Your RADICA chess computer has 56 playing levels and 7 Solve Mate Levels.

• FIXED TIME LEVELS
• The first 16 levels are Fixed Time Levels. When you select one of these levels, you are asking the computer to make its move within the specified time limit. The more time the computer is given, the stronger it tends to play.
• AVERAGE TIME LEVELS
• On Average Time Levels, the computer uses half of the specified time to look ahead at future moves, then it continues looking at possible moves for the current turn based on those future moves. For example, if Level C3 (10 seconds) is chosen, the computer would use the first 5 seconds to search look-ahead moves. If the computer reaches 4 moves ahead, then the computer would use the remaining 5 seconds to search for all possible best moves for the current move based on what it is planning for the next 4 moves. NOTE: These times are average times of a larger number of moves. At the opening and end of the game the computer tend to play faster, but in complicated middle-of-the-game positions the computer may take longer to move.
• FIXED DEPTH LEVELS
• On Fixed Depth Levels, the computer will only consider a set number of moves in the future before making its decision to move. On these levels, especially on the first few depth levels, the computer may overlook a capture. This results in weaker play, giving beginners and average players a better chance to win. On the Infinite Level (F8), the computer will search indefinitely, until it finds a forced mate or you stop the search by pressing ENTER key. if you halt the search, the computer makes the move it currently thinks best. You can use this level to have the computer analyze complicated positions for hours or even days if you wish.
• NOVICE LEVELS
• The Novice Levels are especially good for beginners. On these levels, the computer plays like a human beginner whose overall look-ahead search is limited to one move into the future with various specified Capture Depth Searches. The “Capture Depth Search” means moves in the future which involve the capture of a piece.
• PROBLEM SOLVING LEVELS
• The computer can solve most chess problems as well as mate problems up to Mate-in-7................. Mates-in-1 to Mates-in-4 are usually found quickly, whereas Mates-in-5 to Mates-in-7 require quite a long time.

Excerpts taken from the “Radica Model 1101” User Manual

This chess computer looks very similar in design to Novag Solo and Novag Escort but the playing levels are completely different and seem more in line to Novag Aquamarine or Amethyst but neither of these two have an opening book which Model 1101 does seem to have although limited in size. But it seems extremely likely that Model 1101 originated from a Factory in China that produces chess computers for Novag.

Active Chess (30 seconds per move)

After looking at the similarities of the design of the Radica Model 1101 CS1 to some Novag machines such as Solo and Escort and then reading the bold claim in the user manual about it’s ability to solve Mates-in-7! A test game needed to be played. The opponent SciSys Explorer would normally not have too much trouble in beating either the Novag Solo or Novag Escort. Surprisingly! Radica Model 1101 CS1 played quite well as you can see for yourself below. A nice combination in the middle game as well as quite a good finish to the game. This machine definitely will have to be played a few more times. Not a bad first game for a machine that would normally just be thought of as just a cheap Chinese curiosity.