In the introduction to the comprehensive User Manual, you're told that Cyrus is a strong chess program which won the European Microcomputer Championship in 1981. The present version includes new operating features.
You move the cursor by using the arrow keys to indicate which piece you want to move and its destination. Illegal moves are not permitted.
You can press the space bar at any time to see a message display which includes a record of the last few moves made as well as the commands available at that time. There are nine levels of play and you can force the computer to make a move if you think that it is taking too long to analyse that situation.
You can take back as many moves already made as you want to, and change sides whenever you wish.
You can make the computer play itself, then you can interrupt and start playing yourself.
You can even get hints as to your best move, if you are getting desperate. For chess enthusiasts there is a facility enabling you to set up special positions on the board if you want the computer to solve a chess problem.
22nd November 1983
