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Frequently Asked QuestionsGeneral questionsWhat is GNU Backgammon?What operating systems are supported?Where do I get it?What do I backgammon news have to pay for GNU Backgammon?This GNU stuff sounds interesting.I want to learn more about backgammon.Though I really read all the documentation I still have questions.I want to gammon empire backgammon make a few proposals. I have new ideas.How to online backgammon gambling installWhere do I find an installable version for my operating system?Do 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 MS Windows?It backgammon game rules does not compile.On what CPU will GNU freeware Backgammon run fastest?Starting gnubgI get backgammon freeware an error message when starting.GNU backgammon freeware Backgammon complains about missing files.Starting from the WinXP menu it backgammon plays like a beginner.My screen mixes up while backgammon game starting GNU Backgammon.I only get a command-line interface. Where is the nice board?When I restart GNU Backgammon all my settings are gone.I do not need this backgammon on line graphical stuff. Where is the terminal for commands?Playing backgammonWhat is the difference of a new game or backgammon news 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 a point?GNU Backgammon plays poorly.GNU Backgammon is too strong backgammon strategy for me.I think the bot is backgammon game rules cheating. It always gets good dice.SettingsWhere can I change the name of the human player?How do I change the colours?How do I stop the annoying beeps?"What are "Plies?"What backgammon is "noise?"What is "reduced evaluation?"AnalysingWhat are these funny letters at the right bottom?How do I set up a backgammon freeware position manually?Which formats must I use download play65 to import positions?Which formats must I use to import matches?How backgammon piece can I switch the players sides?What do "!" and "?" mean?How is the error rate determined?What does "Pips" mean?What does "epc" mean?DatabasesWhat is the `Database' backgammon news freeware 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 backgammon freeware play backgammon on line and matches. It??Ts based on a neural network. Though it already plays on a very high level, it??Ts still a backgammon work in progress. You may play GNU backgammon site Backgammon using the command line or a graphical interface backgammon freeware (based on GTK+).
What operating systems are supported?
Currently, GNU Backgammon is actually designed backgammon games for GNU/Linux. It also compiles 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 to other operating backgammon set up systems, you are backgammon on line backgammon welcome to give us a note at bug-gnubg@gnu.org.
Where do I get it?
The official 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 backgammon get the source code through CVS. MS Windows binaries are available backgammon freeware at this page. GNU/Linux RPMs are also electronic backgammon 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 online backgammon the GNU General Public License. But be aware that GNU Backgammon is not public backgammon freeware domain software or shareware as you perhaps know from MS Windows.
This GNU stuff sounds backgammon for money interesting.
Take a look at the GNU home page. It??Ts also the page for Free Software Foundation.
I want to learn more about backgammon.
A backgammon good place to start is Backgammon Galore. For an backgammon online backgammon for real money 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 playing backgammon bug, be sure backgammon freeware to include the name of your operating system, the version of gnubg you use, backgammon kurnik and any error messages you receive. Try to describe exactly what happens before the error occurs.
I want to make a few proposals. I have new ideas.
You??Tre welcome! Send an email backgammon games with your suggestions to gnubg-mailinglist.
How to install
Where do I backgammon find an installable version for my operating system?
For MS Windows, visit this backgammon set site. GNU/Linux RPMs are available at backgammon freeware this page. For installation on Mac OSX, you should read this page.
Do I need some other software to run GNU Backgammon?
No. Everything backgammon freeware you need is included in the binaries.
If you want to use backgammon for money the 3D board version on Linux, you might have to install the additional libraries that can be found as well backgammon on this backgammon supply page. (acepoints directory)
I want to install a newer version.
If you are using a MS Windows operating system, make a copy of either .gnubgrc or .gnubgautorc and .gnubgmenurc. You will find them java backgammon either in ??~c:??T or the home directory of your GNU backgammon Backgammon (for yahoo backgammon game instance: c:\Program Files\gnubg\). After you have installed the new version, copy them backgammon freeware back.
If you are working with GNU/Linux, these files are probably in your home directory backgammon freeware (`~/??T). They won??Tt be overwritten by motif backgammon installing a new version of GNU Backgammon, but it??Ts always a good idea to backgammon board setup have a backup of them.
I would like to compile it from the source code.
Good luck to you! Download the source code and make sure to read one of the following two items: What software do I download backgammon game need for compiling under freeware GNU/Linux?, What software do I need for compiling under MS Windows?.
What software do I need for compiling under GNU/Linux?
Unpack play backgammon backgammon freeware online the GNU Backgammon snapshots and follow the instructions of the file `INSTALL??T.
What software party gammon do I need for freeware compiling under MS Windows?
Nardy Pillards has published 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 http://www.gnubg.org/index.php?itemid=50.)
It does not compile.
Check that you have installed all real backgammon freeware money backgammon necessary development packages.
Look for warnings or errors during free backgammon software compiling. If you backgammon 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 of CPU and Evaluations backgammon per second (Analyse??'Evaluation Speed).
Feel free backgammon to add your free downloadable backgammon 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 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 freeware MB
Win XP party gammon SP2
0.14.3-devel
21759
Athlon64 3000+ (32bit mode)
Acer Aspire 1522
512 MB
Kubuntu online backgammon gambling 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 freeware Pentium backgammon freeware 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 play motif backgammon me
0.14-devel
* Highly variable: 12000 .. 13700
1) According to cat /proc/cpuinfo
Starting gnubg
I get an error message when starting.
Well, your computer wants to communicate with you. Give it a chance backgammon and play65 read (and try to understand) what it is telling backgammon freeware you. Then read the next items carefully:
GNU Backgammon complains about missing files.
GNU Backgammon backgammon games reads several different files at startup. It will first try to read a file called gnubg.wd. This is a file which contains all the neural net weights and is necessary for the program to evaluate positions. If gammonempire this file is not found, or found corrupted or with an incompatible version, GNU Backgammon will search for a weights file called backgammon variety gnubg.weights. This file also contains the neural backgammon freeware net weights, but is stored in ASCII backgammon supply format. freeware If none 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 backgammon freeware poorly.
GNU Backgammon will also read the bearoff databases at startup. play backgammon on line There are usually two bearoff databases. The first is called gnubg_os0.bd, and has stored data about the bearoff probabilities of all position where backgammon setup both players have 15 or fewer chequers left on their six backgammon freeware home board points. If this file is not freeware found, GNU Backgammon will play65 play 65 create a heuristic bearoff database for these positions. This database is a also called the ??~One Sided Database??T, play65 since it evaluates each backgammon player separately. The other bearoff database is called gnubg_ts0.bd. This bearoff database contains win probabilities for all bearoff positions with six or less chequers. It also contains cubeful equities (Money Game) for all the positions. If this file is free backgammon game download not found at startup, GNU Backgammon will evaluate late bearoff positions with the one sided bearoff database.
Starting from nabisco backgammon the WinXP menu it plays backgammon freeware like a beginner.
Open 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 backgammon tips the `*.exe??T-file backgammon freeware one line above. If not, adjust the working path.
My screen mixes up while starting GNU Backgammon.
Install the newest driver for your graphic card. backgammon Be sure backgammon betting that you have chosen at least a desktop resolution of 65535 (16 bit colour depth). If your card is backgammon a ATI Rage ??�somewhat??� there still might be some problems with the graphical interface (GTK+)and MS Windows.
I only get backgammon freeware backgammon shop a command-line interface. Where is the nice board?
Using MS Windows, just backgammon kurnik 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 Backgammon all freeware my settings are gone.
Did travel backgammon set you save your settings (menu: Settings??'Save settings) before you quit?
I do not backgammon freeware need this graphical stuff. Where is the terminal for commands?
For GNU/Linux users: open a terminal and backgammon boards start gnubg with the option -t.
MS Windows users: Look for a freeware online backgammon for money file called gnubg-no-gui.exe 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 new game or match or session?
When you start a new match, you will be asked backgammon backgammon freeware to play to a certain amount free downloadable backgammon of points (for example, 7 points). The player who firstly 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 backgammon book may break this session at any point and save it.
If you choose to play a new game, GNU Backgammon will open the last backgammon set saved match or backgammon freeware session you quit. When there is no saved match freeware or session backgammon betting you will start a new infinite session.
What the heck is a beaver in 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 Galore.
How backgammon freeware backgammon com it shove do I backgammon move the chequers?
The easiest way to move chequers is to ??�drag and drop.??� Put your mouse pointer over a chequer you want to move, press the left mouse button and drag backgammon club the chequer to the desired point, holding down the button backgammon board while dragging.
If you prefer to use mouse clicks, the left mouse button is for the left die shown on your backgammon freeware board. Right click your mouse for the right backgammon strategy die.
If you always want the higher backgammon shop number displayed on the left, go to the menu Settings??'Appearance??'General and select Show freeware higher die on left.
Why am I allowed to place more than 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 of 5 chequers, go to backgammon backgammon freeware the menu Settings and activate zone.com backgammon 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 online backgammon for real money clue about how to evaluate positions according to the Egyptian rule either. It strongly recommended that this rule is backgammon freeware not used backgammon if you??Tre trying to learn backgammon.
GNU Backgammon plays poorly.
Are you sure? If the answer is yes you should backgammon setup think about going to Monte Carlo this backgammon game table summer and win the Backgammon World Championship.
If backgammon freeware 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 me.
Go to the free internet backgammon menu Settings??'Players and change the values for Player 0. freeware There is also a set of predefined settings you may choose from.
I play 65 freeware think the bot is cheating. It always gets good backgammon freeware dice.
In its default configuration, the dice generator does not cheat. In the menu Settings you may choose between different random dice generators. If you still think backgammon official rule GNU Backgammon is 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 play 65 to the menu Settings??'Players ??� and click on Player 1. free backgammon game download At the top there backgammon freeware 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 stop the annoying beeps?"
Go to the freeware menu `Settings??'Appearance??T and click backgammon freeware on the `General??T tab at motif backgammon the right. Disable the option `Beep on illegal input??T.
What download play65 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 it is. A ??�1-ply??� evaluation looks one step deeper. GNU Backgammon backgammon also evaluates positions that may occur backgammon board on further rolls. ??�2-ply??� is another roll backgammon freeware further and so on.
The more plies you choose, the more you strengthen GNU Backgammon. Keep in mind that this will also decrease the playing speed.
Note also that ??�0-ply??� backgammon free gamedesire in GNU backgammon board setup 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 the resulting positions. Playing at 2-ply it will take each of those positions and make all the opponent moves for backgammon kurnik all possible rolls (the 2nd ply) and then analyse backgammon game boards the resulting positions. In GnuBg the initial set 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 of moves perhaps makes the counting seem funny.
Looking backgammon game rules 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 cheat for backgammon on pogo 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 backgammon gambling a pretend 1st ply) then make all the moves for all possible rolls (the 2nd backgammon tournaments ply) and analyse them. This time it??Ts Snowie that seems to be counting 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 for candidate backgammon rules moves to increase evaluation electronic backgammon speed.
Analysing
What 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 backgammon board or copying positions.
An explanation of both formats will follow in how to play backgammon 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 bother. Press `edit??T, and either type the position_id and press Enter on your free backgammon download 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 play backgammon online free right click sets up a certain amount of chequers depending on backgammon official rule 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 I use play65 real money to import positions?
Currently only `*.pos??T by Jellyfish gammon empire backgammon are supported.
Which 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 I switch the players sides?
Go to backgammon cheat the menu `Game??T and click on `Swap players??T.
What do "!" and "?" jelly fish backgammon 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 backgammon kurnik 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 (doubtful): ?!
-0.080 (bad): ?
-0.160 (very bad): ??
You may backgammon rules and setup change these comment 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 backgammon free gamedesire - 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 boards .. 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, ??� statistics??T. Note travel backgammon set that you can??Tt change the ranges of these values.
What doubling cube does "Pips" mean?
The pip count is a measurement showing the total number of pips required for a player to bear off all chequers from the current position. It can be regarded as free backgammon a rough backgammon book 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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