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Created page with "'''Home * Engines * Mini Chess''' FILE:Acetronic.jpg|border|right|thumb|320px|link=http://www.flickr.com/photos/10261668@N05/859036624/in/set-721576009221..."
'''[[Main Page|Home]] * [[Engines]] * Mini Chess'''
[[FILE:Acetronic.jpg|border|right|thumb|320px|link=http://www.flickr.com/photos/10261668@N05/859036624/in/set-72157600922172552/|Acetronic aka Mini Chess <ref>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/10261668@N05/859036624/in/set-72157600922172552/ Acetronic] from [http://www.flickr.com/photos/10261668@N05/sets/72157600922172552/ Scisys/Saitek | Photo collection] by [[Steve Blincoe|Chewbanta]]</ref> ]]
'''Mini Chess''', (SciSys Mini Chess)<br/>
along with [[#Junior|Junior Chess]] and [[#Graduate|Graduate Chess]], a series of portable [[Dedicated Chess Computers|dedicated chess computers]] manufactured and sold by [[Saitek|SciSys]], first released in early 1981. The computers had a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hitachi_Ltd. Hitachi] '''HD44801''' 4-bit [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CMOS CMOS] [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microcontroller microcontroller] with 2 kibi of 10-bit word [[Memory#ROM|ROM]], 128 10-bit words of pattern ROM supported by pattern generation instructions with table lookup capability, and '''160''' [[Nibble|nibbles]] or digits (80 [[Byte|bytes]]) of [[Memory#RAM|RAM]] <ref>[http://www.ic-on-line.cn/view_download.php?id=1100207&file=0052%5Chd44801_398306.pdf HD44801_398306.PDF Datasheet Download --- IC-ON-LINE]</ref>, running at 400 KHz. The programs were delivered by [[Philidor Software]], developed by [[Mark Taylor]] under guidance of [[David Levy]], who contributed the basic chess algorithm <ref>[http://www.schach-computer.info/wiki/index.php/Levy,_David David Levy interview] from [http://www.schach-computer.info/wiki/index.php/Hauptseite_En Schachcomputer.info - Wiki]</ref> including [[Promotions|promotions]], [[En passant|en passant]], and [[Castling|castling]], and even managed [[Checkmate|mate]] with KR v K in some versions all in astonishing 160 nibbles of RAM. A piece of work that Mark Taylor is still rightly proud of today <ref>[http://www.chesscomputeruk.com/html/chess_computers_-_the_uk_story.html Chess Computers - The UK Story] from [http://www.chesscomputeruk.com/index.html Chess Computer UK] by [[Mike Watters]]</ref>.
=160 Nibble Challenge=
160 nibbles of RAM is a challenge. The HD44801 has an internal 4 word return [[Stack|stack]], so one may assume a maximum [[Depth|search depth]] of 4, but one has to be careful with external [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interrupt interrupts], i. e. from keyboard or timer, since they cause an implicit call to an [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interrupt_handler interrupt handler], pushing the instruction pointer on the internal stack as well, with the possibility to cause an [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stack_overflow stack overflow]. One may better implement a simple [[Iterative Search|iterative search]], called after [[Make Move|making a move]] at the [[Root|root]] within its [[Iterative Deepening|iterative deepening]] framework.
The board is apparently represented by an [[Incremental Updates|incremental updated]] [[8x8 Board|8x8]] [[Array|array]] of nibbles. The ply stack entry consists of [[En passant|en passant]]- and [[Castling Rights|castling rights]], the [[Moves|move]] to [[Unmake Move|unmake]], likely 3 nibbles [[Encoding Moves|12-bit from-to encoding]] also interpreted as state of a deterministic [[Move Generation|move generator]], and [[Alpha|alpha]], while [[Beta|beta]] might be restored from alpha of the previous ply in [[Negamax|negamax]] manner. Of course, with such a minimalistic design, [[Move Ordering|move ordering]] is a big issue, and how to utilize the remaining nibbles in a most efficient manner, considering [[MVV-LVA]] and possibly maintaining a small [[Triangular PV-Table|triangular PV-table]] say for four plies.
=Derivatives=
'''Mini Chess''' was the basic model with [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keypad keypad] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven-segment_display seven-segment] [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liquid_crystal_display LCD] to display move coordinates and small status messages, also sold in the UK under the marketing company name ''Acetronic''.
<span id="Junior"></span>
==Junior Chess==
[[FILE:juniorChess.jpg|border|right|thumb|320px|link=http://www.flickr.com/photos/10261668@N05/858189105/in/set-72157600922172552|Junior Chess <ref>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/10261668@N05/858189105/in/set-72157600922172552 Junior Chess] with [[FIDE]] recommendation for novice and junior chess players, [http://www.flickr.com/photos/10261668@N05/sets/72157600922172552/ Scisys/Saitek | Photo collection] by [[Steve Blincoe|Chewbanta]]</ref> ]]
'''Junior Chess''' had almost the same hardware and program than Mini Chess, but an integrated travel pegboard.
<span id="Graduate"></span>
==Graduate Chess==
Like [[#Junior|Junior Chess]], '''Graduate Chess''' was almost identical to Mini Chess, also with an integrated travel pegboard.
==CXG==
The 4-bit program initiated [[Eric White|Eric White's]] involvement in computer chess business and long time collaboration with Levy, when [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hong_Kong Hong Kong] based manufacturer ''White and Allcock'', forerunner of [[Newcrest Technology]] introduced the [[Newcrest Technology#CXG|CXG]] brand in 1981 with [[CXG Sensor Computachess]] <ref>[http://www.schach-computer.info/wiki/index.php/CXG_Sensor_Computachess CXG Sensor Computachess] from [http://www.schach-computer.info/wiki/index.php/Hauptseite_En Schachcomputer.info Wiki]</ref> <ref>[http://www.schach-computer.info/wiki/index.php/CXG_Pocket_Chess CXG Pocket Chess] from [http://www.schach-computer.info/wiki/index.php/Hauptseite_En Schachcomputer.info Wiki]</ref>. It was further adapted for the more advanced '''HMCS40''' 4-bit singlechip processor <ref>[http://www.ic-on-line.cn/view_download.php?id=1124980&file=0065%5Chd614048_511862.pdf HD614048_511862.PDF Datasheet Download --- IC-ON-LINE]</ref>.
==Chess Cards==
[[FILE:FidelityChessCard.JPG|border|right|thumb|320px|link=http://www.flickr.com/photos/10261668@N05/2071464244/in/set-72157600922174174|Fidelity Chess Card <ref>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/10261668@N05/2071464244/in/set-72157600922174174 Fidelity Chess Card] from [http://www.flickr.com/photos/10261668@N05/sets/72157600922174174/with/2071464268/ Exotic: Photo collection] by [[Steve Blincoe|Chewbanta]]</ref> ]]
In the late 80 and early 90, the 4-Bit program appeared in low cost chess card computers by [[Newcrest Technology#CXG|CXG]] <ref>[http://www.schach-computer.info/wiki/index.php/CXG_Sphinx_Chess_Card CXG Sphinx Chess Card] from [http://www.schach-computer.info/wiki/index.php/Hauptseite_En Schachcomputer.info - Wiki]</ref> and [[Fidelity Electronics]] <ref>[http://www.schach-computer.info/wiki/index.php/Fidelity_Chess_Card Fidelity Chess Card] from [http://www.schach-computer.info/wiki/index.php/Hauptseite_En Schachcomputer.info - Wiki] (German)</ref>, at that time already acquired by [[Hegener & Glaser]].
=See also=
* [[Junior]]
* [[Mini]]
* [[Sensor Chess#MoveGeneration|Move Generation with 256 bytes RAM or less?]]
* [[Novag Micro Chess]]
* [[Philidor Software]]
=External Links=
* [http://www.chesscomputeruk.com/html/chess_computers_-_the_uk_story.html Chess Computers - The UK Story] from [http://www.chesscomputeruk.com/index.html Chess Computer UK] by [[Mike Watters]]
* [http://www.chesscomputeruk.com/html/scisys_and_novag___the_early_y.html Scisys and Novag : The Early Years] from [http://www.chesscomputeruk.com/index.html Chess Computer UK] by [[Mike Watters]]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/10261668@N05/sets/72157600922172552/ Scisys/Saitek | Photo collection] by [[Steve Blincoe|Chewbanta]]
==Mini Chess==
* [http://www.chesscomputeruk.com/html/mini_chess.html Mini Chess] from [http://www.chesscomputeruk.com/index.html Chess Computer UK] by [[Mike Watters]]
* [http://electronicchess.free.fr/prehistory.html#minichess Mini Chess | My Chess Computers]
* [http://www.schach-computer.info/wiki/index.php/SciSys_Mini_Chess SciSys Mini Chess] from [http://www.schach-computer.info/wiki/index.php/Hauptseite_En Schachcomputer.info - Wiki] (German)
==Junior Chess==
* [http://www.chesscomputeruk.com/html/junior_chess.html Junior Chess] from [http://www.chesscomputeruk.com/index.html Chess Computer UK] by [[Mike Watters]]
* [http://electronicchess.free.fr/prehistory.html#juniorchess2 Scisys Junior Chess | My Chess Computers]
* [http://www.schach-computer.info/wiki/index.php/SciSys_Junior_Chess SciSys Junior Chess] from [http://www.schach-computer.info/wiki/index.php/Hauptseite_En Schachcomputer.info - Wiki] (German)
==Graduate Chess==
* [http://www.chesscomputeruk.com/html/graduate_chess.html Graduate Chess] from [http://www.chesscomputeruk.com/index.html Chess Computer UK] by [[Mike Watters]]
* [http://electronicchess.free.fr/prehistory.html#acetronic Acetronic Graduate Chess | My Chess Computers]
==Chess Cards==
* [http://www.spacious-mind.com/html/chess_card.html Fidelity Chess Card Electronic Chess Computer] from [[The Spacious Mind]]
* [http://www.ismenio.com/chess_fidelity_chess_card.html Ismenio's chess computer collection | Fidelity Chess Card 6115]
* [http://www.schach-computer.info/wiki/index.php/CXG_Pocket_Chess CXG Pocket Chess] from [http://www.schach-computer.info/wiki/index.php/Hauptseite_En Schachcomputer.info - Wiki] (German)
* [http://www.schach-computer.info/wiki/index.php/CXG_Sphinx_Chess_Card CXG Sphinx Chess Card] from [http://www.schach-computer.info/wiki/index.php/Hauptseite_En Schachcomputer.info - Wiki] (German)
* [http://www.schach-computer.info/wiki/index.php/Fidelity_Chess_Card Fidelity Chess Card] from [http://www.schach-computer.info/wiki/index.php/Hauptseite_En Schachcomputer.info - Wiki] (German)
* [http://www.schach-computer.info/wiki/index.php/Fidelity_Chess_Pal Fidelity Chess Pal] from [http://www.schach-computer.info/wiki/index.php/Hauptseite_En Schachcomputer.info - Wiki] (German)
* [http://www.schach-computer.info/wiki/index.php/Fidelity_Micro_Chess_Challenger Fidelity Micro Chess Challenger] from [http://www.schach-computer.info/wiki/index.php/Hauptseite_En Schachcomputer.info - Wiki] (German)
=References=
<references />
'''[[Engines|Up one Level]]'''
[[FILE:Acetronic.jpg|border|right|thumb|320px|link=http://www.flickr.com/photos/10261668@N05/859036624/in/set-72157600922172552/|Acetronic aka Mini Chess <ref>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/10261668@N05/859036624/in/set-72157600922172552/ Acetronic] from [http://www.flickr.com/photos/10261668@N05/sets/72157600922172552/ Scisys/Saitek | Photo collection] by [[Steve Blincoe|Chewbanta]]</ref> ]]
'''Mini Chess''', (SciSys Mini Chess)<br/>
along with [[#Junior|Junior Chess]] and [[#Graduate|Graduate Chess]], a series of portable [[Dedicated Chess Computers|dedicated chess computers]] manufactured and sold by [[Saitek|SciSys]], first released in early 1981. The computers had a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hitachi_Ltd. Hitachi] '''HD44801''' 4-bit [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CMOS CMOS] [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microcontroller microcontroller] with 2 kibi of 10-bit word [[Memory#ROM|ROM]], 128 10-bit words of pattern ROM supported by pattern generation instructions with table lookup capability, and '''160''' [[Nibble|nibbles]] or digits (80 [[Byte|bytes]]) of [[Memory#RAM|RAM]] <ref>[http://www.ic-on-line.cn/view_download.php?id=1100207&file=0052%5Chd44801_398306.pdf HD44801_398306.PDF Datasheet Download --- IC-ON-LINE]</ref>, running at 400 KHz. The programs were delivered by [[Philidor Software]], developed by [[Mark Taylor]] under guidance of [[David Levy]], who contributed the basic chess algorithm <ref>[http://www.schach-computer.info/wiki/index.php/Levy,_David David Levy interview] from [http://www.schach-computer.info/wiki/index.php/Hauptseite_En Schachcomputer.info - Wiki]</ref> including [[Promotions|promotions]], [[En passant|en passant]], and [[Castling|castling]], and even managed [[Checkmate|mate]] with KR v K in some versions all in astonishing 160 nibbles of RAM. A piece of work that Mark Taylor is still rightly proud of today <ref>[http://www.chesscomputeruk.com/html/chess_computers_-_the_uk_story.html Chess Computers - The UK Story] from [http://www.chesscomputeruk.com/index.html Chess Computer UK] by [[Mike Watters]]</ref>.
=160 Nibble Challenge=
160 nibbles of RAM is a challenge. The HD44801 has an internal 4 word return [[Stack|stack]], so one may assume a maximum [[Depth|search depth]] of 4, but one has to be careful with external [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interrupt interrupts], i. e. from keyboard or timer, since they cause an implicit call to an [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interrupt_handler interrupt handler], pushing the instruction pointer on the internal stack as well, with the possibility to cause an [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stack_overflow stack overflow]. One may better implement a simple [[Iterative Search|iterative search]], called after [[Make Move|making a move]] at the [[Root|root]] within its [[Iterative Deepening|iterative deepening]] framework.
The board is apparently represented by an [[Incremental Updates|incremental updated]] [[8x8 Board|8x8]] [[Array|array]] of nibbles. The ply stack entry consists of [[En passant|en passant]]- and [[Castling Rights|castling rights]], the [[Moves|move]] to [[Unmake Move|unmake]], likely 3 nibbles [[Encoding Moves|12-bit from-to encoding]] also interpreted as state of a deterministic [[Move Generation|move generator]], and [[Alpha|alpha]], while [[Beta|beta]] might be restored from alpha of the previous ply in [[Negamax|negamax]] manner. Of course, with such a minimalistic design, [[Move Ordering|move ordering]] is a big issue, and how to utilize the remaining nibbles in a most efficient manner, considering [[MVV-LVA]] and possibly maintaining a small [[Triangular PV-Table|triangular PV-table]] say for four plies.
=Derivatives=
'''Mini Chess''' was the basic model with [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keypad keypad] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven-segment_display seven-segment] [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liquid_crystal_display LCD] to display move coordinates and small status messages, also sold in the UK under the marketing company name ''Acetronic''.
<span id="Junior"></span>
==Junior Chess==
[[FILE:juniorChess.jpg|border|right|thumb|320px|link=http://www.flickr.com/photos/10261668@N05/858189105/in/set-72157600922172552|Junior Chess <ref>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/10261668@N05/858189105/in/set-72157600922172552 Junior Chess] with [[FIDE]] recommendation for novice and junior chess players, [http://www.flickr.com/photos/10261668@N05/sets/72157600922172552/ Scisys/Saitek | Photo collection] by [[Steve Blincoe|Chewbanta]]</ref> ]]
'''Junior Chess''' had almost the same hardware and program than Mini Chess, but an integrated travel pegboard.
<span id="Graduate"></span>
==Graduate Chess==
Like [[#Junior|Junior Chess]], '''Graduate Chess''' was almost identical to Mini Chess, also with an integrated travel pegboard.
==CXG==
The 4-bit program initiated [[Eric White|Eric White's]] involvement in computer chess business and long time collaboration with Levy, when [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hong_Kong Hong Kong] based manufacturer ''White and Allcock'', forerunner of [[Newcrest Technology]] introduced the [[Newcrest Technology#CXG|CXG]] brand in 1981 with [[CXG Sensor Computachess]] <ref>[http://www.schach-computer.info/wiki/index.php/CXG_Sensor_Computachess CXG Sensor Computachess] from [http://www.schach-computer.info/wiki/index.php/Hauptseite_En Schachcomputer.info Wiki]</ref> <ref>[http://www.schach-computer.info/wiki/index.php/CXG_Pocket_Chess CXG Pocket Chess] from [http://www.schach-computer.info/wiki/index.php/Hauptseite_En Schachcomputer.info Wiki]</ref>. It was further adapted for the more advanced '''HMCS40''' 4-bit singlechip processor <ref>[http://www.ic-on-line.cn/view_download.php?id=1124980&file=0065%5Chd614048_511862.pdf HD614048_511862.PDF Datasheet Download --- IC-ON-LINE]</ref>.
==Chess Cards==
[[FILE:FidelityChessCard.JPG|border|right|thumb|320px|link=http://www.flickr.com/photos/10261668@N05/2071464244/in/set-72157600922174174|Fidelity Chess Card <ref>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/10261668@N05/2071464244/in/set-72157600922174174 Fidelity Chess Card] from [http://www.flickr.com/photos/10261668@N05/sets/72157600922174174/with/2071464268/ Exotic: Photo collection] by [[Steve Blincoe|Chewbanta]]</ref> ]]
In the late 80 and early 90, the 4-Bit program appeared in low cost chess card computers by [[Newcrest Technology#CXG|CXG]] <ref>[http://www.schach-computer.info/wiki/index.php/CXG_Sphinx_Chess_Card CXG Sphinx Chess Card] from [http://www.schach-computer.info/wiki/index.php/Hauptseite_En Schachcomputer.info - Wiki]</ref> and [[Fidelity Electronics]] <ref>[http://www.schach-computer.info/wiki/index.php/Fidelity_Chess_Card Fidelity Chess Card] from [http://www.schach-computer.info/wiki/index.php/Hauptseite_En Schachcomputer.info - Wiki] (German)</ref>, at that time already acquired by [[Hegener & Glaser]].
=See also=
* [[Junior]]
* [[Mini]]
* [[Sensor Chess#MoveGeneration|Move Generation with 256 bytes RAM or less?]]
* [[Novag Micro Chess]]
* [[Philidor Software]]
=External Links=
* [http://www.chesscomputeruk.com/html/chess_computers_-_the_uk_story.html Chess Computers - The UK Story] from [http://www.chesscomputeruk.com/index.html Chess Computer UK] by [[Mike Watters]]
* [http://www.chesscomputeruk.com/html/scisys_and_novag___the_early_y.html Scisys and Novag : The Early Years] from [http://www.chesscomputeruk.com/index.html Chess Computer UK] by [[Mike Watters]]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/10261668@N05/sets/72157600922172552/ Scisys/Saitek | Photo collection] by [[Steve Blincoe|Chewbanta]]
==Mini Chess==
* [http://www.chesscomputeruk.com/html/mini_chess.html Mini Chess] from [http://www.chesscomputeruk.com/index.html Chess Computer UK] by [[Mike Watters]]
* [http://electronicchess.free.fr/prehistory.html#minichess Mini Chess | My Chess Computers]
* [http://www.schach-computer.info/wiki/index.php/SciSys_Mini_Chess SciSys Mini Chess] from [http://www.schach-computer.info/wiki/index.php/Hauptseite_En Schachcomputer.info - Wiki] (German)
==Junior Chess==
* [http://www.chesscomputeruk.com/html/junior_chess.html Junior Chess] from [http://www.chesscomputeruk.com/index.html Chess Computer UK] by [[Mike Watters]]
* [http://electronicchess.free.fr/prehistory.html#juniorchess2 Scisys Junior Chess | My Chess Computers]
* [http://www.schach-computer.info/wiki/index.php/SciSys_Junior_Chess SciSys Junior Chess] from [http://www.schach-computer.info/wiki/index.php/Hauptseite_En Schachcomputer.info - Wiki] (German)
==Graduate Chess==
* [http://www.chesscomputeruk.com/html/graduate_chess.html Graduate Chess] from [http://www.chesscomputeruk.com/index.html Chess Computer UK] by [[Mike Watters]]
* [http://electronicchess.free.fr/prehistory.html#acetronic Acetronic Graduate Chess | My Chess Computers]
==Chess Cards==
* [http://www.spacious-mind.com/html/chess_card.html Fidelity Chess Card Electronic Chess Computer] from [[The Spacious Mind]]
* [http://www.ismenio.com/chess_fidelity_chess_card.html Ismenio's chess computer collection | Fidelity Chess Card 6115]
* [http://www.schach-computer.info/wiki/index.php/CXG_Pocket_Chess CXG Pocket Chess] from [http://www.schach-computer.info/wiki/index.php/Hauptseite_En Schachcomputer.info - Wiki] (German)
* [http://www.schach-computer.info/wiki/index.php/CXG_Sphinx_Chess_Card CXG Sphinx Chess Card] from [http://www.schach-computer.info/wiki/index.php/Hauptseite_En Schachcomputer.info - Wiki] (German)
* [http://www.schach-computer.info/wiki/index.php/Fidelity_Chess_Card Fidelity Chess Card] from [http://www.schach-computer.info/wiki/index.php/Hauptseite_En Schachcomputer.info - Wiki] (German)
* [http://www.schach-computer.info/wiki/index.php/Fidelity_Chess_Pal Fidelity Chess Pal] from [http://www.schach-computer.info/wiki/index.php/Hauptseite_En Schachcomputer.info - Wiki] (German)
* [http://www.schach-computer.info/wiki/index.php/Fidelity_Micro_Chess_Challenger Fidelity Micro Chess Challenger] from [http://www.schach-computer.info/wiki/index.php/Hauptseite_En Schachcomputer.info - Wiki] (German)
=References=
<references />
'''[[Engines|Up one Level]]'''
