Yes, well the steroidal StarOpal does find the Queen sac in 5 seconds, but as you can see from the other posts, it helpfully throws away it's knight in a From's Gambit after 3 minutes thought, can lose it's Queen in a 2 ply blunder and lose a piece because it's Queen gets trapped - all when given decent thinking times. So at the same time it can make a blunder only a rank beginner can make, it has also defeated Mephisto Miami that is rated around 1900!
My extensive studies have shown that some of these problems are due to the silly way it can sometimes handle the variable time levels, which is why I just use this computer on the fixed time levels instead. For example, it is currently playing a handicap match against Novag Constellation where Star Opal Turbo is on level WC6 and Constellation has 30 seconds. Thus far, the score is 2 to 1 in favour of Star Opal, with no silly blunders thus far played. But the previous match on the equivalent variable time level saw Star Opal lose 2-4. So Opal only needs one draw in the next 3 games to better the previous effort.
Secondly, I reckon there might be some sort of issue with the way it handles the RAM - perhaps this explains why it often makes even worse moves the longer it thinks for.
Thirdly, I think there is something wrong with the randomisation algorythms. This program, unlike other Novags, has the randomisation permanently enabled with no way to turn it off. I have seen it play up to 4 different reponses in a given position at the exact same variable time level. It is not hard to imagine that in any given position there are going to always be 4 moves - all just as good as each other. On the other hand, with the fixed time levels, I have only seen it come up with two replies in a given position, so on these levels it seems to be "best" and "next best". This is possibly why there seems to be less blundering on the fixed levels - at least in my testing thus far.
And finally, this thread has revealed the most obvious characteristic of all. This program, written as it was by an American, finds combinations made by Americans extremely quickly.
Enjoy the match against the
Star Opal Marshall Edition
Star Spangled Banner Regards
Chess is like painting the Mona Lisa whilst walking through a minefield.