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Frequently Asked QuestionsGeneral questionsWhat is GNU Backgammon?What operating systems are supported?Where do I get it?What do I have to pay for GNU Backgammon?This GNU stuff sounds interesting.I want to learn more about backgammon.Though I backgammon history really read all the documentation I still have questions.I want to make backgammon tournaments a few proposals. I travel backgammon have new ideas.How to installWhere do I find an installable version for my operating system?Do I need some backgammon rules other software to run GNU Backgammon?I want to install a newer version.I would like to compile it from the source code.What software do I need for compiling under GNU/Linux?What software do I need for compiling under MS Windows?It backgammon type does not compile.On what CPU will GNU Backgammon run fastest?Starting gnubgI get an error message when starting.GNU Backgammon complains about backgammon cheat missing files.Starting backgammon tournaments from tournaments the WinXP menu it plays like a beginner.My screen mixes up backgammon while starting GNU Backgammon.I only get a command-line interface. Where is the nice board?When I restart GNU Backgammon all backgammon official rule my settings are gone.I do not need this graphical stuff. Where is the terminal for commands?Playing backgammonWhat is the difference of a new game or match or session?What the heck is backgammon tournaments a tasmanian backgammon beaver in Backgammon?How do I move the chequers?Why am I allowed to place more than 5 chequers on a point?GNU Backgammon plays poorly.GNU Backgammon is too strong for me.I think the bot is backgammon table cheating. It always gets good dice.SettingsWhere can I change the name backgammon software of the human player?How do I change the colours?How do I stop the annoying beeps?"What are "Plies?"What is "noise?"What is "reduced evaluation?"AnalysingWhat are these funny letters at backgammon tournaments the right tournaments play yahoo backgammon bottom?How do I set up a position manually?Which formats must I use to import positions?Which backgammon tournaments formats must I use to import matches?How can I switch the players sides?What do "!" and "?" mean?How is the play 65 backgammon backgammon error rate determined?What does backgammon rules and setup "Pips" mean?What does "epc" mean?DatabasesWhat is the `Database' menu for?Abbreviations"GWC"?"MWC"?"DP"?"CP"?"TG"?"epc"?
Frequently Asked Questions
General questions
What is GNU Backgammon?
GNU Backgammon (gnubg) is software for playing and analysing backgammon positions, games and matches. It??Ts based on a neural network. Though it already plays on a very high level, it??Ts still backgammon tournaments a work in progress. You may play GNU Backgammon using the command line or a backgammon sets graphical interface (based on GTK+).
What operating systems are supported?
Currently, GNU Backgammon is actually designed for GNU/Linux. It also compiles and (hopefully) runs under instructions to play backgammon *BSD, IRIX, Solaris and True64 Unix. Last but not least there are frequently binaries for MS Windows and MS DOS. It has also tournaments been ported backgammon to MacOS. When you successfully port GNU download backgammon game Backgammon to other operating systems, you are welcome to give us a note at bug-gnubg@gnu.org.
Where backgammon tournaments do I get it?
The official instructions to play backgammon website is http://www.gnubg.org. The source code for GNU Backgammon can be dowloaded as a source tarball. There is also a daily snapshot of the source code here. You can also get the source code through backgammon table CVS. MS Windows binaries are available at this page. GNU/Linux RPMs are also available at this page.
What do I have to pay backgammon for backgammon tournaments backgammon tournaments GNU Backgammon?
GNU Backgammon is Free Software and is a part of the GNU Project. You may download it for free. For more information see the GNU General Public License. But be aware that GNU Backgammon is backgammon free gamedesire not public domain software or shareware as you perhaps know from MS Windows.
This GNU stuff sounds interesting.
Take a look backgammon software at tournaments the GNU home page. It??Ts also the page backgammon tournaments for Free Software Foundation.
I want to learn more about backgammon.
A good place to start is Backgammon Galore. For an extensive link collection, go to Gammon backgammon Links.
Though I really read all the documentation backgammon shoveit.com yahoo I still have questions.
Send an email to the gnubg-mailinglist. If it is a bug, be sure to include the name of your operating system, the version of gnubg you use, play 65 and any error messages you receive. Try to describe exactly what happens before the error occurs.
I want to make a backgammon tournaments few proposals. I online backgammon gambling have new ideas.
You??Tre welcome! Send an email with your backgammon suggestions to gnubg-mailinglist.
How to backgammon tournaments install
Where do I find an installable version for my free internet backgammon operating system?
For MS Windows, visit this site. GNU/Linux RPMs are available at this page. For installation on Mac OSX, backgammon you should read this page.
Do I need some other software to run online backgammon gambling GNU Backgammon?
No. Everything you need is included in the binaries.
If you want to use the 3D board version play65 play 65 on Linux, you might have to install the additional libraries that backgammon tournaments can be found as well on this page. (acepoints directory)
I want to install a newer version.
If you are backgammon variety using a MS Windows operating system, make backgammon backgammon board set up a copy of either .gnubgrc or .gnubgautorc and .gnubgmenurc. You will find tournaments them either in ??~c:??T or the home directory of your GNU Backgammon (for instance: c:\Program Files\gnubg\). After you have installed the new version, copy them back.
If you are working with GNU/Linux, these files are probably in your backgammon game boards home directory backgammon tournaments (`~/??T). They won??Tt be overwritten by installing a new version of GNU Backgammon, but it??Ts always a good backgammon accessory idea to have a backup of them.
I would like to compile it from the source code.
Good luck to you! backgammon news Download the source code and make sure to read one of the following two items: What software do I need for compiling backgammon tournaments under GNU/Linux?, What software do I need for compiling under MS Windows?.
What software do I need for compiling under GNU/Linux?
Unpack the GNU Backgammon snapshots and follow doubling cube the instructions of the file `INSTALL??T.
What software do I need for compiling under tournaments free backgammon software MS Windows?
Nardy Pillards has published backgammon tournaments a fine instruction guide at http://users.skynet.be/bk228456/GNUBgW.htm. Go to this page and follow the steps shown there.
(Unfortunately this page seems to be gone, for now follow the instructions at tournaments http://www.gnubg.org/index.php?itemid=50.)
It does not compile.
Check that you have installed all necessary development pogo backgammon packages.
Look for warnings or errors during compiling. If you still don??Tt get a clue, send a message to the gnubg-mailinglist.
On what CPU will GNU Backgammon run fastest?
Here is a list backgammon back door of CPU and Evaluations tournaments backgammon com it shove per second (Analyse??'Evaluation Speed).
Feel free to add your CPU:
Evals/sec
CPU
System/Mainboard
RAM
OS
GNUBG-Version
28000
Intel Core Duo 1.66 GHz
Mac mini Core Duo
512 MB
Win XP SP2
0.14-mingw
27000
Intel Pentium M 735 (1.7 backgammon tournaments GHz)
AOpen 1557-J
1024 MB
Win XP SP2
0.14-mingw
26000
Celeron 331 2.66 GHz
Dell Dimension 3100
512 MB
Win backgammon tournaments XP SP2
0.14.3-devel
24500
Sempron 2800+ (rev E6@2000 MHz)
Asus K8V-X
768 MB
Win XP SP2
0.14.3-devel
23000
P4 yahoo backgammon game 2.8 GHz
Asus P4P800D
1024 MB
Win XP SP2
0.14.3-devel
21759
Athlon64 3000+ (32bit mode)
Acer Aspire 1522
512 MB
Kubuntu 5.04
0.14.3-devel
20120
Athlon XP free backgammon 2500+ (@1833 Mhz)
MSI K7N-Delta2
1024 MB
Suse Linux 9.2
0.14.3-devel
20200
Pentium M 1.7 GHz
Sony Vaio Z1XSP
512 MB
FreeBSD 5.2
19515
Intel Pentium M 0.8 GHz tournaments 1)
Sony Vaio PCG-SRX51P
256 free backgammon on line MB
Fedora FC6(T3)
0.14.3-devel
19200
Pentium M 1.6 GHz
IBM X41
1024 MB
Win XP SP2
0.14.3-devel
16900
P4 2 GHz
?
256 MB
Win 2000
0.14-devel
13000*
AMD 1GHz
Jetway
1536 MB
Win 2000
0.14-devel
10506
Intel Pentium M 0.8 GHz
Sony Vaio PCG-SRX51P
256 MB
Windows XP(SP2)
0.14-mingw
6200
celeron 650 MHz
toshiba tournaments playing backgammon in your browser laptop
256 MB
Win me
0.14-devel
* Highly variable: 12000 .. backgammon tournaments 13700
1) According to cat /proc/cpuinfo
Starting gnubg
I get an error message when starting.
Well, your computer backgammon set up wants to communicate with you. Give it a chance and backgammon tournaments read (and try to understand) what it is telling you. Then read the next items carefully:
GNU Backgammon complains about missing files.
GNU Backgammon tournaments play yahoo backgammon reads several different files at startup. It will first try to read a file called backgammon betting gnubg.wd. This is a file which contains all the neural net weights and is necessary for the program to evaluate positions. If this file is not found, or found corrupted or with an incompatible version, GNU Backgammon will search for a weights file called gnubg.weights. This file also contains the neural net free backgammon on line weights, but is stored in ASCII format. backgammon book If none of these files are found, GNU tournaments Backgammon will start, but it will give you a warning about these missing files, and it will play very poorly.
GNU Backgammon will also read backgammon tournaments the bearoff tournaments backgammon tournaments backgammon history databases at startup. There are usually backgammon betting two bearoff databases. The first is called gnubg_os0.bd, and has stored data about the bearoff probabilities of all position where both players have 15 or fewer chequers left on their six home board points. If this file is not found, GNU Backgammon will create a heuristic bearoff database for these positions. This database is a play backgammon online money also called the ??~One Sided Database??T, since it evaluates each player separately. The other bearoff database is playing backgammon in your browser called gnubg_ts0.bd. This bearoff database contains win probabilities for all bearoff positions with six or less chequers. It also contains cubeful tournaments equities (Money tournaments Game) for all the positions. If this file is not found at startup, GNU Backgammon will travel backgammon set evaluate late bearoff positions with the one sided bearoff database.
Starting from backgammon tournaments the WinXP menu it plays like a beginner.
Open the MS backgammon casino online Windows menu and go to the entry for gnubg. Right-click with the mouse and choose `properties??T. Check, if the `working path??T is the same directory as the `*.exe??T-file one line above. If not, adjust the working path.
My play65 real money screen mixes up while starting GNU Backgammon.
Install the newest driver backgammon tournament for backgammon tournaments your graphic card. Be sure that you have chosen at least a desktop resolution of 65535 (16 bit colour depth). If your card is a ATI Rage ??�somewhat??� there backgammon betting still might be some tournaments problems with the graphical interface (GTK+)and MS backgammon Windows.
I only get a command-line interface. Where is the nice board?
Using MS Windows, backgammon strategy backgammon tournaments just click on the correct menu entry (`GNU Backgammon for windows??T). If it still doesn??Tt work, check whether `c:\[path-to-your-gnubg]\gnubg.exe??T exists or not.
GNU/Linux users should check if GTK+ is installed.
When I restart GNU free online backgammon Backgammon all my settings are gone.
Did you save your settings (menu: Settings??'Save settings) before you quit?
I do not nabisco backgammon need this graphical stuff. Where is the terminal for commands?
For GNU/Linux users: open a terminal and start gnubg with the option -t.
MS Windows users: Look for a file called gnubg-no-gui.exe in GNU Backgammons install directory or open backgammon strategy the MS backgammon tournaments Windows menu backgammon tournaments Run??� and type yahoo backgammon game c:\[path-to-your-gnubg]\gnubg-no-gui.exe. There is also a menu entry GNU Backgammon Command Line Interface.
Playing backgammon
What is the difference of a new game or match backgammon or session?
When you start a new match, you will be asked to play to a certain backgammon game amount of points (for example, 7 points). The player who firstly backgammon backgammon masters reaches this amount wins the match.
Starting a new session means playing to an infinite amount. Be aware that the rules do slightly differ then. You may break this session backgammon tournaments at any point and save it.
If you choose to play a new game, GNU Backgammon will open play backgammon on line backgammon tournaments the last saved match or tournaments session you quit. When there is no saved match or session you will start a new infinite session.
What the heck is a beaver in Backgammon?
A pogo backgammon beaver is only allowed in a money game session. To beaver means to redouble, retaining control of the cube, immediately after your opponent tournaments doubles. For backgammon supply more information see the glossary at Backgammon Galore.
How do I move the chequers?
The easiest way to move chequers is to ??�drag and backgammon tournaments drop.??� Put your mouse pointer over a chequer you want play backgammon online free to move, press the left mouse button and drag the chequer to backgammon the desired point, holding down the button while backgammon rules dragging.
If you prefer to use mouse clicks, the left mouse button is for the left die shown on your board. Right backgammon com it backgammon shove click your mouse for the right die.
If you backgammon tournaments always want the higher number displayed on the left, backgammon game go to the menu Settings??'Appearance??'General and select Show higher die on left.
Why am I allowed to place more than backgammon 5 chequers on a point?
The official backgammon tournament rules allow to put all 15 chequers on a point. If you want to play with a maximum play backgammon online money of 5 chequers, go to the menu Settings and activate the Egyptian Rule. Note: The Egyptian Rule is not in the standard rules of backgammon. tournaments backgammon tournaments play backgammon online money The position evaluator in GNU Backgammon doesn??Tt have a clue about how to evaluate positions backgammon according to the Egyptian rule backgammon tournaments either. It strongly recommended that this rule is not used if backgammon game rules you??Tre trying to learn backgammon.
GNU Backgammon plays poorly.
Are you sure? If the answer is yes you should think about going to Monte Carlo backgammon supply this summer and win the Backgammon World Championship.
If this plan fails, check whether the weights file is loaded at startup. See also GNU Backgammon complains about missing files.
GNU Backgammon is too strong for cheat for backgammon on pogo me.
Go to the menu Settings??'Players and change the values for Player 0. There is also a set of predefined settings you may choose from.
I think the bot backgammon tournaments is cheating. It always gets good dice.
In its backgammon boards default configuration, the dice generator does not cheat. In the menu Settings you may backgammon tournaments choose between different random dice generators. tournaments If you still think GNU free online backgammon Backgammon is cheating, program your own dice generator or roll manually. It tournaments doesn??Tt cheat!
Settings
Where can I change the name of the human player?
Go to the menu Settings??'Players ??� and click on Player 1. At backgammon board set up the top backgammon board there is a field to change the human player??Ts name.
How do I change the colours?
Go to the menu `Settings??'Appearance??T. Here you may change the colour of chequers, the points and the board itself.
How do I backgammon tournaments stop the annoying beeps?"
Go to the menu `Settings??'Appearance??T and click on the `General??T tab backgammon cheat at the right. Disable the option `Beep on illegal input??T.
What are "Plies?"
A ply describes how far GNU Backgammon evaluates the position. ??�0-ply??� means that GNU Backgammon estimates the worth of the position as rules to play backgammon it is. A ??�1-ply??� evaluation looks one step deeper. GNU Backgammon also evaluates positions that may occur on further rolls. ??�2-ply??� is another roll further and backgammon tournaments so on.
The more plies you choose, backgammon piece the more you strengthen GNU Backgammon. Keep in mind that this will also decrease the playing cheat for backgammon on pogo speed.
Note also that ??�0-ply??� in GNU Backgammon is equivalent to the ??�1-ply??� evaluation of Snowie.
It??Ts possible that Snowie??Ts is play backgammon online a playing ply while GnuBg??Ts is a position evaluation ply. When playing at 1-ply Snowie will make each possible move for the player??Ts roll (that??Ts 1 ply) and analyse the resulting positions. Playing at 2-ply it will take each of those positions play65 and make all the opponent moves for all possible rolls (the 2nd ply) and then analyse the resulting positions. In GnuBg the initial set backgammon strategy of possible moves is taken for granted, ie. not counted as a ply, because GnuBg??Ts plies are position evaluation plies. Thus, for each of those possible moves a 0-ply analysis is done. GnuBg??Ts discounting of the first set backgammon variety of moves perhaps backgammon masters makes the counting seem funny.
Looking at it a different way, if you give GnuBg a position and analyse it at 1-ply, it will make all the moves for all possible rolls (the 1st ply) and then analyse the resulting positions. With Snowie it will assume that the position arose from a move (that??Ts a pretend 1st ply) then make all the internet backgammon game moves for all possible rolls (the 2nd ply) and analyse them. This time it??Ts Snowie that seems to be counting backgammon news strangely.
What is "noise?"
Noise is a facility for disturbing GNU Backgammon??Ts 0-ply evaluation. Raising the noise level decreases its playing strength.
What is "reduced evaluation?"
Reduced searches only work with 2-ply evaluations and deeper. It cuts the search backgammon shoveit.com yahoo for candidate moves to increase evaluation speed.
Analysing
What msn backgammon are these funny letters at the right bottom?
You will find two small windows titled `Position??T and `Match ID??T at the bottom of the GNU Backgammon window. Here you may use the `position_id??T- or `match_id??T-format for setting up or copying positions.
An explanation of both formats will how to play backgammon follow in GNU Backgammon??Ts documentation (hopefully soon).
How do I set up a position manually?
Open a gammonempire new game, match or session. If gnubg already rolls the dice, don??Tt bother. Press `edit??T, and either type the position_id and press Enter on your backgammon board game keyboard, or use the mouse to set up the chequers.
A mouse click at the border of the board empties the point. A left or right click backgammon board game sets up a certain amount of chequers depending on where exactly on the pip you click. Set zone backgammon up the cube with a right mouse click on it.
You can also drag and drop chequers when holding down the Ctrl key.
Finally, go to the menu and select `Game, Set turn??T to choose the player on roll. The dice will then disappear.
Which formats must real money backgammon I use to import positions?
Currently only `*.pos??T by Jellyfish are supported.
Which backgammon online yahoo formats must I use to import matches?
You may import .mat by Jellyfish or .ssg by Gamesgrid. There is also support for .tmg files from TrueMoneyGames. Also supported is the oldmove format used on Fibs.
How can backgammon checkers I switch the players sides?
Go to the menu `Game??T and backgammon book click on `Swap players??T.
What do "!" and "?" mean?
After analysing a game or a match GNU Backgammon is able to do some comments on chequer play or cube decisions. Open the menu `Window, Game record??T and you will see a list of the moves. If the actual move or cube backgammon table decision differs from the best, GNU Backgammon will put a comment on it.
The default settings are:
+0.040 (very good): Not in use yet
+0.020 (good): Not in use yet
-0.040 backgammon tournaments (doubtful): ?!
-0.080 (bad): ?
-0.160 (very bad): ??
You may change these comment in the menu `Window, Annotation??T choosing another comment for moves and/or double.
[Note. Why a ? move should be backgammon accessory deemed worse than a ?! move - that??Ts one of life??Ts little mysteries.]
How is the error rate determined?
GNU Backgammon determines a player??Ts strength according to her average error (per move):
Average Error
Skill Level
0.000 .. 0.005
Extra-terrestrial
0.005 .. 0.010
World class
0.010 .. 0.015
Expert
0.015 .. backgammon table 0.020
Advanced
0.020 .. 0.025
Intermediate
0.025 .. 0.030
Beginner
0.030 ..
Novice
After backgammon rules and setup analysing a game, match or session you can see the summary in the menu `Analyse, ??� statistics??T. Note that you can??Tt change the ranges of these values.
What does "Pips" mean?
The pip count is a measurement showing the total number of pips required for a player to bear off all play 65 chequers from the current position. It can be regarded as a rough estimate of the ??�raceness??� of the position ??" a player with a lower pip count may in many situations want to try to race, whilst the opponent (with the higher pip count) may want to try blocking/holding. See also the explanation on BackGammon Galore.
(For the non-native-english speaking community it might be helpful to know that when you roll a six and a five, the total pips of that roll is eleven.)
What does "epc" mean?
When bearing off chequers, you may notice a display showing the current epc value (next to the display of Pips). The epc display can be turned on or off under menu Settings ??" Options ??" Display (at least in the current version, as of June 2005).
epc stands for Effective Pip Count, and is an alternative measurement of the ??�goodness??� of the position. The usual pip count can be a misleading ??�goodness??� estimate when both players are bearing off. What is more important (for making cubing decisions) is the expected number of rolls each player needs to bear off her chequers.
The effective pipcount is defined as this excpected number of remaining rolls, muliplied with the average number of pips in a roll, which is 8.167. (The average number of pips in a roll would be 7 if rolling a double wouldn??Tt yield a double pip count ??" i.e a double-6 yields 24 pips, not 12.)
Thus, epc takes into account not only the current pip count, but also the expected pip wastage:
effective pip count (epc) = pip count + expected pip wastage
An example:
Position: 5 chequers on the 1-point, 4 chequers on the 2-point.
Pip count: 5?-1 + 4?-2 = 13
epc: 2.189 (expected number of remaining rolls) * 8.167 = 17.878
Wasted: 17.878 - 13 = 4.878
It??Ts clear (hopefully) that the expected pip wastage (and hence the epc) increases with more chequers on lower points (e.g. you get pip wastage when rolling a 6 to bear off a chequer from the 2- or 1-point).
It is further explained on BackGammon Galore, especially in a post by Douglas Zare.
How do one calculate the epc then, or the expected number of remaining rolls? Gnu BG uses a prepared database (is this correct?). A player would probably use some quite complicated heuristics (please see the aforementioned post by Douglas Zare, and do get back here and explain it!)
Databases
What is the `Database' menu for?
Go find a newer build if you still have the database.
Abbreviations
"GWC"?
??�GWC??� is an abbreviation for game winning chances.
"MWC"?
??�MWC??� is an abbreviation for match winning chances.
"DP"?
In the menu `Analyse, Game/Match/Session statistics??T you will see a window with some statistics. Near the bottom, you??Tll see four lines beginning with `Missed ??� and Wrong ??�??T. ??�dp??� means ??�doubling point??� and describes a situation in the game, where you probably should have doubled your opponent.
"CP"?
Could someone expain this one please? [In the context of ??�Missed doubles (below CP)??� and ??�Missed doubles (above CP)??�].
CP = Cash-Point
From Max Friis page http://xfriis.dk/maxfriis/bg/double.html CP is:
??�your opponent??Ts take-point now seen from your side of the board (your cash-point which equals 100% minus your opponent??Ts take-point??�
If you are the leader in the match, the relevant take- and double-points will often look something like this (where TP*=CP):
The doubling windows (intervals) are:
[DP;CP] = Your doubling window! This window does not contain any information about redoubles but only the distance to the point where you do not want to play for the double amount of points.
[TP;DP] = 100% minus your opponent??Ts doubling window now.
[reTP;reDP] = 100% minus your opponent??Ts doubling window after he has taken.
"TG"?
??�TG??� is an abbreviation for ??�too good??� (to double). It points to a situation in the game, where you probably should have kept the cube (mostly because of decent, sometimes very good, gammon chances) rather than doubling out your opponent.
"epc"?
See What does "epc" mean?
This should be an internal link, not an external one. But I can??Tt figure out how to link internally to a subsection. Anyone?
gnu_backgammon_faq.txt · Last modified: 2006/10/06 11:31
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