Can I Beat This Vintage Chess Computer Before You Fall Asleep? ♔ ASMR ♔

The Chess Whisperer takes on a chess computer from 1979 while you zzZzzZzz
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This is a Chess Challenger CC7 from 1979 - a much improved version of the original Chess Challenger CC1 from 1976. "Chess Computer Uk" has the following to say about these magnificient machines:

The Fidelity Chess Challenger, often referred to as the CC1, was the first chess computer sold to the public. The story of how that came about can be found here. Fidelity won the race to get a chess computer on the market but they made it with a bungled product. The playing notation on the board was reversed, with files labelled 1 to 8 and ranks labelled A to H. The computer used this notation to accept and output moves. So a popular opening move e2-e4 would appear as 5b-5d.

For chess players keying in moves in this reverse notation is a slow and frustrating experience. It is difficult not to make mistakes and ruin the game, particularly as there is no going back once the move is entered. The other main shortcomings were the extremely poor standard of play and that the CC1 accepted illegal moves.

Fidelity knew that criticism was coming and the documentation with the CC1 offered an upgrade. The upgrade involved sending the CC1 back to the factory where a new three level chess program ROM was substituted and the entire chessboard / keypad surface membrane was peeled off and replaced with one having the correct notation.

Playing a game with a CC1. Patience and concentration is needed to key in the moves in reverse notation. I start with 5b-5d. CC1 replies 5g-5e. White Knight 7a-6c. Black Knight 2h-3f. Then I send out a tempter 4b-4d. CC1 4g-4f. I start to go for the kill. Really! Knight 6c-7e. CC1 accepts the pawn present Knight 3f-4d. And the killer blow Queen 4a-6g. CC1 signals that it is Checkmated with the I Lose light.

It is chess, but not as we know it. Chess Sid Samole and Ron Nelson style from Spring 1977.

Credit: http://www.chesscomputeruk.com/html/fidelity_chess_challenger__cc1.html