a game with the 
same configuration as the previous game.


Playing the Game

The Fidelity Ultimate Chess Challenge is divided into three sections,
the Game Setup display, the Game Board display, and the Statistics 
display.


Game Setup

The Game Setup display indicates the current game settings and alows 
you to modify these settings.

Each game parameter is represented in this display by either a textual 
representation, or a graphic representation or "icon".

Parameters having either an "on" or "off" setting have that setting 
indicated by the presence or lack of a European style "no" symbol 
superimposed over the icon.

To change a parameter, use the joystick to move the pointer over 
the symbol for the parameter to be changed and press either A or B.


Game parameters include:

Name

Player names appear at the top of the Game Setup display with the 
silver player's name at left and the gold player's name at right.

To change a player's name, position the pointer over the name to 
be changed and press either A or B. This will cause the name entry 
screen to appear.

The name entry screen provides you with a matrix including the alphabet 
as well as a "space" character and a symbol representing the

backspace capability. Use the joystick to select a letter in the 
matrix and press either A or B to add that letter to the name.

When you have finished entering the name press OPTION 2 to return 
to the Game Setup display.

If you elect to not enter a name for a color, human players names 
will default to "PLAYER" and the computer's name will default to 
"MASTER"


Color

Players' color may be changed using the color icon which is a two-
colored double ended arrow icon lying between the player names.

Since Silver always moves first, you may wish to change colors before 
starting a game so that the computer makes the first move.

If, during a game, you decide that you would like to changes sides 
with the computer or your opponent, you may do so by using this icon.

You may also use this capability to make the computer play against 
itself by changing colors each time the computer completes a move.

To change player colors, position the pointer over the color icon 
and press either A or B.


Number of Players

The number of players is Indicated by an icon in the form of one 
or two 3-D style king pieces located at the left center of the display. 
One king indicates that the player is playing against the computer. 
Two kings indicates that both players are human.

You may change the number of players before beginning a game or at 
any time during a game. This allows you to have the computer take 
over for a player or vice-versa.

To change the number of players, position the pointer over the number 
of players icon and press either A or B.


Mode of Play

Mode of play controls the way in which the computer will behave if 
it is playing. This parameter has no effect if both players are human.

The mode of play is indicated by a textual description located near 
the center of the display. There are three possible modes of play:

Time 
Depth 
Infinite 
You may change the mode of play before beginning a game or at any 
time during a game.

To change the mode of play, position the pointer over the Mode text 
and press either A or B.


TIME MODE

Time mode means that the computer is unrestricted in search depth 
(ply) when looking for it's next move, and that the move will be 
executed based on an average elapsed time. There are eight levels 
of time mode with TIME 1 having the shortest average elapsed time 
per move, therefore being the easiest TIME level.


DEPTH MODE

Depth mode means that the computer is restricted in search depth 
to the number of ply specified when looking for it's next move, but 
is unrestricted in the time it takes to fully search that ply level. 
This means that the computer will not execute a move until it has 
finished it's search at the specified depth. There are eight levels 
of depth mode with DEPTH 1 searching only 1 ply, and DEPTH 8 searching 
to 8 plies. DEPTH 1 is the easiest of the DEPTH modes.


INFINITE MODE

Infinite mode means that the computer is unrestricted in both search 
depth and time. In this mode, the computer will try to completely 
solve the game on each move.


Level of Play

Level of play further qualifies the Mode of Play selected. As in the
Mode of Play, this parameter has no effect if both players are human.

For a description of how the level applies to the mode selected, 
see the Mode of Play section.

The level of play is indicated by a number displayed immediately 
to the right of the Mode of Play text. Since there is only one level 
of play in infinite mode, no number is displayed in that mode.

You may change the level of play before beginning a game or at any 
time during a game.

To change the level of play, position the pointer over the Level 
number and press either A or B.


Display Mode

The Game Board can appear in either a three dimensional "perspective 
view" mode, or a two dimensional "looking-down view" mode. The Display 
Mode is indicated by an icon in the form of the game board as it 
appears in the selected mode. This icon is located at the right center 
of the display.

You may change the Display Mode before beginning a game or at any 
time during a game.

To change the Display Mode, position the pointer over the Display 
Mode icon and press either A or B.

You may also change the Display Mode during a game without having 
to leave the Game Board display. To do this, simply hold the OPTION 
1 and OPTION 2 buttons down simultaneously. The display will change 
modes before your eyes.


Board Rotation

A two-player game session can be configured so that the board rotates 
180 degrees after each move. This is especially desirable in the 
three dimensional display mode where the player views the board with 
their home row closest to them.

By default, Board Rotation is enabled when the Game Board is configured 
for a three dimensional view and is disabled when the Game Board 
is configured for a two-dimensional view.

Board Rotation is not available for one player games.

Board Rotation is represented by an icon in the form of two arrows 
located at the bottom left of the display.

You may enable or disable Board Rotation before beginning a game 
or at any time during a game.

To enable or disable Board Rotation, position the pointer over the 
Board Rotation icon and press either A or B.


Sound

Sounds can be enabled or disabled. Sounds are enabled by default.

Sound status is represented by an icon in the form of a speaker located 
to the right of the Board Rotation icon at the bottom of the display.

You may enable or disable Sound before beginning a game or at any 
time during a game.

To enable or disable Sound, position the pointer over the Board Rotation 
icon and press either A or B.


Move Timer

A timer displaying the elapsed time for the current move is displayed 
by default. This timer can be disabled.

Move Timer status is represented by an icon in the form of a clock 
located to the right of the Sound icon at the bottom of the display.

You may enable or disable the Move Timer before beginning a game 
or at any time during a game.

To enable or disable the Move Timer, position the pointer over the 
Move Timer icon and press either A or B.


Messages

During the course of a game session, Messages are displayed indicating 
important events like "Check" and "Checkmate". These Messages can 
be disabled.

Message status is represented by an icon in the form of a message 
box located at the bottom right of the Game Setup display.

You may enable or disable Messages before beginning a game or at 
any time during a game.

To enable or disable Messages, position the pointer over the Messages 
icon and press either A or B.


Exiting Game Setup

When you have completed your configuration of the current game session,
you may exit to either the Game Board display or to the Statistics display.

Exiting the Game Setup display to the Game Board display will effectively 
start a new game session if no moves have been made in the current 
session, or resume the current session if a game is in progress. 
To do this, press the OPTION 2 key.

To exit the Game Setup display to the Statistics display, press the 
OPTION 1 key.


Game Board

The Game Board display shows the game board and pieces, and is the 
display where the game Is actually played.


Move Entry

When the computer is waiting for a move to be entered either one 
of the board squares will be highlighted to a green color or an arrow 
will appear off the board. Move the Joystick to see how you may change 
the position of the highlighted square or arrow, This mechanism gives 
you the ability to "point" at any location on the chess board.

Also when the computer is waiting for a move, the computer provides 
visual cues to indicate whose turn it currently is. On the three 
dimensional board disolay, the move timer's color will match the 
color of the player's name whose turn it currently is. On the two 
dimensional display, only the name of the player whose turn It currently 
is, and the move timer are displayed. To begin entering a move, position 
the green square under the piece you wish to move and press A. If 
you have initiated a valid move, the computer will make an acceptance 
sound. If you nave attempted to initiate an invalid move the computer 
will so indicate with a sound and message.

To complete the move, position the green square on the square to 
which you want to move the selected piece and press A again. Note 
that the square under the selected piece has remained green for easy 
reference. It you have completed a valid move, the computer will 
make an acceptance sound and move the selected piece as indicated. 
If you have attempted to move the selected piece incorrectly, you 
will be notified of an "invalid move" and will have to re-select 
the piece you wish to move.


Accidental Move Entry

If you have accidentally selected a piece which you do not wish to 
move, or if you wish to select another chess piece, pressing B while 
a piece is selected will cause that piece to be released. Then you 
may begin move entry again by selecting another piece.

If you have flnished entering a move and wish to withdraw it you 
may do so. In the case of a one player game, at the completion of 
your last move, the computer will have accepted your move and will 
be considering it's countermove. In this case, wait for the computer 
to complete it's move and then indicate that you wish to Take Back 
your move. Both the computer's last move and your last move will 
be withdrawn. In the case of a two player game, simply pressing Take 
Back before the other player begins their move will cause your move 
to be withdrawn. See the Take Back section for more information on 
this function.


Special Moves

En Passant

The computer will capture a pawn "en passant" whenever it determines 
that such a move is desirable, and it will also recognize when you 
choose to move "en passant". 


Castling

The computer will castle whenever it determines that such a move 
is desirable, and it will also recognize when you choose to "castle". 
You may castle by moving your King two squares toward the Rook. The 
Rook will be moved automatically.


Promotion

As in a normal game of chess, when a pawn reaches the eighth rank,
it may be promoted to a higher-valued piece, usually a queen.

Once you have moved a pawn to the eighth rank, a window will appear 
in the middle of the screen with a queen displayed within it. You 
may change the piece within the window by using the joystick. Use 
the joystick to select which type of piece to which you wish to promote 
your pawn anci press A. The promoted piece will then appear on the 
game board.

If one of the computer's pawns reaches the eighth rank the computer 
will evaluate it's present position and will promote the pawn to 
the piece it feels will be of most value.


Check

Any time there is a check situation on the board the computer will 
announce it with both sound and a message. Any time a mating move 
is entered, the computer will also announce this with both sound 
and a message.


Mate and Draw

The following sections discuss the ways in which a game may be concluded. 
Once the conclusion of a game has been announced, the game is over 
and cannot be continued. You may, however, view the Statistics display 
to assess your play and study your game.


Checkmate

Any time a mating move is entered, the computer will announce this 
with both sound and a message.


Draw by Stalemate

A game is drawn by stalemate if the player whose turn it is to move 
has no legal moves, but his king is not in check. The computer detects 
this draw and announces it as a stalemate with both sound and a message.


Draw by Fifty Move Rule

If fifty consecutive moves have been played in a game without either 
side having moved a pawn or captured a piece, a fifty move draw may 
be claimed by the side whose turn it is. The computer will detect 
this draw and announces it with both sound and a message.


Draw by Third Repetition

If the same position occurs three times in a game of chess where 
the same side has the move each time, the game is drawn by repetition 
of position. The computer will detect this draw and announces it 
with both sound and a message.


Take Back

The Take Back function allows you to take back any move you make 
or any move made by the computer. The computer will allow you to 
take back up to 200 half-moves (100 moves per player) in a single game.

To take back a move, press the A and B buttons simultaneously.

In the case of a one player game, both your last move and the computer's 
counter move will be withdrawn. In the case of a two player game,
your move will be withdrawn.

The Take Back function is only available during a human player's turn.


Force Move

You may, at any time the computer is minking, force it to stop considering 
it's next move and make it's best calculated move at that point.

To force the computer to move, hold the A button down while the computer 
is thinking. It may take up to a second, but the computer will make a
sound to indicate that it accepts the force reauest and will make it's move.


Hint

If it is your turn and you would like the computer to suggest a move,
you may reguest a hint. The computer may or may not elect to provide one.

If the computer elects to suggest a move, it will indicate it's suggested 
move by making a sound and repeatedly flashing the "from" and "to" 
positions for the hint.

To obtain a hint from the computer, press B while no move entry is 
in progress (no piece has been selected).

Hints are not available in two player games.


Board Display Mode

The Game Board can appear in either a three dimensional "perspective 
view" mode, or a two dimensional "looking-down view" mode. You may 
change the Display Mode during a game without having to leave the 
Game Board display.

To change Board Display modes, simply hold the OPTION 1 and OPTION 
2 buttons down simultaneously. It may take up to a second, but the 
display will change modes before your eyes.

Board Display mode can only be changed during a human player's turn.


Problem Setup

While this program does not have a direct problem setup capability,
it is possible to setup and solve problems using combinations of 
the various configurations available.

You can set up a problem on the board by specifying a two player 
game and moving pieces from both sides to their desired position. 
You can then switch back to the Setup display and instruct the computer 
as to which color it should play from that point. Or, if you wish 
the computer to play both sides, you can both this with successive 
change color commands.


Exiting Game Board

At any point before, during or after a game, you may elect to leave 
the Game Board display to change the game configuration using the 
Game Setup display or to view game status using the Statistics display. 
This may be done without disturbing the status of the game in progress. 
However, you cannot leave the Game Board display if the computer 
is thinking.

To exit the Game Board display to the Statistics display, press the 
OPTION 1 key.

To exit the Game Board display to the Game Setup display, press the 
OPTION 2 key.


Statistics

The Statistics display is an informative display showing, in a columnar 
format, each player's name, total elapsed time, score and move history 
for the current game.


Scoring

A score is kept for each player throughout a game and is displayed 
below that player's elapsed game time.

A positive score indicates that the player currently enjoys an advantage 
while a negative score indicates that the player is at a disadvantage.

Scores are calculated based on the following piece values:

Pawn     100 points
Knight   300 points
Bishop   350 points
Rook     500 points
Queen    900 points


Move History

A history is kept of all moves made in the current game. Each player's 
move history is displayed in a scrollable column below that player's 
score. The number of a particular move is displayed in a column between 
the two players' move histories.

Moves are displayed using Standard or Coordinate notation. Each square 
on the chess board is designated, in accordance with international 
chess notation, by a letter of the alphabet designating the vertical 
columns (files) and a number designating the horizontal rows (ranks). 
Thus at the beninning ot the game the white king in on square E1 
and the black king is on square E8.

You may scroll through the entire move history of the game by using 
the joystick to move the list up and down.


Exiting Statistics

When you have finished viewing the current game statistics, you may 
elect to leave the statistics display to change the game configuration 
using the Game Setup display, or to resume the current game on the 
Game Board display.

To exit the Statistics display to the Game Board display, press the 
OPTION 1 key.

To exit the Statistics display to the Game Setup display, press the 
OPTION 2 key.

    Video Game Advantage WWW manual archive -- http://www.io.com/~vga2000