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Frequently Asked QuestionsGeneral questionsWhat is GNU Backgammon?What operating systems are supported?Where do I party gammon get it?What do backgammon I have to pay for GNU Backgammon?This GNU stuff sounds interesting.I want to learn more about backgammon.Though I really read all backgammon rules and setup the documentation I still have questions.I want to make a few proposals. I have new ideas.How to installWhere do I find an installable version for my operating system?Do backgammon set up I need some 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 backgammon history MS Windows?It does not compile.On what CPU will GNU Backgammon run fastest?Starting gnubgI get an error message when starting.GNU play 65 Backgammon yahoo backgammon game complains about missing files.Starting from the WinXP menu it game plays like a beginner.My screen mixes up while starting GNU Backgammon.I only get a command-line interface. Where is the nice board?When backgammon shoveit.com yahoo I restart GNU Backgammon all my settings are gone.I do not need this graphical stuff. Where is the yahoo backgammon game terminal for commands?Playing backgammonWhat is play 65 backgammon the difference of a new game or match or session?What the heck is a beaver in Backgammon?How do I move the chequers?Why am I allowed to place more than 5 chequers on online backgammon for real money a point?GNU Backgammon plays poorly.GNU Backgammon is too strong for me.I think the bot is cheating. It always gets game good backgammon calendar dice.SettingsWhere can I change the name of yahoo backgammon game the human player?How do I change the colours?How do I stop the annoying beeps?"What zone backgammon are "Plies?"What is "noise?"What is "reduced evaluation?"AnalysingWhat are these funny letters at the right bottom?How do I set yahoo up a position manually?Which formats must I use to import positions?Which formats must I use to import matches?How can I switch yahoo backgammon game the players sides?What do "!" and jelly fish backgammon "?" mean?How is the error rate determined?What does "Pips" mean?What does "epc" mean?DatabasesWhat is the `Database' menu for?Abbreviations"GWC"?"MWC"?"DP"?"CP"?"TG"?"epc"?
Frequently Asked play backgammon online 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 a work in progress. You may backgammon for money play GNU Backgammon using the command line or a graphical interface (based on GTK+).
What operating systems are supported?
Currently, GNU Backgammon is actually designed for GNU/Linux. It also backgammon set up compiles yahoo yahoo backgammon game and (hopefully) runs under *BSD, IRIX, Solaris and True64 Unix. Last but not least there are frequently binaries for MS Windows and MS DOS. It has also been ported to MacOS. When you successfully port GNU Backgammon zone.com backgammon to other operating systems, you are welcome to give us a note at bug-gnubg@gnu.org.
Where do I get it?
The official website is yahoo backgammon game http://www.gnubg.org. The source code for GNU Backgammon can be dowloaded as a source tarball. zone.com backgammon There is also a daily snapshot of the source code backgammon type here. You can also backgammon get the source code through yahoo backgammon game CVS. MS Windows binaries are available yahoo at this page. GNU/Linux RPMs are also available at this page.
What do I have to pay for 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 free backgammon on line the GNU General Public License. But be aware that GNU Backgammon is not public domain software or shareware as backgammon kurnik you perhaps know from MS Windows.
This GNU stuff sounds interesting.
Take a look at the yahoo backgammon game GNU home page. It??Ts also the page for Free Software Foundation.
I want to learn more about backgammon.
A good place to backgammon news start is Backgammon Galore. For an extensive link collection, go to Gammon Links.
Though I really read all the documentation I still have questions.
Send an email to the gnubg-mailinglist. If it is a bug, backgammon for real money be sure to include the name of your backgammon tournaments backgammon yahoo backgammon game operating system, the version of gnubg you use, and any error messages you receive. Try to describe game exactly what happens before the error occurs.
I want to make a few proposals. I have new ideas.
You??Tre welcome! Send an email with your suggestions to yahoo backgammon game gnubg-mailinglist.
How to install
Where do I find an installable partygammon version for my operating system?
For MS Windows, visit this site. GNU/Linux RPMs are available at this page. For installation on backgammon tournament Mac OSX, you should read this page.
Do I need some other software to run GNU msn backgammon Backgammon?
No. Everything you need is included in the binaries.
If you want to use the 3D board yahoo version on Linux, you might have to install the additional libraries that can be found as well on this page. (acepoints directory)
I want to yahoo backgammon game install game a java backgammon newer version.
If you are using a MS play backgammon online Windows operating system, make a copy of either .gnubgrc or .gnubgautorc and .gnubgmenurc. You will find 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 backgammon games version, copy them back.
If you are working with GNU/Linux, yahoo backgammon game these files are probably in your home directory (`~/??T). They won??Tt be overwritten by installing yahoo a real money backgammon new version of GNU Backgammon, but it??Ts always a good idea to have a backup of them.
I gammonempire would like to compile it from the source code.
Good yahoo backgammon game luck to you! Download the source code and make sure to read one of the following two items: What software do I need for yahoo backgammon strategy compiling under GNU/Linux?, What software do backgammon casino online I need for compiling under MS Windows?.
What software do I need for compiling under GNU/Linux?
Unpack the GNU Backgammon snapshots and follow the instructions of the file `INSTALL??T.
What software do I need for compiling under MS Windows?
Nardy Pillards msn backgammon has published a fine instruction guide at game http://users.skynet.be/bk228456/GNUBgW.htm. Go yahoo backgammon game to this page and follow yahoo backgammon game the steps shown there.
(Unfortunately this page free backgammon game download seems to be gone, for now follow the instructions at http://www.gnubg.org/index.php?itemid=50.)
It does not compile.
Check backgammon rules that you have installed all necessary development 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 tasmanian backgammon will GNU Backgammon run fastest?
Here is a backgammon betting list of CPU and Evaluations 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 game MB
Win XP SP2
0.14-mingw
27000
Intel Pentium M 735 (1.7 GHz)
AOpen 1557-J
1024 MB
Win XP SP2
0.14-mingw
26000
Celeron 331 2.66 GHz
Dell Dimension 3100
512 MB
Win 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 2.8 GHz
Asus P4P800D
1024 backgammon shop MB
Win XP SP2
0.14.3-devel
21759
Athlon64 backgammon accessory 3000+ (32bit mode)
Acer Aspire 1522
512 MB
Kubuntu yahoo backgammon game 5.04
0.14.3-devel
20120
Athlon XP 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 1)
Sony Vaio PCG-SRX51P
256 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 laptop
256 MB
Win me
0.14-devel
* Highly cheat for backgammon on pogo variable: 12000 .. 13700
1) According to cat /proc/cpuinfo
Starting gnubg
I get an error message when yahoo backgammon game starting.
Well, your computer wants to communicate with backgammon software you. Give it a chance and read (and try to understand) what it is telling you. Then read the next items carefully:
GNU Backgammon complains about missing files.
GNU Backgammon reads several different files at startup. It will first try to read game a file called gnubg.wd. backgammon casino online This is a file which contains all the neural net weights and is necessary for the program to evaluate backgammon game boards positions. If this yahoo backgammon game file is not found, or found corrupted or with an incompatible version, GNU Backgammon yahoo backgammon game backgammon kurnik will search for a weights file called gnubg.weights. This file also game contains the neural net weights, but is stored in ASCII format. If none backgammon tournaments of these files are found, GNU 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 the backgammon on line bearoff databases at startup. There are usually two bearoff databases. The first is called gnubg_os0.bd, and backgammon table 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 also called the ??~One backgammon board Sided Database??T, since it evaluates each player separately. The other bearoff database is called gnubg_ts0.bd. This yahoo bearoff database contains win probabilities for all bearoff positions with six yahoo backgammon game backgammon news or less chequers. It also contains cubeful equities (Money Game) for all the positions. If this file is not found travel backgammon set at startup, GNU Backgammon will evaluate late bearoff positions with the one sided bearoff database.
Starting from the WinXP menu it plays like a beginner.
Open online backgammon rules the MS 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 yahoo backgammon game game line free backgammon game above. If not, adjust the working path.
My screen mixes up while starting GNU Backgammon.
Install the newest driver for your graphic card. Be sure that you jelly fish backgammon have chosen at least a desktop resolution of 65535 (16 bit colour depth). If your backgammon club card is a ATI Rage ??�somewhat??� there still might be some problems game with the graphical interface (GTK+)and MS Windows.
I only get a command-line interface. Where is the nice board?
Using MS Windows, just click on the correct menu entry (`GNU Backgammon for windows??T). If it yahoo backgammon game still doesn??Tt work, backgammon instructions check whether `c:\[path-to-your-gnubg]\gnubg.exe??T play motif backgammon exists or not.
GNU/Linux users should check if GTK+ is installed.
When I restart GNU Backgammon all my settings are gone.
Did you save your settings (menu: yahoo backgammon game Settings??'Save settings) before you quit?
I do not 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 backgammon for a file called gnubg-no-gui.exe real money backgammon in GNU Backgammons install directory or open the MS Windows menu Run??� and type 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 yahoo backgammon game backgammon table new game or match or session?
When you start a new match, backgammon empire you will be asked to play to a certain amount of points (for example, 7 points). The player who firstly reaches this amount wins backgammon the match.
Starting a new session means backgammon tips playing to an yahoo backgammon game infinite amount. Be aware that gammon empire backgammon the rules do slightly differ then. You may break this session at any point and save it.
If you choose to play a new game, GNU Backgammon will open the last saved match backgammon or session you quit. When there is no saved match or session you will start a new infinite session.
What the heck is a yahoo backgammon game beaver in backgammon freeware Backgammon?
A beaver is only allowed in a money game session. To beaver means to redouble, retaining control of the cube, immediately after your opponent doubles. For more information see the glossary at Backgammon backgammon galore Galore.
How do I yahoo backgammon game move the chequers?
The easiest way to move chequers is to ??�drag and drop.??� Put your mouse pointer over a chequer you want backgammon to move, press the left mouse button and drag cheat for backgammon on pogo the chequer to the desired point, holding down the button while dragging.
If you prefer to computer backgammon use yahoo backgammon game mouse clicks, the left mouse button is for the left die shown on your board. Right click your mouse for the right die.
If you always want the higher number displayed on the left, go to the download backgammon game menu Settings??'Appearance??'General yahoo and select Show higher die on left.
Why am I allowed to place more than 5 chequers on a point?
The backgammon official backgammon tournament download backgammon game rules allow to put all 15 chequers on a point. If you want to play with a backgammon yahoo backgammon game strategy maximum 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. The position evaluator in GNU Backgammon doesn??Tt have a clue party gammon about how to evaluate positions according to the Egyptian rule either. It strongly recommended that this rule is not used if zone backgammon you??Tre trying to learn backgammon.
GNU Backgammon plays yahoo backgammon game poorly.
Are you sure? If the answer is yes you should think about going to Monte Carlo this summer and win download backgammon game 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 yahoo strong for me.
Go to the backgammon set 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 is cheating. It always gets good backgammon for money dice.
In its default configuration, the dice generator does not cheat. In the yahoo backgammon game menu Settings you may choose between different random dice generators. If you still think GNU play65 real money Backgammon is yahoo backgammon game cheating, program your own dice generator or roll manually. It 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 play backgammon online free the top there is a field to change the human player??Ts name.
How do I play 65 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 stop the annoying beeps?"
Go play backgammon backgammon online to the menu `Settings??'Appearance??T and click on the `General??T tab at backgammon cheat 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 yahoo backgammon game that GNU Backgammon estimates the worth of the position as it is. A yahoo backgammon game ??�1-ply??� backgammon cheat evaluation looks one step deeper. GNU Backgammon also evaluates positions that may occur on further rolls. ??�2-ply??� is another roll further and so on.
The more backgammon variety plies you choose, the more you strengthen GNU Backgammon. Keep nabisco backgammon in mind that this will also decrease the playing 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 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 electronic backgammon the resulting positions. Playing at 2-ply it will take each of those positions and cheat for backgammon on yahoo backgammon game pogo make all the opponent moves for all possible rolls (the 2nd ply) and then analyse the resulting positions. In GnuBg the initial set of possible moves is taken for granted, ie. not counted as a ply, because GnuBg??Ts download play65 plies are position evaluation plies. Thus, for each of those possible moves a 0-ply analysis is done. GnuBg??Ts discounting backgammon on line of the first set of moves perhaps 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 backgammon board set up the resulting positions. With backgammon com it shove Snowie it will assume that the position arose from a move (that??Ts a pretend 1st ply) then make all the moves for all possible rolls (the 2nd ply) and analyse them. This time it??Ts Snowie that seems to be counting strangely.
What is "noise?"
Noise travel backgammon set is a facility for disturbing GNU download play65 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 for candidate moves to increase evaluation speed.
Analysing
What are these funny letters at backgammon variation the right bottom?
You will find two small windows titled `Position??T and `Match play 65 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 follow in GNU Backgammon??Ts documentation (hopefully soon).
How do I set up a position manually?
Open a new game, match or session. If gnubg already rolls the dice, don??Tt backgammon set bother. Press `edit??T, and either type the position_id and instructions to play backgammon press Enter on your 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 sets up a certain amount backgammon book of chequers depending backgammon for money on where exactly on the pip you click. Set 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 formats must I use to free backgammon download 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 I switch the players sides?
Go to the menu `Game??T and click on `Swap players??T.
What do yahoo backgammon "!" 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 free backgammon on line `Window, Game record??T and you will see a list of play backgammon online free the moves. If the actual move or cube 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 doubling cube (doubtful): ?!
-0.080 (bad): ?
-0.160 (very bad): ??
You may change these comment backgammon supply in the menu `Window, Annotation??T choosing another comment for moves and/or double.
[Note. Why a ? move should be deemed worse than a ?! move - that??Ts one doubling cube 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 .. online backgammon tournament 0.010
World class
0.010 .. 0.015
Expert
0.015 .. 0.020
Advanced
0.020 .. 0.025
Intermediate
0.025 .. 0.030
Beginner
0.030 ..
Novice
After analysing a game, match or session you can see the summary in the menu `Analyse, ??� play backgammon online money 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 chequers gammon empire from the current position. It party gammon 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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