VIDEO CHESS

Game variation #1 moves for quick checkmate:
E2 to E4
computer E7 to E5
D1 to H5
computer  B8 to C6
G1 to H3
computer D7 to D5
H3 to G5
computer D5 to E4 (takes pawn)
H5 to F7 (takes pawn and checkmate)

BUG: According to the manual, sometimes the computer will not let you use “en passant” to move out of check.  If this happens, you have to go into the set-up mode to correct it.  Also, if after setting up a chess problem, you initial move is to “castle”, the computer may not accept it as a legal move.

BUG: If you checkmate the computer, the game doesn’t actually “end”.  Instead, you’ll hear a buzzing sound, and you’ll be able to take the king and keep playing!  {John Soper}   If you manage to promote a pawn afterwards, it may become the computer's (Queen) piece!  {Scott Stilphen}

BUG: The prototype, Computer Chess, has a serious glitch.  Most of the time, the AI (playing white) will begin by moving its king’s pawn forward 2 spaces.  Threaten this position by moving your queen’s pawn down two.  The AI will defend its pawn position by moving its queen’s knight.  If you then move your king’s bishop pawn to threaten the pawn from the opposite side, it responds by taking this one.  The bug is that the victorious pawn becomes yours! (see photo)

RUMOR: In the October 1982 issue of Electronic Games (pg. 39), Bill Heineman claims the game cheats on game 6 and 7 and will move both its pieces and the players if left idle long enough.  In the July/August 1983 issue of Atari Age (pg. 23), Salim Bhaloo writes in to describe the same glitch, and the editor confirmed it.  However, nobody else has been able to confirm this bug since then.  What happens is, when the computer stops thinking and the board returns, the color-cycling routine will be running and some pieces can become invisible, and it appears board positions have changed.  As soon as you move the controller, they all reappear.

 

 


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