Collector's Corner..2007 Annual Physicals ..Continue..

[Robert Weck]

so for the three different computers we have three different moves:
Silver Bullet-Qf5+
Mini Sensory CAC-Rb6
SC6-Qf6

Conclusion
three different programs regards
Steve

thankful regards,
Robert

[Steve B]

The Novag Opal has the honorable distinction of being the smallest Pressure sensory chess computer ever released for sale
( the Fidelity Travel master is also quite small but it is somewhat bigger in width and in overall dimensions)

The Opal series consisted of four computers :
Opal(1992)
Opal II(1996)
Opal Plus(2000)
Star Opal(2005)

all four computers look exactly the same (except for color variations) and have the same exact keys and functions
the Opal had a 630 ply book and 16 levels of play while the other three all had 8500 ply books and 64 levels for the Opal II and 128 levels for the Plus and Star
in fact the manuals are all exactly the same(except for the level sections)

the Opal only had 4k-Rom and 256k Ram and the other three each had 16k and 768k
all four ran on a single chip processor at 8 Mhz

the only established rating for any of the Opals i could find is the Opal Plus at 1580 Elo(SS)

you can see all four computers here starting with this photo of the Opal
click on the " browse ->" to see all of the computers in the series



considering that all of the computers look the same and have the same manuals and features ..i suspected that they also all had the same program

if so .what we have here basically is a computer being released over and over for a period of 13 years with no difference at all except for the name on the computer and some more levels

testing my theory ..i fired up this position


[d] rnb2rk1/ppp2pp1/8/4pPP1/1b1qP1n1/2PP2PN/P7/RN1QKB1R w KQ - 0 1

the best move is Qxg4 as was played in the game by Super GM Eduard Nemeth

i set each computer to the 2 minute per move level and let them have a go at the position

as i suspected ..the Opal II ,Opal Plus and Star Opal all played the same exact move Qd2(considering only this move for the full two minutes)

so it appears that they all have the same program even after 13 years

well..almost all..

the weakest computer of the group
the one with the least amount of ram,rom and levels

chose..yup you guessed it

Qxg4 Regards!
Steve

[Terry McCracken]

I'm glad to see the resurrection of this thread...Welcome Back!

You're Home Regards,
Terry

[Steve B]

I'm glad to see the resurrection of this thread...Welcome Back!

You're Home Regards,
Terry

Thanks Terry

For The Time Being At Least Regards
Steve

[cornetmike]

I'm glad to see the resurrection of this thread...Welcome Back!

You're Home Regards,
Terry

And a fascinating thread it is!

Now...a few days ago I went to the USCF's website to check out their chess supplies store. I was looking to compare prices for dedicated chess computers. I was curious to notice that they only sold Excalibur. No Saitek or Novag. (Well, there was one Saitek I missed at the bottom of the page.) I sent them an e-mail asking "why no Saitek or Novag?"

I got a quick reply stating that many Saitek models were out of stock and to expect more soon, and, this is curious, "Novag no longer exists." Imagine that, trying to BS a potential customer! (Novag's U.S. distributer tells me he's tried to do business with them in the past.)

I've been shopping around for a *strong* portable. Excalibur and Novag models appear too weak. (I can usually beat my old Fidelity Excellence, and my King Arthur I can beat blindfolded...just kidding, but it's too easy to beat.)

All that's left seems to be Saitek's "Expert Travel Chess Computer." Any opinions on this model?? Thanks...

regards
Mikey

[Steve B]

I'm glad to see the resurrection of this thread...Welcome Back!

You're Home Regards,
Terry

And a fascinating thread it is!

Now...a few days ago I went to the USCF's website to check out their chess supplies store. I was looking to compare prices for dedicated chess computers. I was curious to notice that they only sold Excalibur. No Saitek or Novag. (Well, there was one Saitek I missed at the bottom of the page.) I sent them an e-mail asking "why no Saitek or Novag?"

I got a quick reply stating that many Saitek models were out of stock and to expect more soon, and, this is curious, "Novag no longer exists." Imagine that, trying to BS a potential customer! (Novag's U.S. distributer tells me he's tried to do business with them in the past.)

I've been shopping around for a *strong* portable. Excalibur and Novag models appear too weak. (I can usually beat my old Fidelity Excellence, and my King Arthur I can beat blindfolded...just kidding, but it's too easy to beat.)

All that's left seems to be Saitek's "Expert Travel Chess Computer." Any opinions on this model?? Thanks...

regards
Mikey

hi Mikey

i dont have the Travel Computer so i cant opine on it for you

but i have to say i am shocked the USCF would simply make up something like that

Regards
Steve

[cornetmike]

hi Mikey

i dont have the Travel Computer so i cant opine on it for you

but i have to say i am shocked the USCF would simply make up something like that

Regards
Steve[/quote]


The USCF store did indeed make up something like that! Howerver, I wouldn't exactly blame the USCF. They sold their chess supply business some time ago to chesscafe.com. A portion of the proceeds still goes to support the USCF. (But the "member discount" is laughable. )

regards
Mikey

[Steve B]

They sold their chess supply business some time ago to chesscafe.com.
regards
Mikey

Hi Mikey

perhaps you should consider getting an oldie chess computer

for example The ....


Saitek President boasts a completely wooden board unlike the Stratos and Corona who have plastic playing surfaces surrounded by a thick wooden border

in several respects it is quite similar to the Citrine in that they are both totally wooden ,auto sensory's with an led on each square and both have a detachable display module which is not needed for game play
the Citrine however allows the user to access all of the computers features and options without the display module while in the President the module is needed to access all of the options




Sporting an elo of just under 2000(SS) i handed the President the White pieces and let the Citrine play black..


In the Game the President and Citrine were fairly close in search depths with both hitting 7-8 ply . node counts were higher for the Citrine reaching about 4000 while the President managed about 3300 on Avg.

the Citrine's small 12k book reared its ugly head again abandoning the hapless computer once again at move three but unlike the debacle against the Corona it was not down any material at that point and it came out of book with a +.33 PV

[White "Saitek President"]
[Black "Novag Citrine"]
[Time Control "Game 30min"]


1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 Bxc3+ 5.bxc3 d6 6.Nf3 O-O 7.Bd3 Bd7
8.O-O Bc6 9.Ba3 Nbd7 10.Rb1 Ne4 11.Qc2 Ndf6 12.Rb3 a6 13.Rfb1 Rb8 14.c5
d5 15.Qc1 Nd7 16.c4 f6 17.cxd5 exd5 18.Nd2 Nxd2 19.Qxd2 Re8
20.Bb2 Re7 21.Ba1 Ra8 22.a3 Kh8 23.R1b2

[d]r2q3k/1ppnr1pp/p1b2p2/2Pp4/3P4/PR1BP3/1R1Q1PPP/B5K1 w - - 0 23
A Rather bizarre position with Whites Bishop buried in on the first rank by its own pieces
the bishop will not move again until the game had already been decided
that however does not bother the President who evaluates its position here as +1.01 while the Citrine clocks in at -.08



23..Qc8 24.Bf5 g6 25.Bg4 Qd8 26.Bf3
Qc8 27.Rb4 a5 28.R4b3 Qg8 29.Rb1 a4 30.R3b2 Rae8 31.Bd1 Ra8 32.Rb4 Qe6
33.Bc2 Ree8 34.R1b2 Qf7 35.Qd3 f5 36.Qc3 Nf6 37.Rb1 h6 38.Qd3 Ne4
39.R4b2 Kg7 40.f3 Nf6 41.Rb4 Qe6 42.Re1 Qf7 43.Qc3 Qd7 44.e4

[d] r3r3/1ppq2k1/2b2npp/2Pp1p2/pR1PP3/P1Q2P2/2B3PP/B3R1K1 w - - 0 44
with the material even and the game slipping into a draw the President embarks on a series of aggressive exchanges beginning with this pawn thrust

44.. fxe4 45.fxe4 Nxe4 ??
[d] r3r3/1ppq2k1/2b3pp/2Pp4/pR1Pn3/P1Q5/2B3PP/B3R1K1 w - - 0 46
in what can only be described as the worst blunder by a dedicated chess computer in the new Millennium, the Citrine blunders away a whole piece
not even short of time and responding instantly because of a ponder hit it misses Whites 48th move ..only 5 ply away

46.Bxe4 Rxe4 47.Rxe4 dxe4 48.d5+

[d] r7/1ppq2k1/2b3pp/2PP4/pR2p3/P1Q5/6PP/B5K1 w - - 0 48
the sting at the end of the serpent's tail
Blacks bishop is lost and with it.. the game

48.. Kh7 49.dxc6 bxc6 50.Rxe4
Rf8 51.h4 Qd1+ 52.Kh2 Qd7 53.Rxa4 g5 54.Rd4 Qf7 55.a4 Re8 56.a5 gxh4
57.Qd3+ Kg8 58.Rg4+ Kf8 59.Bg7+ Qxg7 60.Rxg7 Kxg7 61.Qd7+ Kf8 62.Qxc6
Kf7 63.a6 Ke7 64.a7 Rc8 65.a8=Q Rxa8 66.Qxa8

FINAL POSITION
[d] Q7/2p1k3/7p/2P5/7p/8/6PK/8 w - - 0 66
i ended it here

an abysmal game ,however the Citrine is still a very beautiful wooden board and of course these few games mean nothing
not to mention the fact that the Citrine seems to already be SOLDOUT Worldwide..making it an instant Collectors Item

Excalibur Mirage II .. Due Out Soon Regards
Steve

[utzinger]

Hi Steve
I have no access to the URL's you have posted.
Regards
Kurt

[Steve B]

Hi Steve
I have no access to the URL's you have posted.
Regards
Kurt

hi Kurt

do you mean the links from the very beginning of the thread from page 1?

since then i had to change my web site address so those links will no longer work

can you see the links from the last 5 pages or so??

Regards
Steve
PS.very happy to see you here again!