This paper describes a method for the automatic evaluation of the Links-Gou
ld two-variable polynomial link invariant (LG) for any link, given only a b
raid presentation. This method is currently feasible for the evaluation of
LG for links for which we have a braid presentation of string index at most
5. Data are presented for the invariant, for all prime knots of up to 10 c
rossings and various other links. LG distinguishes between these links, and
also detects the chirality of those that are chiral. In this sense, it is
more sensitive than the well-known two-variable HOMFLY and Kauffman polynom
ials. When applied to examples which defeat the HOMFLY invariant, interesti
ngly, LG 'almost' fails. The automatic method is in fact applicable to the
evaluation of any such state sum invariant for which an appropriate R matri
x and cap and cup matrices have been determined.