My 'average club player, class B
level' chess computers
Fidelity Sensory Chess
Challenger 9 'b'
Year:
1983
Programmer: Dan
& Kathe Spracklen
CPU:
6502 @1.88Mhz
ROM:
16Kb
Elo level:
1616 (1604
FIDE)
CMhz:
1.88
Rperf:
93%
Square size: 1"
This
electronic chessboard also left a mark on the chess computers
market, offering a strong play, close to high-end ones at that time, at
affordable cost. For a while I assumed it too close to the Excellence
to look after one, but considering the later one too tough for me, the
Sensory 9 was getting somewhat attractive, and I owned no chess
computer featuring a LED per each square, this was another attractive
point for buying. What did finally trigger my decision? This vote
establishing a nice 12th ranking for the Sensory 9 among most desirable
chess computers. I am happy with this buy, considering the '9' is
actually a tough player, but I can still beat it, and it is pleasant to
use. Its design is less dreary than the Excellence one. I was a bit
lucky to discover the '9' I received (bought €40 on French 'le
bon
coin') was actually a '9b' (recognizable through its serial number
32xxxx and more surely through its answer 1.
...... b6 to 1.
h4). The '9b' features a slightly evolved software (it is reknown to
benefit from some enhancements brought with the 'Budapest' program
hosted in the Elite Auto Sensory) and a higher speed clock than first
series running at 1.6Mhz. A '9b' is usually clocked with 2Mhz...
However this
device seems to belong to very early '9b' series; its production batch
date is 1983, August 26th according to its serial number, its
model
number is incorrect (SU9 instead of SC9); and my accurate response time
tests, later refined using an emulator,
provide evidence its clock is actually 1.88Mhz.
Novag
Constellation 3.6/Quattro
Year: 1986
Programmer: Dave
Kittinger
CPU:
6502 @3.6Mhz
ROM:
16Kb
Elo level:
1645 (1626
FIDE)
CMhz:
3.6
Rperf:
92%
Square size: 0.98"
Novag
reacts to keep a place in the race for strong chess computers at
affordable price, in particular to counter the Sensory 9 success. The
Constellation is initially offered with a 2Mhz clock in 1983, then
upgraded to 3.6Mhz in 1984, and the
most advanced version will be the famous 56K Super Constellation, 4Mhz,
in 1984; a chess computer with a very high quotation. I point out the
'Super' mention in Novag range of products indicates a device with
available connection for add-ons. I bought this '3.6' at a reasonable
price (€60) to represent within my
collection the 'good
old 16K Kittinger' pre-2003, when the master still collaborated with
Novag. Unlike the Carnelian II, only 8 levels are available, on the
other hand permanent brain is active, and CPU is more than four times
as powerful. I
point out the undocumented ability to display the search depth (this
1986 example appears to run a Quattro ROM),
following the same process as with a Super Connie: next to Set Level,
push the bishop key (labelled Sound & Depth Search on the Super
Connie) before completing the level setting using Go (watch video). The depth
is
displayed using base two
numbering with the
LEDs 8 (standing for 2^0, thus
1) to 5 (standing
for 2^3, thus
8).
Update:
another one with the very same ROM reference and produced during the
same timeframe, reverse-engineered
in order to emulate the 3.6,
shows evidence it is not a modified device, but actually a Novag
produced serial. The romdump is same as a Quattro ROM's one. One can
assume Novag had to sell off a number of 3.6 casings and printed
circuit boards, while the new ROM was already produced for the Quattro;
with regards to compatibility, continuing to simultaneously produce the
former ROM would have been an economical nonsense; as well reprinting
the 3.6 casing and user's manual. And last but not least, from a
marketing standpoint, announcing a new 3.6 being a Quattro competitor
would not have made much sense. Additional features brought by
the
Quattro ROM are: the already described depth search display, 8 training
levels (fixed plies levels), and mate announcement (using 1-8
diods).
The
design is rather pleasant, especially the pieces showing a
moiré
aspect:
CXG Super
Enterprise
Year:
1986
Programmer: Kaare
Danielsen
CPU:
6301Y @8/4Mhz
ROM:
16Kb
Elo level:
1686 (1657
FIDE)
CMhz:
1.68
Rperf:
97%
KT: 1260
Square size: 1.45"
Kaare
Danielsen created a sensation the same year 1986, fighting mainframes
and experimental chess computers in the WCCC
(World Computer Chess Championship) in Cologne with his 16K program
hosted in a portable Advanced Star Chess device. He will score 1.5
points out of 5, after beating an Amdahl 5860
and drawing a
CDC Cyber 175, with his tiny 6301Y microcontroller! The 16K version is
quite more difficult to find than the 4K one, despite having been used
in several devices (thus CXG Super Entreprise and Advanced Star Chess,
but Super Crown and Sphinx Titan as well; and also the Mephisto Merlin
16K). I watched after small ads for a long time, saw some poor
condition ones, and finally bought for €38 this fine Super
Enterprise featuring a large push sensitive board. I point out two
additional queens are offered with this chessboard, a black one and a
white one, this is not quite usual. The lengthy design of the pieces,
all the same diameter at bottom, is exclusive; they are heavy weighted
and pleasant to handle. Several playing styles can be chosen
("aggressive" being the most efficient one, according to
Spacious_Mind's test); playing
level is overall strong but a bit inconsistent (blend of strong and
weaker moves).
Khmelnitsky
test: the inconsistensy is patent, especially looking at the drop in
playing level that happens between the opening phase, which is more
than mastered, and the definitely weak endgame; with a well established
middlegame in between. I point out I performed the test leveraging the
aggressive style. The outcome is far from brilliant, the Super
Enterprise achieved close to 80 KT points less than the Mirage Mephisto
modul, ranked into the preceeding category! The stronger Elo of the Super
Enterprise relies on the tactical domain (+177 KT points, compared to
the Mirage) and the strategy (+138 KT points). These generic skills
seem
to have a deciding impact on
a chess program performance! As most chess computers, the Super
Enterprise is more comfortable counterattacking, rather than attacking;
and this is very clear despite the choice I made to use the aggressive
style.
Novag Beluga
Year:
1990
Programmer: Dave
Kittinger
CPU: 6301Y @16/4Mhz
ROM: 16Kb
Elo level: 1695 (1663 FIDE)
CMhz: 3.36
Rperf: 95%
KT: 1474
Square size: 0.98"
Please
be aware chessmen shown here are not genuine parts: I bought this
computer in perfect condition, in original packaging and with user's
manual, but I received substitute chessmen, far too large and... ugly
looking. This Beluga was nevertheless advertised on "le bon
coin"
French website with a snapshot showing original chessmen... I
found too late evidence this snapshot had been copied from internet. It
is good to know Google Images lets you search an image you can upload
or locate using its URL; a precautionary measure I will now practice
before buying. Anyway I was looking for a Beluga mainly for its play
and for its cool chessboard look, and for €35 it would be
ungracious to complain. I equipped it with magnetic wooden chessmen
from a 10x10in travel chess set, they look like the ones from the Novag
Carnelian 2 and fit nicely to my opinion. The Beluga is a direct
competitor to the Mephisto Europa A: launched same year, sized and
arranged the same way, it provides a couple of plus: the chessboard
makes better use of available surface, thus being larger, moves and
thinking information are displayed on the LCD screen (in addition to
leds on coordinates), and the microcontroller is souped-up to double
speed compared to most 6301Y, that is to say 4Mhz. A flaw to point out:
the lack of rigidity of the chessboard, certainly caused by the too
flexible plastic used and unsufficient support underneath. Despite the
squares being sensitive and not requiring much pressure, the most
central squares slightly bend the chessboard when pressed, just enough
for a low-quality feeling.
Update:
I purchased a Novag Super Nova (elder brother of the Beluga, using the
same processor in the same casing, but with a 32K program) which
revealed to be defective, but at least I could re-use its chessmen to
restore the Beluga in its "original" shape:
Thanks
to its display, the Beluga can run the Khmelnitsky
test. Doing so, I noticed an interesting feature, as far as I know rather
uncommon: as soon as a new position is entered in setup mode, you can
request the score from either white or black point of view: the program
responds using less than a second, and displays a static score (or
very low depth score), mainly based on the present material (but not
only: white and black scores are not symetrical, the side on the move
has an influence on the absolute value). This enables a light check of
the correctness of the input position, e.g. a balanced position should
be scored close to zero. Fortunately, the same "Info" feature requested
after an analysis by the computer provides the full-depth score. The
skills profile is rather close to the ones of the Excellence and the
Challenge, introduced hereafter, thus we may assume a mainly brute
force approach, not using much selectivity. The Beluga gets rather well
out of the opening phase, keeps up its position during middle game,
before appreciably weakening in the endgame; where standard positions
knowledge is bitterly lacking. Despite the relatively fast clock for a
6301Y, the microcontroller does no wonder for calculations. The Beluga
is less comfortable attacking than counterattacking, but this small
unbalance, usual amongst our chess computers from the same era, is not
too much pronounced. Recognizing threats and tactics are, again as
demonstrated by many others, sterling qualities. The nice
surprise comes from the strategy domain, with a 1834 Elo points
evaluation, the highest score in this category. In this dimension, the
Beluga even overwhelms a number of 32K devices!
Mephisto
Europa A
Year:
1990
Programmer: Frans
Morsch
CPU:
6301Y @8/4Mhz
ROM:
16Kb
Elo level:
1715 (1679
FIDE)
CMhz:
1.68
Rperf:
99%
Square size: 0.86"
It
is the strongest chess computer powered by a 6301Y microcontroller
(with standard speed). Its
program derived from Nona authored by Frans Morsch does wonders with a
relative performance similar to the Excellence one. It is particularly
strong in tactics, a bit less in strategy, and reveals some weaknesses
in the endgame. This small initiation chessboard has been
largely
sold in Germany, however I found mine in France for €40. Push
sensitive squares are a bit tough, control panel keys are definitely
hard, and the overall device size is a bit small, but its low cost and
strength easily balance the drawbacks.
Tandy Chess
Champion 2150
Year:
1988
Programmer: Julio Kaplan
CPU: 65C02 @3Mhz
ROM: 64Kb
Elo level: 1758 (1711 FIDE)
CMhz: 3
Rperf: 99%
KT: 1374
Square size: 0.99"
The
interesting playing style of the Scisys Companion III made me want to
get the 'heavy' version (actually a 'B' one) of Julio Kaplan's program
(as always supported
by Craig Barnes). 72K announced size for memory (including 8K RAM), a 3
Mhz 6502, a 100,000 half-moves opening book... It is the big brother of
the former one, equipped with an advanced display able to show a number
of data (preferred move, search depth, position evaluation) in addition
to displaying the full chessboard. I pondered a while whether to buy
the Scisys Turbo King, featuring the same (or close to) program, but
the quotation is a lot higher for this one (I bought the CC2150
€60), the speed is still faster using a 5Mhz 6502 (too strong
for
me...) and I was keen to enter a Tandy
(Radio-Shack) device in my collection, with a nostalgic regard to my
old TRS-80.
Regarding
seven out of twelve domains, the Tandy Chess
Champion 2150 follows on the heels of the Fidelity Excellence, even
outdoing it with calculations and tactics. On another hand, it is
significantly weaker with strategy, standard endgame positions, and
ability to recognize threats; despite this last domain being still at a
good level. It engages its games fairly well, but gets weaker
afterwards, and needs to hope for tactical opportunities in order to
counterattack. It is of course relevant to compare it to the Saitek
Turbo King II that runs a close program, but appreciably faster (5Mhz
6502 instead of 3 for the CC 2150): one can notice the fact that the
weak points (strategy, endgame, attack) almost do not improve despite
the speeding up, thus are intrinsic software weaknesses. The best
enhancement thanks to the speed gain is the calculations ability, which
is definitely logical (even if another cause is expected to help: a
probably lighter evaluation code, please check the Turbo King II
analysis next page).
Fidelity
Excellence
Year:
1985
Programmer: Dan & Kathe Spracklen
CPU: 65C02 @3Mhz
ROM: 16Kb
Elo level: 1780 (1727 FIDE)
CMhz: 3
Rperf: 100%
KT: 1441
Square size: 1"
Bought
brand new in 1985 with one of my first paychecks, retained up to now,
it is my reference chess computer. A breakthrough shock when I realized
its strength, with regards to my former Chess Challenger 7! Can't
remind loosing to the CC7, can't remind winning to the Excellence...
But no worry, I can find electronic opponents able to punish it... By
constant playing I discovered a bug in its opening book, the Excellence
loses a knight while playing these moves as white: 1.c4 e5
2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.Nxe5?
Okay, in this position I can win, but it is no fun. This computer has
been sold in large number thanks to its price to playing level ratio;
Fidelity has lowered the cost with the simplified design, featuring
LEDs only for coordinates. I managed
to perform its Khmelnitsky
test leveraging its clone Fidelity
Excel Display 3Mhz:
In
my introduction page, I mentionned the feeling "a
tough nut to crack" I had with this chess computer: it is quite
revealed in the graph, with strong skills in opening and middlegame, a
good positional game (strategy), so the program won't offer you easy
ways a priori; and its ability to recognize threats, defend and
counterattack whilst identifying tactical patterns will punish any
ill-considered initiative. On another hand, its calculations power
remains a weak point, partly due to the age of the processor, partly to
the mainly "brute force" approach the program uses, not enabling deep
scanning of variants. As for many chess computers from the same period,
the materialistic way of playing is not in favor of sacrifices, and the
program is not in a great mood for attacking (lacking an attack plan).
It has a tendency to leverage its sound play while expecting your own
mistakes. A reading I recommend: Scandien's page about chess
engines playing style.
Saitek Blitz
Year:
1990
Programmer: Julio Kaplan
CPU: H8 @10Mhz
ROM: 32Kb
Elo level: 1783 (1730 FIDE)
CMhz: 6.5
Rperf: 97%
KT: 1441
Square size: 1.23"
When
I purchased the Blitz (priced €100 on 'le bon coin' including
postage, so €86.25 for the chess computer, offered complete
with
its well preserved box), I already owned four chess computers from
Julio Kaplan, and eight devices powered by a H8 processor... But I had
no Kaplan running on H8! This one is the only of his programs running
on this micro-controller. In addition to the Blitz, this program will
be used in the Saitek Prisma (as well produced in 1990) and in the RadioShack
Chess
Champion 2150L (2 years later, using a 8Mhz clocking for the H8,
instead of 10). The Prisma is a superb looking device (check here
for nice pictures), but I seeked for the Blitz considering the
consistency of its concept. Strong Julio Kaplan programs are known for
their advanced evaluation, full of promise for smart moves ; at the
expense of the speed across the tree search. So, despite the program
being able to focus on the most useful variations thanks to its
evaluation skills, it needs time to decently analyse a position. Not
the ideal way to play a speed chess game... To deserve the 'Blitz'
name, the program has been reviewed, probably with Craig Barnes'
support, with a much lightened evaluation for the benefit of its speed;
and the brand new H8 has been chosen (it just reached the market). As a
result, the program analyses 730 positions per second, as an order of
magnitude. This is not outstanding, using the same hardware a GK2000
runs twice as fast, leveraging its Morsch program... But with regards
to 95 positions per second the full-size version "B" program
achieves in the
Tandy 2150 (3Mhz 6502), thus an estimated 160 positions per second for
the Saitek Turbo King with the very same "B"
version (5Mhz
6502), the gain is
glaringly obvious! (as for the "D+" version run by the Turbo King II,
it achieves circa 310 nodes per second). By the way, the 1990 Saitek
catalog states: 'The
powerful new program on a brand-new advanced processor makes this our
fastest-ever problem-solver'. More attractive to my opinion is the
fact, this change results in a quite different play, deserving to add
this program to my collection. In addition to the program and the
processor, the chessboard is the third item made suitable for a blitz
game: larger (25x25cm, to be compared to the Prisma or
Turbo King
20x20cm) thus enabling easier quick moves, and above all it is an
auto-response board: it automatically detects the pieces presence and
moves, without requiring the user to press squares, and it features one
LED per square to show its moves (as well displayed thanks to a 11
characters LCD window). The technology used is uncommon: leveraging the
Hall effect instead of reed switches (those are toggled open or close
according to the presence of a piece, equipped with a magnet). Here,
each square hides two elements (copper loops), one acting as the
magnetic field emitter, the other one as the receiver. Chess pieces are
equipped with a non-magnetic metal ring, altering the field when put
down on a square, and the receiver detects it. It works! This is not
the end as far as innovation is concerned: this chess computer works
without any keyboard, resulting in a clear design. The control
interface features two wheels discreetly located on the right edge of
the board. One wheel with notches to select the mode
(level, options, game, info, ready, set-up), and one free wheel to
set the value (or select a function) within the mode. The
selected
mode is simply printed on the first wheel (and readable thru the small
rightmost window, labelled 'Menu') while the free wheel controls the
LCD display on the left, labelled 'Data'. The free wheel has magnets inserted,
the program detects them thanks to two reed switches, without any
involved mechanical means. This unusual system is very efficient and
comfortable with some of the modes, requiring repeated input, such as
the setting or verification of a position. With other modes, it is not
that convincing: a dedicated key enables direct access to a function;
while a selection wheel only offers a sequential access... Besides,
this system will no more be used in any other model. The example I
bought suffered a failure there: it did not detect the direction the
free wheel was rotated to. This did not prevent from playing, but it
lessened the efficiency of the selection (for lack of roll-back), and
the check of a position was not possible. Fortunately, both reed
switches were accessible without too much dismantling; next to spotting
the failing one (using an ohmmeter) I could replace it (using a MKA14103
reference, sold in twos for €2.78, so less than
€5
including postal cost!) and my Blitz is now fully operational.
As
does
the Turbo King II displayed next page, the Blitz begins games in a bold
way, leveraging strong playing skills once out of book, and up to the
middle game included. On the whole, the family connections between both
programs are obvious; to get convinced you just need to use the
"Compare to" feature. So, the Turbo
King II
comparative endgame weakness (as much theoretical as practical) is as
well present here; even more pronounced due to the less advanced
evaluation function of the Blitz. Worth pointing out, the calculations
power is slightly inferior despite the 30% faster processor; grouping
this information with the better sighting of sacrifices opportunities,
we can guess the Blitz program is a bit less selective than the Turbo
King II one, resulting in a wider, but not as deep, vision.