Special Modes To Explore; Verify Mode; Non Auto Mode; Teach Mode - Saitek Mephisto Chess Trainer Mode D'emploi

IT'S EASY TO VERIFY PIECES!
1. Press NEW GAME and set up the pieces in the
NEW GAME
initial starting position.
2. Press ROOK.
Display: White Rook on Square A1.
3. Press ROOK again.
Display: White Rook on Square H1.
4. Press ROOK again.
Display: Black Rook on Square A8.
5. Press ROOK again.
Display: Black Rook on Square H8.
6. Press ROOK again. Display: No more
Rooks. Repeat for any other piece! To
continue, make the next move.
F2 ............ 10 seconds ............. L:F2 / 00:10
F3 ............ 11 seconds ............. L:F3 / 00:11
F4 ............ 12 seconds ............. L:F4 / 00:12
F5 ............ 13 seconds ............. L:F5 / 00:13
F6 ............ 14 seconds ............. L:F6 / 00:14
F7 ............ 15 seconds ............. L:F7 / 00:15
F8 ............ 16 seconds ............. L:F8 / 00:16
-------------------------------------------------------------
G1 ............ 20 seconds ............. L:G1 / 00:20
G2 ............ 25 seconds ............. L:G2 / 00:25
G3 ............ 30 seconds ............. L:G3 / 00:30
G4 ............ 35 seconds ............. L:G4 / 00:35
G5 ............ 40 seconds ............. L:G5 / 00:40
G6 ............ 45 seconds ............. L:G6 / 00:45
G7 ............ 50 seconds ............. L:G7 / 00:50
G8 ............ 55 seconds ............. L:G8 / 00:55
-------------------------------------------------------------
H1 .............. 1 minute ................ L:H1 / 01:00
H2 .............. 2 minutes .............. L:H2 / 02:00
H3 .............. 3 minutes .............. L:H3 / 03:00
H4 .............. 4 minutes .............. L:H4 / 04:00
H5 .............. 5 minutes .............. L:H5 / 05:00
H6 .............. 6 minutes .............. L:H6 / 06:00
H7 ............ 10 minutes .............. L:H7 / 10:00
H8 ............ 15 minutes .............. L:H8 / 15:00
The Casual Levels allow you to control the computer's
strength by limiting the time it has to think for each move.
When you choose one of these levels, you are selecting the
computer's response time per move. As the levels go up, the
computer becomes stronger—and the more time you give
the computer, the better it will play!
Note that in the opening and endgame, the computer
tends to play faster.

4. SPECIAL MODES TO EXPLORE

4.1 Verify Mode

See "IT'S EASY TO VERIFY PIECES!" for a step-by-
step example of using Verify Mode.
If you should knock over the chess pieces or if you think
your board position may be incorrect, the computer can
verify all the piece locations for you!
When it's your turn, press one of the PIECE SYMBOL
KEYS. The computer will show the symbol for that piece,
along with the square location of the first piece of that type.
Press that same PIECE SYMBOL KEY repeatedly to see the
board locations of all pieces of that same type. All the White
pieces ([) are shown first, and then all the Black pieces (]).
When there are no more pieces of that type, the computer
will sound a double beep and show two dashes, along with
the piece symbol and the symbol for White. When there are
For more details, see Section 4.1.
SELECTING A TEACH MODE GAME!
Here, we'll choose to study Bishops and Rooks. Remember
that Kings and Pawns are always on the board.
1. Press TEACH MODE.

TEACH MODE

2. Press BISHOP. Bishops added.
3. Press ROOK. Rooks added.
4. Press TEACH MODE again. The computer resets
TEACH MODE
for a new game, with only Kings, Pawns, Bishops,
and Rooks on the board—be sure to set up only
those pieces!
no more Bishops on the board, for example, you'll see :__
displayed, along with [ and #. The computer will then return
to your previous game display.
To verify other pieces, repeat the same steps using the
other PIECE SYMBOL KEYS. When you're finished, simply
make your next move.
Note that the computer will exit Verify Mode automatically
if no keypresses are made for about five seconds.

4.2 Non Auto Mode

Normally, the computer automatically answers with a
countermove whenever you enter a move. If you press NON
AUTO to enter Non Auto Mode, however, you can enter any
number of moves one by one, without allowing the computer
to answer!
Since you won't be playing against Alec in this mode,
he'll disappear as soon as you press NON AUTO! Don't
worry, though—when you return to normal play, Little
Alec will be back!
This feature can be used in a number of ways:
• Play through master chess games. Press PLAY to see
what the computer would do in any position!
• Study opening book lines by entering them manually.
• Replay to any board position for further study.
• Play chess against a friend, with the computer acting as
referee. It will monitor your game, checking all moves for
legality and keeping track of the time for both sides! If
you should need help with a move, press PLAY and the
computer will make the next move for your side. After the
computer has moved, Non Auto Mode remains in effect,
and you can continue your game!
To exit Non Auto Mode and return to normal game play at
any time, press NON AUTO again. A double beep will verify
that this mode has been cancelled, and Alec will reappear in
the display! Note that Non Auto Mode is also automatically
cancelled whenever you press NEW GAME.
4.3 Teach Mode
See "SELECTING A TEACH MODE GAME!" for an
illustrated look at trying out Teach Mode!
Your computer offers 11 Teach Modes, which allow you to
study basic moves and master the tactics of the individual
chess pieces, one by one! For each Teach Mode game, the
only pieces on the board will be Kings, Pawns, and your
choice of one or two selected piece types. This allows begin-
ners to concentrate on one or two pieces at a time, without
losing focus and being distracted by other pieces on the
board! More developed players can use the Teach Modes to
practice using selected combinations.
7
On the board: Kings, Pawns, Bishops.
On the board: Kings, Pawns, Bishops,
Rooks.
For more details, see Section 4.3.