MILLENNIUM M815 Chess Computer For Ambitious Players User Guide
- June 15, 2024
- Millennium
Table of Contents
MILLENNIUM M815 Chess Computer For Ambitious Players
Product Informatio
M815 Chess Genius Pro
Specifications :
- Model: M815 Chess Genius Pro
- Power Source: 4 AA batteries (R6/LR6)
- Display: LCD (liquid crystal display)
- Languages: 14 available
Product Usage Instructions
Inserting batteries & starting the computer the first time
To insert the batteries:
- Place the device upside-down on a flat surface.
- Locate the battery compartment on the underside of the device.
- Slide the lid of the battery compartment in the direction of the arrow to open it.
- Insert four AA batteries (R6/LR6) into the compartment, ensuring the correct polarity.
- Close the battery compartment.
To start the computer:
- Make sure that the computer’s ON/OFF switch is set to ON.
- The computer will start automatically.
Choose the language for the screen text
To choose the language
- Ensure that the batteries are correctly inserted.
- The computer will give a characteristic sound signal and display a list of languages.
- Use the or button to highlight each language in turn.
- Press the RED or GREEN button to select the desired language.
If the language list fails to appear, execute a Reset of the Computer:
- Hold down the RED button.
- Insert a thin object (e.g. paper clip) into the opening marked RESET on the underside of the unit and press it once.
- Release the RED button when the language list appears.
Play a game
To play a game
- Once the language is selected, the screen will show the chessboard with the pieces in the starting position.
- Place the chess pieces (supplied with the package) on the membrane board, with White at the end next to the controls.
- Press with your piece on the squares it is moving from and to. The computer will give a click in acknowledgement.
- To castle, make the king’s move, then the rook’s move.
- For an en passant capture, move the capturing pawn, then press the square of the captured one.
- For pawn promotion:
- Carry out the pawn’s move.
- Using the / buttons, display the desired piece type.
- Press RED, GREEN, or the promotion square.
- Square shown in yellow on the LCD: You have selected this as the from square. (Re-press to cancel.)
- Square shown in red: You are prompted to press this square to carry out the computer’s move or to complete your own special move (castling etc.).
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
-
Q: How do I replace the batteries?
A: To replace the batteries, follow the instructions mentioned in section 1: “Inserting batteries & starting the computer the first time.” -
Q: How do I select a different language?
A: To select a different language, follow the instructions mentioned in section 2: “Choose the language for the screen text.” -
Q: What should I do if the display is dimmed?
A: If the display is dimmed, simply press any control button or a square on the chessboard to restore the brightness. -
Q: How do I perform pawn promotion?
A: To perform pawn promotion, follow the instructions mentioned in section 3: “Play a game.”
Instruction Manual
- This brief guide enables you to start a game with your brand-new ChessGenius computer. For a full explanation of the computer’s features, see the instruction manual which you can download from the Millennium website www.computerchess.com in the download section.
Inserting batteries & starting the computer the first time
Place the device upside-down on a flat surface. You will see the battery
compartment on the underside of the device.
- Open the battery compartment by sliding its lid in the direction of the arrow.
- Insert four AA batteries (R6/LR6) into the compartment, paying attention to the polarity: the “positive” terminal of each battery, labelled “+”, must match up with a “+” inside the battery compartment.
- Close the battery compartment.
- Make sure that the computer’s ON/OFF switch is set to ON. You will find this switch on the underside of the unit below row 8 of the chessboard, next to the input for the power adapter.
- The computer will now start automatically.
Note: if the red “low battery” symbol appears in the bottom line of the LCD (liquid crystal display), the batteries should be replaced as soon as convenient.
Choose the language for the screen text
- Once the batteries are correctly inserted, the computer gives a characteristic sound signal, and the display shows a list of languages. The first one is “highlighted” against a black background.
- By repeatedly pressing the button, you can highlight each language in turn, and bring further languages onto the display; there are 14 in all.
- When the desired language is highlighted, press the RED or GREEN button to select it.
Note: If the language list fails to appear, execute a Reset of the Computer
- Hold down the RED button.
- Insert a thin object (e.g. paper clip) into the opening marked RESET on the underside of the unit, and press with it once.
- Release the RED button when the language list appears.
If you have selected the wrong language by accident, carry out this same procedure then select the correct one.
Play a game
- Once the language is selected, the screen shows the chessboard with the pieces in the starting position.
- You can now begin a game with the computer. Place the chess pieces (supplied with the package) on the membrane board, with White at the end next to the controls. We suggest you play your first game with White.
Note: If you don’t press a control button or a square on the chessboard during an interval of 5 minutes (or 1 minute if the batteries are low), the display is “dimmed”. The next press restores the brightness.
Your move
- Press with your piece on the squares it is moving from and to. The computer gives a “click” in acknowledgement.
- To castle : make the king’s move, then the rook’s move.
- For an en passant capture: move the capturing pawn, then press the square of the captured one.
For pawn promotion:
- Carry out the pawn’s move.
- Using the buttons, display the desired piece type.
- Press RED, GREEN or the promotion square.
Square shown in yellow on the LCD: You have selected this as the “from” square. (Re-press to cancel.)
- Square shown in red: You are prompted to press this square to carry out the computer’s move or to complete your own “special” move (castling etc.).
- If you try to make an illegal move (or press any wrong square or button), you hear a low-pitched sound. Simply continue as normal.
The computer’s move
- The move is announced by a sound signal. The LCD shows the piece switching between the “from” and “to” squares, and the move appears in notation at the bottom of the display.
- To execute the move, press each square as prompted by the red highlighting. A “ping” announces check.
Symbols in the bottom line
- A smiling face indicates that you are to move. A pair of faces shows that the computer is in “Two-player” mode (see Section 7).
- A rising/falling column shows that ChessGenius is thinking about its move.
- The bar below the symbol indicates which colour moves next.
Retracting and replaying moves
- To retract a move, press the button, then move the piece back, pressing the squares indicated in red.
- You may then play a different move. Alternatively, the retracted move can be replayed by means of the button.
- By repeated use of , you may retract or replay a whole sequence.
New game
You can start a new game at any time except during some operations listed in
Section 7. Press the “NEW GAME” button . Then:
- To play with White, press GREEN.
- To play with Black, press then GREEN. Black will then be playing “up the board”.
System help messages
- At any time, for guidance on what to do next, you may press the “?” button to see a scrolling explanatory message.
Switch OFF/ON
-
The “POWER” button on the control panel places the computer in “standby” mode or switches it “on” again. In “standby” mode, ChessGenius retains the game in its memory, and after switching on you can resume play from the same point.
Note: Except while calculating a move, ChessGenius will enter “standby” mode automatically if there has been no press on a square or button in the last 10 minutes. -
If you don’t want to use the computer for a lengthy period or if you want to transport it, you can disconnect the power supply completely with the ON/OFF switch (at the back of the computer beneath row 8 of the chessboard). Place the computer in standby mode beforehand, so that your settings and your last game are saved.
Special functions – the main menu
- At any time during play when “MENU” is shown at the bottom right of the screen, a press on the GREEN button displays a menu of commands for activating the computer’s special functions.
- By repeatedly pressing , you can inspect the full list of functions and highlight each one in turn. To activate a function, highlight it and press GREEN. To return from the menu to the chessboard display, press RED.
A brief description of the functions in the main menu is given below. For full details, see the instruction manual (obtainable from www.computerchess.com).
Hint
- Asks the computer to suggest a move for you. You may accept by playing the move or reject the suggestion by playing a different one. Note that the quality of suggestions is dependent on the playing level you have set.
Move now
- If it is your turn, this command makes ChessGenius move next and “swap sides” with you. If ChessGenius is calculating its own move, the command makes it cut short its calculations and play immediately.
Back/Forward all
- Takes you back to the starting position, allowing you to replay the moves of the game with the button. If you are at the start already, this command takes you to the end position.
Next best
- Makes the computer retract its last move and play the one that it rates as next best.
2 Players/Analys
- Allows you to make moves for both White and Black. The computer will merely give its analysis of the position. To return to human-versus-computer play, select this same item again or start a normal game with the button.
Play level
- Enables you to inspect and alter the computer’s level of playing strength.
Options
- Displays a list of parameters (e.g. which side plays “up the board”, sound volume, design of pieces for the LCD…) which can be selected and regulated with the arrow buttons.
New game
- Enables you to start a new game. Offers you games against the computer with choice of colour. Also gives access to 2-player mode or “Set up” mode, for your training or analysis.
Set up position
- Places the computer in “Set up” mode, allowing you to construct a special position on the chessboard.
Save/Load
- Enables you to save a game to the computer’s memory, or to retrieve a game that was saved previously.
Uses of the control buttons (summary)
RED
Reverts to the previous LCD display. In normal playing mode, cycles round
three “info” displays:
-
clock times
-
the last few moves played
-
analysis of the position.
Confirms a position that the user has been “setting up”. -
Cancels a change of “level”.
The button’s current function is indicated at the bottom left of the LCD; “i” denotes “info”.
GREEN
Accesses the main menu.
- Selects an item from the menu or other list.
- Confirms a change of “level”.
Current function is indicated at the bottom right of the LCD.
- Starts a new game.
- Displays “help” text, stating what the user may do next.
- Regulates the “backlight” of the LCD.
- Decreases a parameter number.
Retracts a move, or:
- Alters a parameter setting.
- In “Set up” mode: cycles through the various piece types.
Replays a move that was retracted, or
- Increases a parameter number.
- Alters a parameter setting.
- In “Set up” mode: cycles through the various piece types.
Navigates the screen, stepping upwards through a list of items; allows “scrolling” to bring further items into view.
- In “Set up” mode: switches between white and black pieces.
Navigates the screen, stepping down through a list of items; allows “scrolling” to bring further items into view.
- In “analysis” display : switches between main continuation and opening name.
- In “Set up” mode : switches between white and black pieces.
- Switches the computer on, or places it in “standby” mode. On “standby”, the game in progress is retained in memory and can later be resumed.
RESET
- Located in a recess on the underside of the unit. Activated by inserting a thin object into the opening. If this is done while the RED button is held down, the computer is restored to the state in which you first acquired it.
ON/OFF
- The switch located next to the input for the power adapter, under row 8 of the chessboard. Disconnects the computer from its power source. Use this function if you travel (in this way you avoid switching on accidentally), or if you are storing the computer for a lengthy period of time.
Detailed operating instructions
- The detailed operating instructions with description of all functions can be found at www.computerchess.com.
- This user manual was carefully compiled, and its contents carefully checked for accuracy. If, despite all expectation, these instructions nevertheless contain errors, this shall not constitute grounds for any claims.
- This user manual, including excerpts thereof, may not be reproduced without prior written permission.
- Copyright © 2023, MILLENNIUM 2000 GmbH, Ottobrunn, Germany
- www.computerchess.com