Saitek Alchemist Quick Start Manual - page 6
6
3.2 Fun Levels
Selection of any of the squares from A1 to A8 will give
you the fun levels. In this range the computer does not make
an exhaustive search for the best available move. It
disregards scores, and in addition the program makes use of
randomizers which cause the computer to occasionally make
a move that is not the best of those it has found. This
introduces an interesting variability in the computer’s
responses, and sometimes it will seem to make quite human
errors of judgement. A1 is the lowest skill level, and A8 is
somewhat higher.
3.3 Casual Levels
When casual levels are selected, you are controlling the
skill level of the computer by limiting the average amount of
time it has to select its move. As the skill level is increased,
the computer will think ahead progressively more deeply, and
as a consequence, play a more skillful game.
When one of these levels is selected from the B or C files
of squares, the display will alternate every second between
the level selection and the average response line of the
computer. Your choice is shown below:
Chessboard Square
Time per Move
Display
B1 .................... 1 sec ..........
L:B1
/
00:01
B2 .................... 2 sec ..........
L:B2
/
00:02
B3 .................... 3 sec ..........
L:B3
/
00:03
B4 .................... 5 sec ..........
L:B4
/
00:05
B5 ................... 10 sec .........
L:B5
/
00:10
B6 ................... 15 sec .........
L:B6
/
00:15
B7 ................... 20 sec .........
L:B7
/
00:20
B8 ................... 30 sec .........
L:B8
/
00:30
C1 ................... 45 sec .........
L:c1
/
00:45
C2 .................... 1 min ..........
L:c2
/
01:00
C3 .................... 2 min ..........
L:c3
/
02:00
C4 .................... 3 min ..........
L:c4
/
03:00
C5 .................... 4 min ..........
L:c5
/
04:00
C6 .................... 5 min ..........
L:c6
/
05:00
C7 ................... 10 min .........
L:c7
/
10:00
C8 ................... 15 min .........
L:c8
/
15:00
3.4 Blitz Levels
The levels in the D file of squares are the Blitz levels. If
you wish to play speed chess, or “instant death”, you can
select from a range of times which are allowed for the game
to be completed. You may choose between a 5 minute
“pressure cooker” of a game to a more relaxed 1
1
/
2
hours.
When you select one of these squares, the display will
alternate every second between the name of the square you
have selected, and the corresponding time limit for the game.
Chessboard Square
Time per Move
Display
D1 .................... 5 min ..........
L:D1
/
05:00
D2 ................... 10 min .........
L:D2
/
10:00
D3 ................... 15 min .........
L:D3
/
15:00
D4 ................... 25 min .........
L:
D4
/
25:00
D5 ................... 30 min .........
L:D5
/
30:00
D6 ................... 45 min .........
L:D6
/
45:00
D7 ................... 60 min ..........
L:D7
/
1:00
D8 ................... 90 min ..........
L:D8
/
1:30
3.5 Bronstein Levels
By selecting a square from E1 to E4 on the chess board,
you can select a time limit for the game following the
Bronstein system. A basic time is selected for the game, and
an increment of a few seconds is then added to that time
every time a move is made. The increment is either the free
time shown in the table below, or the actual time taken to
move, whichever is shorter. Your choice is shown in the
table. When you choose one of these levels, the display
cycles through three different pieces of information, each of
which is shown for 1 second. For example, if you chose E2
you would see:
• The selected square
L:E2
and then ....
• The base time in minutes
10:00
and then ....
• The free time in seconds
00:05
Chessboard
Time for
Free Time
Display
Square
Game
per Move
E1 .......... 5 min ........ 3 sec ....
L:E1
/
05:00
/
00:03
E2 ......... 10 min ....... 5 sec ....
L:E2
/
10:00
/
00:05
E3 ......... 15 min ...... 10 sec ...
L:E3
/
15:00
/
00:10
E4 ......... 20 min ...... 10 sec ...
L:E4
/
20:00
/
00:10
3.6 Bonus Timer Levels
Selection of a square in the range E5 to E8 gives the
Bonus Timer Levels. This is similar to the Bronstein Levels,
except that the time increment is always 2 seconds, and it is
added to the time before the move is made.
Chessboard
Time for
Free Time
Display
Square
Game
per Move
E5 .......... 3 min ........ 2 sec ....
L:E5
/
03:00
/
00:02
E6 ......... 10 min ....... 2 sec ....
L:E6
/
10:00
/
00:02
E7 ......... 20 min ....... 2 sec ....
L:E7
/
20:00
/
00:02
E8 ......... 50 min ....... 2 sec ....
L:E8
/
50:00
/
00:02
3.7 Tournament Levels
The file of F squares provides 8 tournament levels. When
one of these is selected, you and the computer are each
required to make a prescribed number of moves within a
given amount of time. For example, if you select F3 you will
be required to make 40 moves within 2 hours under the
Primary Time Control. If the game is not finished within that
time, the Secondary Time Control period will begin, and you
will be required to make 20 moves within 1 hour. And if this
secondary period does not produce a result, it is repeated
until a conclusion is reached.
In accordance with tournament regulations, any time
remaining at completion of the moves of the Primary Time
Control is carried forward and added to the time allowed for
the Secondary Time Control. For example, if you selected
level F3 and completed the first 40 moves in just one hour,
you would be allowed 2 hours for the next 20 moves. Surplus
time, if there is any, is carried forward and accumulated in
this way throughout the game.
When you select one of these tournament levels, the
display will cycle through three items of information, each of
which shows for a second. For example, if square F4 is
selected, the display will show:
• The selected square
L:F4
and then ....
• The number of moves
in the Primary Time Control
40
and then ....
• The duration of the Primary
Time Control
2:00
Chess
Primary
Secondary
board
Time Control
Time Control
Display
Square
Moves
Time
Moves
Time
F1
30
30 min
30
30 min
L:F1
/
30
/
0:30
F2
30
1 h r
remain
1 hr
L:F2
/
30 min
30
/
1:30
F3
40
2 hr
20
1 hr
L:F3
/
40
/
2:00
F4
40
2 hr
remain
1 hr
L:F4
/
40
/
2:00
F5
40
2 hr
16
1 hr
L:F5
/
30min
40
/
2:30
F6
45
1 hr
15
30 min
L:F6
/
30 min
45
/
1:30
F7
50
2 hr
20
1 hr
L:F7
/
30 min
50
/
2:30
F8
60
1 hr
30
30 min
L:F8
/
60
/
1:00
3.8 Fixed Depth Levels
The fixed depth levels in file G limit the skill of the
computer, not by the time to search for its next play, but by