Author: Trefor Deane
Date: 21:05:48 12/03/98
Go up one level in this thread
On November 30, 1998 at 11:57:29, John Coffey wrote: >I bought the Novag Jasper. I wrote ICD and they said that the unit was more >like 1400 than 1750 (as claimed >on the package.) I bought it anyway. I wanted a >calculator style unit for its portability and for >practicing blindfold chess, and I wanted to use it for >teaching to my students. I also prefer not to have >an attached board because I don't like using the small >boards, especially the pegboard units. > >I had high hopes for this unit because of the claims >made and because it supposedly runs at 8mhz. I have >owned chess computers that had slower clock speeds but >still played a good game of chess. > >Considering the claims made about the products strength >(USCF said "*very* strong 4K program" and the package >said estimated rating of 1750) my disappointment >is extreme. It would be a useful unit for >beginners, but even the 1400 estimate is too high. At >30 seconds a move it failed to see a 3 ply combination >that would prevent it from losing material. I put the >unit on 40 seconds per move and it failed to see the >combination. I put the unit on 60 seconds per move >and it made the correct move. (the game is below.) > >Novag Jasper vs. Coffey at 30 seconds per move: > >d4 Nf6 >Nf3 d5 >Bf4 c5 >Be5?! Nc6 >c3 cxd5 >cxd5 Bg4 >e3 e6 >Nc3 Bb4 >Bd3 0-0 >0-0 Bxc3 >bxc3 Nxe5 >dxe5 Ne4 >c4?! Bxf3 >Qxf3 Nd2 >Qh5?? > >At this point I was ready to throw the unit accross >the room because it could not see that Qh3 saves >the material. > > >I played numerous blindfold games beating it at 15 >seconds per move. > >i.e. Coffey (blindfold) vs. Jasper at 15 seconds per move > >e4 e5 >Nc3 Bc5 >f4 Qh4+ >g3 Qf6 >Nd5 Qd6 >fxe5 Qxe5 >Bg2 Nc6 >d4 Nxd4 >Bf4 Nxc2+ >Qxc2 Bxf2+ >Kxf2 Qd4+ >Be3 c5 >Bxd4 cxd4 >Rc1 Kd8 >Qc7+ Ke8 >Qxc8+ Rxc8+ >Rxc8 mate. > > > >I gave the unit a mate in 3. The Radio Shack 1850 >from 10 years ago (which is really a weak B player) solved this mate in *2* >seconds. The Novag Jasper takes 55 seconds. The position is as follows: > >White: King h2 and pawn on h4 >Black: King on e2, Queen on f1, pawns on f7 and h5. >Black to move and mate in 3. > >I estimate the unit's strength to be about 1200, which >makes the 1750 estimate totally bogus. How dare Novag >and the USCF pull such a scam! > >I think that the unit is on par with the Fidelity >Chess Challenger 7 that I had 19 years ago. I would like to see someone play >them in a match and see which one wins. It is good unit for Novices and nobody >else. > >John Coffey > >http://www.xmission.com/~vote/365 >Home email: john2001@hotmail.com >Home phone: 1-801-good-chess (466-3243) The Novag Sapphire 2 (200 BCF/32MHz/H8/118KBHash table) is the machine you need. It finds your mate in 3 in less than a second. trefor.
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