GNU Backgammon Download: How to Play and Analyze Backgammon Games and Matches
Backgammon is one of the oldest and most popular board games in the world. It is a game of skill and strategy that involves moving your checkers around the board according to the roll of two dice. The objective is to move all your checkers into your home board and then bear them off before your opponent does.
If you are a fan of backgammon or want to learn how to play it better, you might be interested in GNU Backgammon, a free and open source software that plays and analyzes backgammon games and matches. In this article, we will explain what GNU Backgammon is, what are its features and benefits, how to download and install it on different platforms, and how to use it to play and improve your backgammon skills.
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Introduction
What is GNU Backgammon?
GNU Backgammon (GNUbg) is a software that plays and analyzes backgammon games and matches. It is based on a neural network that learns from its own experience and from a large database of professional games. It can play at different levels of difficulty, from beginner to expert, and can handle both money games and tournament matches. It can also evaluate and roll out positions, generate statistics and reports, export and import games in various formats, and more.
GNU Backgammon is part of the GNU Project, which aims to develop free software that respects the users' freedom and privacy. It is licensed under the GNU General Public License (GPL), which means that anyone can use, modify, and distribute it as long as they follow the same license terms.
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What are the features and benefits of GNU Backgammon?
GNU Backgammon has many features that make it a powerful tool for playing and analyzing backgammon. Some of them are:
A command line interface (with full command editing features if GNU readline is available) that lets you play matches and sessions against GNU Backgammon with a rough ASCII representation of the board on text terminals.
Support for a GTK+ interface with a graphical board window. 2D and 3D graphics are available.
Tournament match and money session cube handling and cubeful play. All governed by underlying cubeless money game based neural networks.
Support for both 1-sided and 2-sided bearoff databases: 1-sided bearoff database for 15 checkers on the first 6 points and optional 2-sided database kept in memory. Optional larger 1-sided and 2-sided databases stored on disk.
Automated rollouts of positions, with lookahead and variance reduction techniques. Rollouts may be extended.
Automatic and manual annotation (analysis and commentary) of games and matches.
Record keeping of statistics of players in games and matches (both native inside GNU Backgammon and externally using relational databases and Python).
Loading and saving of games and matches in various formats, including GNU Backgammon's own format, Snowie's text format, Jellyfish's format, and the portable game notation (PGN) format.
Importing of games and matches from various formats, including GNU Backgammon's own format, Snowie's text format, Jellyfish's format, the portable game notation (PGN) format, and the FIBS oldmoves/jpgs format.
Exporting of games and matches to HTML, LaTeX, PDF, PostScript, plain text, and XML formats.
Support for online play on FIBS (the First Internet Backgammon Server) and other servers that use the FIBS protocol.
A tutor mode that can give you hints and warnings about your moves and cube decisions.
A hint mode that can show you the best moves and cube actions for any position.
A match equity table (MET) editor that allows you to create and modify METs for different match lengths and scoring systems.
A position ID editor that allows you to enter and edit positions using a 14-digit alphanumeric code.
A dice generator that can produce random or pseudo-random dice rolls with different algorithms and seeds.
A board designer that lets you customize the appearance of the board, the checkers, the dice, and the sound effects.
Some of the benefits of using GNU Backgammon are:
You can improve your backgammon skills by playing against a strong opponent that adapts to your level of play.
You can learn from your mistakes by analyzing your games and matches with detailed feedback and statistics.
You can compare your performance with other players by using the rating system and the leaderboards.
You can explore different scenarios and strategies by setting up positions and running rollouts and simulations.
You can enjoy a variety of backgammon variants and options by changing the rules and settings of the game.
You can contribute to the development of free software by reporting bugs, suggesting features, translating messages, writing documentation, or donating money.
How to download and install GNU Backgammon
Downloading GNU Backgammon for different platforms
GNU Backgammon is available for different platforms, including Windows, Linux, Mac OS X, Android, iOS, and others. You can download it from the official website:
The website provides links to binary packages for Windows and Mac OS X, as well as source code packages for Linux and other Unix-like systems. You can also find links to other resources, such as documentation, forums, mailing lists, bug reports, feature requests, screenshots, videos, etc.
Installing GNU Backgammon on Windows
To install GNU Backgammon on Windows, you need to download the latest binary package from the website. The package is a self-extracting executable file that contains all the files needed to run GNU Backgammon. You can choose between a 32-bit version or a 64-bit version depending on your system architecture. The file name will look something like this: gnubg-1.06.002-20210621-x86_64-setup.exe
Once you have downloaded the file, you need to run it by double-clicking on it or right-clicking on it and choosing Run as administrator. You will see a welcome screen that asks you to choose a language for the installation. After that, you will see a license agreement screen that asks you to accept the terms of the GPL. Then you will see a destination folder screen that asks you to choose where to install GNU Backgammon. The default location is C:\Program Files\GNU Backgammon. You can change it if you want. Then you will see a start menu folder screen that asks you to choose where to create shortcuts for GNU Backgammon. The default location is GNU Backgammon. You can change it if you want. Then you will see a ready to install screen that shows you a summary of your choices. You can click Install to start the installation or go back to change any settings. The installation will take a few minutes. When it is done, you will see a finish screen that tells you that GNU Backgammon has been installed successfully. You can click Finish to exit the installer or check the box to launch GNU Backgammon immediately.
Installing GNU Backgammon on Linux
To install GNU Backgammon on Linux, you need to download the latest source code package from the website. The package is a compressed tar archive file that contains all the files needed to compile and install GNU Backgammon. You can choose between a stable version or a development version depending on your preference. The file name will look something like this: gnubg-release-1.06.002-sources.tar.gz
Once you have downloaded the file, you need to extract it to a directory of your choice. You can use a graphical tool like File Roller or Ark, or a command line tool like tar. For example, if you downloaded the file to your Downloads folder, you can open a terminal and type:
cd /Downloads tar xzf gnubg-release-1.06.002-sources.tar.gz
This will create a folder called gnubg-release-1.06.002 in your Downloads folder. You need to enter this folder and run the configure script to check for the dependencies and set up the compilation options. You can use a command like this:
cd gnubg-release-1.06.002 ./configure
The configure script will output some messages about the features and libraries that it detects on your system. You might need to install some additional packages if some dependencies are missing or outdated. You can use your package manager (such as apt, yum, pacman, etc.) to install them. For example, on Debian-based systems, you can use a command like this:
sudo apt-get install libgtk2.0-dev libglib2.0-dev libxml2-dev python-dev
Once the configure script finishes successfully, you can start the compilation process by running the make command. This will take some time depending on your system's speed and resources. You can use a command like this:
make
When the compilation is done, you can install GNU Backgammon on your system by running the make install command as root or with sudo privileges. This will copy the executable files and the data files to the appropriate locations on your system. You can use a command like this:
sudo make install
Alternatively, you can run GNU Backgammon from the source directory without installing it by using the src/gnubg command.
Installing GNU Backgammon on Mac OS X
To install GNU Backgammon on Mac OS X, you need to download the latest binary package from the website. The package is a disk image file that contains an application bundle that you can drag and drop to your Applications folder or any other location of your choice. The file name will look something like this: gnubg-1-06-002-mac-x86_64.dmg
Once you have downloaded the file, you need to mount it by double-clicking on it or right-clicking on it and choosing Open With -> DiskImageMounter. You will see a window that shows the GNU Backgammon icon and a shortcut to your Applications folder. You can drag and drop the GNU Backgammon icon to your Applications folder or any other location of your choice. You can also eject the disk image by right-clicking on it and choosing Eject.
How to play and analyze backgammon games and matches with GNU Backgammon
Starting GNU Backgammon
To start GNU Backgammon, you need to launch it from your menu, desktop, or terminal depending on how you installed it. You will see a main window that shows a graphical board with two sets of checkers (white and red), two dice cups (one for each player), and a doubling cube (a six-sided die that indicates the stakes of the game). You will also see a menu bar with various options and commands, and a status bar with some information about the game.
Playing a game against GNU Backgammon or another human player
To play a game against GNU Backgammon or another human player, you need to choose the Game -> New Game option from the menu bar or press Ctrl+N. You will see a dialog box that asks you to choose the type of game (money game or match), the length of the match (if applicable), the level of difficulty (from beginner to expert), and the color of your checkers (white or red). You can also choose whether you want to play against GNU Backgammon or another human player on the same computer or over a network.
After you have made your choices, you can click OK to start the game. The game will follow the standard rules of backgammon, which you can find in many online resources or books. The basic idea is that each player rolls two dice and moves their checkers according to the numbers shown on the dice. The objective is to move all your checkers into your home board (the quadrant opposite to your opponent's home board) and then bear them off (remove them from the board) before your opponent does. You can also capture your opponent's checkers by landing on a point occupied by a single checker of the opposite color. You can double the stakes of the game by offering the doubling cube to your opponent, who can either accept it or resign the game. The first player to reach the agreed number of points (or the highest score in a money game) wins the game.
To roll the dice, you need to click on your dice cup or press Enter. To move your checkers, you need to drag and drop them with your mouse or use the arrow keys and the space bar. To offer or accept the doubling cube, you need to click on it or press D. To resign the game, you need to choose the Game -> Resign option from the menu bar or press R. To end the game, you need to choose the Game -> End Game option from the menu bar or press E.
Getting hints and tutor mode
If you want some help or advice from GNU Backgammon, you can use the hint mode or the tutor mode. The hint mode shows you the best moves and cube actions for any position, while the tutor mode warns you if you make a bad move or cube decision and suggests a better alternative.
To use the hint mode, you need to choose the Hint -> Hint option from the menu bar or press H. You will see a dialog box that shows you the best moves and cube actions for both players, along with their evaluations and probabilities. You can also see a graphical representation of the moves on the board. You can close the dialog box by clicking OK or pressing Esc.
To use the tutor mode, you need to choose the Hint -> Tutor Mode option from the menu bar or press T. You will see a check mark next to the option indicating that it is enabled. When you make a move or a cube action, GNU Backgammon will compare it with its own suggestion and warn you if there is a significant difference in equity (the expected value of the position). You will see a dialog box that shows you your move or cube action and GNU Backgammon's suggestion, along with their evaluations and probabilities. You can also see a graphical representation of both options on the board. You can choose to accept your move or cube action by clicking OK or pressing Enter, or to take GNU Backgammon's suggestion by clicking Take Suggestion or pressing S.
Setting up a position
If you want to set up a specific position on the board, you can use the edit mode. The edit mode allows you to place, remove, or move checkers on any point, as well as change the dice rolls and the doubling cube value.
To enter the edit mode, you need to choose the Edit -> Edit Mode option from the menu bar or press E. You will see a dialog box that shows you some options for editing the position. You can close it by clicking OK or pressing Esc.
To place a checker on a point, you need to click on an empty point or drag and drop a checker from another point. To remove a checker from a point, you need to right-click on it or drag and drop it outside the board. To move a checker from one point to another, you need to drag and drop it with your mouse. To change the dice rolls, you need to click on the dice cup or the dice and enter the numbers you want. To change the doubling cube value, you need to click on the cube and enter the number you want.
To exit the edit mode, you need to choose the Edit -> Edit Mode option from the menu bar or press E again. You will see a dialog box that asks you if you want to save the changes or discard them. You can click Save or press Enter to save the changes, or click Discard or press Esc to discard them.
Working with matches
If you want to play a series of games with a fixed number of points to win, you can use the match mode. The match mode allows you to play a match against GNU Backgammon or another human player, as well as load, save, import, export, and analyze matches.
To start a new match, you need to choose the Game -> New Match option from the menu bar or press Ctrl+M. You will see a dialog box that asks you to choose the length of the match (from 1 to 25 points), the level of difficulty (from beginner to expert), and the color of your checkers (white or red). You can also choose whether you want to play against GNU Backgammon or another human player on the same computer or over a network.
After you have made your choices, you can click OK to start the match. The match will consist of a series of games that follow the standard rules of backgammon, with some additional rules for scoring and doubling. The first player to reach or exceed the agreed number of points wins the match. You can see the current score and the Crawford rule status on the status bar.
To load an existing match, you need to choose the File -> Load Match option from the menu bar or press Ctrl+L. You will see a file chooser dialog that lets you browse and select a match file in GNU Backgammon's own format (.sgf) or other supported formats (.mat, .txt, .oldmoves, .jpgs). You can also choose whether you want to load the match as read-only or editable.
To save a match, you need to choose the File -> Save Match option from the menu bar or press Ctrl+S. You will see a file chooser dialog that lets you enter a file name and select a location and a format for saving the match. The default format is GNU Backgammon's own format (.sgf), but you can also choose other supported formats (.mat, .txt).
To import a match from another format, you need to choose the File -> Import Match option from the menu bar or press Ctrl+I. You will see a file chooser dialog that lets you browse and select a match file in one of the supported formats (.pgn, .oldmoves, .jpgs). You can also choose whether you want to import the match as read-only or editable.
To export a match to another format, you need to choose the File -> Export Match option from the menu bar or press Ctrl+E. You will see a file chooser dialog that lets you enter a file name and select a location and a format for exporting the match. You can choose from various formats, such as HTML, LaTeX, PDF, PostScript, plain text, and XML.
To analyze a match, you need to choose the Analysis -> Analyse Match option from the menu bar or press Ctrl+A. You will see a dialog box that lets you choose the level of analysis (from very fast to very thorough), the type of analysis (cubeful or cubeless), and the output format (text or HTML). You can also choose whether you want to analyze the whole match or only a part of it, and whether you want to include rollouts or not. After you have made your choices, you can click OK to start the analysis. The analysis will take some time depending on the length of the match and the level of analysis. When it is done, you will see a report that shows you the errors and blunders made by both players, along with their evaluations and probabilities. You can also see a graphical representation of the moves and cube actions on the board.
Conclusion and FAQs
In this article, we have introduced GNU Backgammon, a free and open source software that plays and analyzes backgammon games and matches. We have explained what GNU Backgammon is, what are its features and benefits, how to download and install it on different platforms, and how to use it to play and improve your backgammon skills. We hope that you have found this article useful and informative, and that you will enjoy using GNU Backgammon as much as we do.
Here are some frequently asked questions about GNU Backgammon:
Q: How can I get help or support for GNU Backgammon?
A: You can get help or support for GNU Backgammon by visiting the official website: . There you can find links to documentation, forums, mailing lists, bug reports, feature requests, and more. You can also contact the developers and contributors directly by email or IRC.
Q: How can I contribute to GNU Backgammon?
A: You can contribute to GNU Backgammon by reporting bugs, suggesting features, translating messages, writing documentation, donating money, or joining the development team. You can find more information on how to contribute on the official website: .
Q: How can I update GNU Backgammon to the latest version?
A: You can update GNU Backgammon to the latest version by downloading and installing it from the official website: . You can also use your package manager (such as apt, yum, pacman, etc.) to update it if it is available in your repositories.
Q: How can I play online with GNU Backgammon?
A: You can play online with GNU Backgammon by connecting to FIBS (the First Internet Backgammon Server) or other servers that use the FIBS protocol. You need to choose the File -> Connect option from the menu bar or press Ctrl+O. You will see a dialog box that asks you to enter your username and password for FIBS or another server. If you don't have an account yet, you can create one by choosing the File -> Register option from the menu bar or pressing Ctrl+R. You will see a dialog box that asks you to enter your desired username and password for FIBS or another server. After you have logged in, you can see a list of players online and invite them to play a game or a match with you.
Q: How can I customize GNU Backgammon?
A: You can customize GNU Backgammon by changing its settings and preferences. You need to choose the Edit -> Preferences option from the menu bar or press Ctrl+P. You will see a dialog box that lets you change various options for GNU Backgammon, such as board appearance, sound effects, dice generator, neural network, tutor mode, hint mode, analysis mode, etc. You can also use the board designer to create your own board themes.
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