Excalibur 404 User Manual

Touch Chess
Operating Manual
Model 404
Congratulations on your purchase of
Excalibur Electronics’ Touch Chess!
You’ve purchased both your own person-
al chess trainer and a partner who’s
always ready for a game—and who can
improve as you do!
Install the Batteries
If your unit has a Pull Tab, simply pull the
tab. You may discard the tab once it has
been pulled out. If there is no Pull Tab, or
to replace batteries, the procedure is as
follows: Using a small Phillips screw-
driver, remove the battery-compartment
panel screws on the back of Touch Chess.
Then remove the panel by pulling gently
from the top. Install three fresh AG13
batteries, making sure to follow the dia-
gram in each battery slot so that the polar-
ity (+ or -) of the batteries is correct.
Play a Game Right Away
After you have installed the batteries, the
display will show the chess board with all
the pieces on their starting squares. The
LCD will also show . This
indicates you are at the first move of the
game and ready to play chess.
Adjust the display contrast for best
viewing. The contrast control is on the
bottom of the unit.
Touch Chess gives you the W h i t e
pieces—the ones at the bottom of the
board. White always moves first.
The way you select and make your move
is very simple. Think of communicating
your move as a two-step process—regis-
tering the from square and then register-
ing the to square of the move you wish to
make.
Using the supplied stylus (plastic pen),
press down gently on the center of the
square for the piece or pawn you wish to
move. You’ll hear a beep and the piece or
pawn will flash. If you hear an error buzz,
and the piece does not flash, then that
piece cannot legally move anywhere. If
you change your mind and want to move
a different piece, simply press the from
square again to cancel it.
Now gently press on the center of the
square you want to move it to.You’ll hear
a beep letting you know your move has
been registered.
After you make your move, Touch Chess
will reply with its move automatically.
You’ll see the piece flash on its from
square and move to its to square. During
the game, the display shows the move
number and the elapsed time for each
move.

Excalibur 404 Specifications

General

Brand	Excalibur
Model	404
Category	Game Console
Language	English

Summary

Introduction and Basic Operation

Install the Batteries

Step-by-step instructions for inserting AG13 batteries into the unit.

Getting Started with Play

How the board appears after battery installation and initial move registration.

Understanding the Device Interface

Special Touch Areas

Interactive zones above the chessboard for specific functions like Threat, Color, Score, and Clock.

Function Key Categories

Overview of primary and secondary functions accessed via the device's keys.

Advanced Features and Game Modes

Key Functions and Options

Details on SETUP, START, RATING, HELP, INFO, SLEEP, and sound options.

Game Play Enhancements

Features like playing Black, draw/game-ending messages, screen symbols, level settings, and auto play.

Opening Training

Using the Book Opening Trainer to learn popular chess openings.

Game Selections and Customization

Great Games Library

Accessing and playing through 16 famous historical chess games.

Custom Position Setup

Setting up custom or user-invented chess openings and positions.

Device Management and Chess Fundamentals

Using Setup Mode

Modifying board positions, adding/removing pieces, or changing piece types.

Troubleshooting and Chess Rules

Recovery from lock-ups and fundamental rules of chess.

Chess Strategy and Maintenance

Individual Piece Movement

Detailed explanation of how each chess piece moves.

Special Moves and Tips

Explanations of castling, en passant, pawn promotion, and general chess strategy tips.

Care and Warranty Information

Special Care and Battery Handling

Guidelines for handling, cleaning, and battery usage for optimal performance.

Product Warranty and Service

Details on product warranty coverage, limitations, and service procedures.